Alexandria Engineering Journal (2019) 58, 345–352

H O S T E D BY
Alexandria University

Alexandria Engineering Journal

www.elsevier.com/locate/aej
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Adaptive building envelopes of multistory buildings

as an example of high performance building skins
Hadeer Samir Mohamed Shahin

Alexandria University, Faculty of Engineering, Egypt

Received 12 September 2018; revised 14 November 2018; accepted 22 November 2018

Available online 1 March 2019

KEYWORDS Abstract Recently developed generation of high-performance skins greatly leads to the emersion
Adaptive envelopes; of innovative manufactures integrating real-time environmental response, enhanced materials,
Adaptive architecture; dynamic automation with built in microprocessors, wireless sensors and actuators, and design-
Smart materials; for-manufacture techniques. This application has basically alter the thinking way of architects in
Intelligent facades; the early design stages of the building with a shifting in importance from form to performance, from
Responsive facade structure to envelope. In the field of high-performance buildings, the envelope begins to be the set-
ting of research and development. The aim of the paper is to discuss the design of three strategies
used in constructing adaptive building envelopes of multistory buildings, integrating improved
energy performance and architectural innovation, in order to Control the physical environmental
factors (heat, light, sounds), as well as improving occupants’ comfort. Finally, three case studies
are analyzed to unveil the implementation of these strategies on constructing structures and study
their effects on the building energy savings.
Scope and objective: The objective of this paper is to illustrate and discuss new conceptual ways
of designing adaptive building envelopes of multistory structures that respond to environmental
changes in the surrounding climate of different places in the world, and how the usage of such adap-
tive envelopes can help reduce the energy consumption of the building.
Methodology: The literature survey will first discuss the characteristics and properties of high
performance facades. After that, the paper present and analyze existing examples and ideas of adap-
tive envelopes, gaining an overall understanding of the concept of three adaptive building envel-
opes. In addition, at the same time develop knowledge of the materials commonly used and how
they perform. Finally, three case studies are presented to analyze the implementation of the three
adaptive envelopes strategies and observe their effects on the building energy savings.
Ó 2019 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria
University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction

E-mail address: hadeershahin@gmail.com ‘‘Adaptivity” means to explicate any alteration in the sur-
Peer review under responsibility of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria rounding environment and to respond to it. This change is
University. characterized by dynamism. Architecture designed for a static
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2018.11.013
1110-0168 Ó 2019 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
346 H.S.M. Shahin

set of factors does not certainly facilitate this adaptability to
alter. People observe huge changes on the sustainability front
nowadays, but the paradigm for designing performance based
systems has not altered. To attain the high level of climatic
response, this paradigm has to change. Conventional buildings
are constructed as static structures while they promote
dynamic components like solar patterns and wind variation.
This generates dissociation between the structure and its envi-
ronment. To consider this disjunction, the necessity of entities
that can cope with change, assimilating the information and
learning from it. The systems are required to respond dynam-
ically to the changes occur in climatic conditions, therefore
offering better efficiency than static systems [1]. In the multi-
story buildings, large energy consumption is taking place due
to lack of thermal comfort and low efficiencies of HVAC sys-
tems [2]. A good review was reported by Vakiloroaya et al. [3]
analyzing the effect of incorporated management of shading
blinds and natural ventilation on the performance of the build-
ings in means of energy savings and occupant comfort [4]. A
whole design approach of high performance buildings, that
embrace passive strategies for building skin design, has
important effect on enhancing the whole building energy
performance, including large scale buildings [5]. A high-
performance envelope that integrates daylighting, shading,
and natural ventilation systems, has the possibility to notably
decrease the energy used by building operations [6]. Further-
more, building skin creates a significant component of a build-
ing visual effect and aesthetic. The design flexibility of building
envelope achieves various operational and visual features, and
can be vital factor that which motivate architects, clients and
other stakeholders to settle for this type of high performance
envelopes. To achieve these goals, addressing performance
standards should take place at the same time considering the
variant architectural standards at the beginning of design
stages [7] (see Table 1).
2. Characteristics and properties of sustainable high
performance facades
High-performance facades could be described as the external
building envelopes that consume the minimum amount of
energy to retain a convenient indoor environmental quality,
which improves the well-being and productivity of people
inside the building [8]. Thus, sustainable envelopes considered
not being simply enclosures that keep the spaces inside the
building away from the outside; but vital components that gen-
erate suitable interior areas by acting in response to the build-
ing’s surrounding climate [9]. The properties of these building
envelope include: (1) permit penetrating of natural light inside
the building spaces; (2) stop undesired solar heat from pene-
trating the interior spaces; (3) stop heat transference through
enhanced insulation; (4) blocking air and moisture from pene-
trating through the building; and (5) permitting natural venti-
lation to enhance the internal room temperature and air
quality. These properties depend mostly on climate, in addi-
tion to the building’s operations, residence basis, orientation,
and energy burden of equipment, moreover, the facade type
[10]. There are basically two kinds of facades:
 Opaque facades, which are basically built of layers of solid
materials, such as masonry, stone, precast concrete panels,
metal cladding, insulation, and framing. These facades
could also contain punched openings to let natural light
in or operable windows.
 Glazed facades, for example curtain walls or storefront
facades, which basically constructed with transparent or
translucent glazing elements and metal framing structures
[9].
3. Adaptive building envelopes
These envelopes are described as a building skin, which is able
to alter its properties and control the various parameters of a
building skin. These changes are operated based on change in
the climatic loads or changed indoor environment, so it can
enhance the occupants’ comfort. The alteration could be
achieved in various ways, by moving components, by the intro-
duction of airflows or by a chemical change in a material.
Altering the performance of the building skin which is depen-
dent on the external climate and the desired internal environ-
mental conditions is not a new idea [11]. The idea of
adaptive building skin has an association with biomimicry,
intelligent buildings, smart materials.

Table 1 Observations and results of the three case studies. Source: Researcher.
Observations and results of case studies
The Barcelona Media-ICT building
An example of smart materials in adaptive
building envelope
Using of ETFE material, the building
generates 20% less in energy consumption.
This decreases the solar factor (SF) by four
times, from 0.45, as accepted by the Building
Code, to 0.10.
Al Bahar Towers by Aedas
An example of responsive facade system in
adaptive building envelope
Decrease solar gain by more than 50 percent
and decreases the usage of air conditioning. In
addition, its capability to filter and reduce the
direct solar gain to a maximum of 400 W per
linear meter. It permit the usage of natural
type of tinted glass, which permits more
sunlight to enter the building and decreases
the need for artificial lighting
Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and
Biomolecular Research.
An example of Intelligent building skin
The double façade permits natural ventilation
throughout the 13 floors, enhancing air
circulation, cooling and natural ventilation. In
addition, the louvers placed at the façade
control the penetration of sunlight, hence
improving indoor environmental quality.
Adaptive building envelopes of multistory buildings
Fig. 3.1 Classification of Adaptive Building Envelope systems.
Source: Researcher.
3.1. Classification of adaptive building envelope systems
Adaptivity systems are mainly classified into three different
categories shown in (Fig. 3.1) based on adaptivity level [12].
3.1.1. Smart materials
These are materials whose characteristics can be importantly
altered in a well-managed manner by outside stimuli such as
temperature, electric or magnetic fields. The use of materials
that change their characteristics in reaction to heat, moisture,
or light can readdress how we conceive Architecture. The main
considerations in smart materials will be if the changes are
reversible or irreversible. They could be as straightforward as
paints which change color based on the temperature [13].
The properties of smart materials are described as: ‘‘immedi-
acy” (real-time response), these smart substances grab design-
ers’ attention who are targeting to improve functionality and
performance simultaneously with decreasing energy use. Some
of smart materials which are presented to high-performance
building enclosures are: aerogel, the synthetic low-density
translucent substance applied in window glazing, phase chang-
ing materials like micro-encapsulated wax, salt hydrates, ther-
mochromics polymer films, and structure integrated
photovoltaics.
- Smart Thermobimetal Self-Ventilating Skin:
Doris Sung, principle of DO|SU Studio Architecture and
faculty member at the University of Southern California, is
conducting a research to illustrate use of thermobimetals for
self-supporting structure envelopes which allow their pores
to open and self-ventilate without the use of external energy
sources (Fig. 3.2). Laminated metals with various thermal
Fig. 3.2 Smart Thermobimetal Self- Ventilating Skin: installa-
tion of prototype and details of skin performance under different
temperatures, 2010. Source: Thun. G.; Velikov, K.2013.
347
coefficients changes their shapes when introduced to tempera-
ture set points, generating tension and causing movement in
the thermobimetal. When the heat source is eliminated, the
bimetal get back to its first main shape. Coating two metal
alloys with different coefficients of expansion together, the
result is a thermobimetal that curls when heated and flattens
when cooled. When an increase in the temperature occurs, this
deformation allows the building skin to breathe [14].
3.1.2. Intelligent building skin
The expression ‘intelligent’ indicate a broader range of coordi-
nation and performance than ‘smart’. In a broad sense, the
objective of an intelligent building skin is to maximize the sys-
tems of the building with respect to climate, energy consump-
tion and occupant comfort. This is regularly attained by
building automation and physically adaptive components such
as louvers, sunshades, operable windows or smart material
assemblies (Fig. 3.3). The system itself should be ‘intelligent’
and ‘emergent’; being able of learning from the set of occupant
reactions taking into account future weather fluctuation and
changing accordingly. Time ahead, it could be capable of
learning from mistakes made in the system. With the huge
number of available data streams, climatic data from the past
century can be used to forecast the future weather patterns.
The centralization of the building systems which have been
changed by the universal communication technologies has
given a enormous scope in enhancing the building intelligence
[1]. In the book Intelligent Buildings, by Brian Atkin, intelli-
gent buildings are illustrated as structures that ‘‘know” the
environmental conditions in the exterior and interior of the
building, then ‘‘decide” how to generate a suitable and conve-
nient indoor environment, and that ‘‘respond” readily to occu-
pant needs [14]. This is typically accomplished using many of
sensing equipment which interact with structure control sys-
tems to maximize interior conditions, including computational
protocols. Finally the envelope and HVAC systems are able to
re-balance the system depending on occupant adjustments.
3.1.3. Responsive facade system
The expression ‘‘responsive” is usually mentioned interchange-
ably with ‘‘interactive” and ‘‘adaptive”, but mostly it is used to
describe, ‘‘How natural and artificial systems can interact and
Fig. 3.3 Intelligent façade of automated wood louvers with
building integrated Photovoltaics create a continuous façade for
TU Darmstadt’s 2007 Solar Decathlon House. Source: Thun. G.;
Velikov, K.2013.
348
Fig. 3.4 Responsive façade system and mechanisms. Source: Thun. G.; Velikov, K.2013.
adapt”. A responsive building envelope consists of functions
and performance characteristics homogeneous to these of an
‘intelligent’ structure envelop including real-time sensing,
kinetic climate-adaptive components, smart materials,
automation and the occupant ability to make adjustments.
However, it also has interactive aspects, such as computational
algorithms which make it possible for the building system to
Fig. 4.1 Media-ICT building in Barcelona. Source: http://
rvtr.com/files/HPH.pdf.
Fig. 4.2 Diagrams of the way the ETFE Diaphragm worksSource : Macedo, A.2007.
H.S.M. Shahin
adjust itself and learn by time, in addition to the capability
of occupants to physically handle the structure envelope com-
ponents to manage environmental conditions [10].
Learning occurs in according to altering environmental
conditions and occupant comfort. A responsive building skin,
as a result, not only incorporates mechanisms for occupants
sensing and feedback, but is also devoted to educating both
the building and its inhabitants. Data is given to the building’s
occupants so they can acquire knowledge of by time and adjust
their actions in accordance to climate and energy load. Finally,
both building and inhabitants are taking place in a continual
and evolving conversation as shown in (Fig. 3.4) [14].
4. Case studies
4.1. The Barcelona Media-ICT building (An example of smart
materials in adaptive building envelope)
Criteria of selection: This case study is used to illustrate the use
and performance of smart materials in adaptive building envel-
opes, to control solar heat gain through the facade and
enhance the indoor environmental quality Fig. 4.1.
Adaptive building envelopes of multistory buildings
Fig. 4.3 Al Bahar Towers by Aedas. Source: https://www.
arch2o.com/al-bahr-towers-aedas.
Fig. 4.4 Islamic lattice shading device in Al Bahar Towers.
Source: https://www.arch2o.com/al-bahr-towers-aedas.
Fig. 4.5 Detail diagram of an individual shading device, showing comparison of fully closed unit (Top) and fully opened unit (Bottom).
Source: Cook, R. 2012.
349
Location: Barcelona
Principal Architect: Enric Ruiz Geli, Cloud 9
Date of completion: 2011
Building Type: Cultural Center
Adaptive System: Smart Material
The envelope is consisting of a pillow cladding system con-
sisting of the polymer ETFE with encased lamella fins whose
pneumatic mechanisms are automatically triggered through
light sensors when exposed to sunlight [14].
-ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) Polymer
A translucent polymer sheeting which is applied as an alter-
native to glass and hard plastic in some new structures. In
comparison to glass, ETFE (1) permit more sunlight; (2)
greater insulation; (3) costs 24 percent to 70 percent less to
construct; (4) weigh 1/100 the weight of glass; and (5) has char-
acteristics that makes it more flexible as a construction
material.
The ETFE layer is triggered by pneumatic mechanisms as
illustrated in (Fig. 4.2) with light meter sensors which based
on the presence of sunlight, it automatically and independently
actuate inflation and deflation equipment in the air chambers.
The light meters are independent in terms of energy production
[15]. The cladding consist of three layers of substance on the
facade that exposed to much sunlight. Those layers are invol-
untary bloated using sensors to create 2 empty chambers. The
first layer of ETFE is transparent, however, the second and
third layers have a reverse pattern design which, when inflated
or deflated, made the facade transparent or opaque. This keeps
the penetration of light and heat away during sunlight time.
This is called ‘‘ETFE Diaphragm” configuration. The system
can adjust the penetration of air through the facade, with suit-
able goals in terms of energy efficiency [15].
4.1.1. Observations and results
There is no occupants’ contribution in the system. The user has
not the ability to adjust any changes made by the system.
350 H.S.M. Shahin

Using 2500 m2 of ETFE material, the MEDIA-TIC build- designers to be more specific in choosing the type of glass. It
ing generates 20% less in energy consumption and achieves a has provided them to apply more natural type of tinted glass,
score of 42 points of the maximum 57 points predicted by which permits more sunlight to enter the building and
the decree on environmental standard and energy efficiency decreases the need for artificial lighting [17].
for buildings [17]. This decreases the solar factor (SF) by four
times, from 0.45, as accepted by the Building Code, to 0.10 4.3. Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular
[15]. Research. (An example of intelligent building skin in adaptive
building envelope)
4.2. Al Bahar towers by Aedas (An example of responsive facade
system in adaptive building envelope) (Fig. 4.3) Criteria of selection: This case study (Fig. 4.6) is applied to
illustrate the use of Intelligent building skin in an adaptive
Criteria of selection: This case study is used to illustrate the building envelopes, to control sunlight radiation through the
execution of Responsive facade system in an adaptive building facade and enhance the indoor environmental quality.
envelopes, to control solar heat gain through the facade and Architects: Behnisch Architekten, Stuttgart, Architects Alli-
enhance the indoor environmental quality . ance, Toronto
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Location: Toronto, Canada
Architects: Aedas Date of completion: 2005
Type: Office building Type: Educational
Adaptive System: Responsive facade system. Adaptive System: Intelligent building skin.
The pioneering shading screen of the towers, managed by
computer, operates as a curtain-wall, positioned 2 m away
from the external façade of the structure in its own additional
frame (Fig. 4.4). Each triangle is enclosed in micro-perforated
glass fiber and adjusted to automatically respond to the
motion of the sun, thus decreasing the solar gain and glare.
Each of the tower compromises over 1000 individual shad-
ing devices [16]. Each unit (Fig. 4.5) includes a chain of
extended PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) panels and is worked
through a linear module which opens and closes steadily once
every day, in accordance to a sequence which is previously pro-
grammed and calculated to block direct sunlight exposed to
facade. The whole installing is shielded by a diversity of sen-
sors which open the units in certain cases that conditions alter;
for instance, if it’s cloudy or there are hard winds. These new
parameters have resulted in higher architectural collaboration
with the disciplines of mechanical and electrical engineering,
computing and the physical and social sciences.

4.2.1. Observations and results

It is evaluated that the screen restrains the solar gain by more
than 50 percent and decreases the usage of air conditioning. In
addition, its capability to filter and reduce the direct solar gain
to a maximum of 400 W per linear meter has provided the

Fig. 4.6 Terrence Donnelly. Source: https://behnisch.com/work/ Fig. 4.7 (Left) Intelligent double-skin facade system of Terrence
projects/0135. Donnelley Centre.
Adaptive building envelopes of multistory buildings
The shallow plates of the lab floors optimize daylight entry
and, based on needs of specific research requirements, allow
for natural ventilation. Double-and triple-height gardens are
placed at different points on the edges of the lab floors, giving
suitable and precious meeting places for researchers, students
and staff.
Each facade is constructed differently to meet individual
programmatic and climatic needs [18].
Since the south elevation undergoes more solar heating in
Toronto, this is the reason that particular facade is one of
the important aspects of the structure. This facade is more con-
cerned with the thermal levels in each office which are exposed
to the sun. Offices are designed with double-skin glass curtain
wall, embedded in frames of aluminum mullions, which gener-
ates a good acoustic, solar, and thermal control. The air space
between the outer envelope of monolithic glass and the internal
layer of insulating glass is 2.5 feet (0.8 m), including perforated
aluminum louvers to minimize solar heat obtained and redirect
sunlight penetrating the building [18]. The outer envelope,
include operable louvers at the top and bottom to ventilate
Fig. 4.8 (Right) Detailed section of Intelligent double-skin
façade system. Source: Thun. G.; Velikov, K.2013.
351
the cavity, while operable windows placed in the inner wall
cause natural ventilation to the workplaces (Figs. 4.7 and 4.8)
4.3.1. Observations and results
The natural ventilation at the Terence Donnelly Center is tak-
ing place through the double façade which is running through
all 13 floors without partitions, and acting like a chimney it
enhances the air circulation, cooling and natural ventilation,
and this leads to decreasing cooling loads. In addition, perfo-
rated aluminum louvers attached to the facade enhance the
natural lighting, the indoor environmental quality and decreas-
ing building energy consumption [19].
5. Conclusion
– The high performance buildings nowadays have been opti-
mized by various strategies and techniques in many aspects
to reach the expected level of convenient performance.
According to the building skin, it is inadequate to have per-
fectly insulated and airtight walls which handle with almost
the climatic situations. Therefore, the necessity for a
performance-based architecture is therefore increasing as:
 The adaptive building facade responds intellectually and
accurately to the fluctuating climatic conditions and in-
door conditions requirements, where it will utilize the
existing natural energies to light, heat and ventilate the
spaces and has the ability to achieve energy savings in
comparison to conventional technologies, and meantime
obtain maximum thermal comfort conditions.
 The photovoltaic costs could be decreased in the coming
days, as the onsite power systems will be incorporated
with the glass facade and those skins will develop into
local, non-polluting energy suppliers to the building.
 To take into consideration, the future planning and
designing of high-performance buildings is supposed to
require active façade technologies, operating in intelli-
gent coordination with HVAC and lighting systems to
provide comfortable indoor environments with
decreased energy use.
– The huge difference, consequently, between terms ‘‘smart”
and ‘‘intelligent” is that in the situation of the functionality
results from essential material characteristics, meanwhile, in
the latter performance is essentially managed by computa-
tion and automation. The performance aspect of intelligent
skins is usually more changeable than that of smart envel-
opes; the performance of smart envelopes is commonly bin-
ary and more restricted in control, whereas intelligent skins
usually need outer power to attain the targets. Accordingly,
when execute to a whole building energy reductions, intelli-
gent skins would perfectly be elaborated with smart sub-
stances, which are self-powering and self-actuating [14].
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