Real-time optimization of a double-skin façade based on lumped modeling and occupant preference

Real-time optimization of a double-skin façade system is developed for the so-called smart façade systems. It optimizes the performance of the system by rotating a motorized louver slat in the cavity and ventilation dampers at the top and bottom of exterior and interior glazing. One prominent feature of the system is the capability of dynamically reacting to the environmental input data through real-time optimization in terms of energy, visual comfort and thermal comfort. Users interaction with the system is Web enabled. Current state variables, weather data and energy flows are posted on a web page and an occupant with given privileges can choose the preferred operation mode or override the devices (louvers, ventilation inlet/outlet).     

A neural network approach to assessing building façade maintainability in the tropics

A model was developed to assess the maintainability of façade using neural network techniques. Inputs were derived from comprehensive studies of 570 tall buildings (more than 12 stories) through detailed field evaluation and interviews with professionals in the whole building delivery process. Sensitivity analysis showed that the most significant factors associated with façade maintainability include the system selection, detailing, accessibility and material performance.     

Shape grammars as a reverse engineering method for the morphogenesis of architectural façade design

The field of shape grammars spans 47 years, but its potential in the practice and education of art, architecture, and engineering remains far from being utilized. Similarly, while reverse engineering in some engineering disciplines is well-established, its implementation in architectural design remains under-represented. By combining the two domains, this paper develops a novel method that merges the power of shape grammars as a parsing tool in reverse engineering to decode the morphogenesis of visual compositions in architectural design. The merged power is demonstrated by decoding the formal language of a façade design of a case study, in which seemingly few simple rules can derive surprisingly complex compositions. The rules of the language can then be used to reconstruct parts of the case façade. Most shape grammars in the architectural literature are applied on formal historical precedents, but the subject of morphological analysis in this paper is contemporary and has a style that exhibits non-orthogonal configurations, which initially appear far from being standardized or subjected to regulatory tectonic rules. The façade derivation grammar is explained and re-synthesized in various computations to explore emergent articulations that display its predictive, synthetic, and generative powers in addition to typical analytic ones.     

The façade fills the frame: the uses and meanings of the elevational view

The camera is set facing a building, whose front is parallel to the picture plane and whose built surface encompasses the visual field: the façade fills the frame. Used since the medium's beginnings, this photographic idiom has become prevalent and distinctive enough to constitute a subgenre. It encompasses work made by a variety of means for a variety of ends, from amateur city snapshots through scrupulous survey work to fine art photography. But perhaps surprisingly, this mode of image-making, in which built fabric is inescapably and pervasively present, does not feature prominently in the standard repertoire of architectural photography. Orthodoxy tends to favour moving out to capture the building in context, moving around to capture three-dimensional form, or moving in to focus on detail. The static elevation view, despite being central to the design and production of architecture, is relatively rare.

In seeking to understand this apparent contradiction, this paper explores the strategies and effects of a number of this subgenre's most notable exponents. For Lee Friedlander, the surfaces of buildings provided complex patterns of reflection, shadow and overlap which, when photographed, served to collapse foreground and background onto a dazzlingly complex picture plane. For Todd Webb, in his New York streetscapes and for Ed Ruscha in his Los Angeles work, façades became flatter, more mute, and the camera's gaze concomitantly more dispassionate. More recently, following Andreas Gursky's seminal Montparnasse image (1993), Stephane Couturier, Michael Wolf and others have produced images which establish an equivalence between their heroic scale and quasi-abstract patterning, and the dystopian arrays of high-rise façades they depict.

Might it in fact be this multiplicity of possible readings and visual stratagems, in which the built facts constituting the picture's content become a point of departure rather than an end in themselves, which militates against the genre's widespread adoption in architectural photography? Despite, or maybe because of, the fact that in such pictures there is nothing but building, they can seem, ultimately, to be about something else.     

The study on the integrated control system for curtain wall building façade cleaning robot

Recently, with a growing number of high-rise buildings in cities, interest in building facade maintenance is increasing. The existing method of cleaning the exterior walls of existing high-rise buildings depended on the methods by workers who used ropes, gondolas, and winch systems. Recently, however, BMU (building maintenance unit) has been developed and applied to resolve safety problems and boost work efficiency. In Germany, USA, France and other countries, various types of robot systems for building façade maintenance are being applied. In South Korea, façade cleaning robots attached with curtain walls are also being developed. In this paper, we propose an integrated control system for the stable control of robots with the building façade cleaning technology. The proposed control system can be divided into three stages such as preparation stage, cleaning stage, and return stage. Each independent robot system performs tasks such as cleaning, moving, and obstacle detection according to each stage. A wireless communication system for stable communication between robots was proposed and applied for controlling the robot system. The proposed integrated control system was applied to building façade cleaning robots and its efficiency was verified compared with existing high-rise building cleaning methods.     

Natural cooling strategies efficiency in an office building with a double-skin façade

In these last years, a great deal of interest has been devoted to double-skin façades due to the advantages claimed by this technology (in terms of energy saving in the cold season, high-tech image, protection from external noise and wind loads).The advent of computers and other office equipment increased the internal heat gains in most offices. Highly glazed façade become very common. This, together with the extra heat gains from the electric lighting made necessary by deep floor plans, and the wider use of false ceilings, increased the risk overheating.To preserve comfort and reduce cooling loads, it is important to apply natural cooling strategies.This article examines the efficiency of the various strategies in an office building with and without a double-skin façade during a sunny summer day. It mainly studies the natural night ventilation possibility in related to the double skin orientation and the speed and orientation wind.In this matter, we choose to study a multistory double-skin facades behavior. Simulations were realized with TAS software on the building proposed in the frame of the subtask A of the Task 27 (Performance of solar facade components) of the International Energy Agency, Solar Heating and Cooling Program.     

Thermal characteristics of externally venting flames and their effect on the exposed façade surface

In a compartment fire, Externally Venting Flames (EVF) may significantly increase the risk of fire spreading to adjacent floors or buildings, especially when combustible insulation materials are installed on the building façade. An increasing number of recent reports suggest that existing fire engineering design methodologies cannot describe with sufficient accuracy the characteristics of EVF under realistic fire load conditions. In this context, a series of fire safety engineering design correlations used to describe the main EVF thermal characteristics, namely EVF centreline temperature and EVF-induced heat flux on the exposed façade surface, are comparatively assessed. Towards this end, measurements obtained in a medium- and a large-scale compartment-façade fire test are employed; aiming to broaden the scope of the validation study, predictions of the investigated correlations are further compared to measurements obtained in 6 large-scale fire tests found in the literature. It is found that the correlation proposed in EN1991-1–2 (Eurocode 1) for the estimation of the EVF centreline temperature is under-predicting the measured values in large-scale fire tests. In addition, it is concluded that estimation of the local flame emissivity should take into account the specific fuel type used in each case.     

Dimension stone for building façades: methodology for structural design

The importance of a careful selection of rocks used in building façade cladding is highlighted. A simple and viable methodology for the structural detailing of dimension stones and the verification of the global performance is presented based on a Strap software simulation. The results obtained proved the applicability of the proposed structural dimensioning methodology which represents an excellent simple tool for dimensioning rock slabs used for building façade cladding. The Strap software satisfactorily simulated the structural conditions of the stone slabs under the studied conditions, allowing the determination of alternative slab dimensions and the verification of the cladding strength at the support.     

A non-dimensional analysis of a ventilated double façade energy performance

A method based on dimensional analysis is proposed for a natural ventilated double façade energy performance study. The 14 non-dimensional numbers defined, with physical meaning, can be used to describe thermal and energy performance of different façade designs. A comparison between non-dimensional numbers solved by simulation, experimental data, and the obtained and validated correlation results is reported. A simple tool to evaluate thermal performance of a solar chimney is provided. Applying it, useful design indications can be derived also by varying simple parameters using thermal and physical data easy to get.     

Calibration of a lumped simulation model for double-skin façade systems

The paper describes the calibration of a simulation model of double-skin façade systems with controlled rotating louvers and ventilation openings. The approach is based on a parameter estimation technique and in situ monitoring of a full-scale element mounted on the south facing façade of an existing building. Contrary to similar work that attempts to derive the behavior from detailed modeling of the physical transport phenomena, the new approach is based on a postulated “minimalistic” lumped model, which is calibrated on in-situ measurements. It is found that the calibrated model is surprisingly accurate and ideally suited for use in the ensuing optimal control and performance studies.     

Condition assessment of building façades based on hazard to people

Abstract

To make periodic inspections of the buildings is useful to quantify the extent to which deficiencies are severe or not, in order to facilitate decision making and prioritize interventions. In previous works by the authors is proposed a scale of gravity of damages in buildings, with the aim of being of widespread and of common use among professionals. This scale is applied through the direct assignment (DA) methodology, based on the generic definitions of each degree. It is demonstrated and characterized the existence of certain level of variability among technicians, when assigning gravity values using DA methodology, due to the fuzzy condition of the attribute to be evaluated. The main goal of this paper is to propose a methodology to assign values of gravity, based on hazard for people of detachments from the façade, by using measurable parameters and mathematical functions. The final objective is to reduce the level of variability among inspectors when assessing the condition state of a building façade. The proposed methodology is named system of evaluation of façades (SEF). The methodology can be also extended to the assessment of other building systems as structures or roofs and other type of infrastructures.     

Holistic study of a timber double skin faade: Whole life carbon emissions and structural optimization

The upkeep of existing buildings has a great role to play in reducing the carbon emissions of the built environment. Fac,ade upgrade represents one of the most effective interventions to improve both thermal efficiency and aesthetic appeal of existing buildings. Double Skin Fa c,ades( DSFs) have much to offer due to their use of solar and w ind energy to passively heat and cool indoor spaces,whilst guaranteeing freedom and flexibility in the aesthetic design of the refurbished building. How ever,DSFs also bear an increase in the embodied energy and carbon due to the additional materials required for the extra skin throughout all life cycle stages.In this article,life cycle assessment( LCA) and dynamic energy modelling have been combined through a parametric approach to obtain figures for the w hole-life cycle carbonassessment of 384 different configurations of an innovative,timber-made DSF for UK low-carbon refurbishments. Additionally,the structural design of the fac,ade w as also investigated through a structural optimisation procedure w hich takes into account all relevant loads and ensures minimal use of the structural material.Results show that operational savings outw eigh the embodied impacts and therefore the proposed DSF is a viable and effective solution for net carbon-negative refurbishments. The operational energy modelling also contributes to the characterisation of DSFs thermal behaviour in temperate climates.     

Improving the prediction performance of the finite element model for estimating the technical performance of the distributed generation of solar power system in a building fa? ade

As interest in the distributed generation of solar power system in a building fac,ade continues to increase,its technical performance( i. e. the amount of electricity generation) should be carefully investigated before its implementation. In this regard,this study aimed to develop the nine-node-based finite element model for estimating the technical performance of the distributed generation of solar power system in a building fac,ade( FEM9-node),focusing on the improvement of the prediction performance. The developed model( FEM9-node) was proven to be superior to the four-node-based model( FEM4-node),which was developed in the previous study,in terms of both prediction accuracy and standard deviation. In other words,the prediction accuracy( 3. 55%) and standard deviation( 2. 93%) of the developed model( FEM9-node) was determined to be superior to those of the previous model( FEM4-node)( i. e. 4. 54%and 4. 39%,respectively). The practical application was carried out to enable a decision maker( e. g. construction manager,facility manager) to understand how the developed model works in a clear way. It is expected that the developed model( FEM9-node) can be used in the early design phase in an easy way within a short time. In addition,it could be extended to any other countries in a global environment.     

Hanoi as an assemblage of façades and the Deleuzean diagonal cut

As Vietnam began to enjoy a modicum of affluence in the post-1986 reform era, households sought housing improvements that were variously low-cost, self-help, often improvised, disordered, illegal and, in their effect, informalizing the previously formal. In Hanoi, the ‘tube houses’ of the ancient city were extended vertically and randomly, often exuberantly decorated; the Soviet-gifted, walk-up, concrete blocks of workers housing were typically extended horizontally and randomly with precarious extensions from previously bland façades. These architectural forms are especially linked to the present identity of Hanoi space and enter variously into the artistic imagination of the city. The paper invokes insights from Gilles Deleuze to account for these effusions, notably the idea of the fold and the baroque moment, and the place of the ‘diagonal cut’ through the assemblages of history-memory that constitute nation, city and place.     

Statistical survey of the inspection,diagnosis and repair of painted rendered façades

This paper presents a statistical study on the pathology of painted rendered façades, based on the inspection of 105 façades, in Lisbon, Portugal. Accordingly, the most common types of anomaly in painted renders, their probable causes, related diagnostic tests and repair techniques were studied, using the classification defined in an ‘inspection, diagnosis and repair system’, which was developed to simplify and facilitate the inspection procedure. Some conditioning parameters were evaluated, which provided additional information on the sensitive key factors of this kind of coating and enabled new conclusions to be drawn on the prevention and repair of anomalies.     

Informativeness-guided active learning for deep learning–based façade defects detection

Annotation work is burdensome and challenging for developing a façade defects detector, especially when the raw data set is large but not all useful. To alleviate the problem, this study proposes an informativeness-guided active learning methodology to effectively select informative data to train a robust façade defects detector. A novel data annotation workflow is developed to ensure the high quality of labels. Then, an active learning–based model training strategy is adopted to enable the model to have both the abilities of generalization and discrimination on different defect features. Besides, an innovative informativeness assessment method is proposed by flexibly combining the degree of uncertainty and the degree of representativeness. Through the proposed method, the performance of façade defects detection can be further boosted with the same amount but more informative training data so that the cost-efficiency of human annotation work can be improved.     

Effect of fa?ade systems on the performance of cooling ceilings: In situ measurements

This article presents an innovative fa?ade system designed to increase the thermal comfort inside an office room and to enhance the cooling capacity of the suspended cooling ceiling. A series of measurements is conducted in an existing office building with different fa?ade systems (i.e., a combination of glazing and shading). An innovative fa?ade system is developed based on this intensive set of measurements. The new system enhances the thermal comfort and cooling capacity of the suspended cooling ceiling. The main usage of the new system is the refurbishment and improvement of existing fa?ade systems.     

“Adaptive radiation” optimization for climate adaptive building facade design strategy

This paper introduces an evolutionary algorithm methodology to solve facade optimization problems in different climates. The algorithm is based on the improvement of simple Genetic Algorithm (GA). The concept of Adaptive Radiation (AR) is derived from the biological process of adaptation where specific species are evolutionarily adapted to their immediate ecological niches. This algorithm obtains near global optimal solutions in significantly less computation time than simple GA. AR is implemented in three different climates in the United States to demonstrate its robustness and efficiency. Climate adaptive facade design strategies for these climates are illustrated based on the optimization results.     

Computer simulation of sunlight concentration due to façade shape: application to the 2013 Death Ray at Fenchurch Street,London

Reflected sunlight from the Walkie-Talkie building in 20 Fenchurch Street, London, was reported to have caused the melting of plastic components of a car parked at street level in late August of 2013. The incident was explained by the concave-shaped south façade of the building, which converges solar radiation into a hotspot. In this study, we test the sunlight concentation hypothesis with a lighting simulation. A geometry model with material properties was created, and different weather situations were modelled. The results are illustrated in irradiance maps indicating time, position and peak heat fluxes. The highest simulated flux on the day of the incident was 3320?Wm^?2 (10 to 15 fold increase compared to direct solar radiation). Additionally, the specific time and day for maximum heat fluxes between June and December were determined . For the worst scenario, which was avoided becuase the sky was partially cover with clouds that day and the hotspot did not fall on street level, the simulations showed that the peak heat flux would have reached well over 4000?Wm^?2.     

Is day natural ventilation still possible in office buildings with a double-skin façade?

Double-skin facades are assuming an ever-greater importance in modern building practices. But there are still relatively few buildings in which they have actually been realized, and there is still too little experience of their behaviour in operation.To preserve comfort and reduce cooling loads, it is important to apply natural cooling strategies.This article examines the efficiency of the natural day ventilation in relation to the double-skin orientation and the speed and orientation wind.