AUTHOR: Antheia Crasto I Mrunal Deshmukh I Bhumika Suthar
February 15, 2022
Innovation in architecture has been constant throughout history from simple caves that served the purpose of individual shelter to today’s public spaces that serve to the collective multidisciplinary functions. It is evident that architecture has been judged by its façades which makes it one of the important characteristics of a building. It gives identity to a particular architectural style or an era in history. This makes innovation in traditional facades vital to not only serve today’s modern trends but also evolved functions of a built form
Building facades primarily act like a skin, an intermediate between the interior and the exterior. They shield the interiors against environmental factors and play a role in energy efficiency to provide comfort that enhances the productivity of its users. In contemporary times the traditional facades necessarily do not serve today’s complex functions and at the same time it’s sustainable needs. here the technological advancements play a vital role for managing the building systems efficiently. A building façade is exposed to changing environmental factors. In responsive facade system the building façade changes its character according to the need of the building minimizing energy consumption and giving the building its unique character or identity.
User control facade – Kiefer Technic Showroom, Austria (2007)
It is a simple technology which responds only to the use input from the building occupants. The façade itself is functioning as a shading device but given the users to control the angle of the panel, and amount of light transmission.
Lighting projection – Galleria Centricity by UNStudio (2010).
The strategy consists of creating an optical illusion. The facades feature two layers of customized aluminium extrusion profiles on top of a back layer of composite aluminium cladding. This results in a wave-like appearance, which changes with the viewpoint of the spectator
Light Control Dynamic Façade- Abu Dhabi’s 25-story Al Bahr Towers
Each of the 1000 panels is connected to a linear actuator which enables it to function in response to the position of the sun, effectively reducing heat gain and glare by 50% while giving Islamic vernacular a contemporary representation.
Seasonal Green Dynamic Façade – Travessa Do Patrocinio in Lisbon, Portugal (2012)
The walls are completely covered with vegetation, creating a vertical garden, filled with different varieties of vegetations.
Wind Responsive Dynamic Façade – Domestic Terminal Carpark in Australia (2011)
This structure has installed 250,000 aluminium plates to create this wind-powered façade without wasting energy. “Viewed from the exterior, eastern side appears to ripple fluidly as the wind activates 250,000 suspended aluminium panels.
The intermediate skin has been defined through mediums of kinetic facades, green cover, Energy efficient facades and interactive facades. As the needs evolve there is a scope in use of different other mediums to define this intermediate skin which in turn defines the architecture for that period as ornamentation in facades was a sign of hierarchy in ancient architecture , Glass facades a sign of prosperity, and energy efficient facades as a response to the present and future deteriorating climatic conditions.
References:
https://www.archdaily.com/69219/uap-ned-kahn-to-create-kinetic-artwork-for-brisbane-airport
https://www.arch2o.com/dynamic-facades-the story
https://www.slideshare.net/jalsai/07-responsive-facade-for-energy-efficiency-in-building
Architectural Trends & Theories 
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