CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

“Design is a way of inquiring, a way of producing knowing and

knowledge; this means it is a way of researching.”

(Downton, 2003)
 INTRODUCTION

1. Introduction
Over the past few years, kinetic facades have emerged as alternative building
envelopes, intended to meet the growing of varying and complex demands related to
user comfort, energy consumption and cost efficiency. This concept has been
described in a number of ways, ranging from the usage of inventive components to
highly complex designs and advance technical application.

In this research, kinetic facades are defined as the ability to response and adapt to
the changes of the environmental situations. The plans mostly focus on the functions
and performances of kinetic facades in the context of indoor daylight quality and
thermal heat performance. These are attained by examining the role of kinetic
elements on the building facades to form effective kinetic configurations in response
to environmental changes.

Designing and valuing responsive kinetic facades are difficult tasks as they include
interactive kinetic elements within three-dimensional dynamic physical elements or
constituents that continuously change.

1.1 Need for the study :

Majority of buildings existing these days that employ active systems are mere glass
boxes or normal glass cladding. The controlled environment of these buildings leads
to health problems like sick building disorder and other building related illness,
reduces productivity of the staff and also increase in solar radiations back from the
building façade .The dissertation tries to establish a relationship between kinetic
facades and the productivity of the users.

The green building rating systems like LEED and GRIHA consider thermal comfort
as specified by ASHRAE, day lighting in 75% of spaces and views for 90% of spaces
in their specification necessities. The impact of these parameters on the occupants is
not considered while certifying green and sustainable buildings. The dissertation tries
to explore adaptability of kinetic facades as a parameter to increase productivity in a
building.

It is assumed that adopting kinetic facades lead to an increase in the cost. Adaptable
skin is one of the factors that can enhance productivity by altering the built
environment. The dissertation bridges the gap in knowledge that gains from
increased productivity are much higher than the cost saved on doing away with
kinetic facades.

Moreover buildings with kinetic facades are very low in India , therefore getting the
concept of kinetic facades and introduction them would be a great advantage for the
architecture society in terms of energy efficiency and productivity of the building
build.

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1.2 Aim: To study kinetic facades with response to environmental conditions &
energy efficiency.

1.3 Objectives:
 To understand the physical transformation of kinetic pattern and evaluate the
performance of kinetic facades in response to environmental conditions.
 To understand the mechanism of kinetics in building facades.
 To formulate a kinetic façade mechanism which is suitable for Indian context.
 To study the needs and methods of application of intelligent facades in the
form of parametric facades, low energy facades etc.
 To understand the buildings capability to perform functions that would be
impossible for a static structure.
 To evaluate the role of improvising kinetic facades in energy efficiency.

1.4 Scope :
 The scope of the dissertation is to simply provide an understanding of what
kinetic facades are.
 A study of the materials and techniques used to construct kinetic facades
with response to weather conditions .
 Different climatic conditions require different ways to achieve adaptability in
kinetic facades. What may be acceptable in hot and humid climate to achieve
adaptability may not be in a tropical climate.
 Secondary case study have been derived from various countries. The
dissertation is not specific to any location or region but is specific to the issue
addressed.
 Primary case study would be done in Ahmedabad, India as only few buildings
with kinetic facades are present in India.

1.5 Limitations :
 kinetic facades work only with hot weather conditions therefore the
dissertation is limited to only hot climatic conditons.
 The buildings with kinetic facades are considered and not kinetic architecture,
therefore no calculations , software’s, programs has been involved .
 Secondary case study have been derived from various countries. The
dissertation is not specific to any location or region but is specific to the issue
addressed. Due to lack of case studies in India the research is mainly limited
to secondary sources of information.

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1.6 METHODOLOGY:

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