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ArchDaily Articles Smart Facades: Buildings that Adapt to the Climate Through their Skin

Smart Facades: Buildings that Adapt to the

Climate Through their Skin
07:30 - 8 August, 2019 | by Eduardo Souza | Translated by Tarsila Duduch
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Facades are the interface between the interior and exterior of a building.
They are the most striking and visible parts of a building, they protect it from
external agents and are one of the main contributors to creating comfortable
environments since it is where thermal gains and losses occur. Just like our
skin, an extremely versatile organ of our body, it should be natural for it to be
the part of the building which bears technology capable of becoming
adaptable to the environmental conditions of the place where it is located.

This is why the term Smart Facades has been increasingly mentioned. A
facade can be considered smart when it adapts to environmental conditions
and transforms itself simultaneously. This happens through its components
(passive or active), which adjust to adapt to di�erent conditions, responding
to changes that occur on the outside and inside of the building. When it
comes to facades, the main focus is on the equation of maximizing natural
sunlight, protecting from solar radiation, while controlling ventilation and
heat input/output. These exchanges can occur through the glazing, which
can be considered smart when its properties of light transmittance shi� due
to electrical voltage, light or heat is then applied, causing the glass to change
its appearance thus altering the intensity as well as certain wavelengths of
light.

Last week, we published an article on adaptive facades for more resilient

architecture that features a variety of technologies that adapt to the
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environment. Although many of the solutions presented there may seem like
science fiction, there already are options available in the market for smart
facades, with modern glasses that control light transmittance, transparency,
and the phenomenon of snow melting, to make buildings more intelligent
and ecological. We have selected some market solutions below:

Glass that changes its appearance upon stimulation

SageGlass is an electrochromic glass from Saint-Gobain. By modifying the

voltage applied to the glass panes, it is possible to control their color and,
consequently, change the intensity of light and radiation, such as ultraviolet
and infrared, that will be transmitted through these materials. That is, this
dynamic glass allows building users to actively control daylight and solar
heat, improving comfort and significantly reducing energy consumption.
Dynamic glass tinting is enabled by an intelligent control system that uses
sensors to automatically tint in response to lighting conditions. It is also
possible to control its appearance from a mobile phone. 

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PRIVA-LITE, however, is a unique solution in space management through the
instant control of opalescence (transparency and translucency). It is an
active glass that, powered by electricity, changes from translucent to
transparent without changing light transmittance. Also, the glass o�ers the
possibility of performing dynamic projections of videos and images,
transforming the facade into a large screen.

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Glass that provides heat to the interior

EGLAS is an integrated invisible heating solution, which allows greater

internal comfort, both visual and thermal. It was developed in 1986 in
Finland and, of course, is intended for colder countries. It is designed to
provide heat from the glass and is based on two factors: electric current and
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a layer of metal oxides, applied on one surface of the glass. Depending on
the type of application and the glass structure, in addition to helping heating
up the room, it can also fulfill the functions of preventing condensation and
even snow melting.

Self-cleaning glass

Self-cleaning glass is a reality as well. A transparent coating of hydrophobic

and photocatalytic mineral materials is applied during the manufacturing
process, enabling the glass to use the power of UV radiation, contained in
sunlight, and the rain to e�iciently control the dirt that accumulates on the
outside of the windows. Exposure to UV radiation triggers the decomposition
of organic dirt and makes the glass surface hydrophilic. The rain (or water)
forms a layer across the glass and rinses o� organic dirt and mineral ›
materials.

It is important to note that, despite the technological advances concerning

facades, many gains in terms of sustainability can be made through
conscious design and by choosing materials that are suited to the climate
and the environment. The combination of both traditional and intelligent
systems and materials can enhance the comfort and e�iciency of a building.

Learn More About The Following Products

Ventilated Curtain Wall - Europlate®

POHL

Ventilated Curtain Wall - Europanel®

POHL

Curtain Walls Systems

OTTOSTUMM

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About this author

Eduardo Souza
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See more:

News Articles Saint Gobain Sustainability

Comfort and Sustainability in Architecture Materials Multi Comfort

Cite: Souza, Eduardo. "Smart Facades: Buildings that Adapt to the Climate Through
their Skin" [Fachadas Inteligentes: Edifícios adaptando-se ao clima através da pele] 08
Aug 2019. ArchDaily. (Trans. Duduch, Tarsila) Accessed 9 Aug 2019.
<https://www.archdaily.com/922537/smart-facades-buildings-that-adapt-to-the-
climate-through-their-skin/> ISSN 0719-8884
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