Integration of a lightweight plug-in adaptive envelope to maximize performance of natural lighting of existing buildings

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the environmental renovation of multi-storey buildings through the integration of a lightweight plug-in adaptive envelope. The adaptive envelope incorporates a series of passive environmental strategies to achieve indoor conditions improvement, with emphasis on natural lighting performance. The creation of an advanced envelope design also affects the architectural appearance of the building itself and of the city in general. Given that the proposed envelope is intended for mass production and application on existing buildings, parameters such as the structural system, as well as the construction techniques and materials applied, are taken into consideration. Additionally, the research takes into account the constructability of the unit components and their ability to be deformed, adapting their shape according to the environmental requirements of the system. The geometrical configuration and adaptive behaviour of the plug-in envelope is modelled using parametric associative design tools. For evaluation purposes, visual analysis software simulation has been employed. The simulation results are presented and discussed on a comparative basis, indicating the potentials of the proposed façade system to be used effectively for the improvement of natural lighting performance and glare issues of indoor spaces in existing buildings and consequently of their lighting performance.