Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development (RESD) Volume 3 Issue 1, Special Issue, March 2017 - ISSN 2356-8569

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This Paper has been Accepted and Presented in the (First International Conference on New Trends for Sustainable Energy)
1-3 October, 2016 at Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt.

Dynamic Facades
Environmental Control Systems for Sustainable Design
Dr. Riham Nady
Lecturer, Department of Architectural Engineering , Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt
[email protected]

Abstract - Façades are the most strategic and visible automated control systems and its effect on the
part of the building which leads to an improvement in building environment. At the end, the paper tries to
appearance and environmental performances in demonstrate if these facade systems and strategies
buildings. Facades play a significant role in the quality could be applicable on the buildings in Egypt.
of a building. It forms the barrier between the internal Finally, the paper aims at integrating the dynamic
space and the outside climate. This means that the facades in buildings as an environmental control
façade is the medium through which the interaction system to achieve a sustainable design to reach good
takes place between the activities, inside and outside. energy performance in buildings.
The image of a building, and therefore for the users, is
reflected through the design of the façade. Keywords - dynamic facades; sustaianble design;
energy efficiency; environemtal control.
In recent practices, architects and engineers are
strategically designing and installing dynamic facades I. INTRODUCTION
not only for their aesthetic values, but also for
improving the buildings’ energy performance. The In recent years, contemporary architecture has been
high integration of these strategies for dynamic deeply influenced by the urgent need for reducing
facades increases their durability and suitability, with harmful emissions of carbon dioxide in the
current building demands, which targets for energy atmosphere. The building sector constitutes in fact
efficiency and thermal comfort level. one of the most energy consuming sectors of the
world economy. However, buildings are also
In the meantime, recent studies show that the majority potentials and powerful agents able to carry out with
of people spend up to 90% of their time indoors effectiveness and relatively rapid’s time actions to
especially in hot climates. This trend has had a high minimize emissions, through the drastic reduction of
impact on the requirements of the indoor environment, their energy consumption. With regard to energy
consequently turning the buildings into complex consumption, sustainable building is often directed at
devices that ensure the wellbeing of the people who energy-efficient use of fossil fuels and the generation
use them. Therefore, users are starting to look for of renewable energy through technical appliances.
new products for the façade design that comply with These measures may be considered adjustments to a
the requirements of energy. This poses an important furthermore traditional way of building, ignoring the
question, is there anything to be done to this specific fact that the building itself can be innovated to an
part of the building in order to positively influence the intelligent, responsive or even proactive device.
overall energy need of the building? From this perception, the building is to be fire-tuned
to its environments and interact intelligently with local
The paper will discuss the concept and the characteristics such as: climate, type of soil and
importance of dynamic facades according to their surroundings. This interaction is most logically
design and types, implementations, current performed by the building skin: the roof, the ground
challenges and climate impacts. It will highlight the floor and the façade, where in changeable climates
history of these facades and the essential parameters the use of building mass of the thermally subsoil is an
which make the building sustainable through its effective means to smooth big temperature
facades. Moreover, the paper will analyze two differences.
examples of buildings with dynamic facades with

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In this paper, the concept of dynamic facades will be exchanges energy with the external environment,
explored. Also, the importance of active facades this increases energy performance. The façade
according to their design and types will be discussed. protects structures and interiors of the building and
The paper will present the role of building facades this contributes to the extension of the life of the
particularly “dynamic facades” as an innovative building [2].Thus, the building’s façade should
solution that makes buildings sustainable to different function as a mediator between the external and
conditions and responsive to different environmental internal environments which can be entrusted with
needs. In addition, the paper analyzes two multiple vital functions that dictate the building’s
applications in different regions with different climates energy consumption and which determine the
that deal with technological and environmental indoor environmental quality [3]. Dynamic facades
aspects in sustainable building skins and their role in are “facades with the ability to respond to their
fulfilling the environmental demands. environment by either typological change of
material properties that alter the overall form or
Finally, the paper ends up with a comparison local alteration by regulating their energy
between the two applications to reach different consumption to reflect the environmental conditions
solutions to be applied on the Egyptian building that surrounds it”.
facades which could control the surrounding
environment and be sustainable. Traditionally, the design of a building’s façade is
“static”, where the external environmental boundary
II. THE BUILDING SKIN AS A SEPRATING AND A conditions are designed to be constantly changing.
LINKING ELEMENT BETWEEN INSIDE AND As a result, traditional facades are not capable of
OUSIDE adapting and responding to various changes that
they are exposed to. According to a recently
Despite changed cultural, economic, building completed project of the International Agency –
technological and energetic parameters, the principal Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community
task of architecture is still to create a comfortable Systems Programme, the development, application
“shelter”. In other words, the fundamental aim of a and the implementation of dynamic facades provide
building is to protect people from the external climate a necessary step towards creating improvements
conditions, such as intensive solar radiation, extreme for energy efficiency within building environments.
temperatures, precipitation and wind. In construction, However, through the use of dynamic facades, the
the building skin is the primary subsystem through buildings have the ability to react to these
which prevailing external conditions can be conditions with improved energy efficiency in the
influenced and regulated to meet the comfort building [2].Facades that respond to the
requirements of the user inside the building. Like the environment are considered as part of the
skin and clothing of humans, this raiment, too, fulfills building’s envelope in a primarily different way.
the tasks demand of it by performing a number of Dynamic facades actively adapt to their behavior
functions made possible by means of the appropriate over time in response to changing environmental
design and construction. conditions and performance requirements. The
term “dynamic” in architecture has been described
The building skin is the dominant system in all as the ability of artificial and natural systems to
subsystems of a building-the load bearing structure, adapt to varying environmental conditions. Also,
mechanical services and spatial framework-not only this term is used to describe the interaction
in terms of design, but also fulfill a multitude of vital between external environmental conditions and the
functions and is a principal factor in the energy façade systems. Thus, environmental conditions
consumption of a building [1]. can encompass a range of different elements such
as daylight, wind and heat. However, the term
III. CONCEPT OF DYNAMIC FACADES “environmental conditions” are associated with
solar radiation, daylight and heat [3].
The façade is a strategic element because it is the
most visible part of the building. This leads to an IV. HISTORY OF DYNAMIC FACADES
improvement in environmental and appearance
performances of a building. The façade also Within the scope of the technologies of their time,
traditional farmhouses had already made optimum

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use of energy-saving potentials. The heat generated In other words, the regulation and the adaptability of
by the livestock was used for heating the building, and skin were achieved with control system that is
straw and hay were not merely bedding and feed but intelligently planned and easy to operate.
provided insulation. Energy consumption caused by
burning firewood was kept to a minimum. Windows V. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDOOR
had folding shutters that created a thermal buffer
THERMAL COMFORT AND BUILDING FACADE
between the glass and the shutter at night, very much
like a double-skin façade today. Double skin
structures make up one of the most widely employed In general, facades are designed to respond to many
functional principles used to protect against exterior scenarios and perform functions that can be
environmental influences through the façade contradictory to each other: daylighting versus energy
envelope. Prior to the development of insulated glass, efficiency, ventilation versus views and energy
a second window was insulated to utilize the area generation. Since a wide range of environmental
between the two windows as a thermal buffer. The parameters can affect the quality of indoor spaces and
combination of two single glass panes generated user’s satisfaction. Numerous studies have been
higher insulation values and adapted to the prevailing conducted by researchers and architects in order to
weather conditions. During winter both windows establish design strategies to create acceptable
remained closed, whereas during summer, the indoor environments in accordance with the behavior
exterior windows opened to promote ventilation [4]. of users and locality of the buildings. Hence, in view of
the indoor environmental quality, most of the
In modern times, glass has been used more researchers concentrate on the thermal aspects of
frequently, however, this has increased the issue of environments and the condition of human thermal
excessive cool down in winter and overheating in comfort inside the building.
summer.
Facades are the main constitute of the building
As early as 1929, the integration of the building skin envelope and a boundary between external and
and the building mechanics was of vital importance in internal environments, considerably impact the
the goal to successfully translate and realize environmental conditions of indoor spaces, the
innovative façade concepts. Le Corbusier formulated thermal performance of buildings and subsequently
a concept for a building envelope with positive the user’s satisfaction. Hence, thermal comfort
impacts on the indoor climate in Precisions: On the conditions depend not only on the external
Present State of Architecture and City Planning. He environmental factors (i.e. air temperature, air
talked about the “Mur-rneutralisant”: ‘We have seen movement, solar radiation) but also mainly on the
that these neutralizing walls are in glass, in stone, or
architectural parameters and design elements such as
in both. They are made up of two membranes with a
the position and orientation of building, façade
space of few centimeters between them…A circuit in
that narrow interval between membranes, hot air is materials, shading devices, type and location of
pushed if in Moscow, cold air if at Dakar. The result: windows and roof shapes. Thence, design and
one has regulated in such a way that the inside face, selection of facades during the design process of
the inside membrane, stays at a temperature of 18 building should be considered as one of the major
degrees”. tasks in order to support the quality of visual and
thermal sensations in indoor environments [5].
Le Corbusier’s thoughts were never conveyed into a
satisfactory result. His ideas were far ahead of his VI. PARAMETERS FOR DESIGNING DYNAMIC
time. Today his “Mur-neutralisant” can be seen as the
FAÇADE
predecessor of the exhaust-air façade. This type of
façade allows regulating the environment of the
usable spaces individually independent on the exterior The concept of dynamic facades is not new, however,
environment by employing a combination of a double- it is only during the last few years that architects and
skin structure and an air-conditioning unit. Whereas engineers have started to trust these systems and use
Le Corbusier aimed to moderate the room adjacent to them in building. Facades focus on feasibility systems
the façade with an artificial environment in the building for developing the quality and economy of this
envelope, modern environmental concepts used the technology to be sustainable in the future [6].There
gap between the façade layers to create a buffer. are several parameters that should be included when
Thus, the façade space creates an intermediate designing building facades. Each has the potential to
environment between the interior and the exterior [4]. define the character and affect the overall perception
of a building.

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 Sun ccontrol  Moisture control

Thermal and visual comforts are dependent on Bitumen, a natural substance consisting mainly of
controlling the light entering a building through its hydrocarbons, is frequently used to create moisture
façade. The amount of light admitted to a building barriers in buildings. It is often thought of the outer
correlates directly with an increase in interior most skin as the water barrier, but more frequently it is
temperatures, affecting the comfort level of the users as a rainscreen. There are two kinds of moisture to
within. Blinds can provide a simple way to restrict contend with when trying to keep the building dry: rain
sunlight subtly without affecting the overall and condensation. When large temperature
appearance of the building. Alternatively, shading differentials occur between the interior space and the
elements can be highlighted by integrating the solar exterior, condensation forms on the colder surface.
strategy into the façade. Protection is necessary to prevent this moisture from
seeping into the building. The rainscreen and moisture
 Natural ventilation barrier work together to prevent the unwanted rain
and condensation from entering the building.
The building skin plays an important role in terms of
the natural air exchange in buildings. Ventilation  Structural efficiency
strategies can also give a strong character to the
elements of a façade. They can be simple, small, It is important to integrate structure into the building
repetitive louvers that allow for localized air skin. High-rise construction is primarily concerned with
circulation, or involved mechanical systems that direct carrying lateral loads, so the diagonal lateral bracing
fresh air throughout the building. of the building often called the “Gherkin” is expressed
as part of the skin, helping to define the character of
 Daylighting the building.

The use of natural daylight is important, both in terms  Material choices

of the comfort and contentment of the users and with
regard to reducing the requirements for artificial light. Materials can give a very distinctive character to a
Daylight systems can be achieved mainly through building. Although they are often overlooked by
passive measures. A simple movable light shelf can professionals early in the design process, materials
bounce light deep into the space, illuminating the are seminal because their texture and appearance
interior by taking advantage of the reflectivity of the define the experience of the building. Materials also
ceiling. Daylight levels are known to affect the mental play a primary technological role and have a
health of the users. tremendous effect on the comfort of the building.

 Connection to outdoors  Possibility of energy generation

There is also the possibility for a building’s skin to

Connection to the outdoors is another sustainability
become an energy source. Photovoltaics or flexible
feature that is physiological in nature, like daylighting.
solar thin films can be integrated into facades to
This could be achieved by applying glass protected by
simultaneously generate power and shade a building
a vegetated screen that serves as a visual connection
[7]. To advance the issue of the building skin with a
to the outdoors. Sometimes, the walls can open,
view to creating truly sustainable and enduring
connecting the interior of the building directly with the
architecture, planning must be goal-oriented,
outdoors. The aim is to blur the boundary between the
responsible and sensible. Also, a high degree of
interior and exterior space, enhancing the feeling of
technical and creative ability is essential. The
building in nature.
enormous potential of the building skin must be
realized from structural, functional, aesthetic and
 Thermal insulation
ecological perspectives to promote advances in the
development of architecture that is oriented towards
Thermal insulation systems employ materials and
sustainable future [1]
components capable of reducing heat loss through
transmittance, convection or radiation. The invisible VII. TYPES OF DYNAMIC FACADES
insulation in walls has a huge potential to impact the
thermal performance of a building. A particular The environment is the key factor that impacts the
δ
insulation’s make up and placement within the design of facades, the amount of layering and the
layering of the building skin can have large z
material choice, all is dependent on these external
consequences that are observable in the thermal
forces. So, there are several types ofs dynamic
performance and aesthetics of the building skin [7].
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facades which could be put in category according to B. Light Control Dynamic Façade
the previous parameters.
In this type of façade, automated shading and
A. User Control Dynamic Façade daylighting control systems are integrated and operate
appropriately for all environmental conditions. A
The user control system is an automated system that notable example is the Arab Institute in Paris
provides solutions for some time to convey the designed by Jean Nouvel in 1988. The façade of the
actuated and responsive reactions to passive building showed continuous considerations for the
processes. Applying such a technology to a building’s surface that can actively respond to changes in
façade and integrate it with intelligent features will environmental conditions “Fig.2 and 3”. The south of
develop an adaptive system that will transmit a higher the facades is composed of a 20x10 grid square bays
level of performance while reducing the negative that consist of a central circular shutter that was set
impact of the environmental conditions and the within a small grid of shutters – the design was
consumption of resources. As a consequence, adopted from the geometry of traditional Arab
designing any façade system should take advantage screens. These screens operate like a series of
of all the surrounding conditions and resources to camera lenses, shrinking and widening in response to
develop intelligent techniques that observe occupants’ sensors to control the penetration of sunlight into the
behavior and thus control the façade and achieve a building.
performative envelope that enhances energy
efficiency, adaptivity and aesthetics.In general,
dynamic and adaptive façade implies that the
intelligent objects and components will be featured
with enhanced abilities to communicate and interact
with environmental conditions and user behavior and
respond to changes in external climatic
circumstances. Therefore, the situational information Fig .2. The façade of Arab Fig .3. The dynamic
can provide the users with complete control through Institute (Paris) circular shutter adopted
applications to accomplish its process and adjust its from the traditional
functions [8].The following example illustrates this mashrabiya

type of dynamic façade. Kiefer Technic Showroom A similar pattern of design was adopted by AEDAS in
designed by Ernst Giselbrecht + Partner (2007) Abu Dhabi in Al Bahr Towers (2012). The building
located in Steiermark, Austria. It is an office building consists of a membrane clad dynamic façade with a
and an exhibition space with a dynamic façade similar hexagonal pattern in the construction of the
“Fig.1”. In this building, the façade changes active surfaces “Fig.4 and 5”. The design of the
continuously, each day, each hour which shows a new dynamic “mashrabiya” adopted a similar concept by
“face” that turns into a dynamic sculpture. It changes Nouval to create a responsive façade. The dynamic
according to the outdoor conditions to optimize mashrabiya includes 1,049 units for the west and east
internal climate while allowing users to personalize side of the building, which claims to be the world’s
their own spaces with user controls. The façade largest, computerized façade built today for 150
exterior insulation and finishing system (EIFS) in white metres high towers. The facades create a folding and
plaster operates automatically and can be controlled unfolding movement, which adapts to the sun and the
by users. The façade shading not only can give the changing environmental conditions [4].This system is
flexibility in controlling the outdoor conditions, but also predicted to reduce the solar energy entering the
can lend variable forms to the façade design [9]. building by 20%. Also, it is claimed that the design has
resulted in 40% saving in carbon dioxide emissions.

Fig .1. The dynamic façade of Kiefer Technic Showroom Fig .4. Al Bahr dynamic facades

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park’s entire eastern side appeared to ripple fluidity as

the wind activates 250,000 suspended aluminum
panels. As it responds to the ever-changing patterns
of the wind, the façade created a direct interface
between the built and the natural environments. The
façade itself constantly stays in moving motion as the
wind blows.
Fig .5. The folding and unfolding movement of the facade
E. Façades Designed to Manage Water
C. Energy Control Dynamic Façade
A fundamental role for high-performance buildings is
Another application for dynamic facades is saving the management of water. It is imperative that roofs
energy in buildings and controlling energy and facades effectively manage rainfall through
performance in buildings. Energy conscious facades material selection and articulated detailing from top to
is where the envelope has construction functions such
as strength and rigidity, stability and durability, control bottom. Rainscreens are innovative solution to
of heat, air and moisture vapor flows, control of liquid manage rain and vapor migration. As buildings
water movement cost-effectiveness and fire embrace a greater set of sustainability challenges,
resistance. The envelope is responsible for the they also need to collect rainwater. There is a decline
building energy performance [10]. in sources of fresh water and increase of storm runoff
This is illustrated in Henning Larsen’s University challenges. The importance of designing building to
Building in Kolding, Denmark that moves in response catch and store water is of growing importance.
to changing heat and light “Fig. 6”. The daylight
changes and varies during the course of the day and VIII. APPLICATIONS ON DYNAMIC FACADES
year. Thus, Kolding Campus is fitted with dynamic
solar shading, which adjusts to the specific climate
A. Masdar Institute for Science and Technology
conditions and user patterns and provides optimal
daylight and a comfortable indoor climate spaces (Abu Dahabi, United Arab Emirates)
along the façade. The solar shading systems consist
of approximately 1,600 triangular shutters of Masdar Institute for Science and Technology (2007-
perforated steel. They are mounted on the façade in a 2010) is located in Masdar City under the supervision
way which allows them to adjust to the changing of Masdar Initiative. It is designed by Foster +
daylight and the desired inflow of light. When the
Partners “Fig. 7”. Abu Dhabi’s climate is considered to
shutters are closed, they lie flat along the façade,
while they produce from the façade when half-open of be subtropical climate, with temperatures that very
entirely open and provide the building with a very from warm in winter months to hot in summer with
expressive appearance. The solar shading system is sunny blue skies prevail throughout the year and
fitted with sensors which continuously measure light rainfall is infrequent which affect the building
and heat levels and regulate the shutters
architecture design to fulfill the environmental and
mechanically by means of a small motor [11].
climatic conditions.

Fig .6. The dynamic patterns in the façade of Henning Larsen’s

University Building Fig .7. Masdar Institute for Science and Technology (Abu Dhabi-
U.A.E)
D. Wind Responsive Dynamic Façade
 Sun control
Wind as a natural element itself is strong enough to
provide a dynamic pattern of motion without wasting Windows that are not already shaded by adjacent
any energy. Brisbine domestic Terminal Carpark in buildings have louvers vertical to block morning and
Australia (2011) has installed 250,000 aluminum afternoon and horizontal to block mid-day sun-set to
plates to create this wind-powered façade. The car prevent direct sunlight from shining into the building.

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 Natural ventilation which is characterized by its hot humid, heavy rain

climate with predictable prevailing north, south and
There is a contemporary re-interpretation of the south west winds. Summer season is long, wet, hot
traditional Arabic wind tower which brings cooling and humid, where winter is mild, dry and free of snow
breezes to the courtyard. Rising 45 meters above the with average mean temperature. These climatic
podium, this modern interpretation will be a landmark conditions played an immense role in terms of
for Masdar city. Sensors at the top of the steel different design and sustainability integrated either on
structure operate high level louvers to open in the the building scale or façade scale.
direction of the prevailing winds and to close in other
directions to divert wind down the tower. A PTFE
(non-stick brand Teflon) membrane carry the wind
downward while mist generators at the top add
additional cooling to the air. Combinations of
evaporative cooling and air movement techniques
help to moderate perceived air temperatures, thereby
improving users’ comfort.

 Moisture control Fig .7. The dynamic façade of Pearl River Tower (China)

Behind the foil is a highly insulating and highlysealed  Sun control

panel. Aside from the rest of the façade, are highly
sealed, insulated and wrapped 90% windows, Pearl River Tower integrates various technologies in
recycled aluminum sheeting and rose-red color. building skin design as follows:
Double glazed wall system:
 Material The north and south façade are double layer curtain
wall system which offers insulation that reduces heat
Facades at Masdar city incorporate a variety of gain and leads to less demand on HVAC systems.
technologies and materials to address sustainable
building. Laboratory buildings are characterized by air- Exterior glazing material:
filled ETFE cushions (30 cm thick) that ensure almost Exterior glazing is insulated, tempered glass with low-
no solar gain on the structure and limit the heat re- coating. The inner layer is operable clear glass on the
radiated to the street. A reflective foil-clad inner layer building south face where low-emittance glass is
behind the cushions send light to the pedestrian street coated with microscopically thin, virtually invisible
below. metal layer that reduces thermal conductivity.
Triple glazed façade:
 Energy generation
East and west facades are associated with external
There are over 5,000 square meter roof dynamic shades and automated blinds within the facades
photovoltaic panels which provide power and further cavity. A photovoltaic system is integrated into the
protection from the direct sun. The photovoltaic array building’s external shading system and glass outer
above the building helps to provide 30% of the skin.
electrical load of the city [12].
 Ventilation
B. Pearl River Tower (Guangzhou, China)
The most innovative of Pearl River’s element are the
Pearl River Tower is located in Guangzhou, China. It
vertical axis integrated wind turbines that are used for
was constructed under the supervision of CNTC
catching the prevailing winds from the south and the
Guangzhou Tobacco Company. It was designed and
notrth with minimum loss.
constructed by Skidmore Owings & Merill with partner
Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill during the period 2006  Shading
– 2010 and it had been awarded in 2008 for Green,
Carbon Lowering and Environmental Category: Gold As all the facades of Pearl River Tower are double
Award “Fig. 8”.Guangzhou is in south eastern China glazed facades, then shading blinds are placed within

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their cavities where motorized venetian blinds is in the IX. TRANSFORMING TRADITIONAL FACADES
east and west double façade. The blind position is INTO DYNAMIC FACADES IN EGYPT
determined by a photocell that tracks the sun position
to ensure occupancy comfort from both solar gains So, the question now, after studying the parameters of
and glare. dynamic facades, could these facades be applied in
buildings in the Egyptian context?
 Energy generation
The answer is yes, however there are some criteria
There are photovoltaic panels which are integrated concerning the climate of the region, the materials
into the facades to transform the sun’s energy to used and the availability of technologies. Also, design
usable AC current where the use of PV cells could be of facades should take the surrounding environment
productive if it is used on certain portions on the of the country, the sun path, wind and humidity and
building envelope. the use of energy consumed in consideration.

Also, Pearl River Tower is planned to utilize hydrogen This can be achieved through the delicate traditional
fuel cells in the building façade to store excess mashrabiya which has offered effective protection
generated energy and convert gas into electricity with against intense sunlight in Egypt for several centuries.
more than 50% energy efficiency which could be used However, nowadays this traditional Islamic window
as power energy for cooling and ventilation [10]. element, with its characteristic lattice-work, is used to
cover entire buildings as an oriental ornament
Table 1. Comparison between the parameters of the two applications
providing local identity and a sun-shading device for
Parameter Applications cooling.
MIST (Masdar City, Pearl River Tower
U.A.E.) (Guangzhou, China In fact, designers have transformed this vernacular
Facades are
Vertical louvers to associated with wooden structure into high-tech responsive daylight
1. Sun control prevent direct external shades and system according to the external conditions.
sunlight interior automated
blinds
Consists of a The ancient mashrabiya merges cultural, visual and
double glazed technical aspects. Therefore, this window screen is
Re-interpreation of
2. Natural façade with integral
the traditional Arabic often found towards the street to enable discretion
ventilation spandrel panels and
wind tower
cavity space for air and allow cool air to pass through the façade. Several
cooling
newer buildings in Egypt have transformed the
Integrated glass
façade to provide oriental window technique into dynamic facades to
visual reduce the cooling loads for the interior.
3. Daylighting N/A transmissions,
enhancing daylight
and reduce artificial Also, the malqaf is another façade element which
lighting could be used in a dynamic way. It is a suitable
4. Connection
N/A N/A source for natural ventilation in buildings especially in
to outdoors
5. Thermal
N/A N/A hot arid regions. It is a device or a shaft rising high
insulation
above the building where it is cooler and stronger and
6. Moisture
High insulated panels N/A the wind channels down into the interior of the
control
7. Structural building.
N/A N/A
efficiency
air-filled ETFE
8. Material
choices
cushions with N/A The malqaf could be adapted to move dynamically
reflective fiol cladding
according to the direction of the prevailing winds of
Energy is 44% less
Energy is 60% less the city/country which creates air movement and
9. Energy using photvoltaic cells
using photvoltaic
genration and hydrogen fuel consequently natural ventilation . The following table
panels
cells
(Table 2) proposes some ways for improving the
façade systems in Egypt. These recommended ways
could increase comfort and reduce energy
consumption and improve daylighting inside buildings.

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 Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development (RESD) Volume 3 Issue 1, Special Issue, March 2017 - ISSN 2356-8569
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Table 1. Recommended ways for improving façade systems in Egypt shading and reduce energy consumption. There are
some recommendations for architects and
Design Materials Systems Performance
- Automation - Advanced governments in order to enhance the application of
- Advanced
- Daylighting materials sustainable dynamic facades strategies.
foundations
- Design for - Advanced
- Double
adaptability insulation - Modeling
enevelope
- Design for - Air/Vapor - Monitoring
intelligence barriers
- Intelligent
- Testing A. Responsibilites for Architects:
envelope
- Design tools - Intelligent - Rating
sysstems
- Modular materials criteria Designers should consider important issues for
- energy
coordination - Resource-
- Natural efficient
services efficient dynamic facades. These issues affect the
- rainscreen
ventilation materials technologies applied into building façade taking into
account its costs and how appropriate it is for building
X. CONCLUSION requirements and thus, energy saving. So designers
should:
The paper has situated the main objectives for an
 Properly select site for the building, as the design
efficient sustainable building façade taking into
features change with site climatic characteristics.
account the environmental sustainability aspect,
where it has introduced the main parameters for  Properly decide the best façade technology that
developing building façade concept. Also, it has serves the target of the building.
focused on the different façade techniques in terms of
natural ventilation, shading techniques and energy  Choose appropriate ventilation strategies that are
conservation and its role in enhancing the internal suitable for the building usage.
environment.
 Architects must carefully study the complex issue
According to the applications and examples reported of material and energy exchange, moreover they
in this paper, building facades play an immense role in must know how to apply the information just thus
building energy efficiency and building energy gained to planning and construction and consult
performance where: specialized engineers.

 Dynamic facades are more widely used to permit  Be updated to all computer modeling that can
natural light, it is considered also an efficient lead the designer to exact performance of the
innovative ventilation system if properly designed. chosen perfect façade strategies.

 The most advantageous shading schemes have B. Responsibilites for Governments:

proved to be external shading device and
movable overhangs installed on building façade, Governments own and maintain a wide range of
considering also other benefits of external buildings and facilities where there are a variety of
shading as it could be suggested as a very tools that could help the government develop and
effective design solution against overheating. operate building resources for applying efficient
passive cooling strategies in a sustainable manner:
 The most effective shading system is the
adjustable exterior shading louvers, where it is  It could create community boards and
considered to be the most effective shading commissions to study local sustainable issues
devices as it has a variety of colors and materials. and provide economic motivation for sustainable
design building development.
XI. RECOMMNEDATIONS
 It should permit training and education programs
that focus attention on building sustainable
In this section, some recommendations about the
development.
appliance of sustainable building façades
technologies in Egypt will be presented taking into  New government buildings should in corporate
account the environmental, economic and climatic and promote energy efficient facades that
conditions. Egypt lies within the North African desert, harmonize with the Egyptian climate.
this geographical location gives the Egyptian climate
some characteristics which affect the design of nay
building especially the facades. The Egyptian climate
is arid and characterized by hot dry summers,
moderate winters and very little rain fall which will
encourage designers to design dynamic facades
which will be able to provide natural ventilation,

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 Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development (RESD) Volume 3 Issue 1, Special Issue, March 2017 - ISSN 2356-8569
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