Towards an implementation of bio-inspired hydro-actuated building façade

ABSTRACT

This research provides a new vision of designing a bio-inspired building facade by presenting an implementation case design and its technical details. The main purpose of the presented façade that has been inspired by a kind of kinetic plant called Ice-plant seed capsule is to develop an adaptive system that is responsive to changing natural environmental conditions, such as the direction of sunlight and incorporate it into architectural designs. The next objective of this bio-inspired façade is the reduction of energy consumption in buildings and the improvement of building performance by using bio-materials and responsive methods. This paper consists of two main parts. At first an introduction to bio-inspired façade in architecture and its typologies is presented. Next, a description of design principles for hydro-actuated facades with particular focus on executive aspects of all details is presented. In general, the proposed hydroactuated façade has triple performance considering sunlight and water (as natural factors), and natural ventilation (as a physical factor). As a result, this study provides further insight into the relationship between biological strategies and building facade. It also develops responsive building façades based on multi-functionality and adaptability aspects to promote deformable and sustainable architectural systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Hydro-actuated materials
• living architecture
• bio-inspired building facades (BBF)
• water responsive plants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rahele Khosromanesh

Rahele Khosromanesh, a Master of Technology in Architecture, writes on both intelligent buildings and on bio-inspired material/structure in architecture. Among his recent articles are Form-finding Mechanism Derived from Plant Movement in Response to Environmental Conditions for Building Envelopes (Sustainable Cities and Society Journal 2019) and The Evaluation of the Spatial Attributes of the Physical Environment of Art and Architecture Under the Influence of the Physical Elements of Nature. (CUM 2018).

Maziar Asefi

Maziar Asefi, a Professor in Architecture and Building Technology, writes on both Transformable Architecture and on Building Prefabrication. Among his recent articles are Form-finding Mechanism Derived from Plant Movement in Response to Environmental Conditions for Building Envelopes (Sustainable Cities and Society Journal 2019) and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710218313093 Design challenges of reciprocal frame structures in architecture (Building Engineering Journal 2019).