Design Strategies IMPULSE - Sustainable Facades Vol 2
Report Winter Semester 2023/24
Report Winter Semester 2023/24
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DESIGN<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
SPECIAL ISSUE Impulses from teaching and research<br />
Winter Semester Report<br />
04.2024<br />
SUSTAINABLE FAÇADES<br />
volume 2 ISSN 2943-4467
EDITORIAL<br />
Welcome to the second edition of <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades, a Special Issue of the<br />
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong> Magazine produced by the Institute for <strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong> (IDS)<br />
of TH OWL in Detmold, Germany. We are happy to be back, this time reporting<br />
the activities of the Winter Semester 2023-2024. We are grateful that over 1400<br />
people downloaded the previous issue between between November 2023 and<br />
April 2024.<br />
<strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades was originally intended as a digital-only resource. However,<br />
further actions were taken after the successful realization of the first issue as a<br />
proof of concept, and the encouraging feedback obtained at it‘s public release<br />
during the European Façade Network Conference in Detmold, on November<br />
2023. <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades was developed into an indexed magazine, and in<br />
January 2024, 150 issues were printed and distributed at the IDS, providing a<br />
printed issue to every contributor and the rest offered free of charge at the front<br />
desk of the IDS until they run out. The release of digital and printed media will be<br />
repeated in this second edition or "volume 2".<br />
We hope this issue will resonate with our readers and we extend the invitation<br />
for contributions and feedback to expand our outreach, fine-tune our processes<br />
and grow our network for the next issues of <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades.<br />
Alvaro Balderrama & Daniel Arztmann<br />
EDITORIAL VORWORT<br />
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong> <strong>IMPULSE</strong> – <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades 04.2024<br />
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CONTENTS<br />
1. INTRODUCTION<br />
7<br />
4. MID DESIGN CONCEPTS<br />
62 – JTI Headquarters, Switzerland<br />
Meltem Durmus, Hiruy Tekeste, Abdelrahman Badr<br />
2. LATEST RESEARCH<br />
66– Montparnasse, France<br />
Ahmet Faruk Çakır, Murat Gül<br />
3. ARTICLES<br />
10 – Values-Based Governance and<br />
Intervention Framework for Mass<br />
Housing Neighbourhoods<br />
Anica Dragutinovic<br />
13 – A Guide to Biodegradable<br />
Materials in Envelope <strong>Design</strong><br />
Shashi Karmaker<br />
29 – Energy Efficiency of a Timber<br />
Frame House in Detmold<br />
Mina Kherad<br />
5. EVENTS<br />
70 – 35XV, USA<br />
Priyanka Bamble, Najmeh Najafpour<br />
74 – Dockland Office Building, Germany<br />
Aysegül Gürleyen, Rodolph Naalabend<br />
78 – One World Trade Center, USA<br />
Ghazaleh Valipour, Lama Ibrahim<br />
82 – 20 Fenchurch Street, England<br />
Amrani Chemseddine, Harishankar Kallepalli<br />
87 – Past events<br />
37 – Preliminary Observation<br />
for the Structural Performance of<br />
Timber Façade Mullion and Transom<br />
Connection with Large Glass Dead<br />
Load<br />
Hiruy Gebremariam Tekeste<br />
6. IMPRINT<br />
91 – Upcoming events<br />
92<br />
40 – Façade Acoustics and<br />
Soundscape Assessment Workshops:<br />
Implementing Soundscape Criteria in<br />
Façade Education<br />
Alvaro Balderrama<br />
53 – Solar Façade: Energy<br />
Generation with 2.500 m2 of BIPV<br />
Melicia Planchart, Stefan Grünsteidl, Augustin Rohr<br />
4 CONTENTS CONTENTS<br />
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1. INTRODUCTION<br />
As the title <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades declares, the focus<br />
of this report is on “façades”, which generally refer<br />
to the vertical surfaces of the building envelope,<br />
including the walls, doors, windows, balustrades,<br />
balconies, parapets and depending on the case,<br />
possibly parts of the roof (Knaack et al., 2007; Klein,<br />
2013), and how they impact the people inside and<br />
outside of buildings, as well as the environment<br />
and the economy. <strong>Sustainable</strong> practices can be<br />
integrated into multiple stages of projects, including<br />
the design, construction, use, maintenance, and<br />
end-of-life stage of buildings. However, determining<br />
the sustainability of a project is a complex task,<br />
given its wide-ranging implications.<br />
The cover of this magazine shows the façade of the<br />
Schüco One building in Bielefeld designed by 3XN<br />
Architects, the first building in the world to receive<br />
all three sustainability certifications from the LEED,<br />
BREEAM and DGNB labels. This sets a precedent<br />
in the construction industry but also highlights<br />
some conceptual differences between labels. For<br />
example, the BREAM category “pollution” differs<br />
from the LEED v.4.1. scorecard for Building <strong>Design</strong><br />
and Construction, which is the most popular<br />
worldwide (Chomsky, 2023) since LEED doesn’t<br />
account for potential unintended by-products of<br />
the building, showing how BREAM is more flexible<br />
to unexpected circumstances.<br />
The controversial case of the 20 Fenchurch Street<br />
skyscraper – the “walkie talkie” in London can<br />
exemplify how the BREAM covers an aspect that<br />
could be neglected by other labels. As it became<br />
well known, the concave façade acted as a mirror<br />
reflecting sunbeams to the street, leading to<br />
material damage (Smith-Spark, 2013). The project<br />
was applying for BREAM certification, and it was<br />
put on hold until the developers solved the issue<br />
by installing a brise-soleil to diffuse the reflected<br />
sunlight and prevent further damage. Afterwards,<br />
the certification was restored and it has since then<br />
become an iconic project in the skyline of London.<br />
When focusing on the requirements for adequate<br />
façade performance it is clear that the criteria<br />
are probably not the same in every project,<br />
therefore façade performance is contextdependent.<br />
According to Bianchi et al. (2024)<br />
façade performance can be classified into<br />
three main performance categories: Functional,<br />
Environmental, and Financial. These categories<br />
correspond to the three pillars of the triple<br />
bottom line (Society, Environment, Economy).<br />
Therefore, raising the idea that for a façade to<br />
be sustainable, it should perform adequately in<br />
those three aspects. The functional performance<br />
category includes structural safety, human comfort<br />
(including air quality, thermal, acoustic and visual<br />
comfort), and durability as the main criteria.<br />
Environmental performance includes energy and<br />
material efficiency, considering not only energy<br />
demand, generation and storage, but also carbon<br />
footprint and biodiversity impacts. The financial<br />
performance category is focused on the initial,<br />
operational and end-of-life costs. This overview of<br />
performance criteria helps identify the potential<br />
performance of a specific project, however,<br />
this classification does not exclude overlapping<br />
between categories.<br />
Considering these issues, as explained in the<br />
first edition of <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades, the goal of<br />
this report is to explore the possible meanings<br />
of sustainability within the built environment,<br />
examining façades as intrinsic elements of every<br />
building and every city. This introduction is followed<br />
by the next sections:<br />
Section 2 | Latest Research is a showcase of<br />
recent publications by members of the academic<br />
network of TH OWL. In this edition, we have<br />
a summary of the PhD thesis of Dr.-Ing. Anica<br />
Dragutinovic, focused on the deterioration and<br />
management challenges of post-war mass housing<br />
neighborhoods, exemplified by New Belgrade<br />
Blocks. It explores how ownership changes and<br />
community dynamics affect these areas. The study<br />
applied participatory methods to develop a valuesbased<br />
intervention framework for these spaces,<br />
promoting inclusive heritage management, and<br />
contributing to residents‘ sense of belonging.<br />
Section 3 | Articles presents original work<br />
developed recently that has not been published<br />
elsewhere. This section includes two Master<br />
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2. LATEST RESEARCH<br />
thesis summaries, providing the opportunity<br />
to communicate the theses more effectively,<br />
and perhaps serve as a stepping stone towards<br />
publication elsewhere (e.g. conference or journal).<br />
One thesis provides a catalog of biodegradable<br />
materials for façades, and the other thesis analyzed<br />
the thermal and energy performance of the façades<br />
of a “Fachwerkhaus” (timber frame house) built in<br />
Detmold more than 100 years ago. Then, a short<br />
article examines the impact of large glass dead<br />
loads on the structural performance of the timber<br />
mullion and transom façade of the Riegel building<br />
at the campus of TH OWL in Detmold. Finally, a<br />
research article regarding the implementation of<br />
soundscape criteria in façade design education is<br />
presented.<br />
Section 4 | MID <strong>Design</strong> Concepts provides a<br />
summary of six projects developed by the students<br />
of the class “Materials, Surfaces and Security”,<br />
where complex existing façade projects were<br />
analyzed, describing façade details.<br />
Section 5 | Events closes the report with a<br />
summary of recent activities, like the Detmold<br />
Conference Week 2023, which held the European<br />
Façade Network Conference, and a handson<br />
workshop at Schüco for MID FD students.<br />
Regarding the upcoming Summer Semester 2024,<br />
information about the Detmolder Räume and the<br />
Detmold <strong>Design</strong> Week, as well as an introductory<br />
course of ArcGIS, is presented.<br />
References:<br />
Bianchi, S., Andriotis, C., Klein, T., Overend, M. (2024).<br />
Multi-criteria design methods in façade engineering:<br />
State-of-the-art and future trends. https://doi.<br />
org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111184<br />
Chomsky, R. (2023). Top Green Building Certifications.<br />
https://sustainablereview.com/top-green-buildingcertifications/<br />
Klein, T. (2013) Integral Facade Construction. Towards<br />
a new product architecture for curtain walls. A+BE |<br />
Architecture and the Built Environment. ISBN 978-<br />
9461861610<br />
Knaack, U., Klein, T., Bilow, M., Auer, T. (2007), Façades:<br />
Principles of Construction. Birkhäuser Basel. https://<br />
doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8281-0<br />
Smith-Spark, L., CNN (2013). Reflected light from<br />
London skyscraper melts car. https://edition.cnn.<br />
com/2013/09/03/world/europe/uk-london-buildingmelts-car/index.html<br />
8 INTRODUCTION<br />
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Latest Research<br />
Values-Based Governance and Intervention Framework for Mass<br />
Housing Neighbourhoods<br />
Summary of the PhD Dissertation of Anica Dragutinovic published by TU Delft:<br />
Dragutinovic, A. (2023). Mass Housing Neighbourhoods and Urban Commons: Values-based Governance<br />
and Intervention Framework for New Belgrade Blocks. TU Deflt. https://doi.org/10.7480/abe.2023.15<br />
Anica Dragutinovic 1,2<br />
1. Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU Delft, P.O. Box 5043, 2600GA, Delft, the Netherlands<br />
2. Detmold School of <strong>Design</strong>, TH OWL, Emilienstrße 45, D-32756 Detmold, Germany<br />
from the theoretical and contextual frameworks<br />
and empirical studies, this research develops a<br />
values-based intervention framework for reuse<br />
and governance of the common spaces in the New<br />
Belgrade Blocks, aimed at improving devalued,<br />
conserving and reinforcing the sustained, and<br />
adding new values. Although based on contextspecific<br />
argumentation, selections and decisions,<br />
the developed framework is possibly adaptable<br />
to another set of issues. Its methodology,<br />
and the principles it enhances, such as selforganisation,<br />
participation, multi-scale networks,<br />
stakeholders’ engagement, collaboration, etc.,<br />
contribute to the democratisation of the urban<br />
heritage governance processes.<br />
The doctoral research has established a specific<br />
methodology for studying contemporary issues<br />
of urban heritage, in particular related to mass<br />
housing neighbourhoods. This research has<br />
been conducted by (1) combining critical and<br />
correlational analysis in exploring deterioration<br />
of New Belgrade Blocks and their common<br />
spaces; (2) socio-spatial analysis including<br />
empirical, place-based and participatory<br />
methods in assessing their current condition; and<br />
(3) „design-polemical theory“ (abstract thought,<br />
speculation) in developing an intervention<br />
framework and a set of guidelines for valuesbased<br />
governance and reuse of the common<br />
spaces of New Belgrade Blocks. Throughout<br />
the three main parts, the doctoral research<br />
develops various findings and perspectives,<br />
and provides different levels of knowledge on<br />
approaches for integrated conservation, urban<br />
planning and governance of urban heritage, and<br />
in particular mass housing neighbourhoods. It<br />
shows co-dependence of those fields and offers<br />
an integrative and cross-disciplinary approach.<br />
The results represent a valuable contribution<br />
to architecture, urban planning and especially<br />
heritage studies, in particular for governance<br />
and heritage management of complex sites, as<br />
mass housing neighbourhoods are. Besides the<br />
scientific and academic impact, the research<br />
achieves a societal and cultural impact through<br />
an engaging research approach conducted<br />
with society. It emphasizes the importance of<br />
engagement of local communities, but also<br />
the importance of cross-sectoral and interinstitutional<br />
communication and collaboration<br />
in urban planning, including the civil sector.<br />
Summary<br />
The post-war mass housing neighbourhoods<br />
are one of the most widespread typologies of<br />
the modern architecture and urbanism, and<br />
represent one of the most significant legacies<br />
of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, their<br />
deterioration and devaluation are major<br />
challenges, both in the field of heritage<br />
conservation and management and in urban<br />
planning and design. The mass housing<br />
neighbourhoods encapsulate a greater<br />
complexity of issues compared to single, iconic<br />
buildings, which have been more extensively<br />
addressed in the heritage sector. The reasons for<br />
their deterioration are different and interlinked<br />
with the socio-cultural discourse, as well as the<br />
spatial characteristics of these neighbourhoods,<br />
or how they were planned, built, lived and<br />
governed. This doctoral research addresses the<br />
challenges of those neighbourhoods, focusing<br />
on the New Belgrade Blocks, which are part of<br />
this larger cultural phenomenon, yet strongly<br />
tied into a very specific contextual framework.<br />
New Belgrade is one of the largest modernist<br />
post-war mass housing areas in Europe. As<br />
the legacy of both modernism and socialism,<br />
it represents a symbol of collectiveness and<br />
participatory planning and governance, though<br />
with contradictions in practice. Following the<br />
gradual transformation of the urban landscape of<br />
modernity in parallel with different socio-spatial<br />
factors—such as transformed ownership and<br />
governance relations, suppressed importance<br />
of community, as well as the modernist planning,<br />
or rather performance of the plans, and later<br />
urban practices—this research investigates the<br />
correlation between deterioration and previously<br />
mentioned factors. It identifies common spaces<br />
of the blocks as the most neglected components<br />
of the blocks that are at the same time crucial to<br />
their quality, vitality and preservation of values.<br />
Moreover, the specific Yugoslav housing policy<br />
and collective self-management from the postwar<br />
period, although neglected over the time,<br />
represent a valuable intangible heritage that<br />
can contribute to the contemporary discussions<br />
on commons, linking historical forms of<br />
decentralized governance and contemporary<br />
discourses on urban commons.<br />
After understanding and clarifying the specific<br />
socio-spatial setting, the research explores<br />
and assesses the common spaces of the blocks<br />
through a multi-level socio-spatial analysis<br />
including different participatory methods for<br />
exploration, assessment and eventually codesign<br />
of the strategies for their improvement.<br />
The common spaces are crucial for the actual<br />
implementation or manifestation of the heritage<br />
management shift from the expert-led and<br />
authoritarian procedures towards more inclusive<br />
practices. They enable spatialisation of the right<br />
to the city, allowing for bottom-up initiatives,<br />
reactive actions and proactive practices. The<br />
common spaces have a potential to facilitate<br />
bottom-up governance and direct democracy<br />
in the city, enabling ’defence’ of the common<br />
interest in urban development. Collating findings<br />
Figure. Cover of the PhD Dissertation | Block 23, New Belgrade, 2020. Photograph taken by Ivona<br />
Despotovic for the student workshop “Reuse of Common Spaces of New Belgrade Blocks: Co-designing<br />
the Urban Commons”, Belgrade, September 2020.<br />
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3. ARTICLES<br />
Article<br />
A Guide to Biodegradable Materials in Envelope <strong>Design</strong><br />
Summary of the Master Thesis presented for the Master of Integrated <strong>Design</strong> -<br />
Façade <strong>Design</strong> specialization (2023).<br />
Shashi Karmaker 1<br />
Supervisor 1. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Arztmann 1,2 ; Supervisor 2. M.Eng. Alvaro Balderrama 1,2,3<br />
1. MID Façade <strong>Design</strong>, Detmold School of Architecture and Interior Architecture, Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Emilienstraße 45, 32756 Detmold, Germany<br />
2. Schüco International KG, Karolinenstraße 1-15, 33609 Bielefeld, Germany<br />
3. Architectural Façades and Products Research Group, Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU<br />
Delft, Julianalaan, 134, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands<br />
Abstract<br />
This research explores the potential of biodegradable materials in building envelopes, with an emphasis<br />
on design principles and performance characteristics. Physical qualities and performance in areas such<br />
as thermal resistance, acoustic properties, and weather resistance will be used to assess the materials. A<br />
database of product lists and design methods for each material will also be established to encourage and<br />
ease their usage in building construction. The main research question is- What design guidelines need to be<br />
considered for biodegradable materials used in building envelopes? Ultimately, this research aims to contribute<br />
to the advancement of eco-friendly construction and encourage the use of biodegradable materials in building<br />
envelopes<br />
1. Introduction<br />
In recent years, there has been increasing pressure<br />
on the construction sector to embrace sustainable<br />
practices and lessen their environmental effect.<br />
The use of biodegradable materials in building<br />
envelopes is one area of attention since it may<br />
assist in decreasing waste and enhance the overall<br />
sustainability of the building. Biodegradable<br />
materials decay naturally without affecting the<br />
environment, and they have various advantages<br />
over standard building materials like concrete, steel,<br />
and plastic.<br />
Some criteria for a material to be biodegradable<br />
include Chemical Composition, Decomposition time,<br />
Environmental Impact, Diversity of degradation, and<br />
Disposal method. According to the research of Eleni<br />
Sgouropoulou [1], there are seven categories of<br />
biodegradable materials, among them five categories<br />
of materials that have already been utilized as<br />
building materials and can be sourced from natural<br />
resources like earth, plants, animals‘ hair, and trees.<br />
The other two categories include materials that are<br />
either in the process of development or derived from<br />
emerging technologies that hold potential for the<br />
future use. The selection of materials for this research<br />
was influenced by the potential of the materials that<br />
may be employed as cladding or as construction<br />
components of the wall. Some products made from<br />
these materials may also fit infill areas which has also<br />
been discussed while creating the design manual.<br />
The chosen materials are Unfired earth products,<br />
Rammed-earth products, Straw products, Hemplime<br />
products, and Cork products. These materials<br />
can be split into three groups: (1) Earthen products<br />
- products derived from the earth (soil), (2) Plants<br />
fibrous products - products made from fibrous<br />
plants, and (3) By-or recycled derived products -<br />
products derived from recycled materials.<br />
2. Unfired Earth products<br />
Around 30% of the world’s population lives in earthmade<br />
construction [2]. There is very wide use of<br />
such products in New Mexico and Arizona (America),<br />
Africa, and Asia [3]. However, their use is also<br />
beginning to spread once again in Europe.<br />
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Figure 1. Criteria of a biodegradable material<br />
Production technique<br />
Raw earth, straw, and water are combined to form<br />
the adobe bricks that make up the structure of the<br />
adobe home. These bricks are then dried in the<br />
sun after being pressed into molds. The Adobe<br />
construction style is ideal for owner-builders since<br />
no expensive tools or equipment are required, and<br />
the skills needed can be quickly gained at a training<br />
session and through hands-on experiences.<br />
<strong>Design</strong> guidelines<br />
• Orientation and room arrangement: To make<br />
use of the thermal mass of earth walls, adequate<br />
direct sunshine should be allowed to penetrate<br />
an earth structure, especially in winter.<br />
Compressed earth bricks may or may not be<br />
stabilized. However, they are usually stabilized by<br />
cement or lime. As a result, they are now known as<br />
Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB)<br />
Equipment<br />
Today, there are manual presses that are light or<br />
heavy, as well as motorized presses that provide<br />
compression energy via an engine. There are also<br />
mobile machines that combine a crusher and a<br />
mixer in the same equipment. The Impact 2001A<br />
CEB machine from the business AECT Earth block<br />
is seen in Figure 8. This automated machine makes<br />
300 CEBs every hour.<br />
Figure 3. Biodegradable material<br />
• Large eaves are required to protect from<br />
weather damage.<br />
Figure 2. List and category of<br />
discussed materials<br />
• In cold climates, at least the south walls are<br />
insulated. Wool insulation with cladding might<br />
be an excellent alternative since wool is a natural<br />
insulation material with low embodied energy<br />
and hygroscopic properties like earth [8].<br />
Strength:<br />
• In earthquake-prone areas, the structural<br />
design may necessitate vertical and horizontal<br />
reinforcing of earth walls.<br />
• The drying of Unfired earth products requires<br />
less energy input in comparison to fired earth<br />
brick [4].<br />
• Extremely low embodied energy (0.011-0.051<br />
MJ/kg)<br />
• Fire resistance is high (Euroclass fire testing rate<br />
A1-B2)<br />
• Products mixed with straw and other fibrous<br />
materials, usually have lots of thermal mass.<br />
• A CEB wall of 150mm thickness can be resistant<br />
to airborne sound [5].<br />
• Capable to construct self-supporting walls if<br />
their compressive strength is more than 2 MPa.<br />
Weakness:<br />
• Should not be exposed to water for a long<br />
period.<br />
• CEBs may need extra exterior wall insulation for<br />
U-value, despite their high thermal mass in cold<br />
climates [6].<br />
• Stabilizers can affect the final product’s<br />
biodegradability and recyclability, but they are<br />
needed for water resistance and compressive<br />
strength.<br />
• It is advisable to avoid using Adobe Brick for<br />
constructing houses with more than one story [7].<br />
Available products of Unfired Earth are Adobe, CEB,<br />
and 3D-printed walls.<br />
2.1 Adobe bricks<br />
Figure 4. Unfired earth (CEB)<br />
Adobe brick building is an ancient technique<br />
common in the Americas and the Middle East.<br />
In nations with high demand, adobe bricks<br />
are manufactured mechanically at industrial<br />
brickyards, or they can be made on-site by<br />
renting a brick-making machine. According to the<br />
manufacturers, the usual size of an adobe brick<br />
can be 40*20*10 cm<br />
Soil selection<br />
The soil must include between 15% and 30% clay<br />
to provide a suitable binding to the dough. When<br />
using soil with more than 30% clay, adobe brick<br />
will shrink (during sun-drying) and crack, whereas<br />
soil with less than 15% clay will disintegrate.<br />
Furthermore, it is advised that the soil be used<br />
from a depth of 50 cm, eliminating the presence of<br />
organic components such as rotting leaves, plant,<br />
and animal remnants, or roots that may interfere<br />
with the quality of the brick.<br />
• Earth constructions require stable sites. The<br />
site should not flood and, preferably, should not<br />
be exposed to strong rains.<br />
2.2 Compressed Earth Block (CEB)<br />
CEBs began in 19th-century Europe with handmade<br />
blocks. The fi rst steel press in Colombia<br />
improved upon adobe by creating denser, stronger,<br />
and more water-resistant bricks. This technique<br />
has since spread to Africa, South America, India,<br />
and South Asia with the development of advanced<br />
machinery and soil expertise.<br />
Soil selection<br />
Not every soil is ideal for earth construction,<br />
particularly CEB. Topsoil and organic soils are not<br />
permitted. The soil condition and project needs<br />
will influence the choice of a stabilizer. Cement<br />
will be preferred for sandy soils and achieving a<br />
higher strength rapidly. Lime will be utilized for<br />
particularly clayey soil; however, it will take longer<br />
to solidify and provide sturdy blocks.<br />
Production technique<br />
The raw or stabilized soil for a compressed<br />
earth block is slightly moistened before being<br />
poured into a steel press and compacted with<br />
either a manual or automated press. CEB may<br />
be compacted into a variety of forms and sizes.<br />
Figure 5. Typical reinforced adobe wall construction<br />
Figure 6. Adobe Bricks<br />
Figure 7. CEB<br />
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<strong>Design</strong> guidelines<br />
CEB structures require a base that is at least 45 cm<br />
broad and 60 cm deep. Reinforced concrete, rubble<br />
masonry, or stone masonry should be used for the<br />
foundation.<br />
For CEB structures, the required wall thickness is<br />
300 mm for load-bearing walls and 200 mm for nonload-bearing<br />
walls.<br />
CEBs should be set in a stretcher bond with a mortar<br />
joint of 10 mm.<br />
When constructing a double-layer wall, the CEB layer<br />
must be put on the interior side when the room<br />
is primarily inhabited during the day and on the<br />
outside side when the room is primarily occupied at<br />
night [9].<br />
CEB walls, unlike adobe, have great compressive<br />
strength and can withstand seismic stresses,<br />
making them appropriate for usage in earthquakeprone<br />
locations.<br />
2.3 3D-Printed clay wall<br />
3D printed earth walls are a newer building method<br />
that employs 3D printing processes to construct<br />
earth walls. The technique of 3D printing earth<br />
walls requires the use of a specialized printer that<br />
creates blocks out of a mixture of earth and water,<br />
which are then piled and cemented together to form<br />
a wall. The printer can generate blocks of various<br />
sizes and shapes and an entire wall. One benefit<br />
Figure 9.: CEB wall section<br />
Figure 10. Variety of CEB blocks<br />
the composition of the earth mixture adapts to<br />
local climatic circumstances, and the envelope<br />
filling is parametrically tuned to balance<br />
thermal mass, insulation, and ventilation based<br />
on climate demands.<br />
While 3D printing has given the possibility to<br />
create complex geometries, the intelligence<br />
of the design comes from the optimization<br />
strategies, and the creation of performative<br />
shapes becoming easier to achieve for<br />
example, the TerraPerforma project by IAAC.<br />
However, there are certain obstacles involved<br />
with 3D-printed earth walls, such as ensuring<br />
that the earth mixture used in the printing<br />
process is of uniform quality and addressing<br />
any moisture management and waterproofing<br />
issues. Furthermore, the technology is still in its<br />
early stages, and additional study is required to<br />
properly comprehend its long-term durability<br />
and sustainability.<br />
Recycle and reuse<br />
Unfired earth products like adobe, earth walls,<br />
and compressed earth blocks can be sustainably<br />
recycled and reused. They can be crushed into<br />
aggregate for construction projects, used as<br />
soil or soil additives, repurposed as decorative<br />
elements, or rebuilt in a new location. If none of<br />
these options work, they can be used as fill material<br />
in other construction projects. The provider<br />
says that it is feasible to recover about 90% of<br />
the waste material throughout the demolition<br />
process. As a result, the remaining 10% goes to<br />
waste (e.g., small broken components, demolition<br />
dust, etc.) that is left on the construction site.<br />
Since the product is primarily formed of dirt,<br />
returning it to the natural environment has no<br />
substantial impact.<br />
• It absorbs vibrations very well and reduces<br />
airborne sound by 40-50 decibels<br />
Weakness:<br />
• The performance of in-situ rammed-earth<br />
constructions is weather-dependent.<br />
• In cold climates, a wall thickness of more<br />
than 700 mm is required to be able to fulfill<br />
the thermal requirements of the Building<br />
Regulations. But this will increase cost and<br />
reduce usable area.<br />
• It is preferable to construct rammed earth<br />
walls with 200–350 mm thickness and to<br />
provide greater thermal insulation to the wall.<br />
There are two ways that rammed-earth walls may<br />
be built: on-site or as prefabricated heavyweight<br />
façade and wall components produced by specific<br />
construction companies.<br />
Figure 12. TECLA Construction<br />
3. Rammed-earth products<br />
Figure 13. Project TerraPerforma<br />
Figure 11. Types of Bonding Patterns<br />
of 3D-printed earth walls is that they can be<br />
built fast and efficiently because the printing<br />
process is automated and needs little physical<br />
effort. When compared to typical building<br />
processes, this can result in considerable cost<br />
reductions. Another advantage of 3D-printed<br />
earth walls is their strength and longevity.<br />
Rammed earth walls are a sustainable construction<br />
method where a mixture of soil, gravel, sand, and<br />
other materials is compressed into solid blocks<br />
or walls. This ancient technique, recently revived,<br />
involves wetting the soil mixture and compacting<br />
it manually or mechanically with wooden or metal<br />
forms. After compaction, the material cures and<br />
solidifi es before being used for construction.<br />
Rammed earth walls have been historically used<br />
in various climate zones, from the Himalayan<br />
Mountains to the deserts of North Africa.<br />
Figure 8. The Impact 2001A<br />
WASP, an Italian company, is an expert in 3D<br />
printing and green building. Their unique 3D<br />
printing method can be used to construct<br />
massive earth-based structures like dwellings.<br />
The first TECLA (Technology and Clay)<br />
construction was in Italy and was 3D printed<br />
using Crane WASP (the most recent WASP 3D<br />
printer), which used a blend of natural materials<br />
soil, and rice straw to make the walls, roof, and<br />
other structural components. Furthermore,<br />
Strength:<br />
• Because of their high thermal mass, these<br />
buildings require low energy for heating<br />
and cooling [10].<br />
• According to CSIRO testing, Fire resistance is<br />
high, a 250 mm thick rammed earth wall had<br />
a fi re-resistance rating of 4 hours, whereas a<br />
150 mm thick wall had a rating of 3 hours and<br />
41 minutes<br />
Figure 14. : Rammed Earth wall<br />
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3.1 On-site rammed earth wall<br />
On-site rammed earth wall construction<br />
involves building walls directly at the intended<br />
location. The process starts with constructing<br />
formwork, temporary structures that shape<br />
and support the wall. Typically made of wood,<br />
the formwork helps achieve the desired size<br />
and shape. Soil, aggregates, and stabilizers<br />
are then compacted into the formwork using<br />
mechanical or hydraulic rammers until the<br />
desired wall height is reached. Once completed,<br />
the formwork is removed to reveal the finished<br />
rammed earth wall.<br />
This method offers benefits such as reduced<br />
transportation costs as materials are usually<br />
locally sourced and flexibility in wall design.<br />
However, it requires skilled labor and takes<br />
longer to complete. External surface protection,<br />
water resistance, shrinkage, and strength<br />
are addressed by adding stabilizers like lime,<br />
cement, or pozzolan. Stabilizers also allow for<br />
thinner walls, speeding up construction and<br />
requiring less surface preparation.<br />
Building process<br />
‚Rammed earth enterprises‘ outlines<br />
constructing rammed earth walls using steel<br />
formwork wrapped in plyboard for an ‚Off<br />
Form Finish‘. Water is added to an earth/<br />
cement mix for ideal moisture. Hand-shoveled<br />
into formwork in 150mm increments, it‘s<br />
compressed with pneumatic tampers. T-Bar<br />
lintels support earth above openings, while<br />
metal rods create tie-downs for a wooden top<br />
plate. Electrical conduits are integrated for<br />
outlets and switches. After drying overnight,<br />
formwork is removed, and the wall detailed.<br />
<strong>Design</strong> consideration<br />
• Potential soils should be examined before<br />
usage. To establish whether stabilizers are<br />
required, and which ones are best for the kind<br />
of soil, collect samples of compact soil and<br />
contact trustworthy sources.<br />
• The better the formwork, the faster and more<br />
precisely the building will go. Forms must be<br />
able to withstand the strong forces used to<br />
push the dirt within a while. Reusable forms can<br />
help to reduce the cost.<br />
• It is crucial to carefully plan mechanical systems<br />
and wall openings for structures since changing<br />
the walls can be a time-consuming procedure. It<br />
is advised to build conduits within the walls for<br />
running services rather than opening them to<br />
allow for future upgrades or repairs.<br />
• The roof needs to have been sufficiently hung<br />
to allow water to flow to the ground without<br />
damaging the wall.<br />
• An appropriate coating of the wall is also required.<br />
existing structures/framing. Steel clips provided<br />
by the manufacturer secure the panels to the<br />
structural wall, preventing forward movement.<br />
• Hiding seam lines: Color-matched sanded<br />
grout is recommended to create a seamless<br />
appearance between panels and soften the 1/4“<br />
seam lines.<br />
• Stacking panels: The maximum panel height is<br />
5 feet. For stacks taller than 20 feet, a carrier<br />
plate must be integrated into the structure to<br />
support the weight of additional panels.<br />
3.3 Insulated rammed earth panel<br />
SIREWALL, established in 1992, pioneered<br />
the method of integrating an insulative core<br />
into rammed earth walls to enhance thermal<br />
insulation, particularly in regions with extremely<br />
low temperatures. In 2008, they became the first<br />
company globally to consistently produce rammed<br />
earth with high compression strengths suitable<br />
for structural construction. Their innovative wall<br />
system allows for the construction of curved<br />
structures and imposing load-bearing walls up<br />
to 50 feet tall. Previously limited to residential<br />
buildings, SIREWALL‘s technology now enables<br />
tall, load-bearing commercial applications,<br />
exemplified by projects like Telenor’s head office<br />
in Pakistan.<br />
Installation process<br />
400mm to 450mm thickness, with options<br />
for a 50mm, 75mm, or 100mm Styrofoam<br />
core to achieve an R-value of up to 4.3.<br />
• Thickness of insulated rammed earth<br />
panels should consider desired R-value,<br />
structural strength, and wall opening size.<br />
• Minimum thickness and insulation - R<br />
ratings for rammed earth, structural, and<br />
non-structural walls are provided in a<br />
table, serving as baseline requirements<br />
that can be adjusted based on specific<br />
project needs and wall heights.<br />
Recycle and reuse<br />
When structures with rammed earth walls are<br />
demolished, the walls can be broken down and the<br />
soil mixture repurposed for other construction<br />
projects such as roads or new walls. Crushed<br />
walls can serve as soil amendments or fertilizers<br />
in agriculture, while crushed stone can be used<br />
for landscaping or pavement foundations.<br />
The walls themselves can be reused for new<br />
construction, serving as retaining or garden<br />
walls, or incorporated into projects for aesthetic<br />
appeal. Rammed earth panels can be carefully<br />
Figure 15.: On site Rammed Earth wall construction<br />
3.2 Prefabricated rammed earth panel<br />
In 1986, Nicolas Meunier introduced a prefabricated<br />
rammed earth method, refining traditional<br />
techniques to suit modern European economic and<br />
social conditions. This approach offers enhanced<br />
quality control, uniformity, and shorter construction<br />
times for panels. Prefabricated rammed earth panels<br />
can incorporate insulation and waterproofing for<br />
durability and energy efficiency. Additionally, they<br />
can be finished with various materials like paint or<br />
plaster to achieve desired aesthetics.<br />
Prefabricated rammed earth panel guide<br />
Provider Like ‘Rammed Earth Work’ shares insightful<br />
information regarding their panels, which are-<br />
• Panel sizes: Standard panels measure 12’ L x 5’<br />
H and around 3” thick, but custom sizes up to<br />
13’ or smaller are available.<br />
• Panel weight: A standard panel weighs<br />
approximately 2200 lbs., inclusive of the steel<br />
frame mounted on the back.<br />
• Mounting method: Panels are floor-mounted,<br />
featuring a steel frame for attachment to<br />
Secured reusable forms are used as the<br />
foundation of the SIREWALL System, and they are<br />
filled with a moist earth mixture. When the soil<br />
mixture is compacted, it forms sturdy rammed<br />
earth walls that won‘t require any maintenance<br />
for many lifetimes. They have created a unique<br />
additive called SIREWALL Base Admixture<br />
(SBA). It is used all over the wall because of its<br />
hydrophobic qualities and ability to reduce<br />
efflorescence. Most frequently, but not always,<br />
polyiso foam serves as the concealed core of<br />
insulation in the wall‘s middle.<br />
<strong>Design</strong> guideline<br />
Rammed Earth Tasmania, a specialized in rammed<br />
earth wall construction, has compiled design<br />
considerations for building a rammed earth wall.<br />
These include:<br />
• Insulated Rammed Earth walls are<br />
recommended for areas with winter shadowing,<br />
with a suggested thickness of 450mm for harsh<br />
winter conditions.<br />
• North-facing walls exposed to sunlight in<br />
winter can use non-insulated 300mm thick<br />
walls, which absorb heat during the day<br />
and release it at night.<br />
• Insulated earth walls typically range from<br />
Figure 16. Prefabricated Rammed Earth panel<br />
Figure 17. : Insulated Rammed Earth panel<br />
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deconstructed and reused in new structures,<br />
crushed for landscaping or road building, or<br />
pulverized into a binder for manufacturing fresh<br />
stabilized rammed earth panels.<br />
4. Straw products<br />
Straw, a natural raw material harvested from<br />
crops like wheat, rice, and barley, serves various<br />
purposes in agriculture and construction. It is<br />
used for bedding and soil enrichment, while<br />
its fibers reinforce earth buildings like adobe<br />
constructions [11]. In modern buildings, straw<br />
finds applications as load-bearing wall elements,<br />
infill, partition walls, and as a component<br />
in rammed earth and adobe constructions.<br />
Notably, it offers energy efficiency and has a low<br />
environmental impact.<br />
Strength:<br />
• When local straw bales are used to build<br />
walls, straw has a low embodied energy.<br />
Because the heating and compression of<br />
the straw used in prefabricated compressed<br />
straw slabs uses a considerable amount of<br />
energy.<br />
• Straw plastered on both sides could<br />
withstand fire for two hours and fifteen<br />
minutes. In contrast Loose straw is highly<br />
flammable [12].<br />
• Quick, easy, and cheap to build.<br />
Weakness:<br />
Figure 18.: Comparison of compressive strength of different rammed earth wall<br />
• It takes a lot of space to build a straw bale house<br />
since straw walls are usually 450 mm thick [3].<br />
• Should not be exposed to internal/external<br />
sources of water when handling straw<br />
• Recommended to use breathable plaster to<br />
prevent moisture from getting trapped in<br />
the straw.<br />
• Very vulnerable to pest infestations, To prevent<br />
the attraction of insects or rodents, it‘s<br />
important for the straw used in construction to<br />
be dry and free of seeds [13].<br />
Building products of straw include straw bales<br />
bounded with two or three strings, prefabricated<br />
compressed straw products like straw boards,<br />
and blocks, and structural insulating panels (SIP).<br />
4.1 Strawbale<br />
In straw bale wall construction, the size of straw<br />
bales used varies based on building design and<br />
construction style. Typically, three stringers<br />
measure 24′′ wide X 16′′ high X 48′′ long, while two<br />
stringers are around 18′′ wide X 14‘‘ high X 36′′ long.<br />
Two-stringers are preferred for smaller structures<br />
to maximize internal floor area, while three-stringers<br />
are better suited for larger constructions. Three<br />
stringers offer a higher R-value in cold climates<br />
but are heavier (up to 80 lbs.), while two stringers<br />
provide a lower R-value but are lighter (around 45<br />
lbs.), making transportation easier.<br />
There are four types of straw bale construction.<br />
Which are-1. Load-bearing construction type 2. Infill<br />
straw bale construction 3. Prefabricated cassettes<br />
4. Rehabilitation with straw bales<br />
i) Load-bearing construction<br />
In the load-bearing building method using straw<br />
bales, the bales are stacked like large stretcherbonded<br />
bricks and secured with sticks or lashing<br />
straps. This method, often termed „Nebraska style,“<br />
involves crushing the bales from above with weight<br />
or straps. Wall thickness can reach up to 500mm<br />
depending on the number of bales used. Currently,<br />
there are no standardized models for calculating the<br />
structural characteristics of straw bales, and their<br />
usage as load bearers may be limited due to varying<br />
regulations requiring construction estimates for<br />
building permission.<br />
<strong>Design</strong> consideration<br />
• Roof loads must be distributed uniformly across<br />
all walls. Roof loads on the bales should not be<br />
greater than 22kN/m2.<br />
• The wall height-to-wall thickness ratio should<br />
not exceed 6:1. However, if the wall is braced<br />
against buckling using horizontal bracing, the<br />
ratio can be surpassed.<br />
• Windows should have relatively small openings<br />
but be taller than broad.<br />
• The straw wall should begin at least 300mm<br />
above ground level. The plinth must be<br />
protected against moisture from the outside<br />
and rising moisture from the earth with a waterresistant<br />
covering.<br />
• Straw bales must be properly pressed before<br />
being utilized for construction. The bales are<br />
squeezed even further when put in the wooden<br />
wall compartments. Straw density in the built-in<br />
condition must be 100 kg/m3, with a margin of<br />
error of 15 kg/m3.<br />
ii) Infill straw bale construction<br />
Infill straw bale building utilizes a frame structure<br />
filled with straw bales for insulation. Two methods<br />
are used for achieving proper wall compression: 1)<br />
Placing bales in the frame and tightening the wall<br />
plate to compress them, and 2) Inserting bales and<br />
crushing the second-to-last layer to accommodate<br />
the final layer. This approach relies on the primary<br />
structure to support loads, allowing for larger spans<br />
and openings.<br />
iii) Prefabricated cassettes<br />
Prefabricated cassettes or panels, utilizing straw<br />
and wood properties, offer a quick assembly, wellinsulated,<br />
low-energy, and sustainable building<br />
solution. Manufactured off-site, they minimize<br />
material waste and ensure tight dimension tolerances.<br />
These panels can serve structurally, eliminating the<br />
need for lintels and foundation plates, potentially<br />
reducing overall costs. Transported and installed by<br />
manufacturers like ModCell, they come in various<br />
depths and types, including braced panels, lintels,<br />
sills, and inclined gable wall components, adaptable<br />
to different structural requirements. Made of double<br />
hardwood, they can support multiple floors and are<br />
suitable for ceilings, roofs, or facades. <strong>Design</strong>ed to<br />
prevent thermal bridges, breakout access spaces<br />
allow for installation of various components within<br />
the panel, with the option of using other materials<br />
for insulation if needed.<br />
iv) Rehabilitation with straw bales<br />
Straw bales are commonly repurposed for<br />
construction renovations to enhance thermal<br />
insulation. In retrofitting projects, small bales<br />
are placed outside existing walls to improve<br />
insulation. Restorations prioritize healthy<br />
environments devoid of hazardous materials,<br />
utilizing wood frameworks and straw bales coated<br />
in earth mortars and lime for walls. Incorporating<br />
substantial overhangs is essential to shield new<br />
walls from rain damage.<br />
Finishing and Truth window<br />
Straw bale buildings can last 100+ years, but<br />
exposure to water affects durability. Moisture above<br />
20% can lead to straw cellulose breakdown by<br />
fungal enzymes. To prevent rot, create a waterproof,<br />
breathable wall with finishes like lime stucco. Clay<br />
Figure 19. PStrawbale<br />
Figure 20. Infill straw bale construction<br />
Figure 21. Prefabricated cassettes<br />
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its production, providing strong thermal qualities,<br />
while lime binder adds mechanical capabilities,<br />
making it fire, rot, and insect-resistant. Although<br />
it can possess favorable compressive strength,<br />
hempcrete is not suitable for load-bearing<br />
structures but is commonly used as infill in<br />
construction [3].<br />
Strength:<br />
shifted upwards, leaving an overlap to prevent<br />
spillage. Hempcrete walls are framed with 2×4s at<br />
24-inch spacing, with potential wood use reduction<br />
under engineer‘s guidance. Once cured, lime plaster<br />
is applied internally and externally, with fiberglass<br />
mesh reinforcing the exterior. Additional rain<br />
protection may include a face brick splash guard on<br />
a zinc shelf at the bottom, topped with flashing for a<br />
seamless joint with plaster.<br />
Figure 22. Rehabilitation with straw bales<br />
• High rot, and insect resistance<br />
• Hemp-lime buildings may collect roughly<br />
165 kg of CO2 per m3. (manufacturers ‘Lime<br />
Technology Ltd and Technichanvre)<br />
• There are no solid wastes generated during<br />
construction.<br />
• Structural element, good thermal and<br />
acoustic insulation, can be cast into any<br />
shape.<br />
5.3 Prefab hempcrete panel<br />
Using prefabricated hemp panels for construction<br />
offers a more efficient and faster alternative to<br />
traditional on-site builds, reducing construction<br />
time and eliminating the 45-day curing period<br />
required for cast hempcrete buildings. These<br />
panels, filled with hempcrete mixture, utilize 3-ft by<br />
Weakness:<br />
plaster is ideal for interior finishes, regulating indoor<br />
moisture. Builders often include a „Truth Window“ to<br />
showcase straw bale construction, revealing a piece<br />
of straw within the wall.<br />
Recycle and Reuse<br />
Straw bale walls and panels offer environmentally<br />
friendly building materials that can be recycled<br />
and reused in various ways. Recycling begins<br />
with careful deconstruction, separating<br />
straw from extraneous components like<br />
plaster or wood framework. The straw can be<br />
repurposed for animal bedding, mulch, or soil<br />
amendment, while the plaster and wood can<br />
also be recycled. If in good condition, straw<br />
bales may be reused for earth-building like<br />
Adobe construction.<br />
5. Hemp-lime products<br />
Figure 23. Truth window<br />
Hemp-lime, also known as „hempcrete,“ is a<br />
bio-composite material made from lime-based<br />
binders and hemp shiv. It offers strength, thermal<br />
efficiency, and versatility, suitable for monolithic<br />
walls or insulating bricks and blocks. Originating<br />
in France, about 15% of hemp shives are used in<br />
• The material must be well sheltered from<br />
frost and severe rain during construction,<br />
and the outside temperature must not drop<br />
below 5°C.<br />
• Protective clothing, gloves, and other gear<br />
are necessary when handling hemp-lime due<br />
to its skin and eye irritant properties, as well<br />
as the potential to cause burns when damp.<br />
• To maintain proper plaster coating and wall<br />
finishes, maintenance is frequently required.<br />
Hemp-lime products come in blocks, precast<br />
elements, and in situ cast forms. In-situ<br />
application involves molding or spraying it<br />
around the building‘s structural frame. Blocks<br />
are available in structural and thermal varieties,<br />
while precast panels are filled with hemp-lime<br />
and hung on steel, timber, or concrete frames,<br />
providing insulation and an airtight enclosure for<br />
buildings.<br />
5.1 The hempcrete block<br />
‚Isohemp‘ provides hemp blocks, a non-loadbearing<br />
glued masonry product suitable for<br />
various construction purposes such as residential<br />
houses, wall doubling, industrial partitioning, and<br />
apartments. They offer two types: solid blocks and<br />
machined blocks. Solid hemp blocks are 60cm by<br />
Figure 24. Hempcrete blocks<br />
30cm, and available in thicknesses from 6 to 36cm.<br />
Machined blocks include holed and U-shaped<br />
blocks with thicknesses of 30 and 36cm.<br />
Hempro System<br />
The Hempro System by ‚Isohemp‘ utilizes two types<br />
of 30cm thick hemp blocks: solid and machined.<br />
Machined blocks serve as insulating lost formwork<br />
within the building envelope for pouring reinforced<br />
concrete structural frames. Holed blocks form<br />
column formwork, while U-blocks facilitate beam<br />
pouring to support floors and roofs. Additional<br />
hemp block layers of varying thicknesses can be<br />
added for enhanced thermal performance.<br />
5.2 The hempcrete formwork<br />
On-site hempcrete walls are constructed by<br />
blending hemp hurd (the woody core of the hemp<br />
plant), a binder (such as lime or cement), and water.<br />
This mixture produces a durable and lightweight<br />
material suitable for both load-bearing and nonload-bearing<br />
walls in construction.<br />
Construction Process<br />
Figure 25. : Hempro system<br />
‘Hempstone,‘ a professional hempcrete installer,<br />
outlined the construction process for Hempcrete<br />
Formwork. To prevent moisture absorption from the<br />
ground, plastic membrane strips are placed directly<br />
on the slab with spray foam insulation sealing any<br />
cracks. Small PVC conduits on 2” x 4” studs create<br />
an interior barrier, acting as spacers for plywood<br />
formwork. T1-11 siding serves as the outer barrier,<br />
secured with 5-inch<br />
screws into studs, forming a 6.5-inch cavity for<br />
hempcrete. After filling the mold with<br />
hempcrete mix, the formwork is unscrewed and<br />
Figure 26. Hempcrete formwork<br />
Figure 27. Prefab hempcrete panel<br />
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8-ft wood frames and come in thicknesses of 9 and<br />
12 inches. After curing for 30 days, they are shipped<br />
to the building site and can be easily installed,<br />
offering various finishing options. <strong>Design</strong>ed by<br />
‚Dunagro Prefab Hemp Construction,‘ these panels<br />
can adapt to any desired home design, suitable for<br />
low-rise and high-rise structures, from tiny huts to<br />
major commercial complexes. While suitable for up<br />
to six-story buildings, design experts should assess<br />
hempcrete‘s suitability for larger projects covered<br />
by relevant code provisions.<br />
Finishing<br />
To achieve resilient hemp-lime walls, it is imperative<br />
to select low-permeability finishes and utilize a<br />
two-coat plaster system such as BioLime over<br />
hemp-based substrates. Additionally, treating wood<br />
surfaces to prevent cracking during plastering is<br />
essential. Moreover, plaster should only be applied<br />
in temperatures above 5°C and below 32°C. Lastly,<br />
it is crucial to use exclusively breathable external<br />
paints to ensure durability and longevity.<br />
Recycle and Reuse<br />
Hempcrete‘s ecological soundness spans its entire<br />
life cycle, starting from its creation using natural<br />
waste products to its eventual reuse or recycling in<br />
case of demolition. At the Tuorla Agricultural School,<br />
hemp structures were crushed and found to be<br />
degradable, improving soil structure and allowing<br />
for hemp cultivation to resume. According to Mike<br />
Lawrence of the University of Bath, UK, at the end<br />
of a building‘s life, hemp lime can be repurposed<br />
as mulch, preventing weed growth, conserving<br />
water, and promoting plant growth. Over time, it<br />
decomposes into plant fertilizer.<br />
6. Cork products<br />
Cork, sourced from the spongy bark of Cork Oaks,<br />
is a renewable material harvested every 9 to 11<br />
years. The trees are left undisturbed for 25 years<br />
before harvesting. During hot summers, the cork<br />
dries out and cracks, facilitating manual removal<br />
of the bark. Cork for building products is sourced<br />
sustainably or repurposed from wine bottlestoppers.<br />
Recent studies indicate that debarked<br />
cork oaks store three to fi ve times more CO2 than<br />
those left unharvested [14].<br />
Strength:<br />
• Very light material, weights only 0.16gm/cm3<br />
[15].<br />
• Cork contains a natural substance called<br />
Suberin, which is a mixture of organic acids that<br />
coats the walls and prevents water and gases<br />
from passing through.<br />
• The material is fire retardant and does not emit<br />
any toxic gases during a fire.<br />
• Has very good sound insulation quality [14].<br />
• Naturally unaffected by mice or termites and<br />
maintenance-free [15].<br />
Weakness:<br />
• Its products have an intense smell during the<br />
first few months of use.<br />
• Cork is expensive and can only be harvested in<br />
a limited amount each time.<br />
Available products from cork are Cork tile and Cork<br />
board.<br />
6.1 Cork tile<br />
Wall-cladding cork tiles are crafted by bonding thin<br />
layers of cork to a backing material or adhesive,<br />
retaining cork‘s natural texture, warmth, and<br />
sound-absorbing qualities. These tiles offer ease of<br />
installation and come in diverse sizes, shapes, and<br />
patterns for creative design options. They can be<br />
affixed to prepared walls using screws, adhesive,<br />
or peel-and-stick backing. Installation may require<br />
cutting tiles to fit precise dimensions and arranging<br />
them for aesthetic appeal.<br />
Cladding Process<br />
Cork has garnered global attention as a versatile<br />
cladding material due to its high insulation values<br />
and exceptional acoustic performance, making it<br />
favored by designers worldwide.<br />
Before installation, it is imperative to ensure the<br />
surface is clean and sturdy, free from any dust,<br />
grease, or other substances that could compromise<br />
adhesion. Precise measurements and markings<br />
are essential to accurately position the first tile.<br />
Adhesive application, whether using a water-based<br />
or latex-based primer for absorbent surfaces,<br />
should adhere strictly to manufacturer instructions,<br />
ensuring optimal settings and drying times. Liquid<br />
adhesive is then evenly applied to both the wall and<br />
the back of the cork tile, utilizing a new, high-quality<br />
microfiber roller with a short pile. The initial tile is<br />
carefully placed as marked, with subsequent tiles<br />
following suit, ensuring close alignment of edges for<br />
a seamless finish.<br />
For MD Façade Cork Board, a glue fixation method is<br />
recommended to maximize energy efficiency, owing to<br />
its low thermal conductivity of 0.043 W/m.K, contributing<br />
to both environmental and economic savings.<br />
Additionally, mechanical fixation of MD Façade<br />
boards can be achieved through hidden mechanical<br />
fastening directly to metal or other supports using a<br />
shiplap system.<br />
<strong>Design</strong> consideration<br />
• Selection of high-quality cork tailored for<br />
outdoor use is pivotal for durability and weather<br />
resistance.<br />
• Regular maintenance routines, including<br />
cleaning and resealing, are vital to uphold the<br />
facade‘s appearance and structural integrity.<br />
• Cork‘s warmth, diverse finishes, colors, and<br />
textures offer versatility for captivating facade<br />
designs.<br />
• Whether as the primary cladding material<br />
or in combination with other architectural<br />
elements, cork allows for visually striking exterior<br />
expressions.<br />
• Prioritizing sustainably sourced cork and ecofriendly<br />
manufacturing practices aligns with<br />
environmental responsibility and ensures longterm<br />
viability.<br />
• Adherence to prescribed installation procedures,<br />
with expert guidance as needed, is crucial for<br />
establishing enduring and reliable cork facades.<br />
• Attention to detail during installation, particularly<br />
in joints, connections, and sealing, is imperative for<br />
structural integrity and effective water resistance.<br />
Recycle and Reuse<br />
Figure 28 : Cork facade<br />
Figure 29. Cork tile<br />
Figure 30. Glued fixation of MD corkboard<br />
Companies like ReCork and Cork Forest Conservation<br />
Alliance specialize in recycling corks to create new<br />
products. However, due to the high cost, recycling<br />
small quantities of cork may not be practical. ReCork<br />
offers a solution for disposing of large quantities by<br />
shredding and repurposing cork as filler in other<br />
materials. Cork tiles or boards in good condition can<br />
be salvaged and reused for interior wall cladding<br />
or creative projects like furniture or artwork.<br />
Improperly dismantled cork can biodegrade in<br />
landfills over time, as it is a natural material.<br />
7. Comparative analysis of the biodegradable<br />
materials<br />
The selected 5 biodegradable materials which<br />
were described already are now compared with<br />
each other with charts, tables, and graphs. The<br />
comparisons will be made based on parameters<br />
like density, thermal conductivity, mechanical<br />
and acoustic properties, embodied energy, and<br />
CO2 emission which have been collected from<br />
different manufacturer’s websites, research<br />
papers, and design manuals. These results will<br />
finally help users to understand the difference<br />
Figure 31. Mechanical fixation of MD corkboard<br />
and identify suitable material for a project.<br />
Thermal conductivity measures a material‘s<br />
heat conductivity, with lower values indicating<br />
better insulation. Fig 33 displays two categories<br />
of materials, with straw and cork showing<br />
the lowest thermal conductivity. Earthen<br />
products vary widely due to density and<br />
composition, ranging from 0.5-1.5 W/m*K (Fig<br />
32). Generally, higher density correlates with<br />
higher conductivity, implying denser materials<br />
are poorer insulators.<br />
Heat capacity, or thermal capacity, measures<br />
the amount of heat energy needed to change<br />
an object‘s temperature. Specific heat capacity<br />
(J/kg K) is heating capacity per unit mass.<br />
Fig 34 shows cork, straw, and hemp-lime<br />
products with the highest heat capacity, while<br />
earth-based products have the lowest. These<br />
materials‘ significant mass contributes to their<br />
thermal mass, allowing them to accumulate,<br />
store, and re-emit heat, influencing indoor<br />
temperatures.<br />
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Figure 32. Density<br />
Figure 36. Summary of comparative analysis<br />
Figure 33. Thermal Conductivity<br />
Figure 34. Heat Capacity<br />
Figure 35. Compressive strength<br />
Figure 35. Sound reduction (dB)<br />
The U-value, expressed in W/m²K, represents<br />
the overall heat transfer coefficient of a building<br />
element or product. It‘s calculated using the<br />
equation U-value = thermal conductivity (λ) /<br />
thickness (d). This value indicates the rate at which<br />
heat is transferred through one square meter<br />
of the structure, divided by the temperature<br />
difference across the structure.<br />
Compressive strength is the strength of a<br />
material loaded in compression. For load-bearing<br />
structures (1-2 stories) a compressive strength<br />
of 0.1-0.2MPa is sufficient, but for safety reasons<br />
and after the safety factors are applied, the<br />
compressive strength should be ca. 2-2.5 MPa [2].<br />
As Fig 35 shows unfi red earthen products,<br />
rammed earth and cork present the highest values<br />
of compressive strength, while hemp lime product<br />
presents a slightly lower value of compressive<br />
strength but still a sufficient compressive strength<br />
of more than 2 MPa. On the other hand, straw<br />
products have very low values, less than 1 MPa<br />
which means they are not suitable as load-bearing<br />
materials.<br />
Fig 36 represents the sound reduction capability<br />
of the materials. From this graph, it is noticed that<br />
Rammed earth and Hemp lime products present<br />
the highest sound reduction. In a project where<br />
acoustic performance has a high priority, these<br />
materials can be a better choice.<br />
Different comparative analyses result that<br />
different materials may belong to multiple<br />
categories depending on their applications<br />
(Fig 37), each offering unique benefi ts and<br />
considerations. While biodegradable materials<br />
require careful design to avoid moisture issues,<br />
cork stands out for its water resistance, alongside<br />
stabilized earthen structures. Conversely, straw<br />
products necessitate robust water protection due<br />
to susceptibility to rot. Despite this, straw remains<br />
cost-effective and widely available, boasting<br />
favorable thermal and mechanical properties,<br />
ideal for eco-friendly construction projects.<br />
8. Conclusion<br />
This study provides valuable insights into the<br />
practical implementation of biodegradable<br />
materials in envelope design, equipping<br />
architects, engineers, and builders with informed<br />
decision-making tools. Biodegradable materials<br />
offer numerous benefits, including renewability,<br />
reduced environmental impact, and compatibility<br />
with circular economy principles,<br />
while also enhancing structural integrity and<br />
indoor environmental quality. „Building for the<br />
Future: A Guide to Biodegradable Materials<br />
in Envelope <strong>Design</strong>“ aims to inspire industry<br />
professionals and researchers to embrace<br />
these materials for a more sustainable future,<br />
leveraging advancing technology to further<br />
enhance their performance and unlock their full<br />
potential in sustainable construction endeavors.<br />
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9. References:<br />
1- Sgouropoulou, E. (2013). Possibilities of applying<br />
biodegradable materials in solid building envelopes<br />
in the Netherlands. MSc thesis. TU Delft, Faculty of<br />
Architecture, page: 43<br />
2- Houben H. and Guillaud H. (1994). Earth<br />
construction; a comprehensive guide. France:<br />
practical action publishing, page: 152-153<br />
3- Halliday S, 2008 Halliday, S. (2008) <strong>Sustainable</strong><br />
Construction. Butterworth-Heinemann, page.148<br />
4- Lyons A., 2010 Lyons, A. (2010) Materials for<br />
architects and builders. (4th edition) Elsevier,<br />
page:17<br />
5- Keefe L., 2005 Keefe, L. (2005) Earth building<br />
methods and materials, repair and conservation.<br />
USA and Canada: Taylor & Francis, page: 96<br />
6- Roaf, S. et al (2013) Ecohouse; a design guide (4th<br />
edition), Routledge: page: 286<br />
7- Paul G. McHenry, Jr. McHenry and Co. Albuquerque,<br />
NM. Appropriate building codes and specifications<br />
for Adobe construction, page: 429<br />
8- Solid Earth Adobe Buildings, https://www.<br />
solidearth.co.nz/earthbuilding-information/earthbuilding-design/<br />
9- Césaire Hema (2020) Impact of the <strong>Design</strong> of Walls<br />
Made of Compressed Earth Blocks on the Thermal<br />
Comfort of Housing in Hot Climate, DOI:10.3390/<br />
buildings 10090157<br />
10- Roaf, S. et al (2013) Ecohouse; a design guide (4th<br />
edition), Routledge: page: 127<br />
11- Elizabeth, L. and Adams, C. (edited) (2005)<br />
Alternative construction; contemporary natural<br />
building methods. Canada: Jon Willey & sons,<br />
page:210<br />
12- Woolley, T. and Kimmins, S. (2000) Green Building<br />
Handbook; volume 2. Great Britain: E and FN Spon,<br />
page: 161<br />
Article<br />
Energy Efficiency of a Timber Frame House in Detmold<br />
Summary of the Master Thesis presented for the Master of Integrated <strong>Design</strong> -<br />
Façade <strong>Design</strong> specialization (2024).<br />
Mina Kherad 1<br />
Supervisor 1. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Arztmann 1,2 ; Supervisor 2. M.Eng. Alvaro Balderrama 1,2,3<br />
1. Detmold School of <strong>Design</strong>, TH OWL, Emilienstrße 45, D-32756 Detmold, Germany<br />
2. Schüco International KG, Karolinenstraße 1-15, 33609 Bielefeld, Germany<br />
3. Architectural Façades and Products Research Group, Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU<br />
Delft, Julianalaan, 134, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands<br />
Abstract<br />
These days, sustainability is one of the most critical topics, including reducing energy loss. In Germany,<br />
most houses were built before 1978, meaning that around 64% of today‘s buildings were constructed<br />
without obligation to meet energy efficiency standards. Therefore, the need for renovation to reduce<br />
energy waste in residential houses increases; moreover, 13% of energy waste in buildings is related to their<br />
facade. Investigating ways to improve the thermal performance of historic buildings in Germany, focusing<br />
on addressing their energy inefficiency issues, many of which stem from their pre-1920 construction. It<br />
begins with a global overview of current building stocks, then zeroes in on the challenges historic German<br />
buildings face, such as high thermal transmittance materials and the lack of strict building standards at the<br />
time of their construction. The research proposes strategies for energy-efficient refurbishments adaptable<br />
to homeowners‘ financial situations and interests while navigating the complexities of current building<br />
regulations to show how these can be integrated into refurbishment plans effectively.<br />
A crucial part of the study involves a detailed case study of a heritage house in NRW, Detmold, using digital<br />
analysis tools like Ubakus to compare original and proposed refurbishment plans. The ultimate goal is to<br />
establish a comprehensive framework for retrofitting heritage houses to meet GEG and KfW guidelines,<br />
contributing to the discourse on energy efficiency and conservation in historic building preservation and<br />
emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices to maintain their cultural and architectural integrity.<br />
Key topics include building envelope, refurbishment, energy efficiency, space heating, U-value, Ubakus,<br />
and internal insulation.<br />
13- Kwok, A., 2011 Kwok A. et al. (2011) The Green<br />
studio Handbook Environmental strategies for<br />
Schematic <strong>Design</strong>. (2nd edition). USA: Elsevier Inc.<br />
page:49<br />
14- Cork factory Van Avermaet, https://www.kurk.<br />
be/nl/kurk/belang-kurk/<br />
15- APCOR- https://www.apcor.pt<br />
1. Introduction<br />
Sustainability has emerged as a crucial concept,<br />
particularly regarding the environmental impact<br />
of human activities and the necessity to balance<br />
economic, social, and ecological concerns to secure a<br />
viable future for coming generations. In construction<br />
and building design, sustainability has added<br />
significance given that urban areas, though occupying<br />
only 3% of the Earth‘s land, account for 60-80% of<br />
energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions.<br />
The building and construction sector presents critical<br />
opportunities for reducing environmental impacts<br />
and achieving sustainable development goals.<br />
Historical building practices prioritized functionality<br />
and control over internal environments, evolving with<br />
more durable materials like stone, clay, and metals,<br />
which enhanced building longevity and resilience.<br />
Modern energy efficiency in buildings is influenced<br />
by factors such as building stock age, ownership,<br />
and tenant structures, with a significant portion of<br />
today‘s buildings lacking energy efficiency standards<br />
due to their age. Consequently, energy-saving<br />
renovations, particularly in communal assets like the<br />
building envelope, require broad owner agreement,<br />
highlighting the sector‘s role in energy consumption<br />
reduction and performance enhancement through<br />
informed material use and structural analysis.<br />
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1.1. Objectives<br />
The research scope of this project is to find various<br />
insulattions for different structures. This research‘s<br />
main objective is solutions for a specific project‘s<br />
facade renovation that incorporates principles of<br />
circularity and materiality.<br />
The study will aim to answer the following issues:<br />
• Improve Heating performance<br />
• Facade Renovation<br />
• The situation of getting the best support from<br />
the government for House Renovation<br />
The research will involve a literature review of<br />
existing studies, case studies, and best practices<br />
related to Facade Renovation. The study will focus on<br />
a project‘s renovation, insulation, and cost-benefit.<br />
• To assess the impact of internal insulation on<br />
historic buildings‘ thermal performance and<br />
moisture regulation and how it aligns with<br />
contemporary energy efficiency standards.<br />
• To evaluate the balance between preserving<br />
architectural heritage and implementing<br />
modern energy conservation solutions in<br />
renovating historic buildings<br />
• To examine the regulatory compliance of<br />
sustainable refurbishment practices with<br />
GEG and KfW standards in German heritage<br />
buildings.<br />
• To explore the technical challenges and solutions<br />
in integrating vapor barriers with traditional<br />
construction materials to enhance the energy<br />
efficiency of half-timbered constructions<br />
without compromising their historical value.<br />
2. Literature review<br />
2.1. Essential Energy-Efficient Upgrades and<br />
Eco-Friendly Materials<br />
Buildings are a significant source of energy use and<br />
CO2 emissions, with the sector responsible for 14%<br />
of Germany‘s emissions as of 2018. Many of these<br />
emissions come from older residential buildings, with<br />
over half of the country‘s nearly 22 million buildings<br />
constructed before energy-efficient thermal<br />
insulation regulations were introduced in 1977.<br />
These older structures represent a significant energy<br />
conservation and climate protection opportunity<br />
through retrofitting. Currently, most buildings use<br />
heating systems powered by gas and oil, accounting<br />
for about 60% of a building‘s energy consumption,<br />
but there is a growing shift towards renewable<br />
energy systems. Upgrading buildings for better<br />
energy efficiency and adopting renewable heating<br />
solutions are crucial to climate change mitigation.<br />
Additionally, using sustainable building materials,<br />
which require energy for production and recycling,<br />
offers further potential to reduce emissions from the<br />
industrial sector. (Bundesförderung für effiziente<br />
Gebäude - BEG)<br />
2.2. Energy Efficiency and Residential Building<br />
Targets through Façade Renovation<br />
In the face of mounting global concerns over climate<br />
change and the need for resource optimization,<br />
facade renovations stand out as a crucial strategy<br />
for sustainable and energy-efficient building<br />
performance enhancement. These renovations,<br />
significant in the context of Germany‘s commitment<br />
to a 20% reduction in heating requirements by<br />
2020 and an 80% decrease in primary energy use<br />
by 2050, go beyond energy savings and carbon<br />
footprint reduction. They also improve indoor<br />
comfort and contribute to the aesthetic appeal<br />
of buildings. Tailored to the building‘s context and<br />
respecting architectural heritage, such interventions<br />
are aligned with circular economy principles that<br />
prioritize reducing resource use and waste. This<br />
involves implementing durable, maintainable, and<br />
recyclable design strategies. These efforts are<br />
central to Germany‘s vision of achieving nearly<br />
climate-neutral building stock by 2050, primarily<br />
reliant on renewable energies. (Deutsche Energie-<br />
Agentur (dena))<br />
2.3. GEG Regulations<br />
The GEG is a unified German building code that<br />
enhances energy efficiency by consolidating<br />
previous regulations and aligning with EU directives<br />
for nearly zero-energy buildings from 2021. While<br />
it emphasizes thermal efficiency, criticism arises<br />
from its oversight of ecological impact and total<br />
greenhouse gas emissions. The German <strong>Sustainable</strong><br />
Building Council has proposed incorporating<br />
CO2 limits and taxes into the GEG framework. For<br />
refurbishments, GEG requires adherence to specific<br />
U-value standards and encourages evaluations of<br />
energy performance against new buildings, with the<br />
Energy Saving Ordinance mandating upgradesfor<br />
significant refurbishments. (Zusammenfassung zum<br />
Entwruf des Gebäudeenergiegesetzes (GEG)).<br />
2.4. KFW Energy House Denkmal<br />
In Germany, the KfW development bank has initiated<br />
a financial program to improve buildings‘ energy<br />
efficiency, offering subsidies and low-interest loans<br />
for constructing and renovating structures that<br />
exceed the energy efficiency standards set by the<br />
current GEG (Building Energy Act). This program plays<br />
a significant role in the country‘s efforts to enhance<br />
energy efficiency, supporting a third of all renovations<br />
and half of all new construction projects. Specifically<br />
for historic monuments, KfW has established<br />
tailored guidelines within its funding programs to<br />
ensure renovations meet energy efficiency goals<br />
while adhering to preservation criteria. For instance,<br />
a KfW Efficiency House Monument is allowed to<br />
have energy requirements approximately 60%<br />
lower than those of new buildings, with adjusted<br />
criteria to accommodate the preservation of the<br />
building‘s structure. The program provides more<br />
lenient funding requirements for listed buildings,<br />
considering the challenges of meeting energysaving<br />
targets without compromising the building‘s<br />
historical integrity. Key measures include thermal<br />
insulation of external walls and window renewal, with<br />
allowances for alternative approaches like internal<br />
wall insulation to protect the building‘s aesthetic<br />
and structural significance. Eligibility extends to<br />
buildings recognized as architectural monuments,<br />
part of a monument ensemble, or considered<br />
particularly worth preserving by local authorities.<br />
(Baudenkmal KfW Zuschuss)<br />
3. Methodology<br />
Following a clear explanation of how a heritage house<br />
can achieve energy efficiency and adhere to GEG and<br />
KfW building regulations, one heritage house in a<br />
specific district has been selected for a case study in<br />
this project.<br />
This project involves one pre-1946 building at Am<br />
Heidenbachstraße in Detmold, which was initially used<br />
as farm storage before being converted into residences<br />
between 1975 and 1985. Collaborating closely with<br />
the property owner, essential historical and technical<br />
information was collected, allowing for a precise<br />
refurbishment strategy.<br />
Digital analyses were conducted, focusing on wall details,<br />
to identify the best materials for the refurbishment,<br />
aligning with GEG and KfW regulations. The case<br />
study buildings, Fachwerkhaus by type, constructed<br />
before 1920, feature half-timber construction with an<br />
external stone wall layer, c omprising five ground floor<br />
apartments, four on the first floor, and 2 in the attic, all<br />
utilizing natural gas for heating and hot water.<br />
The table compares traditional and non-traditional<br />
construction techniques, focusing on different aspects<br />
of building design, including structural elements, types<br />
Figure 1. Building pictures<br />
of fenestrations, and roofing styles. The timber frame<br />
construction of this building suggests it was erected<br />
before 1920, classifying it as a heritage property.<br />
Internal insulation is required to comply with German<br />
regulations to enhance its energy efficiency<br />
3.1. Project Description<br />
Observation:<br />
• Timber framing<br />
• Stone wall Construction<br />
• There is a newer addition to the house, visible<br />
on the right side, which shows a different<br />
window style and exterior, possibly indicating<br />
a modern extension to the original structure<br />
• The main facade of the house is covered with<br />
stucco, a typical exterior finish that provides a<br />
smooth surface<br />
• The placement and sizes of the windows are<br />
asymmetrical, which could suggest that the<br />
house has been modified over time<br />
• Interior Wall 30 cm<br />
• Outside Wall 25 cm<br />
• Single glazing<br />
• Half-Timbered Wall: This is the most prominent<br />
feature, where the structural timber frame is<br />
exposed, and the spaces between the timbers<br />
are filled with a non-wood material, often<br />
wattle and daub, brick, or plaster<br />
• Sloped Ceiling: The ceiling is sloped,<br />
characteristic of attic or loft spaces in many<br />
residential buildings<br />
3.2.Insulation<br />
Insulating heritage buildings is essential for several<br />
reasons, but it must be approached carefully to<br />
preserve the structure‘s historical integrity.<br />
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Figure 2. Ground floor plan Figure 3. First floor plan Figure 4. Attic plan<br />
Figure 5. Northeast elevation<br />
Figure 6. Northwest elevation<br />
• Heat loss during the heating season 23 kWh/m² and<br />
the amount of non-renewable energy (from sources<br />
like fossil fuels and nuclear energy) is 76 kWh/m².<br />
• Greenhouse gas emissions associated with<br />
producing the materials Limestone contributes are<br />
18 kg, and Profilholz (Fichte/Tanne) contributes -84<br />
kilograms.<br />
• Under certain environmental conditions<br />
(specifically, an inside temperature of 20°C with 50%<br />
humidity and an outside temperature of -5°C with<br />
80% humidity), the wall is expected to accumulate<br />
0.46 kilograms of water (as condensation) per<br />
square meter of its surface. As a result, the wall‘s<br />
performance in terms of moisture protection is<br />
considered inadequate or rated poorly.<br />
Second Alternative:<br />
In the second one we have a cavity in between.<br />
usually, this air gap is between 20-50 or 50-100mm,<br />
and I decided it‘s 50mm because of the thickness<br />
of the wall.<br />
• The overall thermal transmittance of the wall<br />
is given as U=0.28 W/(m²K), which measures<br />
how well the wall can contain heat. standard<br />
(GEG 2020 Bestand) is U=0.24 W/(m²K) and the<br />
current configuration is slightly worse than the<br />
standard and it rated in insufficient range.<br />
4. Renovation Proposal<br />
In this thesis, I mainly focus on Wall insulation.<br />
Adding internal insulation is recommended for<br />
the internal walls with zero insulation to minimize<br />
heat loss and prevent moisture accumulation.<br />
Upgrading to double-glazed doors is proposed<br />
for better thermal insulation, energy cost<br />
reduction, and improved soundproofing.<br />
Single-glazed, wooden frame windows will be<br />
replaced with double-glazed to decrease heat<br />
and thermal transmission and enhance sound<br />
insulation.<br />
After investigating internal insulation, I<br />
chose two materials and compared them.<br />
GutexThermoroom and Calcium Silikat board. I<br />
chose Gutexthermoroom because it was more<br />
accessible to install and has slightly higher thermal<br />
conductivity.<br />
Revised Detail:<br />
First Alternative:<br />
Here, you can see the revised details of the wall<br />
and installation method. In front of the wall,<br />
insulating plaster was used, followed by lime<br />
cement plaster behind Gutexthermoroom and<br />
a thin layer of lime cement plaster and bitumen<br />
coating.<br />
Figure 7. Southwest elevation<br />
Insulation is necessary for heritage buildings<br />
for Energy efficiency, Preservation, Comfort,<br />
Sustainability, Adaptation to Modern Use,<br />
Moisture Control, Noise Reduction, Regulatory<br />
Compliance, Value Preservation, and Responsible<br />
Stewardship. Benefits of Internal Insulation are<br />
Keeping Heritage Aesthetics, Easier Planning<br />
Permission, Individual Room Treatment, Reduced<br />
Thermal Bridging, Protection from External<br />
Elements, Cost efficiency, Acoustical, Reduced Risk<br />
of External Weather Exposure and also drawbacks<br />
are Space Reduction, Complex Installation, Risk<br />
of Moisture Trapping, Thermal Mass Reduction,<br />
Potential for Cold Bridging, Moisture Management<br />
Challenges.<br />
3.3. Details<br />
Drawings are based on typical drawings of this<br />
type of construction because there isn‘t any<br />
documentation of the specific building. I need to<br />
make an assumption about the situation of the<br />
building; therefore, we have two alternatives.<br />
First Alternative:<br />
Figure 8. Southeast elevation<br />
in the first one, we don‘t have any airgap in between<br />
these two constructions.<br />
• The overall thermal transmittance of the wall is<br />
given as U=0.30 W/(m²K), which measures how<br />
well the wall can contain heat. standard (GEG<br />
2020 Bestand) is U=0.24 W/(m²K) and the current<br />
configuration is slightly worse than the standard<br />
and it rated in insufficient range.<br />
• The wall dries in 99 days. And condensate is 458 g/<br />
m² and it rated in insufficient range.<br />
• The temperature amplitude damping of 22 means<br />
that the wall can significantly reduce the changes<br />
in temperature from the outside to the inside and<br />
the phase shift of 12.2 hours means that there is<br />
a delay of about half a day between the hottest or<br />
coldest time outside and when that temperature is<br />
felt on the inside of the wall therefore it rated into<br />
excellent range.<br />
• The wall dries in 100 days. And condensate is<br />
458 g/m² and it rated in insufficient range.<br />
• The temperature amplitude damping of 23<br />
means that the wall can significantly reduce<br />
the changes in temperature from the outside<br />
to the inside and the phase shift of 12.2 hours<br />
means that there is a delay of about half a day<br />
between the hottest or coldest time outside<br />
and when that temperature is felt on the inside<br />
of the wall therefore it rated into excellent<br />
range.<br />
• Heat loss during the heating season 22 kWh/m²<br />
and the amount of non-renewable energy (from<br />
sources like fossil fuels and nuclear energy) is<br />
77 kWh/m²<br />
• Greenhouse gas emissions associated with<br />
producing the materials Limestone contributes<br />
are 18 kg, and Profilholz (Fichte/Tanne)<br />
contributes -84 kilograms.<br />
•<br />
• Under certain environmental conditions<br />
(specifically, an inside temperature of 20°C with<br />
50% humidity and an outside temperature of<br />
-5°C with 80% humidity), the wall is expected<br />
to accumulate 0.46 kilograms of water (as<br />
condensation) per square meter of its surface.<br />
As a result, the wall‘s performance in terms of<br />
moisture protection is considered inadequate<br />
or rated poorly.<br />
Calculations<br />
• The overall thermal transmittance of the wall<br />
is given as U=0.19 W/(m²K), which measures<br />
how well the wall can contain heat. standard<br />
(GEG 2020 Bestand) is U=0.24 W/(m²K) and<br />
the current configuration is better than the<br />
standard and it rated in excellent range.<br />
• The wall dries in 93 days. It‘s also noted that<br />
there is no condensate, meaning the wall is not<br />
expected to accumulate moisture internally.<br />
This section is rated as „excellent,“ showing it<br />
has good moisture management.<br />
• The temperature amplitude damping of 22<br />
means that the wall can significantly reduce<br />
the changes in temperature from the outside<br />
to the inside and in this context, „non-relevant“<br />
suggests that due to the wall‘s high level of<br />
insulation, the phase shift is not a significant<br />
factor in its performance. Essentially, the<br />
insulation is so effective that the time it takes<br />
for the outside temperature to affect the inside<br />
is not a concern, as the temperature fluctuation<br />
is greatly dampened and it is in excellent range.<br />
• Heat loss during the heating season 15 kWh/<br />
m² and the amount of non-renewable energy,<br />
over 145 kWh/m², used in the production of the<br />
material. It includes energy from fossil fuels and<br />
nuclear energy.<br />
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Figure 9. Revised details - First alternative<br />
• A measure of the potential greenhouse gas<br />
emissions associated with the material expressed<br />
as -64 kg CO2 equivalent per square meter.<br />
• The wall is noted to accumulate 0.00 kg/m² of<br />
condensation, which implies excellent moisture<br />
management as no internal condensation is<br />
expected and the temperature of the inside<br />
surface is given as 18.8°C, which leads to a<br />
relative humidity on the surface of 54%. It‘s<br />
stated that mold formation is not expected<br />
under these conditions, indicating a healthy<br />
moisture level within the wall.<br />
Second Alternative:<br />
For second alternative I decided to use cellulose<br />
as an insulation and method is that they push the<br />
cellulose with high pressure inside of the cavity and<br />
also use bitumen coating for internal face of the wall<br />
due to moisturizing reasons.<br />
Calculations<br />
• The overall thermal transmittance of the wall<br />
is given as U=0.22 W/(m²K), which measures<br />
how well the wall can contain heat. standard<br />
(GEG 2020 Bestand) is U=0.24 W/(m²K) and<br />
the current configuration is better than the<br />
standard and it rated in excellent range.<br />
• The wall dries in 93 days. It‘s also noted that<br />
there is no condensate, meaning the wall is not<br />
expected to accumulate moisture internally.<br />
This section is rated as „excellent,“ showing it<br />
has good moisture management.<br />
• A damping of 35 means that the wall can<br />
significantly smooth out the highs and lows of<br />
the external temperature. So, if the temperature<br />
outside fluctuates greatly, inside the building,<br />
those fluctuations will be much less noticeable,<br />
helping to keep the indoor environment more<br />
stable and in this context, „non-relevant“<br />
suggests that due to the wall‘s high level of<br />
insulation, the phase shift is not a significant<br />
factor in its performance. Essentially, the<br />
insulation is so effective that the time it takes<br />
for the outside temperature to affect the inside<br />
is not a concern, as the temperature fluctuation<br />
is greatly dampened and it is in excellent rang<br />
and a phase shift of 13.2 hours means that if<br />
the temperature outside peaks at noon, that<br />
extreme temperature won‘t be felt on the inside<br />
until approximately 13.2 hours later.<br />
• Heat loss during the heating season 17 kWh/m²<br />
and the amount of non-renewable energy, over 117<br />
kWh/m², used in the production of the material. It<br />
includes energy from fossil fuels and nuclear energy.<br />
• A measure of the potential greenhouse gas<br />
emissions associated with the material expressed<br />
as -67 kg CO2 equivalent per square meter.<br />
• The wall does not accumulate condensate, and<br />
it also provides the drying reserve capacity and<br />
the minimum required protection, concluding<br />
that the moisture protection of this component<br />
is rated poorly and The absence of condensate<br />
across the materials suggests good moisture<br />
management within the wall structure the<br />
temperature of the inside surface of the wall and<br />
the relative humidity, which indicates that mold<br />
is not expected to form under these conditions.<br />
5. Conclusion<br />
In conclusion, this thesis has shown that wood fiber<br />
insulation enhances historic buildings‘ thermal<br />
performance and energy efficiency, notably in<br />
half-timber constructions. Its application not only<br />
maintains the structural integrity of these buildings<br />
but also significantly reduces U-values, underscoring<br />
its high efficiency. Furthermore, incorporating a<br />
vapor barrier with wood fiber insulation plays a<br />
pivotal role in controlling moisture transfer from<br />
the inside to the outside. This combination balances<br />
moisture control and insulation needs, ensuring the<br />
building‘s persistence and structural health. The<br />
total internal insulation thickness system ranges<br />
from 95 to 155 millimeters, accommodating various<br />
U-Value requirements. The insulation‘s U-value<br />
improves progressively with increased thickness,<br />
transitioning from 0.24 at 20 mm to 0.16 at 100<br />
mm. A 60 mm thickness was selected for its optimal<br />
balance of thermal performance, making a U-value<br />
that aligns with the standards set forth by the GEG<br />
and KfW and represents a common choice for<br />
diverse structural types. Additionally, the findings<br />
of this research confirm that this insulation method,<br />
including the vapor barrier, complies with current<br />
GEG and KFW regulations, reinforcing its applicability<br />
and relevance in contemporary sustainable building<br />
practice. This marks a significant contribution<br />
to sustainable renovation and conservation of<br />
historical architecture, offering a balanced approach<br />
to modern insulation techniques while respecting<br />
the heritage value of historic structures.<br />
7. References<br />
1. Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy<br />
(BMWi). (2018). Energy solutions made in Germany.<br />
Berlin, Germany.<br />
2. Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy<br />
(BMWi). (2020). Energy efficiency strategy for buildings.<br />
Berlin, Germany.<br />
3. Federal Republic of Germany. (2010). National heritage<br />
policy of Germany. Munich, Germany.<br />
4.Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy<br />
(BMWi). (2018). Climate action plan 2050. Berlin,<br />
Germany.<br />
5. Stefan Hulsbosch, Edwin J. van Dijk, Elisa C. Boelman,<br />
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Christoph M. Ravesloot. Flexible buildings and cellulose<br />
insulation. TU Delft, Netherland. https://www.irbnet.de/<br />
daten/iconda/CIB4701.pdf<br />
6. M. Jarosz. High Performance and Optimum <strong>Design</strong> of<br />
Structures and Materials. Insulating timber-framed walls<br />
of historical buildings using modern technologies and<br />
materials. https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/<br />
papers/HPSM14/HPSM14045FU1.pdf<br />
7. K Hutkai, D Katunský, M Zozulák. Internal insulation<br />
systems and their assessment for historic buildings by<br />
hygrothermal simulation. Slovakia. 2022.<br />
8. Hartwell, R., Macmillan, S., & Overend, M. (2021).<br />
Circular economy of façades: Real-world challenges and<br />
opportunities. Resources, Conservation & Recycling.<br />
Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/<br />
resources-conservation-and-recycling<br />
9. Salavessa, E., Jalali, S., Sousa, L. M. O., Fernandes, L., &<br />
Duarte, A. M. (2013). Historical plasterwork techniques<br />
inspire new formulations. Construction and Building<br />
Materials, 858-867.<br />
10. Eßmann, F. (2022). Peculiarities of installing<br />
internal insulation in half-timbered walls; Detailed<br />
solutions; Some examples. [Journal Name Needed],<br />
2(4), 219-246.<br />
11. Latif, E., Ciupala, M. A., Tucker, S., Wijeyesekera, D. C.,<br />
& Newport, D. J. (2015). Hygrothermal performance of<br />
wood-hemp insulation in timber frame wall panels with<br />
and without a vapour barrier. Building and Environment,<br />
122-134. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/<br />
article/abs/pii/S0360132315001912?via%3Dihub<br />
concise_2018_building_report.pdf<br />
20. Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (DENA). (2018).<br />
Dena study integrated energy transition. Retrieved from<br />
https://www.dena.de/en/themen-projekte/projekte/<br />
projektarchiv/dena-study-integrated-energy-transition<br />
21. Robust Internal Thermal Insulation of Historic<br />
Buildings (RIBuild). (2019). Report on historical building<br />
types and combinations of structural solutions.<br />
22. Konstantinou, T. (2014). Façade refurbishment<br />
toolbox: Supporting the design of residential energy<br />
upgrades (b/W version). [A+BE | Architecture and the<br />
Built Environment].<br />
23. Das Baudenkmal. (n.d.). Zuschuss für Ihre Sanierung.<br />
Retrieved from https://www.das-baudenkmal.de/<br />
wissenswertes/foerderung/kfw<br />
24. Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude -<br />
BEG. (2022, September 22). Building and housing.<br />
Retrieved from https://www.bundesregierung.de/<br />
breg-en/issues/climate-action/building-and-housing-<br />
1795860#:~:text=Around%2014%20percent%20of%20<br />
all,saving%20thermal%20insulation%20in%20buildings.<br />
25. Federal Minister of Justice. (n.d.). Baugesetzbuch.<br />
(November 27, 2017). https://www.gesetze-im-internet.<br />
de/bbaug/BauGB.pdf<br />
26. Federal Minister of Justice. (n.d.). Gesetz zur<br />
Einsparung von Energie und zur Nutzung erneuerbarer<br />
Energien zur Wärme- und Kälteerzeugung in Gebäuden<br />
(Gebäudeenergiegesetz - GEG). (August 28, 2023).<br />
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bbaug/BauGB.pdf<br />
Article<br />
Preliminary Observation for the Structural Performance of Timber Façade<br />
Mullion and Transom Connection with Large Glass Dead Load<br />
Hiruy Gebremariam Tekeste 1<br />
1. Detmold School of <strong>Design</strong>, TH OWL, Emilienstrße 45, D-32756 Detmold, Germany<br />
Abstract<br />
Contemporary architectural trends increasingly feature timber curtain walls for their sustainability and<br />
aesthetic appeal. This observational report highlights potential structural issues of timber-frame facades.<br />
Despite no apparent performance issues, concerns arise regarding the outward rotation of the bottom<br />
transom, possibly due to eccentric glass loading or connector inadequacy. Visual observations reveal clear<br />
indications of transom rotation, alongside isolated instances of timber rot. Hypotheses suggest connector<br />
failure or excessive mullion rotation as potential causes, but further analysis is recommended. This paper<br />
highlights the importance of addressing structural concerns in timber curtain walls for ensuring long-term<br />
facade integrity and performance. Future work involves collaborative efforts to conduct detailed analyses. A<br />
structural model is under development to continue the research.<br />
12. Lenz, W. (2005). Fachwerkhäuser. Fraunhofer IRB<br />
Verlag.<br />
13. Hauser, G., & Stiegel, H. (1992). Wärmebrücken Atlas<br />
für den Holzbau. Bauverlag.<br />
14. Hähnel, E. (2007). Fachwerk Instandsetzung.<br />
Fraunhofer IRB Verlag.<br />
15. Weiss, W. (2019). Fachwerk Bautraditionen in<br />
Mitteleuropa. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag.<br />
16. Stelzer, C. (2005). Beispielhafte umweltgerechte<br />
Sanierung der historischen des Detmolder<br />
Sommertheaters. Fraunhofer IRB Verlag.<br />
17. Institut für Bauforschung e.V. (2008). Atlas Bauen im<br />
Bestand. Rudolf Müller.<br />
18. Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE).<br />
(2015). Renovating Germany’s building stock. Brussels,<br />
Belgium.<br />
19. Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (DENA).<br />
(2018). Energy efficiency in building stock – Statistics<br />
and analyses. Retrieved from https://www.dena.<br />
de/fileadmin/dena/Dokumente/Pdf/9268_dena_<br />
27. Rosenkranz, A. (2023, September 10). EnEV – Wichtige<br />
Anforderungen im Überblick. Heizung.de. https://www.<br />
heizung.de/ratgeber/diverses/enev-wissenswertefakten-zu-energieausweis-co.html<br />
28. Geg: Was Steht Im Neuen Gebäudeenergiegesetz?”<br />
Verbraucherzentrale.de. (October 31, 2023). https://<br />
www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/energie/<br />
energetische-sanierung/geg-was-steht-im-neuengebaeudeenergiegesetz-13886<br />
29. ”Gutex Thermoroom “. Ecological Building system.<br />
https://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/product/<br />
thermoroom<br />
1. Introduction<br />
In contemporary architectural design, glazed timber<br />
curtain walls are increasingly favored for their<br />
sustainable and visually appealing looks. This trend<br />
involves utilizing timber as the primary structural<br />
support for facades, supplemented by aluminum<br />
add-on systems.<br />
A critical observation has been made regarding<br />
the timber facade of Building 2 situated at the<br />
TH OWL Detmold campus. Despite no significant<br />
visible performance issues noted by the observer,<br />
a specific concern has been identified that requires<br />
immediate attention and thorough investigation.<br />
The ground floor of the building features wide<br />
glazed areas, enhancing the facade‘s aesthetics but<br />
presenting a challenge with the bottom transom<br />
exhibiting outward rotation, possibly due to the<br />
eccentric loading of glass on the transom and/or<br />
insufficient connector.<br />
Eccentric loading of large glass panels on timber<br />
transoms, leading to torsional effects, is a recognized<br />
concern among facade designers and constructors.<br />
Contractors typically address this issue by employing<br />
specialized T-connectors between mullions and<br />
transoms for supporting glass loads.<br />
This observational report tries to show the<br />
existing issue and advocates for a comprehensive<br />
investigation into the extent of the problem, its<br />
underlying causes, and potential solutions within a<br />
short timeframe.<br />
Figure 1. Timber façade at TH OWL campus with<br />
large glazing marked red (picture by Ferndorf)<br />
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2. Visual Observation<br />
Visual inspection of the ground floor timber facade<br />
reveals clear indications of rotation caused by the<br />
eccentric loading of large glass panels. These effects<br />
manifest as an upward gap between the lifted<br />
transom and the adjacent skirting finish seen from<br />
the interior, along with visible downward shifting of<br />
the aluminum pressure plates on the outside.<br />
Figure 2. Upward lifted transom from inside<br />
Source (picture by the author)<br />
Figure 4. timber transom with a sign of rot<br />
(picture by the author)<br />
Additionally, isolated instances of slight timber rot<br />
are observed (Figure 4), although it is premature to<br />
ascertain its role in causing or exacerbating torsional<br />
deformation. The top spacer of the big IGU glasses<br />
is exposed a little more than expected which might<br />
be caused by the downward translation due to the<br />
outward rotation of the supporting bottom transom<br />
(Figure 5).<br />
3. Hypothesis<br />
To understand the possible cause of the transom<br />
rotation more complete data on the design, material,<br />
construction, and previous maintenance record (if<br />
any) is required. However, the following causes can<br />
be hypothesized as some of the many potential<br />
causes for failure that demand further investigation:<br />
1. Connector failure: there are many wellperforming<br />
connectors for timber curtain walls<br />
(Figure 6). However, due to lack of proper design<br />
or workmanship, there might be a possibility of<br />
inadequacy on the connector which in turn might<br />
lead to excessive transom rotation.<br />
force on the connector. This shall be checked with<br />
structural analysis including the effect of longterm<br />
cyclic wind loading.<br />
4. Future work<br />
To comprehensively understand the underlying<br />
causes and extent of the problem, detailed visual<br />
and analytical analysis of a representative sample<br />
location on the ground floor is imperative. This<br />
endeavor necessitates collaborative efforts among<br />
the stakeholders. Although the issue may not pose<br />
an immediate threat to the facade functionality,<br />
preemptive action is advisable to avert potential<br />
major failures.<br />
Currently, the structural model is being developed<br />
using Dlubal RFEM 6 based on the available data.<br />
Once complete and accurate data is available the<br />
results will be published in the next publications.<br />
5. References<br />
1. Ferndorf, Campus Emilie in Detmold, accessed<br />
on March 13, 2024. https://www.baunetzwissen.<br />
de/akustik/objekte/bildung/campus-emilie-indetmold-730725/gallery-1/1<br />
2. Raico, Timber curtain wall mullion and transom<br />
connector, accessed on March 13, 2024. https://<br />
www.raico.de/en/products/t-connectors/tconnectors-h-i.html<br />
Figure 6. Timber façade connector<br />
(images by Raico)<br />
3. DelftX: Façade design and engineering:<br />
complexity made simple – Dr. Knaack and Dr. Bilow,<br />
accessed on March 13, 2024. https://www.edx.org/<br />
learn/engineering/delft-university-of-technologyfacade-design-and-engineering-complexitymade-simple<br />
Figure 7. Single-bolted dead load support<br />
used on the project (picture by DelftX)<br />
Figure 3. downward shifted Transom Aluminum<br />
cover mark (pictures by the author)<br />
Figure 5. possible downward slippage of glass<br />
(pictures by the author)<br />
2.Excessive mullion rotation: The mullion is<br />
connected to the supporting bracket using a single<br />
bolt instead of multiple bolts (Figure 7). This might<br />
lead to an excessive mullion rotation. On the other<br />
hand, the bigger span transom is carrying a larger<br />
glass load which might hinder it from rotating<br />
together with the mullion causing excess reaction<br />
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Article<br />
Façade Acoustics and Soundscape Assessment Workshops:<br />
Implementing Soundscape Criteria in Façade Education<br />
Alvaro Balderrama 1,2,3<br />
1. Detmold School of <strong>Design</strong>, TH OWL, Emilienstrße 45, D-32756 Detmold, Germany<br />
2. Schüco International KG, Karolinenstraße 1-15, 33609 Bielefeld, Germany<br />
3. Architectural Façades and Products Research Group, Department of Architectural Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, TU<br />
Delft, Julianalaan, 134, 2628 BL Delft, The Netherlands<br />
Abstract<br />
Having a holistic understanding of the impact that a façade design can have in an urban environment is crucial for<br />
sustainable development. Façade acoustics traditionally considers sound reduction for indoor environments,<br />
and although its acoustic effects outdoors are acknowledged, the discipline has no formal requirements to<br />
analyze their impact. Furthermore, beyond physical acoustics, increasing research indicates that façades can<br />
also affect people’s perception and experience of sound due to contextual factors, but these are also neglected<br />
by policy and practice. A conceptual framework to analyze the influence of façades on the urban soundscape<br />
has been developed in previous studies by the author, and this paper provides the results of a workshop<br />
focused on integrating these concepts into an academic workshop. A group of fourteen (n = 14) students of<br />
the MID Façade <strong>Design</strong> program participated in the workshop with the aim to analyze the effects of individual<br />
façades on the urban soundscape in different streets of Detmold. First, a soundwalk was conducted to collect<br />
acoustic and perceptual data in five locations. Then, five groups of students chose façades in those locations<br />
to examine them. The outcomes reveal that students were capable of applying the conceptual framework of<br />
façades and urban soundscape successfully to analyze essential aspects. A feedback survey was distributed<br />
after the activity and the results indicate that the participants found the activity relevant and useful in order<br />
to improve their façade design skills. Finally, an evaluation of the requirements to apply the framework is<br />
presented, followed by a discussion with recommendations and limitations of the methodology.<br />
Keywords: ISO 12913, architecture, sustainability<br />
1. Introduction<br />
Understanding how buildings affect people’s<br />
health and comfort is essential to tackling some<br />
of the many issues of urban densification and<br />
the rising global population. As we approach the<br />
culmination of the 2030 Agenda for <strong>Sustainable</strong><br />
Development (United Nations, 2015), there is an<br />
increasing need for further efforts and innovation<br />
since the progress has not been as optimistic as it<br />
was predicted (United Nations, 2023), in part, due<br />
to the unfortunate global events of this ongoing<br />
decade. Particularly, the design of façades plays<br />
a key role in the impact of architectural projects<br />
as they are the boundary between indoor and<br />
outdoor environments, mediating the transfer of<br />
sound, heat, air and light from one side through<br />
the other, therefore, are partly responsible energy<br />
consumption, carbon emissions, and overall<br />
people’s comfort (Knaack et al., 2007; Klein, 2013;<br />
Bianchi et al., 2024).<br />
Regarding the subfield of façade acoustics, the<br />
traditional approach of building physics considers<br />
how façades affect sound propagation using<br />
decibel-based metrics. However, increasing efforts<br />
in the interdisciplinary research field known as<br />
“soundscape” have shifted the focus from reducing<br />
sound levels without accounting for the quality<br />
of sounds, towards a human-centered approach<br />
focused on people’s perception and experience of<br />
sound in context. The International Organization<br />
for Standardization released a series of standards<br />
for soundscape research (ISO 12913-1:2014; ISO<br />
12913-2:2018; ISO/TS 12913-3:2019) that have been<br />
broadly adopted as an updated approach to sound<br />
management.<br />
Façade education is a key parameter in the<br />
development of the discipline (Knaack, 2023),<br />
but despite the critical role of sound in people’s<br />
experience of the built environment, architectural<br />
practice and policy often neglects acoustics and<br />
soundscape awareness, leaving professionals<br />
unequipped to effectively incorporate sound<br />
considerations due to limited resources and<br />
strategies (Taralo et al., 2024; Krimm, 2018). A<br />
systematic literature review focused on façades<br />
and urban soundscape (Balderrama et al., 2022)<br />
revealed that the methodologies presented in<br />
ISO 12913 for soundscape research have not<br />
yet been explicitly implemented in the façade<br />
design processes, and bridging the gap between<br />
soundscape theory and practice is one of the<br />
main challenges in the field (Aletta and Xiao,<br />
2018). Addressing this issue, a novel conceptual<br />
framework of façades and urban soundscape was<br />
developed (Balderrama et al., 2024) as a tool for<br />
designers to analyze the potential effects of façades<br />
on the acoustic environment (physical sound<br />
propagation) and on the soundscape (people’s<br />
subjective interpretation of sound) by describing<br />
four elements: the façade, the context, the acoustic<br />
environment, and people. Previous iterations of the<br />
framework of façades and soundscape were tested<br />
in two prior workshops in Detmold: the first one, in<br />
October 2022 with three (n = 3) participants, and<br />
a second edition with fifteen (n = 15) participants<br />
in January 2023. This article explores the<br />
implementation of soundscape criteria in façade<br />
acoustics education through the third iteration of<br />
the workshop “Façade Acoustics and Soundscape<br />
Assessment”, offered to the students of the Master<br />
of Integrated <strong>Design</strong> in the specialization of façade<br />
design (MID FD) between October 2023 and January<br />
2024. An assessment of the workshop results and<br />
insights into the integration of soundscape criteria<br />
in façade design education are provided below.<br />
2. Methodology<br />
2.1. Soundwalk for data collection<br />
On October 25th, 2023, a soundwalk was organized<br />
in Detmold with the participation of seven (n = 7)<br />
students from the class Climate and Comfort of the<br />
MID FD program. A soundwalk is a method used<br />
to collect data regarding people’s perception of<br />
sound and experience of the environment (Aletta<br />
et al., 2016; ISO 12913-2:2018). The procedure was<br />
based on the guidelines of ISO 12913 but adapted<br />
as an academic exercise where participants filled<br />
in a questionnaire in five predefined locations.<br />
Additionally, a sound level meter class 2 was used<br />
by the researcher to obtain the continuous sound<br />
pressure level for those locations at that time.<br />
The data collected from the questionnaires and<br />
sound measurements was processed by the<br />
researcher and visualized in a poster (Figure 1). The<br />
visualizations were done using Python. A Jupyther<br />
notebook was created to plot every point of the<br />
questionnaire used in the soundwalk of October<br />
25th, 2023. The code was shared in the following<br />
GitHub repository (Balderrama, 2024). The poster<br />
was provided to the student groups along with<br />
an Excel file with the data as the starting point for<br />
their main task in the workshop: to analyze the<br />
relationship between façades and the soundscape<br />
by applying the four-element framework (façade,<br />
context, acoustic environment, people).<br />
2.2. Group work: analysis of façade effects<br />
on the soundscape<br />
During about two and a half months after the<br />
soundwalk, the students were able to go back to<br />
the site and collect further data on the façade<br />
such as the construction technology, dimensions,<br />
materials, aesthetics and other features. The<br />
context was also surveyed, like the time and place<br />
of the different visits, the presence of people in<br />
the area, the atmospheric conditions, and the<br />
physical boundaries in the area, such as the<br />
roads, sidewalks, vegetation, urban furniture,<br />
and more. Visiting the site at different times<br />
of the day and night, as well as different days<br />
of the week was also encouraged, to be able to<br />
compare between more situations. In order to<br />
assess the soundscape again, they could repeat<br />
the questionnaire, however, the accuracy of the<br />
results would only rely on one or a few people,<br />
instead of on seven people that attended the<br />
soundwalk.<br />
The questionnaire allowed gathering information<br />
on sound perception, including identification of<br />
sound sources, perceived affective quality (PAQ),<br />
appropriateness, perceived loudness, and overall<br />
sound quality, plus, one additional question:<br />
overall visual quality. In particular, soundscape<br />
scatter plots representing PAQ are among the<br />
most efficient methods to characterize the<br />
soundscape (Aletta et al., 2016) by plotting two<br />
coordinates: Pleasantness and Eventfulness,<br />
which are derived from eight perceptual<br />
attributes: “pleasant”, “calm”, “uneventful”,<br />
“monotonous”, “annoying”, “chaotic”, “eventful”,<br />
and “vibrant” collected through the questionnaire<br />
(e.g. from 1 to 5, how pleasant is the acoustic<br />
environment?). The students were provided with<br />
an Excel spreadsheet with the formulas of ISO<br />
12913, in order to easily obtain the coordinates<br />
of P and E to plot new soundscape assessments<br />
and compare them to the original soundwalk. The<br />
Python code described before was also offered in<br />
case they wanted to explore the tool developed<br />
for visualizing the questionnaire data.<br />
The deliverable of the workshop was a poster<br />
analyzing the four elements of the framework.<br />
Although the format of the poster was free, a<br />
suggestion of its content was made (Table 1) to<br />
orient participants towards the most essential<br />
factors involved in the effects of façades on the<br />
acoustic environment and on the soundscape.<br />
Finally, five groups analyzed the relationship<br />
between façades and the soundscape of those<br />
areas. The posters presented on January 17th,<br />
2024 are shown in the Annex at the end of this<br />
article.<br />
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Table 1. Suggested content for analysis of façade influence on the soundscape.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
FAÇADE<br />
• Height: Highest points of the façade.<br />
• Geometrical complexity: flat; moderate<br />
protrusions and inclinations; irregular<br />
• Façade Materials: Description of materials<br />
used including sound absorption<br />
coefficients. Vegetation growing along<br />
the façade is here considered a façade<br />
material.<br />
CONTEXT<br />
• Visits: The date and time of site visits.<br />
• Atmospheric conditions: Temperature, precipitation,<br />
wind, sky condition.<br />
• Street geometry: width to height ratio.<br />
• Crowd: Presence of people in the area.<br />
• Traffic: Density and patterns of road, rail and air traffic.<br />
• Biodiversity: Presence of vegetation and animals in the<br />
area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“Façades <br />
Soundscape” <br />
people’s <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT<br />
• Sound Pressure Level: Measurements of the<br />
sound pressure level in decibels.<br />
• Frequencies: Analysis of a frequency content<br />
on a spectrogram<br />
• Sound source identification: Presence of<br />
technological, human and natural sounds.<br />
• Façade exposure diagram: a 2D plot created<br />
for on-site surveying by having a listener giving<br />
its back to the façade at a close distance,<br />
looking outwards in order to analyze the<br />
direction, distance and movement of the<br />
sounds that the façade is exposed to.<br />
PEOPLE<br />
• Soundscape radar plot: Visualization of the eight<br />
perceptual attributes of different soundscape<br />
assessments.<br />
• Soundscape scatter plot: : Visualization of perceived<br />
affective quality of different soundscape assessments.<br />
It is recommended to read the scatter plot and the<br />
radar plot together to avoid loss of relevant data.<br />
• Sociodemographic factors: Information of soundscape<br />
assessment participants (age, gender, country,<br />
education, occupation).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Figure 1. Poster with results of the soundwalk of October 25, 2023.<br />
3. Results<br />
3.1. Qualitative results of workshop outcomes<br />
The workshop results provided insights into the<br />
practical application of the framework of façades<br />
and urban soundscape. In this case, by groups of<br />
students who had never been exposed to that kind of<br />
analysis and generally, without previous knowledge<br />
of acoustics. Regardless of that, participants showed<br />
good engagement and were able to effectively apply<br />
the framework in their façade analyses. Overall, the<br />
level of the poster presentation indicates that the<br />
learning objectives of the workshop were successfully<br />
reached with some considerations such as occasional<br />
confusion over specific terminology used. This could<br />
suggest that more in-depth introductory sessions<br />
are needed to provide participants the opportunity<br />
to familiarize themselves with the key concepts.<br />
Each of the five locations of the soundwalk was<br />
assigned to a group of students. The students then<br />
chose a building at that location and visited the site<br />
several times on different dates to identify patterns<br />
in the area as well as the possible effects being<br />
produced by the façade.<br />
Three groups visited the site three times after the<br />
soundwalk, and two groups visited the site again four<br />
times. Then, each group prepared a poster to present<br />
their study and explained how the selected façade<br />
affects the acoustic environment and the soundscape<br />
of that location. All groups said they used the Excel<br />
file to obtain the coordinates of Pleasantness and<br />
Eventfulness to create soundscape scatter plots.<br />
None of them used the Python code.<br />
In order to analyze the potential effects of façades<br />
on the acoustic environment the following<br />
questions were suggested: (i) how are façade<br />
geometry and materials reflecting sound from<br />
sources in this urban context?; (ii) how are façade<br />
materials absorbing sound in this urban context?;<br />
(iii) is there any noise being emitted by the façade?<br />
To analyze the effects of façades on the context it was<br />
suggested to ask the following questions: (iv) is the<br />
façade design appropriate for this urban context?<br />
(v) is the façade making the space more or less<br />
enclosed?; (vi) is the façade affecting biodiversity in<br />
the area?; (vii) is there visible mechanical equipment<br />
installed on the façade?<br />
Group 1 analyzed the “Riegel” building at the campus<br />
of TH OWL. They described that all the materials<br />
are reflective so sound is likely being reflected<br />
around the façade and no absorption. However,<br />
they argued that the visible wood of mullions and<br />
transoms on the inner side, improved the quality<br />
of the space. The noise generated by the façade’s<br />
movable shading system was described as annoying<br />
and monotonous for the location. The sounds of<br />
children playing at the neighboring kindergarten<br />
were considered annoying and chaotic.<br />
Group 2 analyzed the façade of the Sparkasse<br />
bank located at the intersection of Paulinenstraße<br />
and Bielefelder Straße. They characterized the<br />
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area as being very active during office hours and<br />
mostly empty the rest of the time. It was argued that<br />
the façade is mostly composed of fully reflective<br />
materials, except from the climbing plants. The green<br />
façade seemed to improve perception of loudness<br />
during the soundwalk since the sound level was<br />
higher than in the two previous areas but perceived<br />
loudness was lower.<br />
Group 3 analyzed the side façade of the<br />
Sparkasse over Paulinenstraße, which is on a<br />
narrow street canyon with a high amount of<br />
traffic during office hours. They argued the<br />
place was likely louder due to the reflective<br />
façade materials such as glass, steel and<br />
concrete. Additionally, it was suggested that the<br />
soundscape in that location is also negatively<br />
affected by the feeling of enclosedness and<br />
lack of direct view of the sky, as well as higher<br />
perceived reverberation.<br />
Group 4 analyzed a façade in the Freiligrathstraße,<br />
adjacent to the main road. They observed the<br />
calmness and lack of activities, but also the<br />
absence of natural sounds. The façade is likely<br />
reflecting sound but the area is not too loud<br />
anyway. The group pointed out how the façade‘s<br />
dark appearance and front lawn with roses and<br />
ivy improved the overall quality of the street.<br />
Group 5 analyzed the façade in the corner of<br />
Bandelstraße and Palaisstraße which is mostly<br />
covered by climbing plants. They discussed that<br />
even in a calm environment, a green façade like<br />
that can improve the quality of the environment<br />
further. Firstly, sound absorption is likely higher<br />
than any surrounding buildings, but also the<br />
vegetation enhances the presence of natural<br />
sounds like birds and wind.<br />
3.2. Participant’s feedback<br />
At the end of the semester, an anonymous survey<br />
including seven Likert scale questions and three<br />
open-ended questions was distributed to the<br />
participants. Nine (n = 9) participants provided<br />
the following feedback:<br />
• Likert scale questions (Table 2)<br />
Table 2. Participant’s feedback (n = 9) about their experience at the workshop of façade acoustics and<br />
soundscape assessment.<br />
# From 1 (strongly disagree) to<br />
5 (strongly agree):<br />
Q1. It is easy to apply this framework to analyze an<br />
existing façade.<br />
Q2. The framework can be applied in real-world<br />
façade design projects.<br />
Q3. Learning this framework improved my skills for<br />
façade design.<br />
Q4. Incorporating this framework in the façade<br />
design curriculum would have a positive longterm<br />
impact on overall sustainability.<br />
Q5. The framework aligns well with the educational<br />
goals of our façade design program.<br />
Q6. The workshop made me more aware of the<br />
importance of acoustics and people’s perception.<br />
Q7. How would you rate your previous knowledge<br />
and understanding of acoustics? (before the<br />
workshop).<br />
Response<br />
• Open-ended questions<br />
Q8. What is your academic background?<br />
77.8% of the participants said to have a background<br />
in architecture, 11.1% in engineering, and 11.1% in<br />
multidisciplinary design.<br />
Q9. Please describe your overall experience<br />
analyzing the relationship of a façade and the<br />
soundscape in the workshop.<br />
In order to provide an overview of the open-ended<br />
question, three samples are presented:<br />
• “Analyzing the relationship between a facade<br />
and the soundscape in the workshop involved<br />
examining how the design and materials of the<br />
building exterior interact with the surrounding<br />
sounds. It was about understanding how<br />
sound is transmitted, reflected, or absorbed<br />
by the facade, and how that affects the overall<br />
environment. By studying this relationship, I<br />
can optimize building designs to minimize noise<br />
pollution or enhance the auditory experience<br />
within the space.”<br />
• “It was a good experience. In Bachelors we were<br />
taught about acoustics but this task was exciting<br />
and unique. It helped us understand sound<br />
and its principles in a very simple manner even<br />
though it is a sophisticated system.”<br />
• “It was really a good experience to immerse<br />
myself in the sounds and sensations of the<br />
environment surrounding the building.”<br />
Q10. Please provide any additional comments or<br />
feedback.<br />
No further feedback was provided beyond a few<br />
positive comments.<br />
3.3. Implementation requirements<br />
The feasibility of applying the framework of façades<br />
and soundscape in an educational context to<br />
introduce soundscape criteria in façade education<br />
was evaluated in a qualitative manner, considering<br />
the requirements for its implementation in terms<br />
of (i) technical knowledge of users; (ii) economic<br />
requirements; (iii) potential risks involved; and (iv)<br />
industry acceptance.<br />
i. Technical knowledge to use the framework: After<br />
the soundwalk and an introductory lecture of two<br />
hours on the topic, participants were able to explore<br />
acoustics and soundscape concepts as they do<br />
with other aspects of building physics within their<br />
studies (e.g. structural analysis, ventilation, daylight,<br />
temperature, energy, CO2 and so on), suggesting<br />
that the framework aligns well with current practices<br />
in façade design. The survey indicates that most of<br />
the participants have a background in architecture<br />
(77.8%) and one person had a background in<br />
multidisciplinary design. This shows that the<br />
framework is accessible to several design disciplines<br />
and not exclusively to people with a background in<br />
acoustics.<br />
Regarding the knowledge to use measurement<br />
and recording equipment, in this case only the<br />
researcher managed the equipment and later<br />
delivered the processed data to the participants.<br />
However, in the case of someone wanting to use<br />
the framework independently, previous training<br />
on sound measurements and technical equipment<br />
would be useful.<br />
ii. Economic requirements to use the framework:<br />
While using the framework itself does not involve<br />
any financial investment, the use of technical<br />
equipment to improve the fidelity of the results<br />
leads to additional costs. For example, in the case of<br />
the soundwalk presented above, the data collection<br />
was only conducted with questionnaires and a<br />
sound level meter class 2 with an approximate<br />
cost of 250 Euros. However, a previous study<br />
(Balderrama and Al Basha, 2023) applied the<br />
framework in a virtual reality environment instead<br />
of a soundwalk, and the costs for the data collection<br />
equipment including a 360-degree video camera,<br />
a first-order ambisonics microphone, the same<br />
sound level meter, and a virtual reality headset<br />
resulted in significantly higher costs, around about<br />
1500 Euros, but allowing a more detailed analysis<br />
like psychoacoustic indi=cators derived from<br />
ambisonics recordings, and collecting people’s data<br />
in a controlled environment can also provide some<br />
benefits. Furthermore, much more sophisticated<br />
surveying equipment (e.g. sound level meter class<br />
1 with spectrum visualization, artificial heads for<br />
binaural recordings, higher-order ambisonics,<br />
acoustic cameras, among others) could be used to<br />
increase the level of accuracy, but could also raise<br />
the budget by a couple of thousands. Therefore,<br />
applying the framework can always be economically<br />
viable, but the methodology has to adapt and<br />
the quality of the results might be compromised.<br />
For educational workshops, student projects or<br />
early design stages, a low-cost approach might<br />
be suitable, and for more detailed studies (e.g.<br />
research projects, environmental impact report) a<br />
higher budget might be more suitable.<br />
iii. Risk Assessment: When planning a data<br />
collection campaign, considering the risks of<br />
each specific circumstance is needed. A few risks<br />
were identified before the workshop, namely, the<br />
integrity and safety of the students conducting the<br />
field survey in public spaces, and privacy of external<br />
people during the site surveys. To mitigate the<br />
risks, the locations of the soundwalk tried to leave<br />
enough room for other pedestrians, not blocking<br />
the way. Additionally, during the soundwalks, a few<br />
pictures were taken at every stop, however, always<br />
avoiding to include external people and blur faces<br />
if necessary. The students were encouraged to<br />
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take similar measures when surveying the site alone.<br />
Overall, applying the framework successfully did not<br />
imply risks beyond general daily life activities with<br />
some minor considerations.<br />
iv. Industry Acceptance: The industry and market<br />
relevance of the framework is promising, particularly<br />
in sectors related to sustainability where façade<br />
performance is highly valued. The industry‘s<br />
growing focus on human-centered design and<br />
comfortable urban environments enhances the<br />
framework‘s appeal. However, the lack of regulations<br />
in acoustics, especially outdoors, neglects the<br />
possibility of buildings having a negative impact<br />
on the environment (Krimm, 2018). Additionally,<br />
The lack of tools and standardized methods to<br />
assess the relationship between buildings and<br />
soundscape contributes to the negligence of<br />
façade influence. Overall, the framework has the<br />
potential to fill this gap in design practices and<br />
policy within the construction industry. However,<br />
further demonstrations of the framework‘s benefits<br />
in real-world projects will be needed to strengthen<br />
its acceptance, as well as ongoing updates to keep<br />
it aligned with evolving industry standards and<br />
international regulations regarding and building<br />
physics, acoustics, soundscape, and sustainability.<br />
4. Discussion<br />
4.1. Main outcomes<br />
This paper presented the results of an academic<br />
workshop where fourteen (n = 14) Master’s students<br />
of the MID Façade <strong>Design</strong> program participated,<br />
applying concepts of building physics along with<br />
soundscape research for analyzing existing building<br />
façades. The framework of façades and urban<br />
soundscape (Balderrama et al., 2024) is composed<br />
of four elements (façade, context, acoustic<br />
environment, people), so students collected the<br />
most essential information to analyze the potential<br />
effects on the soundscape through the acoustic<br />
environment or through the context.<br />
The results show how students understood the<br />
task aside from some minor limitations, and were<br />
able to analyze the potential effects on the acoustic<br />
environment (reflection; absorption; emission) and<br />
possible effects on the soundscape (e.g. perceived<br />
loudness, preference of sound sources, effects<br />
of vegetation). Then, students provided feedback<br />
regarding the compatibility of the workshop with the<br />
educational content of the program.<br />
The main conclusion of the study is that it is feasible to<br />
integrate soundscape criteria into façade education<br />
by using the framework of façades and urban<br />
soundscape. Student workshops, as an academic<br />
exercise, can provide participants of multiple<br />
disciplines with the essential information they need<br />
to develop an understanding of the potential effects<br />
of façades on urban acoustic comfort. This knowhow<br />
could be useful from the early design stages<br />
to detail design, as well as for analyzing existing<br />
buildings.<br />
4.2. Recommendations<br />
This iteration of the workshop followed the plan<br />
of starting with a group soundwalk followed by<br />
an introductory lecture and announcing the<br />
assignment. Then, student groups conducted<br />
the analysis over two months. This strategy led<br />
to reaching the learning objectives successfully.<br />
However, dedicating more time to the theoretical<br />
concepts beyond the introductory lecture only could<br />
improve the quality of the outcomes.<br />
4.3. Limitations<br />
This research was intended to carry out an academic<br />
exercise with a small group of students who were<br />
also participants of the soundwalk. It is assumed<br />
that the accuracy of the soundscape assessment<br />
is not highly reliable due to the low number of<br />
participants (ISO 12913 recommends a minimum<br />
of 20 people). Nevertheless, the results with a low<br />
number of participants are still useful to gather data<br />
to kickstart the academic activity.<br />
4.4. Ethics approval<br />
This research is part of the author‘s ongoing<br />
doctoral thesis „Façades and Urban Soundscape“<br />
and has been reviewed and approved by the Human<br />
Research Ethics Committee of TU Delft.<br />
5.Acknowledgements<br />
The author would like to thank the Master‘s students<br />
of the MID Façade <strong>Design</strong> program who took part in<br />
the soundwalk and the workshop.<br />
6. References<br />
Aletta, F., Kang, J., & Axelsson, Ö. (2016). Soundscape<br />
descriptors and a conceptual framework for<br />
developing predictive soundscape models.<br />
Landscape and Urban Planning, 149, 65–74. https://<br />
doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.02.001<br />
Aletta, F.; Xiao, J. What are the Current Priorities<br />
and Challenges for (Urban) Soundscape Research?<br />
Challenges 2018, 9, 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/<br />
challe9010016<br />
Balderrama, A., Kang, J., Prieto, A., Luna Navarro, A.,<br />
Arztmann, D., & Knaack, U. (2022). Effects of Façades<br />
on Urban Acoustic Environment and Soundscape:<br />
A Systematic Review. Sustainability, 14(15), 9670.<br />
https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159670<br />
Balderrama, A., Al Basha, H. (2023). Digital workflow<br />
for soundscape assessment: case study of an<br />
adaptive façade in Detmold, Germany. <strong>Design</strong><br />
<strong>Strategies</strong> - Special Issue impulses from teaching<br />
and research.<br />
Balderrama, A., Luna Navarro, A., Kang, J. (2024).<br />
The role of façades in the composition of urban<br />
soundscapes. International Building Physics<br />
Conference 2024 – In press<br />
Balderrama, A. (2024) Digital toolbox for façade<br />
acoustics and soundscape assessment – Github.<br />
https://github.com/alvarobalderrama/Digital-<br />
Toolbox-for-Facade-Acoustics-and-Soundscape-<br />
Assessment.git<br />
Bianchi, S., Andriotis, C., Klein, T., Overend, M. (2024).<br />
Multi-criteria design methods in façade engineering:<br />
State-of-the-art and future trends. https://doi.<br />
org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111184<br />
ISO 12913-1:2014; Acoustics–Soundscape–Part 1:<br />
Definition and Conceptual Framework; International<br />
Organization for Standardization: Geneva,<br />
Switzerland, 2014.<br />
ISO 12913-2:2018; Acoustics—Soundscape—Part<br />
2: Data Collection and Reporting Requirements;<br />
International Organization for Standardization:<br />
Geneva, Switzerland, 2018.<br />
ISO/TS 12913-3:2019, Acoustics—Soundscape—<br />
Part 3: Data Analysis; International Organization for<br />
Standardization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2019.<br />
Klein, T. (2013) Integral Facade Construction. Towards<br />
a new product architecture for curtain walls. A+BE |<br />
Architecture and the Built Environment. ISBN 978-<br />
9461861610<br />
Knaack, U., Klein, T., Bilow, M., Auer, T. (2007).<br />
Façades: Principles of Construction. Birkhäuser<br />
Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8281-0<br />
Knaack, U. (2023). “History and Future of the EFN”,<br />
presentation at the European Façade Network<br />
Conference 2023 in Detmold, https://dcw.idsresearch.de/dcw-2023/<br />
Krimm, J. Acoustically Effective Façade. Archit. Built<br />
Environ. 2018, 16, 1–212.<br />
Taralo, C., Leclerc, F., Brochu, J., Gustavino, C. (2024)<br />
Current Approaches to Planning (with) Sound -<br />
Preprint<br />
United Nations (2015) Transforming our world:<br />
the 2030 Agenda for <strong>Sustainable</strong> Development. A/<br />
RES/70/1<br />
United Nations. The <strong>Sustainable</strong> Development<br />
Goals Report, Special Edition. 2023.<br />
ANNEX – Posters presented by five groups of<br />
students of the MID Façade <strong>Design</strong> program.<br />
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Façade Description<br />
MID S4 - WS 2023-2024 Façade Acoustics<br />
and <strong>Sustainable</strong> Soundscapes Workshop<br />
Students : Hamad Samara<br />
Md Mejbah Sakib<br />
Tahera Rezaie<br />
Fady Aziz<br />
Paulinenstraße 34 , Detmold, Germany.<br />
Commercial Building<br />
- Orientation: North - East Facade.<br />
- Height : 3 floors with height 20.80m.<br />
- Distance from Street : 5 meters.<br />
- Façade Material : Lime Stone with Curtain walls and Windows.<br />
The building contain 3 floors, first line on the street, traffic and<br />
pedestrians contribute significantly to the observed sounds, as<br />
assessed through the facade analysis. The proposed solution<br />
seeks to reduce the Sound Transmission Class (STC) while<br />
enhancing sound absorption, diffusion, and reflection<br />
characteristics.<br />
Façade Detail<br />
-Cover the metallic<br />
spandral panel woth<br />
absorpation material with<br />
diffusing pattern.<br />
Façade Solutions<br />
Façade<br />
Façade Exposure Diagram Sound Pressure Level ( dBA ) Perceived Loudness<br />
Absorpation Coefficient<br />
Soundscape Radar Plot<br />
Soundscape Scatter Plot<br />
Sound Source Identification<br />
Street Context Urban Context<br />
Date and Time of Visit<br />
Context Description<br />
Based on the data that we collected by our group mates from our four<br />
visits, correlated with different conditions, such as temperature, wind,<br />
weather, distance to collection point, each of which plays a role in<br />
every results. The building is situated close to the city center along a<br />
major thoroughfare, exposing it to the primary source of noise<br />
pollution, including mechanical sounds and crowded areas.<br />
Sociodemographic data:<br />
People Description<br />
Country and Nationalities<br />
According to the data collected in the<br />
questionnaire, all respondents are<br />
individuals holding a bachelor's degree or<br />
an equivalent qualification. The average<br />
age of the participants is 27 years, and<br />
the majority of them are female. The<br />
predominant countries of origin for the<br />
participants are Iran and India, while the<br />
remaining respondents come from<br />
Germany, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.<br />
Iran : 28.57%<br />
Germany : 14.29%<br />
Sri Lanka : 14.29%<br />
India : 28.57% Turkey : 14.29%<br />
Gender Distrbution<br />
Average Age : 27 University - Bachelor’s<br />
Degree or Similar<br />
Education Distribution Ocupation Distribution<br />
28.57% 71.43% 100%<br />
Student Employed<br />
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Article<br />
x Ubx<br />
p<br />
The exterior design of the facade, which dates back a couple of decades,<br />
showcases a cement plaster finish, giving it a classic and enduring<br />
appearance. The main entrance is situated on the north side of the<br />
building, providing easy access for visitors and inhabitants. Additionally, a<br />
balcony adorns the south facade, offering a space for relaxation and<br />
enjoyment of the surrounding views.<br />
<br />
pW2023-202<br />
Students: Bahareh Hemmatikhanshir, Yasaman Mostafa<br />
Vasefjani, Saba Tahan<br />
One of the most striking features of the building is the lush greenery that<br />
surrounds it, creating a harmonious and tranquil atmosphere. The<br />
greenery acts as a natural shield, providing insulation and contributing to<br />
the building's energy efficiency. Moreover, it adds a unique and visually<br />
appealing quality to the overall structure, enhancing its aesthetic value.<br />
2,32756,Gy<br />
NEPU BRANDSCHUTZ<br />
ggy Commercial<br />
TypLime cement plaster on masonry wall<br />
covered with ivy with doors and windows<br />
V ph<br />
<br />
bp<br />
x p<br />
This comprehensive document amalgamates data from six distinct visits, meticulously conducted by our group across various times<br />
and dates. The richness of the information is intricately interwoven with diverse circumstances, considering factors like temperature,<br />
wind, sky condition, and distance from the collection point, each contributing to the nuanced out comes.As for the building, gracefully<br />
nestled in the southern section of the city, it shares proximity with the city center, creating an intersection of urban convenience and<br />
tranquility. The residential surroundings, a vibrant tapestry of diverse lifestyles, magnetically draw individuals from various walks of<br />
lifestyles from energetic students to the serene presence of the elderly, each contributing to the dynamic ambiance of the locale.<br />
<br />
Expg<br />
gph <br />
Eb Opb<br />
G b<br />
pRP<br />
pP<br />
PLv()<br />
Average Age: 27 University - Bachelor's<br />
degree or similar<br />
Pp p<br />
yNy<br />
Evp<br />
PvL<br />
Based on the data provided in the<br />
questionnaire, all participants are<br />
students with a bachelor's degree or<br />
equivalent. The average age of the<br />
participants is 27 years old, and the<br />
majority are female. Most of the<br />
participants are from Iran and India,<br />
with the rest coming from Germany,<br />
Sri Lanka, and Turkey<br />
Turkey<br />
Iran India Germany Sri<br />
Lanka<br />
The building is located in a tranquil residential area, providing a peaceful escape<br />
from the bustling city center. As a result, the main sources of noise pollution are<br />
limited to sporadic passing cars and mechanical sounds.<br />
During afternoons, the atmosphere is filled with the gentle hum of conversations<br />
and the rhythmic sound of activities such as running. However, this serene<br />
environment can sometimes create a sense of monotony and lack of excitement.<br />
28.57% 1.29% 1.29% 1.29%<br />
28.57%<br />
Solar Façade: Energy Generation with 2.500 m 2 of BIPV<br />
Melicia Planchart 1 , Stefan Grünsteidl 1 , Augustin Rohr 1<br />
1. Avancis GmbH, Solarstraße 3, 04860 Torgau, Germany<br />
Abstract<br />
Today’s growing BIPV market has marked a general need of BIPV façade solutions. There are yet not<br />
enough ready-made design tools on the BIPV market, that allows a hybrid between form finding,<br />
shape optimizations, simulations and fabrication optimization. To achieve a seamless process from<br />
design to detail planning, a set of computational tools was developed to find customized and<br />
optimized façade solutions. With this digital approach, the computational design workflow allows<br />
aesthetic design optimization, to create a shape that relates client’s wishes within the design<br />
constraints of BIPV, optimizing energetic yields in a free form façade arrangement. Parametric<br />
design, combined with optimization search algorithms and energy simulation analysis, conforms<br />
a design workflow toward informed façade design. Active façades using solar energy are also<br />
optimized to find the best façade disposition within an aesthetics range and client’s expectations.<br />
The design process uses advanced computational design tools and compares design options using<br />
solar values over rationalized ratios to enable stakeholders and designers to decide for the best<br />
optimized and informed design.<br />
Keywords: Building Integrated Photovoltaics, (BIPV), Solar Façade <strong>Design</strong>, Form-Finding, Optimization,<br />
Search Algorithms, Radiation Analysis.<br />
1. Introduction<br />
BIPV façade solutions integrate aesthetic<br />
and chromatic design, with energetic yield<br />
and economic values to façade architecture<br />
projects, towards meeting the current era<br />
need to becoming a climate neutral continent<br />
by 2050 [1]. There are many evaluation tools<br />
for environmental conditions, analysis and<br />
yield simulations [2], yet free-form BIPV façade<br />
applications represent a challenge to bring<br />
PV into facades [3 4]. This requires specific<br />
attention to provide customized solutions,<br />
that consider aesthetic design criteria, along<br />
with economic feasibility and also bring the<br />
facades PV energetic performance to its<br />
maximum. From design to planning phases,<br />
AVANCIS [5] has developed a digital workflow<br />
integrating design tools and software to plan<br />
and optimize the disposition of solar panels in<br />
active façades.<br />
This paper summarizes part of the technical<br />
consultancy AVANCIS provided to Leipziger<br />
Stadtbau for a BIPV façade project for a parking<br />
house in Leipzig, designed by the architecture<br />
office Architektur Von Domaros. The preliminary<br />
architecture façade design from the Architects<br />
had to be rationalized and reshaped in a way<br />
that maintained the most of its design essence,<br />
keeping the aesthetics of a free curvature surface.<br />
This was possible using a combination of formfinding<br />
and shape optimization processes, with<br />
energetic yield analysis techniques that ensured<br />
highly efficient BIPV facades made of SKALA solar<br />
panels [6].<br />
The BIPV façade project implements computational<br />
and automation tools in a highly efficient design<br />
and planning process [47]. These tools help<br />
designers think in an integrated framework with<br />
simulation, visualization and the spatialization<br />
of outcomes. This paper presents an overview<br />
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into the design optimization process and shape<br />
rationalization to achieve an optimal custom<br />
shape, active façade composed of solar panels.<br />
2. Methodology<br />
In order to rationalize and optimize the facades<br />
shape, the boundary conditions that constraint the<br />
design are set as follow:<br />
a. Form Rationalization to maintain Parking Haus<br />
design criteria.<br />
The preliminary design is a freeform façade element<br />
composed of several bands in a freeform curve.<br />
Along with a separation between vertical bands to<br />
ensure proper air circulation inside the buildings.<br />
b. Substructure frames optimization<br />
The second stage of the form finding process led to<br />
the realization that this customized façade had to<br />
minimize the number of customized substructure<br />
elements, to ensure a feasible substructure<br />
planning. This too had to be rationalized and<br />
optimized to bring the special substructure elements<br />
to a minimum and standardize as much as possible.<br />
c. Panel optimization<br />
algorithms produce a generative optimized design<br />
and deliver informed solutions for designers to<br />
elaborate upon [78]. This methodology allows us<br />
to understand the qualitative and quantitative<br />
results of a design process in a holistic approach<br />
to integrate aesthetics with energetic and<br />
structural optimizations.<br />
This was possible using a combination of<br />
parametric form-finding and shape optimization<br />
processes using genetic search algorithms,<br />
with energetic yield analysis techniques using<br />
parametric software Rhino and Grasshopper<br />
plugins combined. Grasshopper is a visual<br />
coding environment that interacts with the Rhino<br />
modelling space. GA genetic algorithm is a solver<br />
that creates a population of solutions based on<br />
genomes – the variables subjected to change -<br />
that approximate to a fitness value – the desired<br />
parameters to maximize or minimize [9].<br />
A genetic algorithm is solver that uses<br />
“evolutionary techniques.” This is done by<br />
generating a population of solutions based on<br />
genomes (variable subject to change) reacting<br />
to a fitness (desired parameter to be minimized<br />
Figure 2. Substructure elements - trusses<br />
profile abstraction. Kinks produced by<br />
form-finding process.<br />
Figure 4. Form Finding - Shape Optimization.<br />
Possible panel distribution in a random<br />
disposition of profiles for a free form façade.<br />
Figure 5. Form Finding - Shape Optimization.<br />
Search algorithm intermediate output to fit profiles<br />
to freeform curves from the original shape.<br />
To minimize costs and maximize energy outputs,<br />
it is a condition the use of maximum possible of<br />
Skala solar panels in standard sizes, and minimum<br />
possible passive elements.<br />
Figure 3. Form Finding - Shape Optimization.<br />
Random disposition of profiles to obtain a<br />
free-form facade.<br />
d. Energy yield simulation.<br />
To ensure the high performance of the PV<br />
panels, certain criteria had to be met. To start<br />
the disposition of panels in south, east and west<br />
facades. And tilt of the panels could achieve a<br />
better performance in relation to the free form.<br />
The Skala PV product used in the planning can<br />
be applied without need of special construction<br />
permits in surfaces up to 10 degrees facing<br />
downwards in a façade. This also allows the<br />
panels to be less exposed to shading and<br />
assures better yield outputs. The shape from<br />
finding had to incorporate this condition in it<br />
design constraints to meet the substructure<br />
requirement to minimize special custom<br />
substructure elements. It is constituted a<br />
series of structural frames in different angles<br />
that host the Skala panels. The substructure is<br />
adapted to every panel placement, allocating<br />
the substructure to the general structure.<br />
2.1. Form Rationalization<br />
Rationalization and shape optimization use<br />
several algorithms that simplify while optimizes<br />
the design, with a combination of design<br />
constraint and design goals. Parametric design<br />
combined with genetic search optimization<br />
Figure 1. Shape rationalization,<br />
I. Approximation to original shape.<br />
II. Optimized shape.<br />
III. Flat façade solution<br />
or maximized). An effective solution is found,<br />
keeping “fit” genomes in a generation and<br />
breeding them with other favorable genomes in<br />
the following generation, as well as eliminating<br />
non-favorable solutions.<br />
Three approaches to the design shape were carried out.<br />
I. First a rationalization of the desired shape, a<br />
parametric model that approximates to the client‘s<br />
wishes and the architect’s proposal.<br />
II. Second, an optimized shape, using the formfinding<br />
search algorithm to meet the highest<br />
energetic values without sacrificing PV panels to a<br />
shade and minimizing use of passive elements. This<br />
design accommodates the panels under 10 degrees<br />
of inclination and takes advantage of radiation a flat<br />
façade and the original freeform approximation.<br />
III. Third a flat standard solution to serve as a reference<br />
for the optimized and the complex solution.<br />
2.2. Substructure frames Optimization<br />
Being the optimization tool a genetic search<br />
algorithm GA, the solver modifies the parametric<br />
Figure 6. Form Finding - Shape Optimization.<br />
Search algorithm near to final output to fit profiles<br />
to freeform curves from original shape<br />
Figure 7. Form Finding - Shape Optimization. Search<br />
algorithm final output to fit profiles to freeform<br />
curves from original shape<br />
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model, created from the shape rationalization.<br />
After the fitness function evaluation, the solver<br />
modifies the disposition of the elements to<br />
find the best approximation to the given free<br />
form curve. Because it is an evolutionary solver<br />
it creates a population of solutions and finds<br />
the numerical best fit. It is known to designers<br />
this might not be the best aesthetical fit but<br />
approximates already very much an optimized<br />
solution [9].<br />
The designed and implemented optimization<br />
search algorithm uses an abstraction of the<br />
profile for the trusses for the substructure<br />
elements. The search is set to find the optimal<br />
angles for the kinks in the substructure without<br />
overpassing 10-degree angle for the downward<br />
facing panels. And iterate through the possible<br />
combinations of a given number of trusses, ten<br />
(10) was the parameter of different truss to shape<br />
as substructure elements.<br />
Table 1: Truss substructure element types and<br />
amounts found in main building design<br />
Figure 8. Form Finding - Shape Optimizations.<br />
Curves are described by optimized shape that<br />
approximate initial free-form curves.<br />
Figure 9. Original shape rationalization, with<br />
description of freeform curves.<br />
Combined with a search for optimal angles<br />
in the trusses profile kinks to fit the desired<br />
curve. The fitness for the optimization uses a<br />
combination of signalling visualization in red for<br />
the underperforming solutions and in blue when<br />
the fitness values where reached. Therefore, blue<br />
lines describe truss abstract profiles that are<br />
within fitness function results. Hhaving Galapagos<br />
modify a parametric model which had initial<br />
randomly generated variables for the genomes.<br />
After structural analysis, Galapagos was tasked<br />
with changing the form in order to minimize the<br />
overall displacement of the structure. Being<br />
an evolutionary solver, Galapagos creates a<br />
“population” of solutions and eliminates noneffective<br />
offspring to continue breeding effective<br />
offspring through multiple generations. This<br />
means that solutions found through Galapagos<br />
were best fit to the program, but were not<br />
necessarily an absolute perfect solution, as that<br />
could take hundreds of generations to find. This<br />
also means solutions vary based on the beginning<br />
placement of genomes before populations are<br />
created. However, after comparing Galapagos<br />
to what was intuited and what are known<br />
structural solutions, there is a strong case<br />
to be made that Grasshopper, Karamba, and<br />
Galapagos can be used effectively in engineering<br />
practice to create both beautiful and efficient<br />
structures.<br />
Figure 13. panels distribution optimization.<br />
Blue colored panels represent minimized<br />
passive elements<br />
Figure 14. Final Optimized shape<br />
Figure 10 Form Finding - Shape Optimization.<br />
Profile curve disposition creates a pattern and<br />
a curve, aligned with top curve to approximate<br />
initial free-form.<br />
Figure 15. Solar radiation simulations on the<br />
rationalized façade solution I.<br />
Figure 16. Solar radiation simulations on the<br />
optimized shape façade solution II<br />
Figure 11. Kinks produced by form-finding<br />
process.<br />
Figure 12. Optimized façade section<br />
overview. Letters show substructure<br />
elements positions<br />
Figure 17. Comparison of Solar radiation simulations of the different façade solutions<br />
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Table 2. Energy analysis output, comparison between three façade shape solutions<br />
Envelopes to Actively Provide Renewable Energy - a<br />
Review and Outlook<br />
The resulting curve described by the profile<br />
lines is outlined to compare with the original<br />
shape and asses aesthetically the shape. The<br />
optimized output describes yet a straight curve,<br />
and a need to include freedom to the curve is<br />
done by shifting the profiles in the vertical axis.<br />
The solution was found through adaptation<br />
to a top curve and the repetition and rotation<br />
of standardized substructure elements that<br />
describe the curves with the kinks. The final<br />
optimization rationalized the substructure<br />
elements in such a way that they describe a<br />
pattern, a combination of initial 1o frames<br />
that then rotate and mirror to achieve the<br />
final rationalized vertical frames. This way the<br />
number of repeated elements is maximized and<br />
the number of special elements is minimized<br />
and taken into consideration to achieve a special<br />
character to the curves according to design<br />
criteria and requirements. The special frames<br />
and the corners allow to evoque uniqueness to<br />
the emergence of the surface’s special traits.<br />
To reduce the amount of customized<br />
substructure frames or trusses the design used<br />
a maximum of 10 elements and placed them<br />
sequentially in a pattern that describes a curve.<br />
Nevertheless, to achieve the likeliness to the<br />
preliminary shape, this could not be done by<br />
hand without losing optimal design conditions.<br />
2.3. Panel Optimization<br />
The amount of standard sizes was maximized,<br />
and minimum possible passive elements. At<br />
the same time, creating sets of special sizes<br />
and avoiding single modules. Additionally, the<br />
design uses the smallest dimensional Skala<br />
panel that can be produced and operates freely<br />
with the dimensions to achieve a free form with<br />
restricted sizes, using scalable panels from<br />
standard sizes to customs and uses the minimal<br />
possible of dummies with sizes in ranges of the<br />
30 cm panel size (Figure. 13).<br />
The structural and shape optimizations<br />
produced 10 types of substructure frames and<br />
fewer special size (Table 1).<br />
The elements are repeated and adjusted to<br />
the guide curve to provide the free-form effect<br />
desired. (Figure. 10)<br />
2.4. Energy simulation<br />
Consequently, panels with lower inclination<br />
also receive more irradiance, a comparison<br />
between the original shape and the optimized<br />
shape proposal for Solar irradiation shows the<br />
improvement in the performance of the panels<br />
with the optimized freeform solution. (See<br />
Figures 15-17)<br />
3. Results<br />
Energy calculations where performed to<br />
compare the 3 different scenarios. The analysis<br />
considers the original shape rationalization, the<br />
optimized shape and a standard solution flat<br />
surface with Skala color grey Anthracite G001.<br />
The original shape is the first approximation<br />
to the freeform shape that the rationalization<br />
produced, the optimized shape and a flat façade<br />
to serve as a comparison point as a standard<br />
solution. Consequently, the performance ratio<br />
of the optimized solution exceeds 5.4% over the<br />
flat solution, and 8.7% over the original shape.<br />
4. Conclusions<br />
This project combined state-of-the-art PV panels<br />
with advanced computational methods in the<br />
design and planning phases for the BIPV market.<br />
Computational tools were used to support<br />
an informed design that adapts to individual<br />
requirements of a climate-friendly façade<br />
solution with a desired free-form shape. This<br />
project shows the use of computational tools<br />
to produce a design that adapts to a free-form<br />
shape incorporating the boundary limitations of<br />
Skala solar modules and structural limitations.<br />
This digital workflow allows s and stakeholders<br />
to make informed decisions in relation to design<br />
costs and yield expectations, optimizing the use<br />
of solar energy in building envelopes.<br />
5. References<br />
1. European Commission (2022). The 2030 targets.<br />
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewableenergy/renewable-energy-directive-targets-andrules/renewable-energy-targets_en<br />
[accessed 06<br />
-08-2022]<br />
2. Cremers, Jan. (2017). The Potential of Building<br />
3. Wijeratne, W.P.U., Yang, R.J., Too, E. and Wakefield,<br />
R., (2019). <strong>Design</strong> and development of distributed<br />
solar PV systems: Do the current tools work?.<br />
<strong>Sustainable</strong> cities and society. vol. 45, pp. 553-578<br />
4. Lastra, Alberto. (2021). Architectural Form-Finding<br />
Through Parametric Geometry. Nexus Network<br />
Journal. 24. 10.1007/s00004-021-00579-4.<br />
5. AVANCIS Gmbh, https://www.avancis.de/en/<br />
magazine/interview-history https://www.avancis.de<br />
[accessed 06 -08-2022]<br />
6. AVANCIS Gmbh, SKALA solar panels datasheet,<br />
https://www.avancis.de/_Resources/Persistent/0/<br />
f/0/d/0f0d7768d235409c2ee9f7446b8de54c<br />
2d931107/SKALA_Datenblatt_DE_220725.pdf<br />
[accessed 06 -08-2022]<br />
7. Pugnale, Alberto. (2014). Form-finding. SN - 978-<br />
8895315300<br />
8. Karadağ, Derya & Bolca, Pelin. (2018). Computational<br />
<strong>Design</strong> Tools in Architectural Education.<br />
9. Goldenberg, Michael & Coburn, Nick. (2019).<br />
Topology and Form Finding via Genetic Algorithms.<br />
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4. MID DESIGN CONCEPTS<br />
MATERIALS SURFACES AND SECURITY<br />
Prof. Daniel Arztmann<br />
Assignment: Advanced Façade Construction<br />
The module MID S6 in the winter term<br />
2023/2024 aimed to provide specific knowledge<br />
in the design and detailing of advanced façade<br />
constructions. The assignment is separated into<br />
the following tasks:<br />
Task 1<br />
Look for an existing project with an advanced<br />
façade construction. This can be a façade that is<br />
outstanding in technical or geometrical terms,<br />
such as: building height, wind loads, seismic forces,<br />
local exposition, security aspects (bomb blast,<br />
bullet resistance, fire protection), materiality,<br />
special structure (cable structure, truss structure),<br />
special/complex geometry.<br />
Analyze the façade and prepare a presentation<br />
with the most important features that make this<br />
façade in your perspective “outstanding and<br />
advanced”.<br />
Final Deliverables:<br />
• Presentation (15 minutes)<br />
• Written description of the chosen project and<br />
façade analysis (300 – 350 words)<br />
• <strong>Design</strong> approach for the updated façade<br />
construction<br />
• Set of architectural drawings for the updated<br />
façade design (horizontal and vertical section,<br />
partial elevation)<br />
• Detail drawings of the relevant façade sections<br />
on a scale 1:1<br />
• Physical mockup of 1 general façade detail<br />
Task 2<br />
<strong>Design</strong> and detail an up-to-date version of<br />
this façade while maintaining the original<br />
appearance. Further details will be discussed in<br />
the course of the semester.<br />
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MID <strong>Design</strong> Concepts<br />
JTI Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland<br />
Meltem Durmus, Hiruy Tekeste, Abdelrahman Badr<br />
The design of the Closed Cavity Façade (CCF)<br />
at the JTI headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland<br />
represents a pinnacle in double skin façade<br />
innovation. Comprising a double or triple glazing<br />
unit on the inner layer and single glazing on the<br />
outer layer, this system creates a sealed nonventilated<br />
cavity, augmented by an automated<br />
shading device nestled within.<br />
To ensure optimal performance, a meticulous<br />
environmental analysis was undertaken using<br />
Ladybug tools in Grasshopper. This analysis<br />
scrutinized the yearly incident radiation on both<br />
the west and east facades. Furthermore, the<br />
unique triangular and sloped glass panels of the<br />
outer glazing were studied for various orientations<br />
and slopes to ascertain the most advantageous<br />
configuration for the project.<br />
the roller blinds due to elevated cavity temperatures.<br />
As a preventive measure, mechanically fixed roller<br />
blinds were proposed.<br />
The culmination of this process involved the<br />
development of a Grasshopper script to model<br />
the entire building and façade panels, facilitating<br />
preliminary renderings and ensuring the realization<br />
of a cutting-edge architectural vision.<br />
Following the environmental assessment, the<br />
façade underwent meticulous dimensioning.<br />
Beginning with a foundational boxed aluminum<br />
profile, the system was meticulously divided to<br />
meet both thermal and construction prerequisites.<br />
The exterior glass surface, bolstered by gaskets,<br />
served as the weather barrier, while triple glazing<br />
and thermal breaks were integrated into the profile<br />
design to act as thermal barriers. The interior panel<br />
surface fulfilled the role of the air barrier. Preliminary<br />
structural and thermal analyses were conducted on<br />
the mullion and transom aluminum extruded profile<br />
frames and glass elements, including connections,<br />
using advanced software such as THERM.<br />
System design commenced with detailed<br />
consideration of aluminum profile sections,<br />
accounting for extrusion dimensions, gasket grooves,<br />
glass slopes, corner connections, reinforcement,<br />
vertical insert profiles, and internal glass replacement<br />
options. High-performance materials, including low-e<br />
coated triple glazing for the internal skin and laminated<br />
glass for the outer skin, were selected. Automated<br />
shading featuring white textile was incorporated, with<br />
special attention paid to preventing detachment of<br />
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Partial Elevation<br />
Hard insulation<br />
Aluminium Sheet<br />
503<br />
603 161<br />
4200<br />
Insulation soft<br />
158.8 mm<br />
4000<br />
Aluminium Sheet<br />
159<br />
Silicon<br />
Roller Blind<br />
287<br />
988<br />
477<br />
411<br />
89.8°<br />
80<br />
269<br />
cap Extenstion Profile Triple Glazing<br />
Single Glazing<br />
320 89<br />
44<br />
Glass Rebate<br />
Silicon Joint<br />
Seal<br />
6.42 mm<br />
47<br />
Aluminium Profile<br />
67<br />
91<br />
177<br />
16<br />
84<br />
10<br />
29<br />
113<br />
Gasket<br />
Soft Material<br />
34<br />
Aluminium Sheet<br />
320 89 44<br />
10<br />
29<br />
90<br />
253<br />
cap<br />
Extenstion Profile<br />
343<br />
Triple Glazing<br />
Single Glazing<br />
Silicon Joint<br />
Glass Rebate<br />
Aluminium Profile<br />
Gasket<br />
67<br />
48<br />
Roller Blinder<br />
Fixing Bracket<br />
158<br />
154<br />
572<br />
198<br />
Screed<br />
Spanderal Area<br />
285<br />
1000<br />
73<br />
Air supply<br />
Roller blind motor<br />
Insulation soft<br />
104.33 mm<br />
257<br />
Insulation soft<br />
163.21 mm<br />
Membrane<br />
2/2351 mm<br />
Window Profile<br />
3000 3000 3000<br />
1:10<br />
274<br />
1267<br />
Spanderal Area<br />
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MID <strong>Design</strong> Concepts<br />
Montparnasse: Paris, France<br />
Ahmet Faruk Çakır, Murat Gül<br />
Montparnasse is a skyscraper in Paris, built in 1973.<br />
Its architects are Jean Saubot, Eugène Beaudouin,<br />
Urbain Cassan and Louis de Hoÿm de Marien. The<br />
building is 210 meters high. It has 40,000 m² of<br />
façade and 7200 windows. The building was criticized<br />
by Parisians for many years. It can be said that the<br />
building is a singular element in its neighborhood.<br />
The municipality of Paris opened a competion for<br />
the restoration of the building and the winners‘<br />
design was planned to be realized. However, the<br />
project was suspended for financial reasons.<br />
The existing façade of Montparnasse is constructed<br />
with I-section vertical bar elements. These<br />
I-sections protrude outwards and have a more<br />
planar appearance from the inside. The façade<br />
shows effects such as aging, surface deterioration<br />
and scratching on the glass. Our goal was to create<br />
new areas of exploration for ourselves as engineers<br />
as well as a design expectation. For this reason,<br />
we planned to design a double facade system. We<br />
envisioned that the absence of any solar barrier<br />
around the building would allow the effective use<br />
of the double facade system. As a result of deep<br />
exercises on the double façade system, we found it<br />
appropriate to use the compartmentalized corridor<br />
type double façade.<br />
We reached this conclusion by considering parameters<br />
such as fire, sound and performance output. We<br />
encountered a lot of problems that needed to be<br />
solved and examined the project examples in the<br />
sector in depth. In order to ensure that the secondary<br />
facade is carried in the panel facade system, we<br />
designed a galvanized box carrier connected to the<br />
anchorage. In this way, we supported the secondary<br />
facade from the sides and bottom and transferred<br />
the load to the main structure.<br />
wings. External shading is one of the most important<br />
issues. To solve this problem, we placed the shade<br />
right in the middle of the ventilation units. In this<br />
way, we prevented the air heated in front of the<br />
shade from escaping and the heat coming from the<br />
shade to the interior glass.<br />
Although there is an angular paneling in the plan, flat<br />
panels are preferred since the angle does not exceed<br />
1 and 1.5 degrees. At the corners, we solved three<br />
different corners: outward facing opaque, inward<br />
facing opaque and outward facing transparent.<br />
Staggered Duct Installation<br />
Air Exchange Mechanism<br />
Unitized Double Skin — how exactly our design is working?<br />
Another situation we need to solve is to close the<br />
ventilation of the secondary façade during storms<br />
or cold conditions. Although we have developed<br />
different solutions for this, we decided to develop<br />
a movable and gasketed insulation for the outer<br />
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Manufacturing Process of Second Skin<br />
Dynamic Behaviour of Flaps<br />
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MID <strong>Design</strong> Concepts<br />
35XV: New York, USA<br />
Sky exposure plane<br />
Priyanka Bamble, Najmeh Najafpour<br />
Sky exposure plane<br />
Sky exposure plane<br />
Sky exposure plane<br />
The focus of the project was on enhancing details<br />
or updating the details of an existing building,<br />
with a particular emphasis on encountering<br />
challenges that would foster a learning experience.<br />
Consequently, the choice led us to a notable<br />
building in Manhattan.<br />
Our focus initially centered on crafting an inclined<br />
unit, considering profile connections and optimizing<br />
unit-to-slab connections for easier installation<br />
through bracket modifications. Subsequently, we<br />
tackled the challenge of seamlessly integrating<br />
inclined and straight facade segments.<br />
Diagram of the reason behind inclination<br />
35XV, a residential tower in Manhattan designed<br />
by FXCollaborative, boasts a sleek facade and<br />
innovative architecture that seamlessly integrates<br />
with the urban surroundings, offering residents<br />
panoramic views of the city. Its modern design<br />
incorporates sustainable features, demonstrating<br />
a commitment to both style and environmental<br />
responsibility. This architectural masterpiece stands<br />
as a testament to contemporary design excellence<br />
in the heart of New York City.<br />
Throughout the process, all profiles underwent<br />
thorough calculations to optimize design, aiding in<br />
subsequent modifications by reducing profile sizes<br />
to a certain extent. Finally, adjustments were made<br />
to refine the details, though it‘s worth noting that<br />
like any design project, further investigation and<br />
refinement of details would benefit this endeavor.<br />
Our agenda centered on selecting a building with<br />
unique architectural aspects, particularly those<br />
that present challenges in facade detailing. In this<br />
case, the building confronts a 20-degree incline on<br />
opposing sides, presenting an intriguing challenge<br />
for our project. Given its height and inward<br />
inclination, it posed a significant undertaking.<br />
Unitized facade detailing became the focal point of<br />
our project, specifically addressing the complexities<br />
posed by such a steep incline.<br />
In the first phase, environmental factors were<br />
carefully assessed, and natural forces such as<br />
wind load and dead load were calculated. These<br />
calculations guided the selection of the most<br />
appropriate profile for the primary stages of the<br />
modifications.<br />
Distance of bracket to bracket= 3.3 m<br />
35XV - Manhattan<br />
Inclined unitized facade Connection to the slabs<br />
Distance of bracket to bracket= 3.5 m<br />
The initial hurdle was to grasp and apply the concept<br />
and principles of the unitized facade to its modified<br />
rendition. Understanding the connection between<br />
horizontal and vertical profiles at corners was crucial,<br />
followed by deliberation on installation methods.<br />
Had the inclination been outward, the challenge<br />
might have been lessened, but inward inclination<br />
heightened concerns about water penetration.<br />
<strong>Design</strong> calculation for wind Load<br />
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SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
1 449.8134<br />
1 449.8134<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
2 00.0000<br />
2 53.5330<br />
2 00.0000<br />
2 53.5330<br />
2 00.0000<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
2 00.0000<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
TRANSOM LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
SLAB LINE<br />
50<br />
49<br />
50<br />
49<br />
171<br />
50<br />
2<br />
171<br />
49<br />
50<br />
2<br />
49<br />
179<br />
250<br />
179<br />
248<br />
250<br />
248<br />
50<br />
49<br />
50<br />
49<br />
50<br />
49<br />
50<br />
49<br />
171<br />
103<br />
2<br />
171<br />
103<br />
2<br />
179<br />
250<br />
179<br />
248<br />
250<br />
248<br />
SECTION SECTION<br />
1000.00<br />
FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL<br />
24 MM TGU GLASS<br />
171<br />
1000.00<br />
EPDM GLASS GASKET<br />
COVER PLATE<br />
PRESSURE PLATE<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
SCHÜCO AF UDC 80 FEMALE TRANSOM<br />
MODIFIED VERSION (INCLINED)<br />
EPDM GLASS GASKET<br />
SMOKE BARRIER<br />
50<br />
49<br />
1600.00<br />
FIRE STOP<br />
179<br />
248<br />
1600.00<br />
HOOK BRACKET<br />
PEDESTAL<br />
250<br />
ANCHOR BOLT M12 HSA GALVANISED<br />
STEEL BASEPLATE<br />
700.00<br />
130 MM SOFT<br />
INSULLATION<br />
SUSPENDED CEILING STAND<br />
700.00<br />
2 MM METAL SHEET<br />
SDUSPENDED CEILING<br />
1450.00<br />
1450.00<br />
1450.00<br />
24 MM TGU LAMINATED GLASS<br />
Detail3- Inclined facade - section<br />
1450.00<br />
1450.00<br />
1450.00<br />
FINISHED FLOOR LEVEL<br />
24 MM TGU LAMINATED GLASS<br />
plan- section _ elevation of the inclined units<br />
EPDM GLASS GASKET<br />
COVER PLATE<br />
PRESSURE PLATE<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
SCHÜCO AF UDC 80 FEMALE TRANSOM<br />
MODIFIED VERSION (INTERSECTION)<br />
EPDM GLASS GASKET<br />
HOOK BRACKET<br />
39<br />
50<br />
171<br />
95<br />
2<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
STEEL L-BRACKET<br />
179<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
SCHÜCO AF UDC 80 FEMALE TRANSOM<br />
MODIFIED VERSION (INCLINED)<br />
RCC FLOOR<br />
PEDESTAL<br />
STEEL BASEPLATE<br />
ANCHOR BOLT M12 HSA GALVANISED<br />
250<br />
231<br />
47<br />
2<br />
103<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
SUSPENDED CEILING STAND<br />
47<br />
CURTAIN WALL<br />
130 MM SOFT INSULLATION<br />
6<br />
4<br />
4<br />
4<br />
6<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
170<br />
EPDM GLAZING GASKET<br />
PRESSURE PLATE<br />
ALUMINIUM TGU GLASS SPACER<br />
TRIPLE GLAZING<br />
EPDM GLAZING GASKET<br />
MULLION COVER CAP<br />
Detail1- Inclined horzontal profile- section and 3D<br />
2 MM METAL SHEET<br />
SDUSPENDED CEILING<br />
24 MM TGU LAMINATED GLASS<br />
Detail 4- Juction of the inline and straight profile - section<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
SCHÜCO AF UDC 80 FEMALE TRANSOM MODIFIED VERSION<br />
(INTERSECTION)<br />
49<br />
2<br />
95<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
39<br />
4 4 4<br />
6<br />
6<br />
170<br />
EPDM GASKET<br />
PRESSURE PLATE<br />
EPDM GLAZING GASKET<br />
ALUMINIUM TGU GLASS SPACER<br />
EPDM GLAZING GASKET<br />
MULLION COVER CAP<br />
TRIPLE GLAZING<br />
Detail 2- Juction of the inline and straight profile - section and 3D<br />
Detail 3<br />
Detail 4<br />
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MID <strong>Design</strong> Concepts<br />
Dockland Office Building: Hamburg, Germany<br />
Aysegül Gürleyen, Rodolph Naalabend<br />
The seven-story Dockland office building stands<br />
proudly atop 3,000 square meters of recently<br />
reclaimed land along the Elbe. Drawing inspiration<br />
from maritime themes, the architects at Bothe<br />
Richter Teherani envisioned a design reminiscent<br />
of shipbuilding. Completed in 2005, the form of<br />
the parallelogram-shaped building reflects the<br />
majestic bow of a ship floating on the river. With<br />
its fully glazed façade, it makes this association by<br />
using a 66-degree slope 47 metres above the river.<br />
To counteract horizontal forces along the „long“<br />
axis, steel compression and tension members are<br />
prominently displayed on the north and south<br />
double-skin facades.<br />
In the project, the facade of the building extending<br />
to the Elbe at an angle of 66 degrees was taken into<br />
consideration. The existing facade is approximately<br />
18 meters wide and extends at an angle for 45<br />
meters. This façade is divided into 11 sections<br />
horizontally and 3 sections vertically on each floor.<br />
There are spandrel glasses in front of the slabs.<br />
to window profiles from inside the building. As<br />
a window system, Jansen Arte 66 system was<br />
preferred because it will be compatible with the<br />
VISS system and has a narrow face.<br />
Although the facade is not exposed to direct<br />
sunlight due to its angle, it causes glare from time<br />
to time due to the angle made by the sun during<br />
the day. Schüco Integral Master sunshading system<br />
was preferred because it has a narrow face and also<br />
works integrated with the window.<br />
Due to the angle of the facade, special angled<br />
anchors were designed in order to connect the<br />
facade panels to the slabs and the connections<br />
welded into the facade steel profiles were mounted<br />
to these anchors. Fire resistant aluminum<br />
composite panels were used on the upper and<br />
lower ends of the facade.<br />
In the reinterpreted façade, it was aimed to reduce<br />
the horizontal divisions to 9, and the vertical<br />
divisions between the slabs were divided into 3.<br />
Insulated panels were preferred in front of the<br />
slabs in terms of lightness considering the angle<br />
of the facade. It was decided to make the facade<br />
with a steel stick system due to the weight of the<br />
glass and facade profiles in terms of load bearing.<br />
Considering the relationship of the building with<br />
the Elbe River, all steel profiles and anchors to be<br />
used on the facade were decided to be used as<br />
hot dip galvanized steel for corrosion protection.<br />
As a profile system, Jansen VISS Basic system was<br />
preferred as it is compatible with standard steel<br />
profiles.<br />
The assembly phase plays an important role<br />
in the facade design. In order to facilitate<br />
the assembly, the facade was designed to be<br />
prefabricated and assembled in sections and<br />
then the glasses were designed to be assembled<br />
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MID <strong>Design</strong> Concepts<br />
One World Trade Center: New York, USA<br />
Ghazaleh Valipour, Lama Ibrahim<br />
One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom<br />
Tower, is an iconic skyscraper located in Lower<br />
Manhattan, New York City. One World Trade Center<br />
is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere,<br />
soaring to a height of 541 meters including its<br />
antenna. It comprises 104 floors above ground,<br />
with a striking design that blends cutting-edge<br />
architecture with nods to the original Twin Towers.<br />
Completed in 2013, it serves as a hub for business,<br />
commerce, and tourism, featuring office spaces, an<br />
observation deck, restaurants, and more.<br />
The unitized facade system of One World Trade<br />
Center is a modern construction technique that<br />
involves prefabricating curtain wall panels offsite<br />
into modular units. These units are then<br />
transported to the construction site and installed<br />
onto the building‘s steel frame structure.<br />
The facade panels of One World Trade Center are<br />
not purely vertical but are angled slightly inward<br />
as they ascend. This subtle tapering effect helps to<br />
visually unify the building‘s form while also improving<br />
aerodynamic performance and wind resistance.<br />
integration between typical façade components<br />
such as insulated external glazing, an internal screen,<br />
and the building’s mechanical ventilation system.<br />
Offering a dynamic solution, the ACT Facade enables<br />
precise control over both heat gains and exterior<br />
views. Its performance significantly surpasses that<br />
of traditional interior glare protection screens.<br />
Remarkably, its streamlined design requires fewer<br />
materials during production, thus minimizing<br />
environmental impact.<br />
Moreover, for the design of a high-rise building in<br />
New York City which is subject to hurricanes and<br />
high wind pressure, some considerations should<br />
be taken into account. One of them is the drainage<br />
issue for the façade as it is inclined upwards. For<br />
that, the transom should be customized which<br />
creates a challenge for the corner connection of the<br />
unitized façade. A new connection method also was<br />
introduced to tackle this issue.<br />
The facade of One World Trade Center mainly<br />
consists of glass panels, offering reflective surfaces<br />
that mirror the surrounding skyline. While this<br />
reflective feature enhances the building‘s visual<br />
appeal, it has also posed challenges for its<br />
surroundings. Particularly, at different times of<br />
the day and under varying lighting conditions,<br />
the reflective surfaces have caused issues for<br />
nearby buildings and pedestrians due to glare and<br />
excessive brightness.<br />
To mitigate the sun glare issue caused by the<br />
reflective surfaces of One World Trade Center, an<br />
ACT (Active Cavity Transition) system was proposed.<br />
the Active Cavity Transition (ACT) Facade has<br />
been introduced as a further development of the<br />
conventional double skin façade. ACT Facade is<br />
an adaptive façade system that is comprised of an<br />
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20 Fenchurch Street: London, England<br />
Amrani Chemseddine, Harishankar Kallepalli<br />
In London‘s dynamic cityscape, the 20 Fenchurch<br />
Street skyscraper, affectionately known as<br />
the „Walkie Talkie,“ epitomizes the challenges<br />
and innovations of urban development and<br />
architectural design. This distinctive building, with<br />
its unique facade and geometry, has become the<br />
focus of a student project exploring the intricate<br />
challenges of designing building facades in today‘s<br />
urban environments and proposing solutions to<br />
these issues.<br />
The „Walkie Talkie“ features a full-glazed facade<br />
utilizing a unitized curtain wall system, accentuated<br />
by vertical fins on its east and west facades. Its<br />
design includes concave facades facing north and<br />
south, and convex facades to the east and west,<br />
contributing to the building‘s visual identity and<br />
sparking discussions on the impact of innovative<br />
architecture in densely populated areas.<br />
Despite its acclaim, the building faced criticism<br />
for unintended consequences of its design. The<br />
south-facing parabolic facade concentrated<br />
sunlight onto the streets below at certain times,<br />
raising temperatures and causing damage. This<br />
„Walkie-Scorchie“ phenomenon underscored the<br />
unexpected challenges of avant-garde designs.<br />
demonstrating the detailed problem-solving<br />
modern architecture demands.<br />
The installation of horizontal louvers, while<br />
addressing the sunlight reflection issue, introduced<br />
thermal bridging challenges, highlighting the<br />
delicate balance between solving one problem<br />
and potentially creating another. This aspect<br />
of the project emphasized the importance of<br />
careful consideration and innovative thinking in<br />
architectural design.<br />
This exploration of the „Walkie Talkie“ and its design<br />
challenges contributes to a broader conversation<br />
about integrating bold architectural designs into<br />
urban landscapes. It showcases the need for<br />
foresight, innovation, and adaptability in developing<br />
buildings that not only make a statement but<br />
also harmonize with their surroundings and the<br />
communities within them. Through this project, the<br />
complexities of modern urban facade design are<br />
brought to light, offering insights and solutions for<br />
future architectural endeavors.<br />
Diego Delso (CC BY)<br />
The project explored solutions to mitigate<br />
these negative impacts while preserving the<br />
building‘s architectural vision. Options like<br />
anti-reflective coatings and tinted glass were<br />
considered, but horizontal louvers were chosen<br />
for their effectiveness and minimal aesthetic<br />
disruption. This solution exemplified the need<br />
for balancing functionality with architectural<br />
significance.<br />
Addressing the curtain wall‘s design challenges,<br />
especially due to the building‘s unique shape,<br />
required custom solutions like specially<br />
designed gaskets and corner units. These<br />
adaptations ensured water tightness and<br />
integrated the complex facade geometries,<br />
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5. EVENTS PAST EVENTS<br />
Detmold Conference Week 2023<br />
Detmold, November 14th-16th, 2023 https://dcw.ids-research.de/<br />
• DCW 2023 - Day 1: Wandel oder nur Krise?<br />
/ Transformation or just crisis?<br />
The first conference day opened with words by<br />
Prof. Dr. Uta Pottgiesser and Prof. Oliver Hall,<br />
centered on the theme of change in the face of<br />
crises. Prof. Dr. Klaus Schafmeister explored<br />
the conditions necessary for effective change,<br />
highlighting the gap between knowledge and<br />
action. Prof. Dr. Jörg Felmeden discussed<br />
transforming water management systems, and<br />
learning from water crises. The session then<br />
shifted to circularity and heritage. Christine Kousa<br />
focused on post-war preservation in Aleppo,<br />
and Dr. Anica Dragutinovic discussed the role of<br />
spatial images and collective memory in urban<br />
planning. The day concluded with a panel debate<br />
and an evening lecture on residential medicine by<br />
Prof. Dr. Manfred Pilgramm<br />
• DCW 2023 Day 2: Wohnmedizinisches<br />
Symposium - „Lärm“ / Residential<br />
Medicine Symposium - „Noise“<br />
The second conference day was a deep dive<br />
into environmental noise management, with the<br />
contributions of with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph<br />
Nolte and Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Lange discussing the<br />
evolution of standards in sound insulation against<br />
external noise, including practical applications<br />
in external wall constructions. Prof. Dr. Malte<br />
Kob of Erich-Thienhaus-Institut of the HfM -<br />
Detmold University of Music explored the impact<br />
of room acoustics on sound quality, referencing<br />
key standards and offering solutions to acoustic<br />
challenges.<br />
The focus shifted in the afternoon to sustainability,<br />
with discussions on the use of moors and cattails as<br />
sustainable building materials, featuring insights<br />
from Prof. Dr. Heinrich Wigger, Friedel Heuwinkel<br />
and Maximilian Rentz. The day concluded with<br />
Ulrich Burmeister addressing the role of moors<br />
in climate protection, emphasizing the need<br />
for education and sustainable management<br />
strategies.<br />
• DCW 2023 Day 3: European Facade Network<br />
Conference: History and Future of Façades<br />
https://www.europeanfacadenetwork.eu/event/save-thedate-european-facade-network-conference-in-detmold/<br />
Celebrating 15 years of the Façade <strong>Design</strong> Master<br />
program, the EFN Conference was held once again<br />
in Detmold, opening with words of Prof. Dr. Uta<br />
Pottgiesser, followed by the keynote speakers. Prof.<br />
Dr. Ulrich Knaack who was involved in the creation<br />
of the Master of Façade, as well as the creation of<br />
the former ConstructionLab (later merged into<br />
the Institute for <strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong>) provided an<br />
overview of the history of the EFN and its progress<br />
throughout the past decade. Next, Oliver Hans<br />
talked about current industry trends with a focus on<br />
the reduction of embodied carbon.<br />
The second session entitled Innovation in the<br />
Façade Industry included presentations by Prof.<br />
Dr. Linda Hildebrand, Susanna Noureddine, and<br />
Dima Othman, focusing on glass, timber, and other<br />
sustainable façade elements.<br />
The afternoon session focused on sustainable<br />
development with insights on the conservation of<br />
non-iconic modern buildings by Prof. Dr. Andreas<br />
Putz, followed by Dr. Holger Strauss discussing the<br />
implementation of the <strong>Sustainable</strong> Development<br />
Goals in the façade industry. Then, the importance<br />
of integrating historical and environmental<br />
considerations in façade design was discussed by<br />
Prof. in Dr. Aslıhan Ünlü and İdil Erdemir Kocagil.<br />
The last session included a talk about future<br />
façade technologies by Paul Denz, followed by<br />
Alvaro Balderrama presenting the first edition of<br />
„<strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades“, a new Special Issue of the<br />
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong> magazine of TH OWL. Then, Prof.<br />
Daniel Arztmann discussed the Vitruvian Honors and<br />
Awards from the Façade Tectonics Institute. Finally,<br />
the event concluded and the conference speakers<br />
were invited to Strate’s Brauhaus, a traditional local<br />
restaurant in the historical city center of Detmold.<br />
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Aslıhan Ünlü & İdil Erdemir Kocagil (Ozyegin University)<br />
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Photos: Florian Zander<br />
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UPCOMING EVENTS<br />
Façade Fabrication Workshop at Schüco<br />
The Future Envelope 15: Circularity Now!<br />
Bielefeld, December 7th, 2023<br />
Students of the third semester of the MID<br />
Façade program participated in a theoretical<br />
and hands-on workshop at Schüco in<br />
Bielefeld, offering valuable insights into façade<br />
innovations.<br />
The day started with a lecture focusing on Addon<br />
Construction (AOC) system, the Grid to Shell<br />
(G2S) system for free-form architecture, and<br />
the FACID (Flexible Façade) system.<br />
Following the lecture, they participated in<br />
hands-on activities in the workshop area of<br />
Schüco, building mock-up physical models of<br />
AOC, and learning assembly techniques such<br />
as cutting gaskets and applying adhesives.<br />
Additionally, nodes and connections for G2S<br />
profiles were examined.<br />
Finally, students visited the Welcome Forum;<br />
Schüco’s showroom which showcases the<br />
latest technology and systems available in the<br />
market.<br />
Conference on Building Envelopes<br />
Delft, May 28th, 2024<br />
Info: FutureEnvelope-BK@TUDelft.nl<br />
https://www.tudelft.nl/bk/over-faculteit/<br />
afdelingen/architectural-engineering-andtechnology/organisatie/leerstoelen/design-ofconstruction/conferences/future-envelope-15<br />
The Faculty of Architecture and the Built<br />
Environment at TU Delft will host The Future<br />
Envelop 15: Circularity Now! conference focused<br />
on sustainable and circular building envelopes.<br />
FE15 will focus on the status quo of research<br />
related to circular building products but also on<br />
ways of accelerating and scaling up the transition.<br />
Building products are the basic components of<br />
the built environment and thus central to the<br />
circular transition.<br />
Detmolder Räume 2024<br />
Photos: Najmeh Najafpour<br />
Detmold, 3-7th June, 2024<br />
Info: https://www.detmolddesigntransfer.online/<br />
detmolder-raeume<br />
Workshop: Façade Re-Form<br />
Following this year‘s theme of the Detmolder<br />
Räume: „Re-Form“, a workshop will be offered<br />
to explore the complexity of façade adaptability<br />
to environmental stressors and social needs in<br />
different climatic conditions. This hybrid workshop<br />
will be organized in collaboration with our academic<br />
partners from Ozyegin University in Istanbul,<br />
Turkey, and the online participation of Architecture<br />
faculty and students from Universidad Católica<br />
Boliviana in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The students will<br />
be organized in groups and receive technical data<br />
from existing buildings. Their task is to analyze the<br />
performance of the building envelope and, propose<br />
new solutions for adapting it to new conditions<br />
and raising challenges. Finally, detailed 1:10 scale<br />
models will be produced, accompanied by a poster<br />
to illustrate the results. The aim is that participants<br />
deepen their understanding of façade design,<br />
particularly in terms materials and how they affect<br />
thermal, acoustic, visual and air quality comfort,<br />
as well as fire protection, moisture control, energy<br />
efficiency and carbon footprint.<br />
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IMPRINT<br />
Publisher<br />
OWL University of Applied Sciences<br />
and Arts<br />
IDS Institute for <strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong><br />
Emilienstrße 45, D-32756 Detmold,<br />
Germany<br />
Editors<br />
Alvaro Balderrama<br />
Prof. Daniel Arztmann<br />
Editing, layout and graphics<br />
Alvaro Balderrama<br />
Najmeh Najafpour<br />
Cover<br />
Alvaro Balderrama<br />
Contributions and illustations<br />
The authors contributing to this<br />
report are indicated in each individual<br />
work. For this first issue, authors<br />
were invited by the Editorial Team<br />
directly. The contributions published<br />
in this report are the responsibility of<br />
the authors.<br />
Unless otherwise indicated, the<br />
illustrations are the property of the<br />
respective authors.<br />
Teaching department:<br />
Façade Construction<br />
Prof. Daniel Arztmann<br />
Contact:<br />
IDS Institute for <strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong><br />
OWL University of Applied Sciences<br />
and Arts<br />
Emilienstraße 45, D-32756 Detmold<br />
E-Mail: ids@th-owl.de<br />
Web: www.th-owl.de/ids<br />
<strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades<br />
volume 2 ISSN 2943-4467<br />
IMPRINT<br />
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>Strategies</strong> <strong>IMPULSE</strong> – <strong>Sustainable</strong> Façades 04.2024
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