Approaching climate-adaptive facades with foldings: Shape - Kinetics - Materiality

Buildings are responsible for approximately more than 40% of the worldwide energy consumption . The aim is to bring this amount significantly down. In order to achieve substantially optimized results, new ways of approaching architectural solutions have to be investigated. Recent studies have indicated that there is a potential of additionally saving energy by 5-20% through dynamic adaptability of building envelopes to different climatic conditions. Rising demands to user-comfort in buildings and the broad range of climatic situations in the northern countries support this approach.

The question rises then how actually this dynamic problem of changing climatic conditions can be solved. Static solutions are not capable to respond fully satisfying to the task given.

The project ‘responsive foldings’ is carried out in a research-by-design methodology to investigate the potentials of building envelopes based on folding principles such as origami. Three major aspects cover the project’s interest in this topic: Shape, kinetics and the application of new multi-functional materials form the interdisciplinary framework of this research.

Shape// Initially small paper sketch models demonstrate folding as a phenomenological option for dynamic façade-systems regarding the kinetic, shape-changing property as a surface. In the design process varied geometries are analysed and optimized towards performance, efficiency and feasibility of a possible later constructions. Simulations based on 3D models verify and support the results and the process.

Kinetics// To provide dynamic movement of the folded surface, different materials as thermal actuators for the movement are taken into consideration for further research: specific temperature-sensitive thermobimetals are tested to be fully embedded in the façade material, in order to achieve autonomous, zero-energy responsiveness. Movement is self-actuated and fully reversible.

Materials// The fact that a fold leads back to a flat sheet of material opens the possibility for easy processing of industrial products into complex shapes. It is the expectation to avoid any joints and traditional additive construction methods. Different layered material compounds are tested. Multi-functional ‘supersandwiches’ of stacked smart materials can be programmed in a patchwork of specific properties to fulfil the required performance regarding the climatic conditions.
Through the process, hands-on experiments and small-scale models will be evaluated and conclusions will be implemented in the prototypes to come.

The approach of responsive building envelopes based on foldings and the aspects of shape, kinetics and materials as framework looks very promising. Even so the investigation is still on-going the first conclusions can be drawn. Joints, which have previously been a major challenge in folded structures regarding issues of costs, maintenance, density, durability, etc., are now substituted by bending edges along the folding lines, providing cheap and durable long-life expectancy for the envelope. A textile membrane embedded as a continuous mask inside the sandwich provides the coherence, foldability and flexibility of the façade material.
In contradiction to customized individually and specifically computer-generated patterns, this project is based on simply repeated tiles, which are providing the suggested kinetic folding principle. This fact actually leads to a real potential of mass-production in the future.