Hybrid Façade

It has been demonstrated that kinetic sunscreens linked to intelligent building systems have the potential to improve the energy performance of large-scale public and commercial buildings. However, there has been minimal uptake, primarily due to the capital and maintenance costs.

The overarching research project investigates the potential, feasibility and real-life applications of a hybrid facade that integrates environmental, media and individual micro-control functions in one compound solution operating through autonomous rotating panels.

This project proposes that costs can be offset through adding value by repurposing the sun screening system as a low-resolution media screen. To evaluate the feasibility of this hybrid environmental-media facade concept, physical prototypes has developed and calibrated to real-time simulation and control software; and two case studies were undertaken to assess the physical and economic feasibility

Our experiments detail the design, fabrication and evaluation strategies of the full-scale aluminium panel prototypes developed for a kinetic hybrid facade. The result shows that hybrid facade could maximise the value of kinetic intelligent building systems to enhance fabrication, kinetic set-up and performance, and a material and economic feasibility assessment.