Sommese, Francesco (2023) Biomimetic strategies for the design of climate adaptive building envelopes: a problem-based methodological approach. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

The building envelope plays a crucial role in regulating the energy exchange between the interior and exterior environments. To reduce the energy consumption of buildings and minimise their impact on the environment, there has been a recent focus on adaptive technologies for building envelopes. The study of the adaptability of plants to their environment shows that nature has the potential to provide architectural solutions that are environmentally sustainable, energy efficient and adaptable to changing conditions. Various examples of adaptable building envelopes are valuated and compared with examples of biomimetic building envelopes , as well as the existing methods from the literature. After an initial exploration of nature's adaptive strategies and intelligent, self reacting materials, a methodological approach called the bio adaptive model (bio AM) is presented. This model identifies the key steps for transferring plant s functions to building technologies using smart materials that are able to respond to environmental factors thus emulating plant adaptation in future sustainable building solutions. Smart materials that act as both sensors and actuators enable dynamic inte raction between the building and the environment, similar to the skin of living organisms. Only materials that respond to light, temperature and water triggers were considered, forming a design matrix that improves the implementation of the bio Adaptive Model and provide s a new tool for biomimetic design phases. Research shows how smart materials can create biomimetic envelopes by regulating temperature, blocking solar radiation and responding to different environmental conditions. Although smart materials are currently used in architecture on a limited scale, this offers prospects for future research and interaction between architectural technologies, biology and materials science, leading to a more sustainable and adaptable built environment.This research uses an interdisciplinary method to propose a design for a kinetic biomimetic system that responds to light, drawing inspiration from the functional principles of the Gazania flower. By analysing the adaptive movements of the Gazania flower in terms of its structure and functions, these observations were then used in the conceptual phase to develop the design of the biomimetic system using parametric modelling. Different alternatives for the kinetic movement were created and evaluated using daylight measurements, taking into account climate and luminance criteria. The results of the parametric s imulations performed with different user positions in an office building with a temperate Mediterranean climate show that the biomimetic kinetic system effectively adjusts the natural daylight exposure in the office area This adjustment improves energy efficiency, user comfort and mitigates glare problems. The results are consistent with the optimal ranges for climate appropriate daylighting measurements that prevent glare and excessive heating by blocking direct sunlight. The study highlights the importan ce of further research, including the production of material prototypes, to verify and improve the proposed design and its implementation in practise.

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