Integrating the installation of Adaptive Facades in Lahore; A

Comparative Case Study

Abstract posed by climate change, as well as the decrease
of energy demand for cooling in new and existing
The digital revolution age, along with increased
buildings. The research emphasizes the
environmental consciousness, has moved
significance of material-efficient design is
architecture to new heights via the application of
digitally manufactured architecture for achieving
contemporary technologies and sustainability
major ecological advantages. The paper includes
principles. Lahore immensely experiences a
a questionnaire to study the reasons behind
severe climate change issue. The paper is mainly
uninstallation of sustainable facades to reduce
concerned with the fusion of new design methods
energy consumption.
and the sustainability approach in international
buildings to cope with climate changes. Facades Key words: Climate Change, Sustainable
have a critical role in a building's comfort and Facade, Vulnerability, Digital Technology,
energy consumption. The major drivers of façade Adaptable Facade, Energy Consumption.
technical advances include human-cantered
Introduction
design and smart building operating systems.
Low-energy buildings can be designed by The climate is a complicated system that is in
incorporating technology into the design. continual flux. Data gathered over the last few
Pakistan's large desert and semi-arid areas, decades reveal that it is now altering at an
reliance on monsoon rainfall, and frequent incredibly rapid rate in historical context. Human
vulnerability to natural calamities make it activities are one of the most probable causes.
vulnerable to climate change. Under future Increased levels of greenhouse gases in the
climate change scenarios, Lahore is predicted to atmosphere trap more thermal energy, causing
face higher climatic volatility, which would the global average temperature to rise (global
require the use of flexible facades. The research warming), which significantly impacts the
aims to investigate the reasons behind ignoring atmospheric climate. Global warming will have
the adaptation of efficient and adaptive facades severe ramifications for the built environment,
in Lahore. The creation of innovative ideas is created with the concept of constant
seen as a critical problem in Lahore for attaining environmental conditions. It has diverse effects
sustainability in the building's exterior shell. in different parts of the world. Drought and
Previous literature reviews have not thoroughly overheating are the most concerning issues for
analysed the adaptable façade technology aiding the built environment in hot regions. The
in future developments in Lahore. So, this study worldwide climate issue requires a major
offers a comparative case study of an technological thrust in the building sector,
international and local building of Lahore with primarily targeted at lowering energy
similar climatic issues to clarify the advantages consumption and using sustainable energy
of adaptive facades. The paper further highlights resources. Several challenging aspects impact the
the future adaptive methods along with future future of building sustainability. A higher level
adaptable façade structural trends. The paper also of user well-being and indoor environmental
discusses different futuristic technologies that quality is required from a societal standpoint.
can effectively address the overheating concerns Simultaneously, there is a need to limit heating
and cooling loads and minimize environmental Lahore. Therefore, the study emphasizes the need
effects generated by inefficient techniques in for government action to create ground rules for
buildings. The most severe climate dangers of regulating the adaptable facade of buildings as
unmanaged urban population expansion are part of the accepted strategy for sustainable
congestion, over-consumption of natural development. In addition, several random case
resources, and pollution are the most harmful. studies were examined. We use an existing high
Globally, the building industry uses around 40% office building in the hot and humid environment
of total energy consumption and emits 33% of of Lahore, Pakistan, and an international case
total greenhouse gas emissions. There is a need study to compare both building facades in terms
to minimize building energy consumption and of climate conditions. The research investigates
decrease building-related environmental effects the barriers to adaptive façade in Lahore and
from a climatic perspective. Building energy load presents a comparative case study of two
reduction is so critical in combating global buildings from different countries with similar
warming and protecting the environment. Energy climate patterns. In this paper, questionnaires
efficiency may be significantly improved by would be used to elicit the various perspectives
modifying the design of building facades. This of practitioners, entrepreneurs, authorities,
study analyses the climate condition in Lahore to academics, and the public in Lahore to discover
gain a better awareness of how to improve the and assess probable reasons, which will assist in
climate of the built environment. In this paper, evaluating various solutions for the future by
we look at the adaptable facade as a feasible using this information.
solution for improving the energy efficiency of
Literature Review
buildings in hot and humid climates. The climatic
background, case studies simulated results Adaptive facades are external surfaces of the
environment, computational technique, and buildings which might adjust the visual and
assessment method are covered in-depth in the thermal comfort of occupants while conserving
following sub-sections. In the literature, there is energy. However, an effective control technique
a knowledge deficiency on future trends and key is required to achieve this goal, with automated
ideas of adaptable facades. A more thorough control systems ensuring proper access to
study on future adaptive facade solutions in daylight in interiors. Furthermore, by reducing
smarter and high-performance buildings is discomfort problems while maintaining energy
needed in general. There are knowledge gaps in control, these control solutions have the potential
terms of adaptable façade market share, to improve an occupant's efficiency. The major
including the key ideas, the most promising goal of this study is to analyse the available
technologies, their classification, optimum fit-to- literature and identify research gaps in regulating
purpose usage, and the differentiation between AFs. A qualitative research approach is applied
adaptive facade technologies' short-term cyclical in this work. Controlling the efficiency of an
and long-term structural trends. Adaptive adaptive façade is possible using another
building skin façades are composed of highly automatic control strategy that requires hardly a
flexible adaptive systems. To increase a user intervention or an occupant-centric control
building's energy performance, the skin adapts to strategy that allows for user intervention (Hyde,
the external environment's weather conditions. 2017). The technological ways for successful
However, the idea of an adapted exterior for design and control of adaptable facades are
buildings is not seen as a sustainable solution in discussed. The majority of existing façade
efficiency assessment methods or frameworks, the structural features of the facade design, which
according to the report, have limited relevance allow the façade to sustain live and dead loads, as
for such sophisticated building facades. High- well as building oscillations under varied loading
performance building façade systems that have circumstances (Kamal, 2020).
previously been placed in buildings are
Several factors that determine the size of the
evaluated, as well as their environmental
building envelope framing members, such as
behavior. Technology interventions in high-
loading, floor-to-floor height, etc. The main
performance building façade systems,
components of a structure that can assist ensure
particularly those used in tall structures in today's
environmental sustainability are durability and
modern architecture. Energy consumption is a
stability. It implies that the building envelope
significant aspect of modern lifestyle; one's
should be created using long-lasting materials
reliance on energy is mostly to lead a pleasant
and technologies. A building's facade is
existence. Sustainable strategies used and the
vulnerable to a variety of sources of extreme
elements that impact the operation of building
conditions, including the sun, rain, temperature
facades in the major body of the paper are
changes, and other meteorological variables.
examined in terms of their capacity to model
Furthermore, the report highlights how the
energy and occupant comfort performance of
material's safety is the primary priority. The
adaptable facades (Kamal, 2020).
facade should not be deteriorated and should
New design ideas regard the facade of a building continue to be safe for users and visitors. Recent
as a barrier to balance external and internal terrible instances have further underlined the
spaces. Buildings should be constructed in such a significance of paying close attention to the fire
manner that they require less energy from various behavior of the facade. This includes not only
traditional energy sources. The concept of measuring and evaluating the fire resistance of
climate-responsive design is presented, with a the materials used but also paying close attention
focus on natural renewable resources to attain to the details and evaluation of the overall façade
building comfort through interaction with the systems, because of the use of certain materials
variable circumstances of the living environment. in combination with each other, as well as the
The effective design of adapted facades is a configuration of the façade elements and
difficult challenge since they have a high retardant systems, all help in achieving
technological potential, as proved by scientific acceptable fire behavior (Qindong Fan,
papers and testing results. This is due, in part, to September 20, 2021).
a lack of a complete grasp of the advantages and
The acoustic performance of the facade is also
potential hazards, as well as an inability to
an important factor to consider. The heating and
quantify them reliably (A. Aksamija, 2015).
cooling impacts of the climate account for a large
Aside from the general form of the envelope,
portion of the building's energy consumption and
which is linked to interior space planning and
may be greatly decrease by decreasing the
layouts, highlights the attributes that characterize
quantities of heat waves traveling through the
the building's look. Improving the thermal
façade (C., 2016). Because of the climatic
efficiency of building envelopes and avoiding
conditions in a hot, dry region, which are
thermal bridging are significant design methods
characterized by high temperatures and low
for sustainable facades. Simulation systems that
humidity, passive façade solutions alone are
may be used to design sustainable, high-
insufficient to ensure comfort, especially when
performance building facades. It also focuses on
highly glazed façades are employed, which adaptive or dynamic facades is related to the
demand an early assessment of their performance evaluation of facade elements,
performance. The necessity for effective systems, and overall building performance, as
sustainable building design solutions has been well as occupant attitudes and satisfaction
recognized by government sectors and other (Kamal, 2020).
construction-based professional organizations as
Al Bahr Towers in Dubai, the AGC Building in
a result of emerging environmental risks such as
Louvain-la-Neuve, the BIQ House in Hamburg,
fast urbanization and accompanying energy
and the Al Bahr Towers in Dubai. 150-meter-tall
constraints, negative effects of climate change,
twin tower with a honeycomb-inspired
and sick building syndromes. As a result, in
framework and an automated dynamic solar
recent years, there has been an increase in interest
screen that adapts to the position of the sun.
in the development of efficient solutions for
These solar screens change dynamically and
improving the long-term energy performance of
intelligently to the sun's angle, enhancing control
buildings. Building envelopes, which divide the
over energy usage, cosmic rays, and glare while
internal and exterior environments, and in
letting natural light into the structure. For
particular building facades, play an important
evaluation, many approaches were employed,
role in reducing energy consumption in buildings
including interviews with the architect, facade
(Monna, 2015, January 1).
engineer, technical control specialist, and
Excess solar gain may lead to excessive cooling occupiers, examinations of standards and codes,
energy use and interior discomfort in hot, dry evaluations of energy models, and a systematic
areas; sun control and shading devices are an design process mapping. (Attia, (2018, February
important part of many energy-efficient building 6)).
design solutions. It also indicates implications on
The choice on how they are designed,
building energy usage, employee productivity,
maintained, kept, and judged remains unknown,
absenteeism, and health and well-being.
which has an impact on the global spread of
Adopting energy-saving methods in such
adaptable facades. The article is primarily
buildings may significantly reduce energy usage.
concerned with the system development and
As a result, a guidance approach for evaluating
assessment of responsive facades. During the
envelope solutions during the early stages of the
summer, Abu Dhabi has a hot and humid
design process is required to put the tool in the
environment with highly sunny days, with
hands of architects so that they can make
temperatures and humidity exceeding 498
informed decisions about the best envelope
degrees Celsius and 100 percent, respectively.
alternatives and participate in the building
The design brief asked for two 25-story towers to
performance optimization. Building energy
create an impressive landmark representing the
efficiency has gained interest in recent years as a
region's architectural legacy as well as the
result of environmental concerns and rising
corporate position of the customers' firm. The
energy costs (ANSI/ASHRAE, 2010). There is no
two rotating towers are protected from the
defined evaluation method for adaptive facades,
elements by a weather-tight glass curtain wall.
which creates a gap. Many of the current facade
The curtain wall is made up of unitized panels
performance evaluation systems or frameworks
with a 4200 mm floor-to-floor height and a
are only partly applicable to such advanced
changeable width of 900–120 mm. The curtain
building facades. The complexity of analysing
wall's vision area measures 3100 mm from floor
to ceiling. The curtain wall is connected to the facades can reduce heat dissipation and give
dynamic shading system via a substructure access to daylight. Bio mimicry is used, which is
through movement joints. Surprisingly, the the design and construction of buildings based on
building did not receive certification from any biological processes in nature, to create an
LEED rating system, and Arup changed their adaptable facade. Glazed structures, in general,
reporting to state that the project is planned in provide visual comfort through natural light and
compliance with the US Green Building views of the outdoors. To reduce solar heat gain
Council's LEED rating system rather than saying in buildings located in hot and humid
that the project did not receive certification. In environments, dynamic facades must hide the
terms of thermal comfort, preliminary survey sun entirely. As a result, the users' visual comfort
findings show that 13% of occupants are very is affected, as the vision of the outside world is
comfortable, 42% are pleasant, 32% are neutral, significantly reduced (ANSI/ASHRAE, 2010).
10% are uncomfortable, and 4% are extremely
An existing 20-story commercial structure in
uncomfortable. The use of mashrabiya in the Al
Bahr project led to missing the huge opportunity Lahore, Pakistan, is suggested as a case study
to promote adaptive shading systems as a because of the hot and humid temperature. The
case study's floor layouts from one to sixteen are
sustainable technology (K, 2013). The client did
standard. Each floor plan has semi-circular
not consider energy consumption or occupant
borders and is rectangular in form. On each
satisfaction from the beginning and therefore, the
corner of the rectangle, four huge offices are
mashrabiya lost its meaning as a sustainable
situated, with a rectangular-shaped core in the
element while acting on the side of being a
centre. The air handling unit (AHU), bathrooms,
gadget. On the other hand, the design team
passageways, stairwell and elevator lobby, and a
revealed the difficulty of integrating adaptive
tiny kitchenette connected to each office make up
façade technologies. Adaptive Facades require
the core. A commercial building in Pakistan,
much more effort to standardize and quantify the
performance of adaptive facades and their called Tricon Corporate Centre, is considered as
evaluation process and protocols to increase their a case study. In Lahore, Pakistan, the Tricon
Corporate Centre is a twenty-story office
use in future buildings (H. Alothman, 2017.)
structure. When choosing the building as a case
The first technique, which uses static exterior study for this research and analysis, more than
shading devices to block summer light, decreases 40% glazed facade and the higher shading
cooling capacity considerably; but, when fixed coefficient of the exterior were considered. The
exterior louvers are used, the heating requirement facade is made of single-paned glass. And
annually increases due to reduced solar gains for appears to be monotonous. At least two of the
most of the year. The second technique, which current facades get direct sunshine and receive
involves improving the glass by lowering the solar heat gain. Several options to tackle these
light transmission and g-value, reduces the problems, including minimizing the use of glass
cooling load while increasing the lighting and during the original design phase, installing
heating loads, and hence the building's overall internal or external shading devices to reduce
energy loads annually. Furthermore, both heat gain, or developing a dynamic façade system
solutions reduce transparency and natural that can react to changing climatic conditions.
daylight entry into the indoor spaces, reducing The first two solutions, which reduce
visual comfort. By continually responding to transparency, also prevent natural light from
changing solar/climatic conditions, adaptable
entering the inside of the structure, whereas research and analysis, more than 40% glazed
dynamic facades can manage heat loss while also facade and the higher shading coefficient of the
allowing access to daylight. Solar analysis of the exterior were considered. The facade is made of
building is attached in the paper to identify which single-paned glass. And appears to be
facades of the building should be addressed. monotonous. At least two of the current facades
Because the sun angles in the summer and winter get direct sunshine and receive solar heat gain.
are different, independent assessments are taken The paper consists of a quick assessment of the
under consideration (Quratulain Asghar, 2019, influence of heavily glazed buildings on
July 6). Pakistan's environment. The relevance of the
case study and the proposed solution of a
By continually responding to changing
dynamic solar facade is highlighted in the
solar/climatic conditions, adaptable facades can
paper. The paper suggests several options to
reduce heat dissipation and give access to
tackle these problems, including minimizing
daylight. Bio mimicry is used, which is the
the use of glass during the original design
design and construction of buildings based on
phase, installing internal or external shading
biological processes in nature, to create an
devices to reduce heat gain, or developing a
adaptable facade. It further highlights the
dynamic façade system that can react to
physical, physiological, and adaptive aspects of
changing climatic conditions (Quratulain
an Oxalis oregano, which has the unusual
Asghar, 2019, July 6).
ability to measure the intensity of sunlight using
photo sensors (TM., 2014). (Qindong Fan, The building has been separated into four zones
September 20, 2021). An approach for to analyze the baseline model's heating and
installing the suggested adaptive façade on the cooling consumption. In short, adopting the
existing structure and examines the facade's suggested facade to the building will result in a
performance. It considers an existing 20-story 30% reduction in energy use according to the
commercial structure in Lahore, Pakistan, as a analysis. A lighting analysis of a single level is
case study for the suggested facade because of carried out to calculate energy consumption.
the hot and humid temperature. The case study's Based on the lighting research, natural light
floor layouts from one to sixteen are standard. illuminates 55% of the floor plan. The results
Each floor plan has semi-circular borders and is show that the daylight factor decreases
rectangular in form. On each corner of the significantly once the proposed dynamic facade
rectangle, four huge offices are situated, with a is installed. The proposed facade design
rectangular-shaped core in the center. The concept can easily be adapted to other glazed
research suggests that the proposed biomimetic buildings in hot and humid locations to improve
facade may lower the energy load and carbon energy efficiency. In the future, the suggested
emissions of heavily glazed buildings. This façade might be combined with other forms of
facade design concept may easily be adapted to adaptable facades for energy generation (TM.,
other glazed buildings in hot and humid 2014).
locations to improve energy efficiency. A
commercial building in Pakistan, called Tricon References:
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