Responsive Architecture Solutions to Reduce Energy Consumption of High-Rise Buildings

Today constructing high-rise buildings which consist of a great amount of surface area and also openings is prevalent and is continuing to rise. Therefore, the building’s envelope is among the most important elements that has a great effect on energy consumption and wastage. As a result, Responsive Architecture focuses on the design of the external skin of buildings which can change their physical properties in order to respond to various environmental conditions. These facades can play a significant role in reducing energy consumption produced by fossil fuels and maximizing the use of natural energies. This study aims to simply review and categorize the various solutions provided by responsive architecture in order to reduce energy consumption in contemporary high-rise building skins. To achieve this goal there has to be a clear image presented of the impact of these responsive systems on energy consumption and how they actually function. In this regard, comparative studies on some of the most basic studies concentrated on the subject, and also a few case studies well-known in this area of matter were precisely reviewed with a descriptive-analytical approach. Accordingly, a general assortment of responsive architecture solutions and performance in high-rises were attained and gathered which can be classified into two groups; those applicable for vertical facades including “Kinetic Facades”, “Double-Skin Facades”, “Smart Materials and Windows”, and those for horizontal facades including “Kinetic Roof” and a new type of “Ventilation Stacks and Exhaust Ducts”. These solutions can be operated in combination with each other or for the better performance of another system, depending on environmental conditions. moreover, they can be applied for either new buildings during their construction or even the old ones by installing them separately from the main facade. They can control the energy consumption of the building and minimize the use of mechanical systems by increasing the amount of received solar energy, reducing internal energy wastage, receiving optimum natural daylight, creating natural ventilation, controlling the amount of excess received heat, regulating temperature through energy storage and generating electricity. Responsive architecture solutions show that they can not only make it possible in getting the maximum advantage of renewable sources, but can also extend the useful life of buildings, and produce a quality of experience that reconnects people to the environment and provides delight in their lives.