COVER STORY

FUTURE FACADES:
DESIGNS, TECHNOLOGIES &
MATERIALS

The collecter Office, Pune by Sunil Patil & Associates

Buildings, as the largest users of energy, are also our greatest opportunity for energy conservation and
protection of the environment. The rapidly growing energy needs have raised global concerns over continued
depletion of energy resources and their negative impact on the environment. The façade is one of the most
significant contributors to the energy conservation and comfort parameters of any building. Strategies and
technologies that allow us to maintain our satisfaction with the interior environment while consuming
fewer of the resources have always been the major objectives for contemporary façade design.
A well designed façade can effectively control the physical environmental factors such as heat, light and
sound, thus improve the occupant comfort within a building. The location and climate are crucial factors in
selecting appropriate façade materials and deciding on the design strategies for sustainable facades.
The cover story of this edition focuses on the various approaches for designing sustainable facades for the
future, which are high performing, comfortable, safe, at the same time aesthetic. It also discusses emerging
façade technologies, and advanced, smart materials for facades, describing their properties and applications.

Architecture is a great responsibility to strike the of the mankind and the random use of the natural
right balance between human aspirations and our resources of the earth has posed a great threat not
ecosystem, says Ar. Sunil Patil, Founder, Sunil only to the environment but also to the planet itself.
Patil & Associates. Today, the growing aspirations Hence any development on the earth has to be

50 WFM Nov - Dec 2017

 Ar. Sunil Patil, Kirtisagar Bollar, Ninad Tipnis, Rishi Raj Khare,
Founder, Associate Architect, Founder & Principal Principal Architect,
Sunil Patil & Associates Architect Hafeez Contractor Architect, JTCPL Designs Inspire Design

carried out cautiously. Environmental sustainability Façade today has evolved from a skin around the
is of paramount importance. Eco-friendly and building to an element which needs to have a soul, a
sustainable architecture is not a fashionable design purpose and a reason to be there, observes Kirtisagar
concept anymore, but it is the only way to deal with Bollar, Associate Architect, Architect Hafeez
architecture today. Contractor. Today projects demand a significantly
larger chunk of design and planning around facades.
The architectural façade, an inevitable part of any
building, has long been a compelling focus of interest It is a common knowledge in the industry, observes
for building physicists and designers combining Ninad Tipnis, Founder & Principal Architect, JTCPL
attributes of both appearance and performance in Designs, that the facade of any structure is often
a holistic manner. Façades, as building envelope, considered the most important aspect from a
form the outer skins of buildings as a projected design POV, as it lays the groundwork for the rest
image and creative intent. Increasingly, they are also of the building. As far as the engineering front goes,
understood as important environmental moderators. the facade is also of great importance due to its
A thoughtfully designed skin can make a new building environmental impact.
work more effectively for its owners, occupants and
environment. It can also transform the performance Rishi Raj Khare, Principal Architect, Inspire Design,
of an existing building. notes that novel facade technologies, showcasing

Adani ‘INSPIRE BKC’ by Architect Hafeez Contractor

Nov - Dec 2017 WFM  51

 Hiten Sethi, Ashish K Jain, Amit Bhat,
Founder and Principal Hans Brouwer,
Partner- AEON Integrated Principal Architect, AB
Designer of Hiten Sethi Founder, HB Design
Building Design Consultant Architects
Associates

new patterns and designs which are more visual, factor not only for achieving the energy efficiency,
are evolving constantly in order to create greener but also the human comfort for which the buildings
healthier eco-friendly places for users. He adds that are actually designed. Agreeing to this, Ar. Bollar adds
the builder’s expectations are sky rocketing and that the design community today has moved ahead
designers is a very challenging job. According to him, from creating fancy looking non-functional facades
the target of the designer has always been to deliver to more climate and context responsive ones which
more scalable designs with commercial appeal, at are much more sensitive than it has even been.
the same they should be cost effective and perceived
as an investment. The main challenge with building performance in
the tropical and subtropical environments is how
Ar. Hiten Sethi, Founder and Principal Designer of to minimise heat gain, observes Hans Brouwer,
Hiten Sethi Associates (HSA) adds that the whole Founder, HB Design. According to Amit Bhat
building performance approach should be used (Principal Architect, AB Architects), “Efficient,
towards achieving the efficiency in order to find Adaptive & Scalable” these are the terms which
the most cost effective solution. The envelope of a
building is a very critical component for evaluating
the efficiency and lifecycle of the building. Façade
has an impact on the interior spaces as well as on
external neighbourhood.

Technology has gradually emerged in recent decade,

driven largely by the pursuit of transparency in
the building façade among international building
designers, says Ashish K Jain, Partner, AEON
Integrated Building Design Consultant LLP. The
façade is also the focal point of energy efficiency
in a building design because it works as the first
frontier to face the intense heat and a major source
of heat ingress into the buildings. As an enclosing
building component, it connects or separates the
interior and the exterior. All components of the
building façade, therefore, need to work together
to regulate the indoor environment, responding to
heating, cooling, ventilation, and natural lighting
needs. It must balance requirements for ventilation
and daylight while providing thermal protection
appropriate to the local climatic conditions. The
VVIP Circuit House by Sunil Patil, Sunil Patil Associates
optimally designed building façade is an important

52 WFM Nov - Dec 2017

 focused on conserving energy, improving aesthetics
while enhancing comfort.

A building façade can have both positive and negative

effects on work performance, adds Ashish K Jain.
Negative effects are associated with discomforts,
distractions or health risks that interfere with
peoples’ ability to do their work, whereas positive
impacts are associated with enhancing work
performance, psychosocial well-being, and health to
enhance the overall performance.

Let’s have a look at the parameters for responsible

and effective facades:
Design for ONGC by Architect Hafeez Contractor

DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

will define the future of facade systems in India.
For gaining maximum benefits of natural resources Most of the times facades we see are output by
with maintaining comfort of user inside a building, placing some components externally, after designing
facade and fenestration will always play an the whole building. According to Amit Bhat, whatever
important role. type of building we may design, envelope of these
should be a product of consideration of climate,
The façade design is transiting from staid static to function, surroundings and most importantly
responsive dynamic, remarks Indrajit Kembhavi, planning aspects of that building.
Principal Architect, Kembhavi Architects. Cutting
edge technological advancement is leading to the “Climate Responsive Architecture” is the key to
generation of façade design that is responsive to achieve sustainable architecture, points out Ar. Patil.
environment changing dynamically with weather It has been proven for decades in our traditional
and seasons, aligning with nature, nurturing a green
ambient environment and is constantly evolving.
In addition to being sustainable, these emerging
technologies are instruments of visual drama that
is again non constant, but presenting it differently
creating a play in the skyline, he adds.

Like Kembhavi, Gautam Bhasin, Regional Manager

– Inhabit Group, India says that technology for the
last few generations of building facades has been

Indrajit Kembhavi, Gautam Bhasin,

Managing Partner, Regional Manager – Inhabit
Kembhavi Architects Group, India A project for KBS Creations by JTCPL Designs

Nov - Dec 2017 WFM  53

 “NEXT DECADE WILL SEE DYNAMIC FACADES & DYNAMICALLY
CHANGING GLASS”
What are your thoughts on future facade and fenestration- designs, technologies
and materials?
If we study the history carefully, it is evident that the structural frame and the
building envelope had a design, technological and material synchronisation. The
façade methodology has always been remained complimentary to the structural
systems along with other factors like climate and aesthetical preferences. With the
inception of framed structures precast and prefabricated facades came into the
picture. The same factors are going to define the future facades. Earth’s climate, Ar. Vivek Bhole,
health and safety, lifestyle and rapid urbanisation will result into super tall and Chairman & Managing
smart buildings. The buildings will have complex but efficient structural systems Director, Vivek Bhole
like diagrids, exo-skeleton, space trusses, etc. and façades would follow the Architects Pvt. Ltd.
process. The material choice and the combination would derive creative character
of the facades. Steel, aluminium, zinc, tile, stone, extruded resin, ETFE and so on, the list is endless.
What are the expected evolutions in façade technologies and materials?
In the last century, all the major experiments in building envelopes were focused on aesthetics and
environmental protection. The further evolution should not just make the facades protect and project, but
they should think, behave and perform. Façades
need not just envelope the buildings, but they should
simultaneously participate in the structural systems
as well. The selection of material and technology
should make the building environmentally responsive.
How do you envision the facades of 2025?
I believe that, by 2025 we will witness multiple
options and experiments in automated or
electronically controlled dynamic facades and its
properties changing glass for improved energy
efficiency, indoor comfort and overall environmental
quality. The facades will generate and even store
renewable energy. Advanced embedded photovoltaic
cells, micro wind mills and heat filter membranes in
facades will take care of more than 50 per cent of the
energy needs of the buildings. The light dam panels
on facades would be used with two-way fibre optic
cables to illuminate the dark interior of the buildings
in the day time and illuminating the façade in the
night with reverse flow of light thus resulting in lot Commercial Building Mumbai by Vivek Bhole Architects
Pvt. Ltd.
of saving.

buildings as well. The building envelope has to be Taken to its ultimate development, an interactive
designed to suit the climate to achieve the thermal facade should respond intelligently and reliably
and visual comfort of the space. India, being a tropical to the changing outdoor conditions and internal
country, has ‘hot dry’ and ‘hot humid’ climate in most performance needs. It should exploit available natural
of the regions. Hence the real challenge is to deal energies for lighting, heating and ventilation, should
with harsh radiation from the south and west at the be able to provide large energy savings compared to
same time allowing natural ventilation. Every facade conventional technologies.
needs to be treated differently as per the climatic
conditions. According to Bhasin, the next evolution of facades

54 WFM Nov - Dec 2017

 Design for a residential project by Inspire Design Residence for Gaurav Agarwal by Inspire Design

will be expected to be more responsible towards the GLAZED FACADES: WHY & HOW
energy it consumes - both while manufacturing and
across its installed design life. Facades could even Man needs natural light to survive and the glass makes
feed energy back to the grid to reduce the burden of it possible to allow light into the interior. Towards the
peak loads on the sources of power generation. end of the 20th century, glazing became the ideal
design solution. Early 21st century saw the growing
BUILDING MATERIALS interest in highly glazed building facades, driven by
a variety of architectural, aesthetic, business and
Building materials make or break any project. environmental rationales. Today, the highly glazed
Continuous innovations in building materials towards facade has become an indispensable component
performance and efficiency help to reduce carbon of a ‘green building’, and building designers and
footprint; e.g. owners have dependably been intrigued by the broad
a. High-strength hollow block masonry units utilisation of glass in building envelopes. But many
using natural mineral-based geopolymers help of these buildings are with profoundly reflective
in reducing the load on the building at the same glazings or utilise exceedingly transmissive glass
time give a better thermal performance. and come across serious internal comfort issues
b. Light, responsive façade that ‘breathes’. This that could only be overcome with extensive HVAC
façade is made up of series of faceted fiberglass systems, resulting in significant energy, cost and
rosettes, which open and close in response to environmental penalties.
the temperature of the façade thereby avoiding
excess of heat to come inside the building. Glass, in its present form is not very safe (unless
c. Double screen façade made from special tiles it is processed and tempered or laminated), says
that can clean the air around it. UV light activated Rajeev Trehan, Senior Associate, Architect Hafeez
free radicals from the tiles destroy any existing Contractor. It has to ultimately evolve into a safer
pollutants from the air leaving it cleaner for the building material. Major issue with glass is safety
people inside the building. and excessive heat gain. At present, the research on
production of more efficient and safe glass is at a
Ar. Patil reiterates the need for reinventing the very basic stage. As we move on, we hope that the
vernacular ethos of traditional buildings. “We have research would result in high performance, energy
been using stone jalis in our traditional building facades generating glass which is inherently very safe as a
which can be derived in the form of metal louvers construction material, adds Trehan.
or fins in a contemporary style todays facades. This
can be pursued further by creating dynamic facades Demand for more efficient, responsive facades lead
using modern technology, which will transform itself to the replacement of conventional glazing by a new
in response to the changing sun positions, lighting generation of high performance, intelligent facade
conditions and the functional requirements,” he adds. systems that meet the comfort and performance

Nov - Dec 2017 WFM  55

 itself to ensure that they are adequately lit as per
the required task based lux levels. These levels
can be achieved through appropriate design of the
spaces along with right shading devices and glazing
specification. The WWR can vary from design to
design. Having the right ration ensures the efficiency.
Appropriate shading with respect to orientation with
a combination of high performance glazing ensures
compliance with SHGC requirements as per ECBC. For
moderate climate, the prescribed SHGC for a design
Rajeev Trehan, Nishant Gupta, with WWR < 40 percent is 0.4.
Senior Associate, Associate Architect,
Architect Hafeez Contractor Architect Hafeez Contractor
Indoor daylighting is achieved by providing glazing
having specific VLT values and efficient space
needs of occupants while satisfying owner economic planning. Another important design motives of
needs and broader societal environmental concerns. a façade is to maximise the external views while
Products such as heat absorbing glass, reflective causing minimum glare.
glass and double glazing glass emerged.
It can thus be seen that the use of higher performing
Experts tried to optimise the use of these products glass increases the initial cost of construction, but
and to come-up with an ideal, static design solution it helps in reducing the cost of operations of the
to make the facade more responsive. Thus more building by reducing the load on the HVAC system in
sophisticated design approaches and technologies the long run.
have emerged using new high-performance glazing,
improved shading and solar control systems, greater SOLAR CONTROL
use of automated controls, and integration with
other building systems. Another relatively new The sun is a very potent source of energy and is
architectural development is the facade that can the primary contributor to cooling loads in our
provide improved acoustics, better solar control and buildings. There are two main ways to deal with this
enhanced ventilation. issue, informs Ar. Hans Brouwer. The first is to deal
with this on the surface of the building – with the
WINDOW WALL RATIO cladding (whether this is with a curtain wall system
or a window wall system). Keeping fenestration
One of the basic design motives for the building percentages to below 35 percent is a good guideline
envelope is to protect the indoors from external for energy efficient buildings. Where fenestration is
elements along with providing optimum daylight required, high performance glazing specifications
and to optimise the solar heat gains in the building. should be deployed - ideally double-glazed units
This can be achieved through simple passive low cost (DGU) with a low emissivity coating (low-E).
measures based on the principal of demand reduction
through building envelope design by controlling the The other approach is to prevent direct insolation
Window to Wall Ratio (WWR), SHGC, U value (based on (sun rays hitting the glazed surfaces). This is done
choice of building material), says Ar. Hiten Sethi. The by introducing an additional screening layer outside
daylight analysis of the design at regularly occupied the building. In our Marvel Edge building this is a fine
spaces should be carried out at the designing stage mesh screen that cuts out 60 percent of the sun’s
Performance and cost implication for SHGC compliance in a typical project:
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
Glass Specification Saint-Gobain 5 mm clear High performance glazing High performance glazing
glass under single glass unit. (SGU) under double glass unit.
SHGC SHGC = 0.85 SHGC ≤ 0.35 SHGC ≤ 0.25
VLT VLT = 89% VLT = < 26% VLT = > 26%
Cost implication @Rs. 700/- per sq. m. @Rs. 1500/- per sq. m. @Rs. 3300/- per sq. m.

56 WFM Nov - Dec 2017

 BIOMIMICRY IN FACADES
The ‘Breathing Skins Project’ by Tobias Becker
Over the years, climate change has been another
contributing factor to the rising need for amalgamating
futuristic designs & energy efficiency concepts.
Facades with adaptive features help reduce the
energy needs of buildings and accommodate climatic
requirement better. For instance, the ‘breathing skin
project’ developed by Tobias Becker is based on the
concept of biomimicry.
The technology is inspired by organic skins that adjust
their pores to control the necessary flow of light,
matter and temperature between the inside and the
outside. Technologies like this one can revolutionise
the way we approach façade and fenestration for years
to come. More than anything, the moral conscience and
vision of architects play a huge role in the way facades
and fenestration can revolutionise contemporary
architecture globally.
(As told by Ninad Tipnis, Founder & Principal Architect, JTCPL Designs)

rays, leaving sufficient daylight for good internal could filter the polluted air and provide fresh air
lighting without the challenge of too much glare. In for the inmates. The façade could warm or cool the
this case, the glazing specification doesn’t need to building depending on the climatic condition and
be as high, as the heat build-up has been dealt with requirement. We might see facades which could
before the actual building envelope. It also provides
for a façade that has a lot more interest and depth,
in contrast with the ubiquity of glazed, curtain wall
buildings that adorn our modern cities, adds Brouwer.

Ar. Hiten Sethi also agrees that the solar insolation

study helps to analyse critical façade and designing
them based on the heat gain requirements based
on the climatic conditions of the location of the
building. Design elements like light shelves, double
screen façades, sun breakers, etc., also contribute
in achieving the requisite indoor thermal and visual
comfort.

FUTURE FACADES
According to Nishant Gupta, Associate Architect,
Architect Hafeez Contractor, future facades
would be more advanced in terms of material and
technology. They will be more interactive, and more
environment responsive, and much more innovative
in design. They could draw moisture from outside
and collect water. They could capture solar energy
Orbit Haven, Mumbai by Architect Hafeez Contractor
and make the building self sustainable. Facades

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 I-FACADES
‘’I-facades’’ will be the future thing. Capable of thinking on their own the computing powers integrated
with these skins will convert any material into thinking surfaces. They will be able to connect to the building
systems as well as the building occupant’s mobile phones or systems giving real time data and capable of
converting these data to maintain the buildings internal as well as external experience.
These ‘’I-facades’’ will not only be linked to its users, but will be ‘’talking’’ to the surroundings as well. It will be
capable of generating electricity and charging things wirelessly in and around it. Cities will no longer depend
on grid supply for electricity. The future buildings with its smart façade and systems will itself be the source
of energy. Electric cars will be able to charge themselves wirelessly around these buildings. At a macro
level, integration of similar skins of buildings with a central control system will help the local authorities in
regulating large swathes of urban patches with efficient energy distribution and management. When we
talk about such future, it seems far, but as time has proven, these technologies will be out in the market in
no time.
(As told by Kirtisagar Bollar, Associate Architect, Architect Hafeez Contractor)

expand and contract as per the space requirement. Ar. Rishi Raj Khare too foresees that, in future facades,
We can also look forward for facades which could be solar panels will be used and LED systems which help
taken off from one building and installed on another. to provide light. Both interior and exterior skins with
bioclimatic effective façade will help to moderate
Like Nishant Gupta, architect Amit Bhat also is wind, noise, light, heat and pollution, he adds. Vertical
optimistic that in future we would develop a facade/ gardens can reduce the thermal loads; rainwater
fenestration system which provides us a way to harvesting systems and recyclable products used
generate green energy from natural resources. Now for construction would add to the greenness of the
a days we are hearing about the use of photo voltaic building. All these challenges will make the job of a
cells on facades so that the buildings can generate façade engineer one of the most interesting and
energy and could become self sustainable in power creative one.
requirement. But, at present, the system seems to
be phenomenally expensive. As photovoltaic costs By integrating innovations with proactive façade
decrease in the future, these on-site power systems management strategies we can work towards a
will be integrated within the glass skin and these greener and more sustainable future, ensuring
facades will become local, non-polluting energy these combined strategies both play their part in
suppliers to generate enough energy. Wind farms supporting global sustainability targets.
near coastal areas will help to generate more energy.
These innovative concepts create habitable clean As with design and technology, materials too will play
energy harvesting system. an important part in contributing to the smart and

Club House design by Kembhavi Architects Commercial building by Kembhavi Architects

58 WFM Nov - Dec 2017

FACADES OF THE FUTURE: THE TRENDSETTER
Catering to the demands of an ever expanding industry and innovative designers, the presentation shifts
in its last segment to sensitising on the future technologies in Building Facades which will provide better
efficiency, aesthetics and commercial value to the developments addressing a wider spectrum of issues
covering the following:
• Facades generating Power – Photovoltaic Glass Unit (PGU)
Building integrated photovoltaic’s capture the solar radiations and turn it into energy. A high level of energy
generation (up to 12 percent efficiency) can be generated through Photovoltaic Glass unit. The advantage
of this technology is that it is allowing the usage of fenestration part of the building as PGU’s provides
transparency to the human eye upto 70 per cent.
• Thermally Dynamic Facades – Phase Change Materials (PCM)
Façade, which responds in accordance with the variations in outdoor conditions. Thermally dynamic facades
use phase change material wherein a layer of salt crystals captures the heat radiated by the sun and release
it back to the environment during non-operational hours. The thickness of conventional materials used in
buildings is much more than the equivalent heat capacity of a one-centimetre-thick PCM.
• Biomimicry in Facades – Living Buildings
Just like the surface of a leaf, the ‘skin’ of future buildings may react to external stimuli, opening, closing
and breathing throughout the day through a system of ‘cellular’ openings that allow light, air and water in
the apartments contained within.
• Facades Enhancing Outdoor Environment – Microclimate Impact
Growing vegetation on the façade can potentially create a positive microclimate around the built form. A
microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The studies
accounts that a reduction of approx. 2˚C can be achieved by using green vegetation around buildings
compared to the surrounding ambient in composite climates like Delhi.
• Facades Enhancing Indoor Environment – Growing Fresh Air
Most developing countries have high pollution levels and as a result the indoor environment can be even
more polluted. Drawing ventilation air through a green façade or a greenhouse offers a potential to counter
the toxins, VOC’s, microbial infections, etc. in an air-conditioned building.
• Façade Addressing Fuel Crises – Building Powered by Algae
A classic example of this technology is BIQ building algae panels generating power where the algae is grown
on façade and burned to provide an alternate energy source.
• Facades Addressing Food Crises – Hydroponics
The idea that fruits and vegetables can grow with water, light and nutrients are the basis of hydroponic:
one of the innovative systems of making the building self-sustaining. There have been other numerous
advantages of this system as well. A reduction is seen in street level concentrations up to 40 per cent for
NO2 and 60 per cent of particulate matter. They potentially contribute to an increase in biodiversity in urban
areas by providing a habitat for birds, etc. The most important aspect is their “rejuvenating effect” on the
living creatures around as they contribute in softening of the urban landscape and allowing buildings to
seem more ‘natural’ and pleasing for the people.
Energy efficiency remains a primary challenge in today’s commercial construction industry. How important
are energy efficiency gains from a building envelope is a topic that is gaining momentum amongst industry-
leading architects and design firms. In order to address a few paramount issues in the industry, with ever-
increasing pressure for the dual objectives of higher performance and improved payback calculation to
stakeholders, innovative trends and forces shaping the future of building skin contain the answer of many
unfolded domains.
(As told by Ashish K Jain, Partner - AEON Integrated Building Design Consultant LLP)

Nov - Dec 2017 WFM  59

 National Cancer Institute, Nagpur by Hiten Sethi Marvel Edge is a modern day groundscraper and an
Associates (HSA) unusual mixed-use project at Pune by HB Design

environmentally sensitive design narrative. Building Forging ahead, Kirtisagar Bollar of AHC visualises
materials will evolve with more recycling friendly the future of facades is going to be much more than
alternatives with even upcycling contributions from the material, looks or performance. It will be a living
other industries, adds Ar. Gautam Bhasin. organ very much like our skin, which will respond
in real time to its surrounding presence and will be
According to Ar. Indrajit Kembhavi, the material capable of adapting to it. From facades which will
palette of future façades is evolving rapidly ranging be able to self heat and cool itself a building will no
from ceramics, multilayer aluminium/metal, to ETFE longer depend on its internal building management
(ethylene tetrafluroethylene copolymer) cushion systems. They will be ‘’intelligent’’. Yes, intelligent.
fabric, multilayer ETICS (external thermal insulation The big ‘’I’’.
cladding system) to green vegetated façade systems.
Future technologies would involve façade that is CONCLUSION
self-cleaning, environmentally dynamic, information
sensitive and communicating. Sustainable design continues to be at the core of the
architecture, engineering and construction (AEC)
Ar. Rajeev Trehan of AHC is hopeful that the ongoing industry, yet very few can agree on how it should be
research on glass will result in introducing completely practised, implemented and incorporated into the
transparent glasses that are totally safe, insulated design process, and take it to the next level, may be
and energy generating, and it will become a reality in to ‘net-zero’ levels and beyond.
the near future. The buildings of the future could use
this novel material. He believes that gradually it will Design teams are changing to become more intensive
become mandatory to use such ’hi tech’ glass that is collaborations. Technologies have advanced to
transparent (but photo chromatic), lightweight (but the point where it is difficult for architects to be
strong), safe (without additional processing) and all-knowing in relation to the effect of various
energy generating. systems on the holistic performance of a building.
One shouldn’t stop with materials that are already
Future façade can be defined as fully responsive in the palette, but look for much more innovative
parametric façade that are non-static, but kinetic ones. New materials are flooding the marketplace
addressing varied issues including sustainability, at an exponential rate. Their introduction requires
power generation, vertical farming and are informative rapid inclusion in familiar construction systems,
and transformational, articulates Kembhavi. The considering the qualities like performance, tolerance,
facades, far from being static elements shall start compatibility, etc. Building skins in the future will
getting responsive and communicative to a situation/ integrate dynamic or kinetic components, creating
environment. However, the biggest challenge shall be an architecture that incorporates multiple materials
to balance the cost to performance ratio. and systems into a singularly performing envelope.

60 WFM Nov - Dec 2017