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Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 41001

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dušan Katunský

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Košice, Vysokoskolska 4, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia
Interests: building physics; architectural engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Stanislav Darula

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Guest Editor

Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: building physics; daylighting; sun energy application

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adaptive architecture is the lead motif of the next Special Issue of Sustainability. Due to the apparent consequences of global warming, this topic is highly engaging. The adaptivity in the built environment can be seen across scales, from urbanism, through the building itself, to the building element or structure. The term is similar to, and sometimes used interchangeably with, responsive architecture, although, adaptive architecture defines an automatic adaptation of the building exposed, and being able to react real-time to different physical influences. The adaptation to the external conditions include the following:

Automatic shading of buildings and transparent structures against the sunlight effects.
Shape adaptation of structural elements to the excessive noise load.
Shape adaptation of the room based on the reverberation time (required for a particular type of musical activity).
Adaptation of buildings and their structures to the changes in temperature, or humidity.
Adaptive load-bearing building systems (rearrangement of internal forces under extreme load - fire, explosion).
Adaptation to weather influences such as wind, rain, or snow, acting upon the building or its structural elements.

This Special Issue is a great opportunity to publish innovative approaches and research results in the field of architecture, structural engineering, building constructions, building physics, etc.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Prof. Dušan Katunský
Dr. Stanislav Darula
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

adaptive architecture
adaptive structure
adaptive forms
responsive architecture

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Housing Concepts: Modular, Circular, Biobased, Reproducible, and Affordable

by Leo Oorschot and Thijs Asselbergs

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13772; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413772 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8017

Abstract

For a moment, it seemed that the architect had disappeared from the construction supply chain for sustainable and affordable housing provided by Dutch housing associations. Large contractors were making direct agreements with housing associations and wanted to scale up production with their housing factories. However, with the ‘So You Think You Can BUILD’ challenge, architects, consultancies, and contractors reinvented themselves within the construction supply chain and acquired a position as providers of circular building concepts. The aim of this challenge is to stimulate providers of homes to design and produce (in great numbers) affordable and sustainable houses. This not only scales up building production in empty fields but also within difficult and dense build urban areas. A whole new generation of Dutch architects, consultancies, and contractors working in collaboration are now intensively involved with circular and biobased residential buildings, innovative materials and production processes. They are managing to provide attractive products for housing associations and other clients. In the first part of 2021, ‘So You Think You Can BUILD’ challenged teams of designers, engineers and contractors to develop new concepts, with the three winners applying the principles of the ‘passive house’, which is modular and circular, as well as a smart building skin and smart core with open floor space in between. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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16 pages, 2185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Analysis of Small Investors’ Demands on a Thermal Insulation System for a Family House: A Case Study

by Alena Tažiková, Zuzana Struková and Mária Kozlovská

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2491; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13052491 - 25 Feb 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1731

Abstract

This study deals with small investors’ demands on thermal insulation systems when choosing the most suitable solution for a family house. By 2050, seventy percent of current buildings, including residential buildings, are still expected to be in operation. To reach carbon neutrality, it is necessary to reduce operational energy consumption and thus reduce the related cost of building operations and the cost of the life cycle of buildings. One solution is to adapt envelopes of buildings by proper insulation solutions. To choose an optimal thermal insulation system that will reduce energy consumption of building, it is necessary to consider the environmental cost of insulation materials in addition to the construction cost of the materials. The environmental cost of a material depends on the carbon footprint from the initial origin of the material. This study presents the results of a multi-criteria decision-making analysis, where five different contractors set the evaluation criteria for selection of the optimal thermal insulation system. In their decision-making, they involved the requirements of small investors. The most common requirements were selected: the construction cost, the construction time (represented by the total man-hours), the thermal conductivity coefficient, the diffusion resistance factor, and the reaction to fire. The confidences of the criteria were then determined with the help of the pairwise comparison method. This was followed by multi-criteria decision-making using the method of index coefficients, also known as the method of basic variant. The multi-criteria decision-making included thermal insulation systems based on polystyrene, mineral wool, thermal insulation plaster, and aerogels’ nanotechnology. As a result, it was concluded that, currently, in Slovakia, small investors emphasize the cost of material and the coefficient of thermal conductivity and they do not care as much about the carbon footprint of the material manufacturing, the importance of which is mentioned in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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15 pages, 2348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy, Economic, and Environmental Performance of a Single-Family House in Chile Built to Passivhaus Standard

by Camilo Bravo-Orlandini, José M. Gómez-Soberón, Claudia Valderrama-Ulloa and Francisco Sanhueza-Durán

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1199; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031199 - 24 Jan 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2589

Abstract

The energy consumption of buildings accounts for 22% of total global energy use and 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the energy, economic, and environmental performance of housing in Chile built according to the Passivhaus (PH) standard. The standard was applied to housing in eight representative climate zones with a single-family residence as reference. The analysis incorporated passive strategies, which are considered as pillars of the PH. The energy performance was analyzed using the Passive House Planning Package software (PHPP), version 9.6a. The results showed that when every passive strategy is implemented, the heating energy demand decreases by 93%, while the refrigeration demand is nonexistent. These results were achieved through a 37% increase in the overall initial budget investment, which will be amortized over an 11-year period. In this way, the primary energy consumption is reduced by 32% and, correspondingly, CO₂ emissions are reduced by 39%. In modern Chile, it is difficult (but not impossible) to incorporate PH. However, governmental programs and aids could represent an initial step. Therefore, this research will help to identify strategies for incorporating PH in Chile, with the aim of improving the energy performance of housing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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29 pages, 5296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Field Investigation on Adaptive Thermal Comfort in an Urban Environment Considering Individuals’ Psychological and Physiological Behaviors in a Cold-Winter of Wuhan

by Mehdi Makvandi, Xilin Zhou, Chuancheng Li and Qinli Deng

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 678; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020678 - 12 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2891

Abstract

To date, studies of outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) have focused primarily on physical factors, tending to overlook the relevance of individual adaptation to microclimate parameters through psychological and physiological behaviors. These adaptations can significantly affect the use of urban and outdoor spaces. The study presented here investigated these issues, with a view to aiding sustainable urban development. Measurements of OTC were taken at a university campus and in urban spaces. Simultaneously, a large-scale survey of thermal adaptability was conducted. Two groups were selected for investigation in a cold-winter-and-hot-summer (CWHS) region; respondents came from humid subtropical (Cfa) and hot desert (BWh) climates, according to the Köppen Climate Classification (KCC). Results showed that: (1) neutral physiological equivalent temperature (NPET) and preferred PET for people from the Cfa (PCfa) and BWh (PBWh) groups could be obtained with KCC; (2) PCfa adaptability behaviors were, subjectively, more adjustable than PBWh; (3) Clothing affected neutral temperature (NT), where NT reduced by approximately 0.5 °C when clothing insulation rose 0.1 Clo; and (4) Gender barely affected thermal acceptance vote (TAV) or thermal comfort vote (TCV) and there was a substantial relationship between thermal sensation, NT, and PET. These findings suggest ‘feels like’ temperature and comfort may be adjusted via relationships between microclimate parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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10 pages, 2974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Design and Production of a Suitable Carrier for Microwires Used for Non-Contact Detection of Mechanical Strains

by Mohamad Al Ali, Stanislav Kmeť, Peter Platko, Viktória Bajzecerová and Martina Zeleňáková

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 477; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020477 - 06 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1551

Abstract

During the loading process, strain gauges connected to measuring devices are usually used to detect the strains of structural load-bearing members. Nowadays, newer and more sophisticated measurement methods are being developed. One of these involves the application of amorphous glass-coated microwires for non-contact detection of mechanical strains. This paper presents the results of research work aimed at finding a suitable carrier or transfer medium for such microwires. The identification of a suitable transfer medium was part of extensive theoretical and experimental research focusing on non-contact detection of mechanical strains based on amorphous glass-coated microwires. The results present an innovative and effective approach for sustainable practices in various fields of construction activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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20 pages, 8500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptation of HVAC Systems to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 in Buildings

by Frantisek Vranay, Ladislav Pirsel, Richard Kacik and Zuzana Vranayova

Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9992; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12239992 - 29 Nov 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4118

Abstract

In 2020, all the world has been confronted with COVID-19. Bringing people together in buildings is proving to be a risk factor that we have to deal with. Although the greatest attention is paid to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there are a number of other pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.) that can be transmitted through the air. These pathogens are sensitive to UV-C radiation. UV-C fluorescent lamps have been developed with technical parameters that are adapted to HVAC operating conditions. By using germicidal sources to disinfect the transported air, more than 90% of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, more than 97% of Influenza A virus, and 100% of Legionella pneumophila can be inactivated. The use of UV-C emitters for air disinfection allows the use of circulation and recuperation. Total balance of energy and CO₂ emissions by variants and energies used, including humidification were performed for Slovak conditions. The operation of germicidal sources during the heating period in selected cities in our example would represent only 0.45% of the difference in heat demand and 0.42% of the difference in energy demand between operation according to recommendations and operation with germicidal sources. It is therefore an effective means of ensuring health safety and energy efficiency for the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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15 pages, 7378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Implication of Petrographic Characteristics on the Mechanical Behavior of Middle Eocene Limestone, 15th May City, Egypt

by Abdelaziz El Shinawi, Peter Mésároš and Martina Zeleňáková

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9710; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229710 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1830

Abstract

The construction purposes of carbonate rocks are considered a major aspect of using these bedrocks based on their mechanical behavior. Accordingly, the physical and mechanical characterization of Middle Eocene Limestone bedrock in the new urban area at the 15th May City, Egypt was studied to assess the suitability of the carbonate rocks for construction. This study has been carried out to investigate the effect of petrographic characteristics on mechanical properties. To achieve this objective, the intact 30 rock core samples from 15 boreholes were selected at different depths. Based on study of the selected samples in thin sections, the limestone in the area was classified as lime-mudstone, wackestone, and grainstone. Additionally, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and Schmidt Rebound Hammer (Rn) were determined to detect the mechanical properties of the limestone bedrock. The measured parameters (UCS and Rn) demonstrated a high direct relationship with mudstone and a poor direct relationship with dolomite and high negative correlation with wackestone and grainstone. Therefore, the Middle Eocene Limestone bedrock is more durable and has medium-strength, which made it suitable for constructions. Regression analysis was performed to find out some linear relationship between mechanical properties (UCS) with petrographic characteristics. The study reveals significant positive correlation between UCS and Rn with mudstone in accordance higher values of regression coefficient (R² = 0.91 and R² = 0.036), and an inverse relationship of Rn with dolomite % (R² = 0.89 and R² = 0.02), respectively. Consequently, the strong confidence on the mechanical parameters opens the way for engineers to predict the mechanical parameters that are required for engineering properties of limestone for the urban expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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22 pages, 10064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Cross-Scale Analysis of the Correlation between Daytime Air Temperature and Heterogeneous Urban Spaces

by Sihong Du, Yanxia Li, Chao Wang, Zhichao Tian, Yongdong Lu, Sijie Zhu and Xing Shi

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7663; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12187663 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1964

Abstract

The problem of the urban thermal environment is becoming increasingly noticeable in the process of modern urban development. The temperature patterns in central business districts can be more complicated due to the heterogeneous urban spaces and diverse building forms, which need more cross-scale research. This study investigated the correlation between air temperature and urban morphology in a heterogeneous urban district in northeastern China. The thermal environment of the studied district in the summertime was simulated by ENVI-met. A total of 12 morphological indicators were selected to describe the geometric features of the studied district. Curve estimation was employed to quantify the correlation between air temperature and morphological indicators. The results indicate different effects of the morphological indicators of the air temperature on different scales. On a mesoscale, the compactness (Com), building footprint ratio (BFR), enclosure degree (ED) and total height to total floor area ratio (HA) had a significant correlation with the air temperature. On a microscale, only the BFR and ED had relatively steady correlations with the air temperature. The correlation between air temperature and morphological indicators could be influenced by the heterogeneity of the urban morphology, including the diversity of the heights and footprints of buildings and the irregularity of building horizontal arrangement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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16 pages, 5258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Indoor Physical Characteristic of the Ceiling of China National Aquatics Center under the Demand of Olympic Games

by Shiliang Lu, Jing Zeng, Meng Gu, Chunxiao Zhang and Chao Shen

Sustainability 2020, 12(16), 6589; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12166589 - 14 Aug 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3458

Abstract

In the practice of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022 for the renovation and reuse of the 2008 Olympic legacy venues, PVC film-based clips integrated with the black coated fabric were employed as a shielding material, to reduce the influence of sunlight under the ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) air pillow ceiling system and maintain a good and stable indoor environment. Based on winter outdoor meteorological parameters, we measured the temperature; solar irradiance; and illuminance of the playing field, as well as the upper and lower surfaces of the ceiling enclosure and its internal cavity. Meanwhile, a simulation of the indoor environment before and after the shielding was carried out. The distribution and transmission mechanism of light, humidity, and heat in the venue were studied. It was found that the shielding material can block more than 98% of the sunlight and solar radiation; and after the addition of shielding material, the temperature of the playing field changes throughout the day about 1 °C. The difference between the surface temperature under the ceiling and the indoor temperature is about 3 °C, which is not easy to condense. The physical characteristics of the shielding of the roof enclosure structure are revealed, and the shading and heat insulation performance of it is verified, so that the venue meets the requirements of the Olympic Winter Games in the indoor environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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11 pages, 1728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Indoor Climate on Employees in Office Buildings—A Case Study

by Peter Kapalo, Silvia Vilčeková, Ľudmila Mečiarová, Florin Domnita and Mariusz Adamski

Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5569; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12145569 - 10 Jul 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2619

Abstract

The presented research work is aimed at investigation of the influence of indoor environmental conditions on employees in office buildings. Monitoring of carbon dioxide, temperature, relative humidity and pulse, as well as subjective evaluation, was carried out in three office rooms where air conditioning systems ensured the required amount of fresh air. Investigation showed that in two offices (A and B), the amount of fresh air did not comply with EN 15251:2017. The concentration of CO₂ in office A was above 1000 ppm for 72% of the total length of stay. Respondents confirmed fatigue and headaches. In offices A and B, where CO₂ concentration was around 1000 ppm, people with a weight of up to 70 kg experienced a significant increase in air temperature as well as odor. Persons with weight higher than 75 kg experienced a slight decrease in air quality. In office C, where CO₂ concentration was around 800 ppm, respondents reported a slight decrease in air quality. According to pulse monitoring, it can be stated that in an office where there is an insufficient supply of fresh air, the pulse of a person falls or only slightly rises. A decrease in pulses may indicate the attenuation or stunning of people caused by poor air quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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24 pages, 5627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Roof Windows Area Changes on the Classroom Indoor Climate in the Attic Space: A Case Study

by Erika Dolnikova, Dusan Katunsky, Marian Vertal and Marek Zozulak

Sustainability 2020, 12(12), 5046; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12125046 - 20 Jun 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3102

Abstract

Windows are a complex part of building design and provide a considerable benefit, including to school buildings. For the evaluation of the daylighting conditions prevailing in classrooms, the daylight factor (DF) was considered as the most appropriate parameter for indicating the quantity of admitted daylight. The DF values and CIE overcast sky were calculated using Velux Daylight Visualizer 3 software. The task of the paper is to compare various roof window openings in relation to the level of daylight in the attic, looking to optimize the use of the attic for teaching. The indoor air temperature has a general influence on comfort in the interior, in addition to daylight. In winter, the situation is not critical. The thermal insulation properties of packaging structures are sufficient. The situation is worse in summer, due to the fact that the heat-storage properties are undersized and there is excessive overheating of the indoor air. Four variants of roof windows and their influence on the overall microclimate in the attic are compared. The variant without roof windows is a suitable solution with regard to minimum overheating, but the worst situation for daylight. In order to receive even more light from the window (by moving windows to the top of the roof), we can use variant 2. Based on a combination of daylight calculations and summer temperature, a graphical dependence on window size prediction in terms of top and combined lighting is derived. This was hypothesized without shading the windows. Of course, the shading elements of these windows or cooling are expected in the summer. Finally, the energy required for cooling is compared depending on the size of the windows and achievement of the permissible temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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20 pages, 6197 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Adaptive Design of Formworks for Building Renovation Considering the Sustainability of Construction in BIM Environment—Case Study

by Peter Mésároš, Marcela Spišáková, Tomáš Mandičák, Jozef Čabala and Milan M. Oravec

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 799; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13020799 - 15 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4586

Abstract

Progressive technologies and practices are shifting the possibilities of building design and improving work efficiency. Constantly changing site conditions require different procedures and designs that take into account these changing conditions, whether it is a design solution, a change in environmental conditions, or just sustainability factors. Adaptive building design offers opportunities to cope with changing factors to achieve the ähighest possible level of building quality. This case study deals with the topic of adaptive formwork design for building renovation, taking into account sustainability. The aim of the article is an investigation and demonstration of the building information modeling (BIM) environment used for the adaptive design of formwork elements for the building renovation in the context of sustainability. The object of the case study is a building in the center of Kosice, Slovakia. The BIM environment allows prompt and correct adaptation of the formwork design to changing lighting conditions, ventilation, heating and temperature during the design of the building. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Architecture: Designing for the Variable Environmental Conditions)

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