Conversely, concrete block even at its worst performance has a U-value of 3 and at the best performing is around 2. Thatโ s a 50% reduction in heat conduction. By adding insulation to the back of the block, we can improve U-value even more. This makes it clear that as long as sufficient light levels are achieved, the solid part of the exterior skin should be maximised, especially in the GCC. In the past the reduction of glass in the design of various faรงades had to approximate the amount of light hitting any surface. Nowadays, we have accurate energy and light monitoring software which can accurately show the average amount of light falling on any faรงade for a given cycle of time. For faรงade design we use parametric software which allows the sizes of see-through portions of the exterior skin to be automatically adjusted to the light levels inside the building. This ensures that natural light levels are not compromised with the replacement of see panels with solid panels. The result of such a process is logical. The amount of glass falling on any very bright surface is significantly reduced, while in darker parts of the faรงade, the amount of glass increases. The parametric software can be set up to reduce glass by changing window opening sizes, or creating denser and looser patterns of similarly sized solid panels. This process is still underutilised today, but over time will be adopted by the mainstream because the logic behind it is indisputable. 3D Printed Construction In the past building walls with various sizes of openings would reduce repeatability, therefore increasing construction cost to a level which was not economical. As a result, the kind of optimised faรงade discussed in the first part of this article was very unlikely to ever be constructed. With the advent of 3D printed construction, there is now an ability to build complex forms without the exponential increase in cost which was required by more traditional methods of construction. 3D printing is no longer a technology solely relegated to models, and many 3D printed
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occupiable structures and buildings have appeared over the last few years. While it is true that this technology is in its youth, it is evolving very fast. By the time that designs started today will be finished, 3D printed construction will be even more accessible. For those who have not had time to look into this, 3D printed walls are built out of glass reinforced concrete which is shot out of a nozzle, similarly to the way resin or plastic shoots out of a nozzle to create a 3D printed model. Behind this process needs to be a good electronic 3D model of the surface to be printed. Since 3D printing of models has been around for much more time than 3D printed construction, the software, standards and best practices are very advanced. This means that someone who is fluent with the printing of 3D models at a smaller scale, will be able to switch over to 3D printed construction seamlessly. This technology will also become mainstream very soon, due to the possibilities which it offers, and along with these possibilities the speed of construction of complex forms will grow exponentially, reducing costs significantly. Currently there are pretty strict size limits on such a construction process, but these will get looser and looser over time, eventually leading to the construction of 3D printed high-rise buildings. Once this happens, everything will change for the better. The ability to construct the parametric faรงades discussed at the start will be greatly enhanced as 3D printing technology advances. Faรงade design will never be the same. Dynamic Faรงades The current world of construction is largely stuck in the static frame. Since faรงades do not typically move, this means that for optimisation we need to rely on average yearly light conditions. With dynamic faรงades all this is changed. It is true that dynamic faรงades go back as far as the Institut du Monde Arabe in 1973, but the technical issues associated with so many moving parts discouraged most designers and clients from implementing this approach.