Architects have a climacteric responsibility to design sustainable and energy-efficient structures. Active measures are crucial to ensure present and future buildings are low-carbon and ideally carbon neutral.

As we venture forward, we have to challenge formalities and evolve with today’s climate, in pursuit of reducing our carbon footprint. Current climate modelling data predicts significant problems within Europe from 2030 onwards. We must alter our building and design strategies to align with future passive energy conservation, as well as prioritising the ethos of building users and city inhabitants. Reducing energy consumption begins with selecting the correct construction material.

In architecture, a facade often defines a building and consequent ambitions. Besides acting as an opportunity for expression, Architects should now be considering facades functionally; from contributing to energy conservation and sustainability to labelling the character of a streetscape, within a globalising world.

Some of the best examples of sustainable cladding innovation consider challenging material boundaries with imaginative design and adaptations of traditional techniques.

An innovative design, by Product Designer, Poppy Pippin. Moss thrives well within city environments, requires little maintenance, as well as essentially absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Pippin specified the design to have the function of improving air quality within urban environments, with installation on exterior facades in public spaces.

Ensuring the moss thrives, the tile is created from terracotta, an absorbent material, as well as designed to have multiple indentations and a textured surface. Enhancing the organic beauty of the non-flowering plant and encouraging growth.

The presence of moss within a facade construction material will introduce nature into concrete jungles, encouraging a connection between inhabitants and their surrounding environment, increasing an overall sense of wellbeing.

Designed by Rael San Fratello Architects, planter bricks are custom-designed concrete masonry units, able to house plants and vegetation. An innovative design, which has the potential to counter the urban heat island effect (UHI) in large cities, via evapotranspiration and pollution conversion. The plants help meditate the temperature of the microclimate surrounding the structure, buffer sound and assist with improving air quality.

The design enables the planter bricks to be combined with traditional brickwork in new masonry walls or replace bricks within an existing wall. They are extremely flexible in form, some angular, some curvaceous and can have various sized cavities. Allowing personalisation from a selection of bricks, creating a unique composition each time.

Designed by Rael San Fratello Architects in 2015, planter tiles are 3D printed hexagonal tiles, composed of six various tile patterns and fix tightly within a close proximity. Four of the six types have the capacity to house plant life. However, the beautifully designed petal motif on each of the tiles, combine the different designs together aesthetically, through the use of a three dimensional graphic.

The material process produces an uneven, yet organic colouring, which creates a rich material surface covering. Like the planter bricks, planter tiles meditate the temperature of the microclimate, buffer sound and assist with improving air quality.

The Cabin of 3D Printed Curiosities integrates two of the sustainable cladding materials previously mentioned (planter bricks and tiles) with other innovative materials, software and hardware experiments, to demonstrate the architectural potential of additive manufacturing on a weather resistant and structurally sound building. A project completed in 2018, using relaxed architectural codes to conduct an experiment, attempting to address construction, sustainability and ecological concerns in architecture at a micro scale.

The facade is compromised of various planter tile elements to create a living wall of succulents, fused together with several combining agents such as shades of Portland cement, sawdust and chardonnay pomace (grape waste from wine production). The roof and contiguous facades are clad in a 3D printed ceramic rain screen of seed stitch tiles. An imaginative product emulating and named after a knitting technique called seed stitch. Seed stitch cladding was designed for the purpose of cost-friendly, efficient and easy assembly.

The Cabin of 3D Printed Curiosities demonstrates that 3D printing can produce meaningful, aesthetically beautiful and well crafted construction materials, which are sustainable and assist the environment, as well as being time and cost efficient. Rael San Fratello Architects highlight the widespread potential of up-cycling agricultural and industrial waste products too, reducing construction waste. Perhaps this is a new platform in which next generation architectural materials, techniques and technologies can be discovered? Watch this space.

DysCrete (Dye Sensitised Concrete) titles the unique concept of a structural integrated energy construction material, designed for architectural use, looking forward to sustainable cityscapes. The DysCrete project launched with the concept of a concrete block which could generate electricity when fruit juice was poured onto it. Initial experiments proved that cement could serve as the basis for a targeted synthesis of photoactive particles and building materials1. Innovative modern technologies and alternative processes, for example dye sensitised solar sell request further development and experimentation through application.

One of the most innovative solar cell technologies, the dye sensitised solar cell has recently been combined with opaque construction materials such as concrete, which was previously overlooked. Experiments will be conducted, with the objective to understand how photoactive organic dyes can be applied on concrete surfaces to absorb light and produce electricity through electrochemical reactions.

The sun is getting stronger and proportionally the biggest issue we now face is solar gain. So, why not exploit it to our advantage and create a new generation of sustainable architecture? Reining in solar gain does not necessarily have to mean resigning ourselves into dull, dark and windowless office blocks. It is all about revisiting our relationship with natural light sources, imaginative design methods and rewriting our design vocabulary; one of which sustainability and wellbeing are a top priority.

DysCrete amalgamates the advantages of a technological photosynthesis much like chlorophyll; bearing plants and concrete. Concrete was selected due to the materials structural properties, which aligns with many advantages; fire resistance, enormous strength, durability and variety of construction methods. The energy-generating function is produced using freely available components and avoids emitting additional toxic emissions. An innovative system of materials, which is renewable, recyclable and environmentally friendly. The product ideally suits prefabricated concrete elements for building construction; not only facades, but indoor and outdoor wall and flooring systems. DysCrete opens up a world of opportunities for the future of sustainable architecture.

The Adidas Arena forms a distinctive landmark on the Adidas World of Sport campus in Herzogenaurach, Germany. The objective of the design was to be functional and sustainable, yet expressive. 

The facade certainly achieves this objective, with a structural shape emphasising a strong visual identity and equipped with a specially developed sun control and shading system, adapted to each orientation of the facade. The design optimises the interplay between maximum light transmittance (even during winter months) and minimum heat gain.

The fixed, external shading system largely consists of opaque and perforated sheets, mounted upon an aluminium frame. The architectural design which represented a significant challenge in terms of structural engineering, was realised using a steel and concrete construction, as well as slanted steel and concrete support. A key element of understanding and developing the sustainability of a structure on a fundamental level, will ultimately create challenges in terms of exterior aesthetics. However, that is where innovative design and experimentation comes in. We need to challenge architecture familiarity through education and encouraging sustainable changes to be embraced.

Due to the structures implementation of recent energy efficiency standards and extensive use of recyclable materials, the building was submitted for an LEED Gold Certification. As well as being honoured with the Engineering Award of the German Steel Construction Industry Association.

With so many incredible architecture and design innovations emerging, a huge responsibility falls on those working within the built environment to embark upon the challenge to create sustainable and environmentally friendly structures worldwide.

Words: Jessie Buckle