Towards efficient green architecture and sustainable facades using novel brick design

Abstract

The most influential element in green architecture is the facade since it represents the major expression of architecture and separates the internal micro-climate and external environment. This paper focuses on the design of new types of interactive facades, developing new typologies, such as an interactive facade that aims to reduce air pollution among a system of facades that allows micro, non-irrigated vertical vegetation development, absorption, and fixing of micro particles through inspiration process. The interactive green facade uses special bricks designed to permit an inspiration and aspiration process caused by different temperature and humidity levels, which, in turn, promotes the growth of micro-vegetations. Both elements help to reduce air pollution and could be used separately or together. The facade obtained with this method introduces an innovative concept of green facades and helps to reduce carbon and other oxides that cause global warming. The scope of this research is to produce high performance facades that are conceptually based on simplified and advanced technologies.