Design strategies for visually engaging solar skins: Between dynamic displays and energy generation

Nicoletti, Eleonora

Abstract

The human experience of urban spaces is influenced by the physical characteristics of the settings. Architectural skins play an important role in people’s perception of cities, while also impacting the energy performance of buildings. Within the context of the climate crisis, facades need designing to enhance people’s experience of urban open spaces and reduce buildings’ carbon emissions. Architectural envelopes which can act as visual attractors, such as media facades serving as dynamic digital displays, can increase buildings’ operational energy use. On the other hand, active solar technologies may be integrated into facades to supply buildings with renewable energy generated locally and meet zero-energy building standards. This invites consideration of how façade designs may be conceived to attract attention and interest, thus engaging people visually in public spaces, without needing operational energy, and offer, instead, opportunities for energy generation. This research explores the design of architectural skins which can stimulate visual engagement passively, by minimising operational energy use and facilitating the building integration of active solar technologies. Through an interdisciplinary review of literature and design cases, this study considers architecture’s communicative role, aspects of visual perception, and examples of architectural skins with the ability to attract attention. It examines advances in active solar technologies, discussing challenges and potential for integrating them into visually engaging building skins. The conclusions suggest design principles as passive strategies for embedding dynamic digital media and active solar technologies into façade designs.

Citation

Nicoletti, E. (2022, January). Design strategies for visually engaging solar skins: Between dynamic displays and energy generation. Paper presented at Sixteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Sixteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices
• Conference Location: University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
• Start Date: Jan 19, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 15, 2022
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/8687397
• Publisher URL: https://youtu.be/5WDH5gJSEHE