INNOVATIVE DYNAMIC BUILDING COMPONENT FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA

Appropriate building envelope is the main strategy for sustainable design, but in the mild temperate/mesothermal climates, the rapid changing of outdoor conditions push toward a dynamic response of envelope parameters to allow the maintenance of interior good adaptive comfort. The traditional response of the windows components that characterizes the Mediterranean architecture has recently developed by the ABITA Centre to a new range of innovative facade modules and new materials able to play different roles and dynamic response to climate. The ABITA Research Centre of University of Florence has a long experience in the field and presents here two prototypes able to modify their performances according occupants needs and outdoor conditions, but trying to integrate them into the contemporary architecture. The design approach focuses the goals of: - Controls solar radiation (redirect, diffuse or reflect direct radiation) - Controls air changes (natural and forced ventilation) - Reduces energy losses and recover the heat in ventilation - Increases security and control in windows frame - Integrates RE in facade components - Increases the thermal mass of industrialized building envelope - Increases the overall prefabrication in buildings