Abstract:

This paper discuss how the facades play an important role in the study of Flexibility
in architecture, as they form the barrier between the internal space and the outside
environment, also facades can form the general character of the building, as it is
the first item or element in the building seen by the user or the reciever. So The
paper explores three important types of flexible facades, and shows its effect on the
building and how the technology has contributed a significant role in achieving the
flexibility in facades, which appeared iin different ways and through differernt
methods.
:


.

differernt.

Flexible Facades Methods and Techniques

Technology has contributed a significant role in achieving the flexibility infacades,
which appeared in the emmiting lighting technology and using the sensorsthat deal
with the environmental effects or the motion and people effects, andothers
effects that will be reviewed in this part with further study and analysis.Methods
varied to achieve flexibility in facades depending on the diversity of theused
technology. From the important new methods that emerged in facades fieldand
contribute in achieving the flexibility in facades: 1- The Media Facades. 2- The
Dynamic Facades. 3- Interactive facades.
Media Facades
The mobilization of digital technology and a growing culture based on media tools
have

infacades
emmiting sensorsthat andothers
.
theused.
fieldand -2 . -1 :
-3 ..
Media Facades
The mobilization of digital technology and a growing culture based on media tools
have defined a new form of urban communication environment, where various
digital display technologies have been introduced. In the architectural field a new
trend and style appeared which is "Media Facades", which creat utterly new
connection between digital space on the one hand, and architecture and urban
space on the other hand (Moza, 2011). The challenge of designing media surfaces
lies not only in the technical effect but is aimed at the desired innovative and
artistic applications of media elements as part of the architecture and the choice of
flexible and dynamic


.
" "
.(2011 )


The Flexibility of Media Facades
From the main advantages of media facades that it is dynamic, the flexible control
of the content broadcasting, easily adjustable to client requirements, interactive,
and can beautifully situated in a variety of architectural facades, which open
innovative approaches to architectural design, this dynamism and flexibility makes
this technology welcomed in most of public and office buildings (Petrov, 1998), and
here is some of different and flexible uses of media facades (Zrich, 2005):
1. Means of outdoor advertising 2. Decoration of facades 3. Visualization of the
information media content 4. Creation of a unique type of objects of architecture 5.
Broadcast-scale events.

(1998 )
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.5 .4 .3
.
Media Facades Display Technology: Media facades has many important
charateristics and attributes, and the most important one is the media facades
display technology, as it is the technical part that can give the building the
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
56
Figure 2 GREENPIX: Day and Night showing the LED Screen which varies and can be
seen from different angels by Simone Giostra & Partners-china
Figure 3 Galleria Mall changeable lighting effects by UN Studio & RogierKorea
Figure 1 Media Facades Display Technology
Actively emmiting light Without active light sources
Display Screens: LED
Window Animation
Light emmiting facades: Fluorcesent
Kinetic
Driven by
Projection
Compressed air
Small Motors
Front
Back
changining effects. Tscherteu, Gernot (2008) has divided media facadedispaly
technology in this simple diagram.
Actively Emmiting Light:
Display Faades: Wiethoff (2012) defined it as a very Large Screen Video Displays
called LED screens (light emitting diode system), which can create very large
display surfaces with small pixelation and high resolution. In the meantime, a
faade can re-present itself to the outside environment with effective lighting and
graphic displays, it can be installed on all surfaces of buildings with different
contents, including information, enter-tainment, art, and advertisement.
Media Facdes
Display Technology

:

9 3 . S.M GBER Eirazaz.Z Soliman.S.I
LED 56 65-54 GREENPIX: 2
- ) (3 Giostra
1 RogierKorea
: LED emmiting
: Fluorcesent emmiting
) (2008 . Tscherteu changining
: . emmiting facadedispaly
( LED ): Wiethoff (2012
)
.

Facdes . tainment
Galleria Mall West: Its a commercial project in Korea that was updated in 2004 by
Dutch Architects UN Studio, working with the designer Rogier van der Heide of Arup
lighting. The building exterior was wrapped in a new steel frame holding 4, 340
glass discs, each glass disc includes an individually controlled LED panel. The entire
facade has been turned into a giant programmable screen showing vedio, fig 3
that can display different images, colors and text, and can be also controlled by the
designer remotely via internet, which make the change of the content more easy
and very flexible (kronenburg, 2007).
WindowAnimations:Wiethoff(2012) mentioned that it makes the use of the existing
windows in a building by illuminating them so that they are perceived as pixels,
they have lower resolution as they rely on the buildings architecture (e.g., one
window equals one pixel). Blinken Lights: An office building designed by Hermann
Henselmann in Berlin, its facade is very traditional one, just a simple windows order,
but the using of windows animation property which designed by Blinken Lightnigs
gives the simple buil-ding facdes the ability to respond to various moods Fig 4, in
which it can display a different colours and images by controlling each window
independently through a computer system (Tscherteu, 2008).
Illuminant or light-emitting faades: Wiethoff (2012) identified it as an integrate
light emitting elements into the building facades surfaces by using Fluorescent light,
which can give an artistic and aesthetic result to the building. Allianz Arena: A large
project that represent media f acades technology by Herzog and De Meuron in
Munich, Germany. It is a football arena for two home Figure 6 teams, one in red
and other in blue. The external structure of the stadium is made of penumatic
membrane that can expand and flex. The principle driver behind the
concept was to turn the stadium blue or red, fig 5, depending on which side was
playing at home, but the flexibility of the Fluoresent systems make the arena can
illuminated in a wide variety of messages and patterns, including pulsing and
moving lights that make it appear to rotate (kronenburg, 2007).

2004 :
.
340 4
LED .
3
( kronenburg 2007).
WindowAnimations: Wiethoff (2012)

: . ( )
Henselmann
Lightnigs
facdes 4

( Tscherteu 2008). : Wiethoff (2012)

: .
acades .
. 6
penumatic .
5 Fluoresent

( kronenburg 2007).
Mechanical (Kinetic) faades: Tscherteu (2008) described it that when using
reflecting mechanically movable elements the faade appearances will change,
through using compressed air or small motors.
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
58
Figure 7 The movable flakes shape that gives the kinetic effects to the building
facades
Figure 8 Sheikh Zayed Mosque-Dubai
FLARE Faade: FLARE is a new system proposed by WHITEvoid interactive art &
design, which is a modular system that creat a dynamic hull for facades, in addition
to giving a visual effect. Acting like a living skin, it allows the building to express,
communicate and interact with its environment. FLARE turns the building facade
into a penetrable kinetic-Flexible membrane, breaking with all conventions of the
building surface as a static skin fig 6.
The visual effect is that The FLARE system consists of a number of metal flake each
metal one reflects the bright sky or sunlight when it is in vertical standby
position.When the flake is tilted downwards by a computer controlled pneumatic
piston, its face is shaded from the sky light and this way appears as a dark pixel. By
reflecting ambient or direct sunlight, the individual flakes of the FLARE system act
like pixels formed by natural light, fig 7 (Tscherteu, 2008).
Projection faades project: Media content directly behind or onto the faade via one
or more video projectors. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Projections: Obscura digital
agency developed the sheikh zayed grand mosque projections project in Abu Dhabi,
conducted for the 2011 United Arab Emirates national day. forty-four projectors
covered the overall surface area of the Mosque . The three dimensional mapping
created a series of bright, stylized architectural projections that illuminate the
faade, the four minarets and the twelve domes of the mosque. The show
illuminated designs mirroring both historical imagery and the artistic styles found in
the mosque. The projected depictions include palms, pentagonal geometry, gardens
of paradise, the qibla wall, the mehrab, architectural motifs, night skies and cycles
of the moon, and humanity depicted with the earth, fig 8 (Wiethoff, 2012).

: )( Tscherteu (2008)
.
Soliman.S.I Eirazaz.Z . S.M GBER 7 58 65-54 3 9
 8
WHITEvoid : FLARE FLARE
.
. FLARE
- .6
FLARE
position.When

FLARE .
: (Tscherteu 2008). 7
.
:
2011 .
.
.
.

(Wiethoff 2012 8
Moving "Dynamic" Facades:
Building performance is fundamentally characterized by change, anticipated and
unexpected. Many aspects of building design are driven by an assessment of
projected worst-case conditions and provision of a solution for those conditions. But
buildings operate under a very wide range of conditions, both internally and
externally. Internal
environmental needs vary widely with occupant and tasks. But some of the largest
and often uncontrolled changes happened as the external world temperature,
sunlight, wind, and moisture. A faade system must respond dynamically over a
very wide range of these conditions in a manner that meets numerous occupant
and owner needs. The building envelope and its support systems must control
interior daylight and sunlight and associated temperatures. The only
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
59
workable solution in such a situation is the use of dynamic-moving faade
systems whose properties can be actively controlled to achieve the flexibility in the
desired operating properties in response to changing indoor and outdoor conditions
(Selkowitz & Aschehoug, 2003).
: ""
.
.
.
 .
. -

.
.
Soliman.S.I Eirazaz.Z . S.M GBER 65-54 3 9
59
" "

(Selkowitz Aschehoug 2003) .

Advan " " .

tages of moving Dynamic Facades.
Selkowitz and Lee (2008) ilustrated that the advantages of dynamic elements used
on the building envelope or facades are obvious and very important especialy in the
office and residential buildings. For example: 1. Glare and out door conditions can
be controlled in a flexible way and efficiently by using an automated shading in the
perimeter zones of the building. 2. Sliding and folding shutters that can move
automatically so as to block direct sunlight and allow diffuse light into the room,
thereby eliminating glare and creating a pleasant luminous environment, and also
give the privacy for each room or space. 3. Horizontal blinds that can re-direct
natural daylight deep into the space and improve lighting uniformity even in open
plan offices.

Selkowitz (2008) ilustrated

especialy .1 : .
.2 .


.3 .

Moving Dynamic Facades Applications:
The Following examples will illustrate the moving facades concept and application,
and will clarify its advantages. Kiefer Technic Showroom: Ernst Giselbrecht +
Partner present an office building and exhibition space in Austria with a dynamic
facade that changes continuously; each day, each hour shows a new "face", which
is turning into a dynamic sculpture. It changes according to outdoor conditions to
optimize internal climate, while allowing users to personalize their own spaces with
user controls. The facade exterior insulation and finishing system (EIFS) in white
plaster operates automatically, and can be controlled by user. The facade shading
not only can give the flexibility in controlling the outdoor coditions, but also can
lending a variable forms to the facade design, fig 9 (Selkowitz and Lee 2008).
Interactive Facades:
Drum (2007) demonstrated that the interactive facades systems are implemented
into architecture to eliminate the communication barrier between Humans and the
Built Environment Nature; to create a level of interaction and flexibility in
conjunction with an interdependent relationship Figure 9 Kiefer Technic Showroom
dynamic facade by Ernst Giselbrecht
Advantages of moving Dynamic Facades.
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
60
Figure 10 4D-Pixel interactive Surface which reacts with people motion & voices by
Roosegaarde studio.
Figure 12 Aperture Facades that interact by its lighting apertures with the people
movements giving different & flexible effects.
between humans and the spaces they inhabit. The majority of buildings are
architectural objects without movement; these buildings are seen as stable and
robust, due to the fact that they are large and static. Interactive objects are seen
exactly opposite of this; they are unpredictable, unstable, and in motion. The
specific applications are enormously varied arise out of the changing patterns of
human interaction with the built environment.

"" :
Giselbrecht + . :
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.
.
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). : (Selkowitz 2008 9
) ( 2007
.
Giselbrecht 9
9 3 . S.M GBER Eirazaz.Z " Soliman.S.I " .
60 65-54D 4 10
. 12 Roosegaarde
. .
.
. .

Interactive Facades Techniques: The Interactive Systems directly communicate with
a person or allow for communication between people; that is made possible through
the use of microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators. Advancements in electrical and
mechanical engineering, material innovation, and fabrication techniques such as
computer numerically controlled (CNC) fabrication, to detect where people are, and
what they are doing (Drum, 2007)
Interactive Facades Applications: Interactive Facades considered being a new
architectural technique, so what appeared in that field from applications or projects
introduced as different concepts able to be implemented through Architecture. And
the research will study the main concepts and applications: 4D-Pixels Facade: Is a
smart surface by Studio Daan Roosegaarde, which physically reacts to your voice or
music, moves with you. A wall which shows interactive effect when you pass by, fig
10 4D-Pixel gives a further definition to an architecture which is responsive and
adaptive to their inhabitants. The dynamic of the wall is made of hundreds of
physical pixels which react on the dynamic in sound frequencies .This way there is a
direct relation between the human activity and the appearance of the surface; in
this fusion between body and machine.

. :
.

(CNC) :( 2007 )

.
4 : D- : Roosegaarde
10 .
4D .
.

FLOW 5.0: Is a smart surface by Studio Daan Roosegaarde, composed of hundreds
of ventilators that interact with passing visitors fig 11. Microphones and other
sensors control the direction and speed of the fans as visitors pass through. The
fans form the wall surface; they remain off until a visitor moves in front of them.
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
61
Aperture Facades: Is a facade installation with interactive and narrative display
mode Figure 11 FLOW 5.0 an interactive landscape made out of hundreds of
ventilators by Roosegaarde studio..
Composed of single-aperture modules with receptor and actuator, Aperture acts like
an autonomous skin, capable of precise external control. Visual information is
transmitted from the inside of the building to the outside. The surface permeability
is regulated when the apertures opening diameters are changed, fig 12. Each
single aperture and all the apertures as entity see what happens on the outside of
the facade and react accordingly. Like the human eyes iris and the iris diaphragm of
the object, they react to light, fig 13, widening and contracting according to the
intensity of incoming light (Krippener, 2007).
Aegis Hyposurface: is a dECOi project, designed principally by Mark Goulthorpe. The
Facades consists of transformable triangulated metal plates, driven by a bed of 896
pneumatic pistons. Deforms in real-time, based on various environmental stimuli,
including the sounds and movement of people, fig 14 weather and electronic
information, giving flexible and changeable appearance (Ataman and Rogers, 2005).
Figure 13 UDF module that was scripted to be instantiated onto a planar facade with
aperture variations to an attractor point.
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
Conclusion
The research can conclude that the main concept of the Flexible Facades is that it
can change, move or interact with the external environment, depending on the
capabilities of the new technologies in the architectural field.
Flexibility through Buildings Facades
Media facades
Main Concept
Create utterly new connection between digital space and architecture, Which aimed
at the desired innovative and artistic applications of media elements as part of the
architecture.
Advantages
The flexible control of the content broadcasting - Easily adjustable to client
requirements - Situated in a variety of architectural facades.
Display Technologies
Actively Emitting Light
Display screen "LED"
Large Screen Video Displays called LED screens, which can create large display
surfaces with small pixilation and high resolution., can be installed on buildings
surfaces with different contents, including information, entertainment, art, and
advertisement
Window Animation
Make use of the existing windows in a building so that they are perceived as pixels
(e.g., one window equals one pixel), they have lower resolution
Light emitting facades: Fluorescent
Integrate light emitting elements into the building facades by using Fluorescent
light, which can give an artistic and aesthetic result to
Figure 14 Aegis Hyposurface showing the different deformations according to people
movement by Mark Goulthorpe
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54-65
63
the building
Without active light sources Kinetic Use mechanically movable elements to change
faade appearances, through using compressed air or small motors.
Projection
Media content directly behind or onto the faade via one or more video projecter

.


. -
- .
" "LED
.

) (
:
14
Goulthorpe Hyposurface
9 3 63 65-54 . S.M GBER Eirazaz.Z Soliman.S.I

.

video projectors
Dynamic facades
Main concept
Faade systems whose properties can be actively controlled to achieve the flexibility
in the desired operating properties in response to changing indoor and outdoor
conditions.
Advantages
1- Glare, direct sun light and outdoor conditions can be controlled by using an
automated shading, creating a pleasant luminous environment 2- Give the privacy
for each room or space. 3- Improve lighting uniformity even in open plan offices.
Interactive facades
Main concept
Elimination of communication barrier between Humans and the Built Environment;
to create a level of interaction, Interactive objects are seen opposite of this; they
are unpredictable, unstable, and in motion.
Applications
4D-Pixels Facade Flow 5.0
A smart surface, which physically reacts to human voice, motion or music.
Aperture Facades
A Surface composed of single-aperture modules, Aperture acts like an autonomous
skin. Visual information is transmitted from the inside of the building to the outside
when external action occurred
Aegis Hyposurface
Facades consists of transformable triangulated metal plates, deforms, based on
various environmental stimuli, including people sounds & movement, weather &
electronic information.
Hassan Soliman.S.I, Mohammed Eirazaz.Z, Mohammed. S.M
GBER Volume 9 Issue 3 pp 54

-1 .

-3 . -2
.
. .
4 . D- 5.0
.
.
Hyposurface
.
Soliman.S.I Eirazaz.Z . S.M GBER 54 3 9