IEC
Innovation & Design in the field Double Skin Facades
Building designers and owners have always been fascinated with the extensive use of glass in building envelopes. The façade is a means of communicating an image of prestige and power. The transparency increases interaction between the external and the internal environments and from an architectural point of view there are many benefits of the transparent envelope solution concerning daylight, view to the outside, etc.
A view of the northern facade with the vertical shutters system emphasizing the company's logo
WHAT
Through the use of thermal building simulation tools on various models of the façade system, the energy saving potential is investigated. Both the benefits and the challenges are taking into account and the final result is a more efficient, sustainable and pleasant building.
WHERE
Although the location of the complex is still undisclosed it will eventually be published to the wide public.
A study of the southern facade of the complex without the horizontal shading system
WHO
The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) is a public and government-owned company, generating and supplying electricity to all sectors in the economy. The IEC activities includes the generation, transmission and transformation, distribution, supply and sale of electricity.
A study of the southern facade of the complex with the horizontal shading system
Ironically, the highly glazed buildings have often been associated with ‘green buildings’ or ‘sustainable design’ - in spite the fact that these buildings in practice very often encounter severe indoor climate problems and large energy bills
The design of the facade has enormous significance for both indoor climate and energy consumption as there are many energy-flows both ways over this boundary between the external and internal environments. The main role of the façade is to protect the indoor environment from the outdoor environment and the optimization of this function includes control of (leaving out many other functions as noise, security, etc.): • Heat transmission from inside to outside • Solar load from outside to inside • High utilization of passive solar gains • High utilization of daylight • Protection against glare from outside • Air flows between inside and outside (both ways) • Allow for a view to the outside • Allow for privacy
A view of the northern facade with the vertical shutters system emphasizing the company's logo
Optimization of the function of the façade can be expressed as to provide (thermal and visual) indoor comfort for the occupants (during the time they are present in the building or the space) at the lowest possible total consumption of energy. The static glass facade will not be able to give optimal performance except for a few short periods during the year. For offices and commercial buildings it is quite obvious that it would be optimal if the envelope systems respond sensibly to the changes in the exterior climate and adjust solar gain, daylighting, heat loss, ventilation, and venting to the changing needs of the occupants and the building. This is the background for the development of the dynamic façade systems
