Brief
Discover HydroSKIN, an innovative hydroactive façade system by the University of Stuttgart, that moderates building temperatures while addressing the environmental impact of urban heat islands.
Insight
Urbanisation and densification have prompted new design approaches to reduce the impact of buildings on the planet’s temperature.
High-rise glass façades often generate heat islands, exacerbating the issue. Additionally, rainwater runoff from sealed surfaces can lead to flooding. Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed HydroSKIN, a hydroactive façade that aims to mitigate these problems.
HydroSKIN, created by Christina Eisenbarth at the Institute of Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK), is a multilayered 3D textile system that absorbs rainwater and releases it on hot days for evaporative cooling.
Its external layer filters out impurities and insects, while the inner layers transport and store water. A water-bearing fourth layer handles drainage and collection. The system’s thickness ranges from 20 to 60 mm based on environmental conditions and performance needs.
Suitable for high-rise buildings, HydroSKIN has undergone lab tests and building trials in Stuttgart, Singapore, and Sydney. Research reveals that façades above 29 meters absorb more rain than a roof surface of the same size, with increased efficiency at higher elevations. Lab tests demonstrated a temperature reduction of approximately 10 degrees Celsius due to HydroSKIN’s evaporation effects.
Further testing of HydroSKIN on high-rise buildings is scheduled for 2023, combining the system with a unitized glass façade featuring textile insulation and other functional layers. While commercial viability remains uncertain, ILEK believes HydroSKIN can be retrofitted onto any façade surface of new or existing buildings. Its mass is comparable to other façade infill materials, and its design allows for easy disassembly and recycling.
In conclusion, HydroSKIN is an innovative façade system designed to combat the effects of urbanisation and high-rise buildings on the environment. It absorbs and releases rainwater to provide evaporative cooling, reducing temperatures and minimising flooding risks. With ongoing tests and a growing interest in its potential, HydroSKIN could become a valuable solution for sustainable building design.
Highlight
- HydroSKIN is a multilayered 3D textile system that absorbs rainwater and releases it on hot days for evaporative cooling.
- Research reveals that façades above 29 meters absorb more rain than a roof surface of the same size, withincreased efficiency at higher elevations.
- Lab tests demonstrated a temperature reduction of approximately 10 degrees Celsius due to HydroSKIN’s evaporation effects.
- HydroSKIN could become a valuable solution for sustainable building design, as it absorbs and releases rainwater to provide evaporative cooling, reducing temperatures and minimising flooding risks.
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