THE FUTURE OF ARCHITECTURE:

CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE
DESIGN
By: Ahoo Malekafzali, PhD,
Technical Solutions Analyst
 SAINT-GOBAIN NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS
PENNSYLVANIA, USA

© Jeffrey Totaro, 2015

Today’s architects and builders are increasingly focused on how to create structures that have less impact on the natural
environment. Climate-responsive architecture is a design practice centered on creating buildings that function in lockstep
with the local climate, not in spite of it. It is simple in concept but more complex in execution. While every project is unique,
especially when it comes to the site-specific environmental conditions, there are several best practices to follow for designing
a climate-responsive building.

CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE ARCHITECTURE
The goal of climate-responsive architecture is to create a True climate-responsive architecture goes well beyond
comfortable interior while reducing the building’s reliance on adherence to code. Smart glazing systems, for example, offer
artificial energy. A climate-responsive building design reflects opportunities to further the practice. Electrochromic glass
the weather conditions in the precise area where the building actively controls how much solar light and heat transfer into
is constructed. The design utilizes data on the region’s an interior space. Areas in the West and Southwest United
weather patterns and accounts for factors like seasonality, States, for example, experience strong sun and many clear-
intensity of the sun, wind, rainfall and humidity. sky days with bright sunlight. SageGlass minimizes solar heat
penetration in summer months to reduce a building’s cooling
Several elements play a role in limiting a building’s energy load; conversely, it can be used to maximize solar heat gain
use based on its site-specific conditions. For example, the during winter months to help reduce the amount of energy
building envelope is an important mediator between the needed to heat the building. Though glazing causes more
indoor and outdoor condition. Envelopes in different climate heat transfer than a wall surface, a high-performing system
zones require different assemblies to minimize unwanted like SageGlass helps climate-responsive projects effectively
energy loss. In the United States, local building codes aim manage heat gain while capitalizing on the many benefits
to reduce new buildings’ energy use, designating which that a glazed exterior has on a building’s occupants.
construction materials and envelope assemblies may be used.

TD BANK
FLORIDA, USA
HOSTELLERIE AM SCHWARZSEE
SWITZERLAND
© Adrien Barakat

SOLAR CONTROL example, includes a review of the project’s local weather data.
The environmental analysis looks at historical temperature,
humidity level, solar radiation and sky condition to inform
Strategic building orientation and data-informed fenestration
decisions made during the schematic design phase and to
are critical to maximizing the climate-responsive abilities of
improve the climate-responsive features of the building.
smart glass. In general, in the Northern Hemisphere, the east
direction receives maximum solar radiation in the morning.
Other types of analyses can help solve, or avoid, problems
Around noon, most light is directed onto the south façade,
affecting how occupants will experience the building. A glare
and by the afternoon, direct light is on the west façade. In
analysis of the interior space helps to determine the areas that
colder climates, it follows that a building with more of its
will be subject to direct sun glare and the duration of time
windows on the southern-facing façade will benefit from
that glare exists. Glare analysis is very important for the areas
passive heating. Using fenestration to access high-quality
where occupants spend long hours, like office spaces. Staying
daylighting can also reduce the amount of energy a building
for long hours in spaces that are not visually or thermally
expends on artificial lighting.
comfortable can affect occupant health and productivity.
Yet general guidelines like these are only so helpful. The
Glare analysis is also helpful to accurately determine areas
altitude of a project site will affect glare and daylight levels, as
of the project that require some type of shading strategies.
will the season and the ever-changing sky condition, which is
Without a detailed analysis, solar control may be specified
contingent on cloud cover and the probability of precipitation.
only on the south façade. Yet depending on the specific
Solar angle and sky condition are dynamic features, and only
conditions of the site, the glare analysis may show there are
a dynamic window system has the ability to respond to this in
other areas of the building where occupants will experience
real time. SageGlass can automatically change its tint pattern
glare as well.
to block glare, balance daylight levels and manage solar heat
gain. SageGlass can be programmed to automatically respond
In addition to glare analysis, SageGlass experts provide
to changing environmental conditions or can be changed
project-specific insights through daylight analysis, thermal
manually based on user need.
comfort analysis and energy analysis.

SITE-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS Building owners and architects can use project-specific

data to make more evidence-based design decisions in
Many variables come into play when considering how response to the environmental conditions a building will
climate, orientation and site-specific conditions will affect a experience. Ultimately, wherever the building and whatever
building’s comfort and energy use. Consequently, the most the orientation, SageGlass ensures the indoor environment
effective implementation of climate-responsive architecture is comfortable at all times and contributes to around-
is achieved using project-specific insights developed through the-clock energy savings by dynamically changing with
a series of detailed analyses. An environmental analysis, for the environment.

CONTACT US
To discuss how SageGlass can be an integral part of your design.
sageglass.com / [email protected] / 877.724.3321