The paper focuses on optimized movements analysed by means of Origami, the Japanese traditional art of paper folding. The study is a way to achieve different deployable shading systems categorized by a series of parameters that describe the strengths and weaknesses of each tessellation.Through the kinetic behaviour of Origami geometriesthe research compares simple folding diagrams with the purpose to understand the deployment at global scale and thus the potential of kinetic patterns’ morphology for application in adaptive facades. The possibilities of using a responsive folding technique to develop a kinetic surface that can change its configuration are here examined through the variation of parameters that influence kinematics’ form. Moreover, in order to perform the shape change without any external mechanical devices, the use of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators has been tested

Nowadays, buildings renovation is a subject of special interest since the building and construction sector is the main body responsible for energy consumption and emissions. Hence, it is necessary to concentrate on refurbishment to achieve Europe’s climate neutrality by 2050 according to European Agenda goals. The BIM4EEB Project, a BIM-based fast toolkit for the efficient renovation of residential buildings, directs the attention toward developing an exhaustive toolkit based on Building Information Modeling (BIM) to be adopted in the renovation of existing residential buildings, to make the flow of information efficient, decreasing intervention working time while improving building performances, quality, and comfort for inhabitants. BIM4EEB is developing a BIM management system connected to an operational and multifunctional toolkit for various architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) stakeholders, integrating a set of tools for improving BIM adoption in renovation environments based on an interoperable flow of information. This paper presents the Horizon2020 Project and the framework used to develop the toolkit. In addition, the first outcomes of the toolkit development are outlined. The validation procedure in real environments has started to demonstrate the efficacy and applicability of the methodology and tools. Although the project is still in progress, benefits connected to the framework and the BIM-based toolkit result in an enhanced building renovation process.

This paper presents integrated energy and lighting simulations as a part of wider research focused on the form-finding process of adaptive shading concepts and on the actuation of shading movement using shape memory alloys (SMAs). The use of this new type of microactuator in responsive architectural components presents a challenge because of the limited contraction state of the SMAs. Hence, origami shapes were considered to amplify shading movements thanks to their geometric properties. This study exploited the visual and thermal comfort of a south-oriented office located in Milan, Italy, that was equipped with adaptive origami shading. Two-hundred and ten shapes were considered and the geometry, contraction states, and surface materials were considered as variable properties. The final aim was to explore the potential of adaptive origami shadings in controlling visual and thermal comfort. Daylight illuminance (UDI), daylight glare probability (DGP), and total energy (TE) demand (for cooling, heating, and lighting per year) were used as main metrics for understanding the environmental benefits of the proposed shading devices.

This research presents a framework to integrate Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach in the Italian Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) context, based on Building Information Modelling (BIM). DfMA applications in UK and Singapore are presented and a structured process is proposed and adapted to the Italian market. Two adopted frameworks are presented: the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 (adapted for DfMA) and the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore BIM for DfMA. Both have been used to link DfMA downstream activities (procurement, fabrication, transport and installation) to upstream activities (brief, option appraisal and concept design), reaching comparisons and integrations of these processes with traditional design process adopted in Italy for public developments. A revised DfMA workflow for Italian AEC sector is developed. A case study (a kindergarten in Italy) is analysed in its DfMA peculiarities and used to test the proposed flow of information requirements and to identify shortfalls or improvements in the current processes. The proposed framework is integrated and compared with the existing design process acknowledged by the Italian Government for public buildings. The results confirmed the need for precisely structured procedures in delivering an off-site-oriented project. The framework presented guided the production, collection and organisation of data at each stage to integrate DfMA solutions into the project, while the proposed process confirmed its applicability. This research opens to scenarios of gradual implementation of DfMA-related processes, including different building sub-systems to enhance the framework and process content with additional lessons learnt.

Cities and buildings represent the core of human life, the nexus of economic activity, culture, and growth. Although cities cover less than 10% of the global land area, they are notorious for their substantial energy consumption and consequential carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. These emissions significantly contribute to reducing the carbon budget available to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. In this context, the designers’ role is crucial to the technical and social response to climate change, and providing a new generation of tools and instruments is paramount to guide their decisions towards sustainable buildings and cities. In this regard, data-informed digital tools are a viable solution. These tools efficiently utilise available resources to estimate the energy consumption in buildings, thereby facilitating the formulation of effective urban policies and design optimisation. Furthermore, these data-driven digital tools enhance the application of algorithms across the building industry, empowering designers to make informed decisions, particularly in the early stages of design. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review on artificial intelligence-based tools that support performance-driven design. An exhaustive keyword-driven exploration across diverse bibliographic databases yielded a consolidated dataset used for automated analysis for discerning the prevalent themes, correlations, and structural nuances within the body of literature. The primary findings indicate an increasing emphasis on master plans and neighbourhood-scale simulations. However, it is observed that there is a lack of a streamlined framework integrating these data-driven tools into the design process.