A smart material is able to provide a unique response when a particular change occurs in its surrounding environment. In the last years, several experiments and prototypes of shading devices exploiting the potentialities of smart materials have been developed. For certain reasons, only a few materials and technologies appear to have been introduced in the building and construction market in the form of products. The aim of this research was to give an overview of projects, prototypes and products of solar shading devices integrating smart materials for advanced façade design. The article provides an overview of the topic through a literature review and a sample of 51 case studies. Such knowledge is valuable for researchers to better understand what the materials are that need further research. The results showed that colour-changing materials and photovoltaic technologies have been implemented in products while shape-memory materials are still at the testing stage.

Purpose: This research is focused on solar-powered (smart) urban furniture, and it is aimed at providing a classification of it and to understand the main problems related to the adoption of these devices and where future design-led research should focus.Design/methodology/approach: The methodology involved a selection of international case studies in important urban contexts focussing on three main aspects: architectural integration, context sensitivity and system visibility of photovoltaic (PV) technologies applied to smart urban furniture.Findings: The preliminary results indicate that potential limits to the application of these technologies are urban morphology and lack of design of some solutions.Research limitations/implications: This research is focused on solar-powered (smart) urban furniture. Further investigation on built case studies may lead to a better understanding of the efficiency of the smart urban furniture and their appreciation by the people.Practical implications: This study can be useful to understand the potential use and customization of these products in New Zealand.Social implications: In Auckland’s central business district, these tools can be useful to help homeless people to recharge their phones and offer access to free Wi-Fi. Energy generation can be useful also for providing temporary heating during winter and so forth.Originality/value: Design proposals and research highlight public benefits of smart urban furniture without considering aspects like their integration with the surrounding context. This is also the first study that identifies lack of design in some of the solutions available in the market.

The colours of architectural surfaces can make an important contribution to improving the environmental quality of the built environment. Researches have demonstrated that the colour and the shape of a building’s envelope can contribute to the enhancement of the thermal performances of the building. This research involved the development of a new coating for external wall insulation combining effect pigments and a toothed section. The whole process involved a design-based research approach. The development of the new coating lasted from March 2012 to March 2013. Surface temperature tests have been carried out in 2013 and 2019. The tests confirmed that the colour and the chemical composition of the material are the most important factors for lower surface temperatures. Further research is needed to re-calibrate the chemical composition of the material and verify the shading effect provided by the toothed section on vertical surfaces.

With a large portion of buildings clad with translucent surfaces, solar shading is becoming increasingly important. Internationally, a great deal of research has been dedicated to this topic. In the face of climate change, New Zealand, like other countries in the world, is paying attention to this topic, which, however, is often considered a secondary aspect of the design process. This is reflected in the design of some buildings, especially residential developments, where there is a lack of consideration of optimal orientation. This research aims to extend our knowledge of state-of-the-art solar shadings in contemporary New Zealand architecture in order to determine what possible future improvements might be. In total, 339 products and 215 façades built between 2005 and 2021 were studied to achieve this objective. Results showed need for more training on solar shading design, a focus on better passive design and improved dynamic control.