Multi-Objective Optimization of a Folding Kinetic Facade System Proposal for Thermal, Daylight, and Energy Performances

Efficient utilization of daylight and energy resources significantly influences the quality of indoor spaces, user comfort, and overall efficiency. This study presents a folding facade proposal through the design alternatives offered by kinetic architecture and parametric design to enhance efficiency. This alternative design method integrates and coordinates the design components simultaneously and makes any intervention easier when compared with traditional design methods. In this context, the method is based on computational models, aiming to find the most efficient design alternative by optimization. The proposed facade design specifically targets an indoor office space within a university. The modular system, integrated into existing windows, facilitates a folding movement. This dynamic feature aims to optimize illumination within the space, effectively controlling daylight without causing disruptions to users. Simultaneously, the design seeks to balance energy consumption and ensure thermal comfort. The results show that it provides a significant improvement over the base case. The proposed kinetic façade system improved indoor thermal comfort by 22.09-31.99% while slightly increasing energy use (2% at most). Although it provided an average of 59% improvement in spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), 13.30% - 87.38% was achieved compared to the base case. However, the desired value by LEED was achieved very little in Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE). In conclusion, the proposed kinetic facade system proves to be a valuable intervention for enhancing the indoor environment of an office space at Dokuz Eylül University