In the following some topic-related research projects are listed.
If you are interested in more recent activities, please go to my current work activities at Lucerne Applied University of Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Competence Center Building Envelopes + Civil Engineering.
Selected projects related to Biomimetics
Physiomimetic Façade Design [PhD work. TU Delft, 2022]
Adaptive façades are designed to actively regulate the exchange of material and energy flows and thus improve the balance between comfort and energy consumption. However, their technical complexity leads to higher development efforts, maintenance and costs, and ultimatelyfewer implementations. Embedded adaptive functions could be an opportunity to reduce these drawbacks. If embedded adaptivity is to work within a design, the particularities of geometry and material arrangements must be considered.
Nature offers fascinating models for this approach, which frames the objectives of this doctoral dissertation. The dissertation examines both adaptive façades and biology criteria that support a function-oriented transfer of thermo-adaptive principles in the early design stage. The research work discusses whether the technical complexity can be reduced by biomimetic designs and which role geometric design strategies play for thermo-adaptive processes. The research work is divided into three phases, following the top-down process in the discipline biomimetics, supplemented by methods from product design and semantic databases. The first phase is dedicated to the analysis of the contextual framework and criteria of façades aiming at thermal adaptation. Further, transfer systematics are developed that guide the analysis and selection process. In the second phase, analogies in biology are collected that appear suitable. Selected examples are examined to identify and systematically describe their functional principle. Two exemplary descriptions herald the third phase, in which functional façade models are created and evaluated. The result of this research work provides a conceptual approach to generate function-imitating biomimetic façade designs, so-called physio-mimetic façade designs.
Gosztonyi, S. (2022). Physiomimetic Façade Design: Systematics for a function-oriented transfer of biological principles to thermally-adaptive façade design concepts. A+BE | Architecture and the Built Environment. DOI: 10.7480/abe.2022.04 https://doi.org/10.7480/abe.2022.04
BioSkin – Research potentials for biologically inspired energy efficient façade systems [HdZ Austria, basic research study, 2009-2012]
The basic research study “BioSkin” aimed at the identification and investigation of energy efficiency potentials in nature hat can be potentially transferred to technical concepts for climate‐adaptive, energy‐efficient façades. 270 biological organisms are collected, 40 role models are investigated and 5 biomimetic concepts for adaptive façade components are analysed.
The findings are provided on open source basis, offering basic information and inspiration for further R&D activities. In the study, data sheets of biological role models for key words such as “light”, “cooling”, “heating” or “exchange of gas” have been developed. Principles of selected “high potentials” were prepared and used as ‘BioSkin Creative Cards’ in many transfer workshops, and exciting biomimetic concepts for solutions of performative facades have been drafted.
The study has been elaborated at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Energy Department between 2009 – 2012 and has been funded by the national programme “Haus der ZukunftPlus”, supported by the BMVIT.
You will find more information about the objectives, the project schedule and benefits in the page BIOSKIN_PROJECT_DETAILS.
Selected Projects related to Adaptive or Multifunctional Facades
COST Action TU1403 “Adaptive Facade Network” [COST research action, 2014-2018]
The main objective of COST Action TU1403 is to harmonize, share and disseminate technological knowledge on adaptive facades at a European level. This shall lead to increased knowledge sharing between European research centers and between these centers and industry, the development of novel concepts, technologies and new combinations of existing technologies for adaptive facades, as well as the development of new knowledge such as effective evaluation tools / design methods for adaptive facades.
I held presentations at the Facade 2015 conference in Detmold about adaptive facade criteria and the Facade 2016 conference in Lucerne in regards to Biomimetics and thermally adaptive facades (More information in the dissemination section at the webpage COST TUD 1403.)
On 26 – 27 November, the final conference of COST Facade 2018 – Adaptive! was held in Lucerne.
Multi Active Facade [research project, Lund University, EBD; 2015-2017]
The research study aimed at the development of a ‘multi-active’ modular façade system that addresses the potential of activated passive and active measures, and ‘modularity’ by focusing on the prefabrication potential in the realm of cost-effectiveness and minimal-invasive refurbishment. The scope is the refurbishment needs for the Swedish “Millionprogramm”, an ambitious housing programme of the 1960s and 70s that resulted in a large number of standardized multi-family houses all over Sweden.
There is a journal article written by me and two colleagues focusing on passive design and their impact on energy efficiency measures:
Gosztonyi, S., Stefanowicz, M., Bernardo, R., Blomsterberg, A. (2017). Multi-active façade for Swedish multi-family homes renovation: Evaluating the potentials of passive design measures. JFDE 5(1). 7-22.
and a master thesis supervised by me:
Lindahl A. and Sacco, F. (2016). Energy efficient retrofit measures – State-of-the-art and the renovation potential of Million program multi-storey buildings in Sweden. Master thesis. 16/03. Lund University,
International Energy Agency: SHC Task 41 Solar Energy and Architecture [IEA research project, 2009-2012]
IEA SHC T41 shall help achieving high quality architecture for buildings integrating solar energy systems, as well as improving the qualifications of the architects, their communications and interactions with engineers, manufactures and clients. The vision – and the opportunity – is to make architectural design a driving force for the use of solar energy.
More on the IEA site http://task41.iea-shc.org/
MPPF – Multifunctional Plug & Play Facade [industrial research project, 2008-2013]
In the framework of the research project MPPF, multifunctional decentralized building services components and solar energy systems have been developed for integration, tested and evaluated on their integration capability for modular façade systems. These components provide heating, cooling, ventilation, shading and lightening as well as solar energy generation out of the façade in a smart way – being managed according to user needs by intelligent controls.
We wrote a book about the project results and reflections: Mach. T., Grobbauer, M., Striecher, W., Müller, M.J., (Eds) (2015). mppf – The multifunctional plug & play approach in facade technology. Verlag d. Technischen Universität Graz. ISBN: 978-3851253801