Published on: 2026-06-26
Source: Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great –
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A graduate student of the Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great has developed a universal method for designing dynamic facades. The proposed approach allows architects and engineers at the early stages of design to select optimal structural parameters considering specific lighting and climatic conditions. Facades designed using this method have surpassed the global analog in lighting characteristics by 43%, and considering actual energy costs for lighting — by 89%.
In modern office buildings, up to 45% of electricity consumption is accounted for by artificial lighting, while excess sunlight creates glare on screens, tires employees, and increases the load on air conditioning systems. Dynamic building facades can help reduce the amount of sunlight entering. This is an innovative architectural system in which movable elements can change shape, color, transparency, and position in space depending on weather conditions, time of day, and lighting at the workplace.
Currently, there are automatic dynamic facade systems on the market, but the absence of a design methodology that takes into account the multi-criteria evaluation of dynamic facades hinders their development, dissemination, and implementation in construction practice. Existing approaches to designing dynamic facades require processing large data arrays or consider only one aspect of design. The developed methodology solves this problem.Graduate student of the Engineering and Construction Institute of SPbPU Luka Akimov proposed an integrated approach that simultaneously evaluates visual comfort, energy efficiency, and structural feasibility. On this topic, the researcher successfully defended a dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.
The methodology was tested using the example of a hot Mediterranean climate. The structure designed according to it showed an improvement in light-technical characteristics by 43% compared to the best global analog for the specified climatic zone (One Ocean), and taking into account the actual energy costs for lighting, the advantage reached 89%. For the physical model of the facade, materials and load-bearing structures were selected and calculated to withstand wind loads with a necessary margin of strength.In its creation, a set of tools was used: parametric geometry modeling in Grasshopper, natural lighting simulation in DAYSIM based on Radiance, data processing in Python, as well as aerodynamic and finite element modeling in ANSYS, — explained the author of the methodology, graduate of the postgraduate program at SPbPU, candidate of technical sciences Luka Akimov.
The method is universal: to adapt it to another region, it is enough to substitute local weather data. It may be most in demand when designing buildings in a region with a high level of solar radiation — Krasnodar Krai, Crimea, Dagestan, and other southern territories. The proposed metrics can be incorporated into the updated Russian construction norms and regulations.
The proposed approach can already be applied at the preliminary design stage and used to compare facade options without costly experiments. It is currently aimed at office buildings, but in the future it can be applied to industrial, residential, and public buildings. The research plan includes calculations for Russia’s climatic zones and the development of methods for assessing the building’s life cycle with a dynamic facade.
The work was carried out within the framework of postgraduate training at the Engineering and Construction Institute of SPbPU. The scientific supervisor is Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Director of the Higher School of Hydraulic and Energy Construction Galina Kozinets. The author also expresses gratitude to Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Vladimir Badenko for assistance in organizing and conducting the research.
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