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Corresponding Author

Essam Salah Said Abdelmagid

ORCID

0009-0004-4843-7962

Subject Area

Architectural Engineering

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Contemporary architecture has witnessed a rapid evolution in the integration of nanotechnology within the design of building envelopes, due to its significant capability to enhance the physical and environmental properties of materials and to redefine the relationship between functional performance and architectural form. The building envelope is considered one of the most influential components affecting energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality,  and visual identity, which has made it a primary field for the application of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.

This research aims to investigate and analyze the impact of nanotechnology applications in building envelopes on both environmental performance and architectural form through the development of an analytical framework that links performance and formal dimensions within an integrated design system. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology based on reviewing literature and previous studies, in addition to analyzing a range of nanotechnologies and applications used in building envelopes, such as smart glass, nano-coatings, self-cleaning materials, and nano phase-change materials, while examining their influence on environmental performance and architectural form. A limited questionnaire survey was also conducted to assess the economic feasibility of these applications and identify the major challenges facing their implementation.

The research findings indicate that nanotechnologies contribute effectively to improving the environmental performance of building envelopes by reducing heat transfer, enhancing thermal insulation, regulating natural lighting, improving air quality, generating energy, and supporting intelligent façade control systems. The results further demonstrate that these technologies provide new architectural and formal possibilities, including increased transparency, dynamic and kinetic façades, enhanced visual lightness, and visual integration with the surrounding environment, thereby contributing to the development of a more responsive and climate-adaptive architectural language within the urban context.

The study also revealed that achieving integration between environmental performance and architectural form depends on three principal mechanisms: material integration, functional integration, and digital integration. Together, these mechanisms transform the building envelope from a conventional static element into an intelligent and interactive system. The research ultimately proposes a design framework illustrating the levels of nanotechnology application, ranging from the material scale to the overall façade system scale, while establishing a set of environmental, architectural, and technical evaluation criteria for measuring design efficiency. The significance of this research lies in presenting an integrated design vision that supports sustainable architecture trends and strengthens the relationship between technology and architectural innovation, ultimately achieving building envelopes with high environmental efficiency and contemporary aesthetic value

Keywords

The building envelope, nanotechnology, Architectural form, Environmental performance.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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