Introducing the Advanced Active Façade: Towards Near-Zero Buildings Incorporating Building Integrated Photovoltaics Expressive Issues

Building Integrated Photovoltaics’ (BIPV) performance is improving rapidly. However, their potential is diminished because of several barriers. Due to its limited expressive quality, architects tend to avoid integrating BIPV in building design, more particularly, in façades. In order to bridge the gap between technology and design, this research aims at developing design strategies to integrate BIPV’s expressive issues into today’s façade construction, focusing on new collective residential dwellings. In this context, the poster presents the Advanced Active Façade (AAF) concept, which results from the analysis of façade’s evolution, in terms of requirements and constructive solutions. The AAF benefits from passive low carbon design strategies and active BIPV technology. This system permits to meet low energy consumption targets and, by integrating BIPV expressive issues, it enables architects to play with a range of expressive parameters such as transparency, color and modulation.