Textile membranes in housing – adaptation to tropical climates

Abstract

Construction industry is responsible for great environmental impacts in the world, some authors refer that these can be as high as 50% of the global impacts. The research for lower environmental impact constructive solutions, namely by the weight reduction is thus a main concern when the objective is to reduce the footprint of buildings, especially in urban areas. Textile membranes are usually used to cover big spans with complex geometries, using the special properties of the Hypar (Hyperbolic paraboloid). However it is possible to use membranes on small external façades and coverings, with low spans, not only as sandwich panels, but also as a junction of small Hypar modules, with still their mechanical special properties well explored, allowing a very small weight and thus a good environmental performance, compared to conventional façade and covering solutions. Apart from this, the research on membrane materials for thermal regulation, allows to extend its possibilities in order to fulfil contemporary demands of comfort, especially in tropical climates. In the outer skin, architectural membranes are very appropriate do be used as passive systems for cooling (i.e. for shading or evaporative cooling). A prototype based on this concept was developed in the School of Architecture, on Azurém Campus of the University of Minho, adapted for external façade as well as for covering small spans. This solution will be presented from its mechanical and structural concept, as well as its embodied energy and thermal / lighting performance.