International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics

Vol. 15, No. 2, April, 2020, pp. 205-210

Journal homepage: http://iieta.org/journals/ijdne

Towards Efficient Green Architecture and Sustainable Facades Using Novel Brick Design
Zaid A.O. Aldeek

Department of Architecture, Hijjawi Faculty for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan

Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]

https://doi.org/10.18280/ijdne.150210 ABSTRACT

Received: 27 December 2019 The most influential element in green architecture is the facade since it represents the
Accepted: 18 March 2020 major expression of architecture and separates the internal micro-climate and external
environment. This paper focuses on the design of new types of interactive facades,
Keywords: developing new typologies, such as an interactive facade that aims to reduce air pollution
novel brick design, absorption of carbon among a system of facades that allows micro, non-irrigated vertical vegetation
oxides, green breathing facades, non-irrigated development, absorption, and fixing of micro particles through inspiration process. The
vertical vegetation, micro particulate interactive green facade uses special bricks designed to permit an inspiration and
absorption, climate change aspiration process caused by different temperature and humidity levels, which, in turn,
promotes the growth of micro-vegetations. Both elements help to reduce air pollution and
could be used separately or together. The facade obtained with this method introduces an
innovative concept of green facades and helps to reduce carbon and other oxides that
cause global warming. The scope of this research is to produce high performance facades
that are conceptually based on simplified and advanced technologies.

1. INTRODUCTION motivations cited before) to develop a system characterized by

simplicity in realization that is totally sustainable. The concept
In architectural design, facades represent the major element presented in this research bio-mimetics nature with the goal of
of architectural expression. Engineers and architects make reducing air pollution and creating a new conceptual language
every effort to express their culture, artistic sense, and in green architectural design.
structural complexity. Earlier this century, the facade acquired
new meanings and new functions with the arrival of new
materials and new technologies. This paper introduces an 3. LECTURER REWIEW
innovation that can transform the traditional concept of the use
of facades in architecture and building construction in general Green is a milestone for modern architecture. Difficulties to
by addressing challenges such as air pollution. Facades could develop valid models are referred to the confused debate about
help to reduce air pollution as well as the energy consumption green and sustainable architecture, a revision of traditional
necessary for heating and cooling buildings. architecture and construction processes is needed. Rather than
The concept of the proposed green, non-irrigated or the complex artificial systems proposed by modern
partially irrigated facades depends on the use of a special brick architecture, green architecture must involve an engineering
that allows for the development of green vegetation with a low system of architecture [1]. The debate on green architecture
growing process. This type of vegetation does not require meets its sublimation when dealing with particularly tall
complex maintenance or irrigation. Thus, it is easy to design buildings. Elements of complexity, such as sustainable
complex green facades because green systems do not present irrigation, maintenance and costs, limit their diffusion. In some
complications at the level of implants or consumption. cases, vertical green architecture is the sum of vegetation
Secondly, this brick is designed in a manner that allows for an disposed on vertical layers. Success in this field could be
exchange of air between the brick and the environment, obtained through a new interactive facade design.
regardless of vegetation, which can help to fix parts of air Green architecture requires a special approach to design,
pollution. dealing with technical problems and requirements to provide a
qualitative human environment and satisfy structural issues,
such as strength, stability, durability [2]. These elements
2. RESEARCH MOTIVATIONS highlight the need to develop green architecture differently.
The novel aspect of the research presented in this study limits
The design of interactive facades (in particular, those that the amount of related literature; the extant literature primarily
are green) presents a target and challenge for many architects focuses on traditional green facades or green architecture
and designers with different motivations and considerations, generally. New thinking logarithms, dealing with
such as artistic and poetic elements, performance, and comfort. sustainability, could contribute actively to developing new
It is possible to compare the famed Hanging Gardens of technologies able to reduce carbon footprints and increase the
Babylon to the Milan Green Towers (see the literature review efficiency of the interaction between environment and
section). This paper aims (beside satisfying the general building [3]. Would evidence positions related to the debate

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on green architecture and facades without becoming a study of particularly in advanced countries with different motivations;
examples or case studies with finality to demonstrate the need sensational elements arriving a satisfy technical requirements
to modify current methods of designing sustainable buildings as thermal comfort inside and urban mitigation of micro clime.
generally. The main drawbacks of current vertical systems of greening
The research highlights the potentiality of green facades to are that they increase carbon footprints and require continued
provide thermal control of building surfaces, presenting a maintenance and abnormal quantities of water for irrigation.
balanced heat transmission in and out. The benefits are Although the current systems have good intentions, they do
multiple in warm and cold seasons, improving comfort, as not produce the desired results. This research aims to
discussed largely in green architecture [4]. Vegetated facades overcome these issues with an innovative design that allows
have traditionally been used to offer multiple benefits, such as for sustainable light green and non-irrigated (or partially
improving the quality of urban design and micro-climate. In irrigated) facades, considering the facade as a skin that is
past years, much attention has been paid to the design of sensitive to wind, light, rain, drought, snow, and so forth, and
vegetated facades, producing some examples in Europe and bio mimetics natural functions, such as breathing, carbon
America, where experiments were characterized by the simple capturing, and water humidity control through multiple layers
use of greening and did not present elements that can be [12].
considered innovative design [5]. The use of green facades provides many benefits and poses
The debate must include the definition of green facades to matters to be resolved. The green facade as a building
reduce confusion between the terms; living wall, vertical envelopment (as proposed in this article) improves its thermal
garden, and green facade define characteristics and design performance in all seasons, through the mitigation of internal
elements of each one [6]. The term “living wall” is a system of and external temperatures in hot seasons. In cold seasons, it
vegetation growing vertically on a physical internal or external works as thermal insulation. Irrigation and the high dead load
wall, presenting many beneficial functions, such as balancing of traditional green vertical architecture increase costs,
outdoor and indoor comfort, ecological value, biodiversity, limiting its diffusion, which prompts research into new, more
insulation, improvement of air quality, mitigation of the urban suitable typologies.
heat island phenomenon, and better sensational impact on The interaction of the green vertical facade with the
people [7]. While the term “hanging garden” indicates a environment is necessary to develop light greening, which
vertical greening of a space like a terrace to create livable condenses water vapor necessary for its irrigation together
spaces and provide climatic mitigation between external and carbon oxides and pollutants. Examples of spontaneous
internal. This type of green architecture is very diffused in undesired growth of some vegetation in building facades
advanced countries. The main problems are elevated costs, illustrate how facades could be a good environment to develop
elevated quantities of water necessary to maintain vegetation new methods of sustainable greening (See Figure 1). Primary
life, and the high carbon footprint caused from the heavy vegetation, such as mosses, are becoming more frequently
supports needed; these factors limit sustainability [8]. Green used in internal architecture (see, for example, the Moss Walls
walls are a greening system used in building facades covered by Joe Zazzera and Pat Mahan [13]. This type of greening
with vegetation, creating aesthetic value which can be presents important innovations, promoting a type of greening
maximized to give functional benefits [9]. that does not need much maintenance as moss does not wither
Advanced research centers specialized in air pollution focus away in poor conditions, but rather remains dormant until
their efforts on two areas: The first is the use of nanomaterials superior conditions are restored.
and chemical reactions. This type of research begins in Challenges related to providing enough irrigation during
automobile industries, producing motors with low emissions summer days could be resolved by using vapor condensation
and employing types of catalysts with success. Thus, the from the atmosphere and integrating partial irrigation implants,
obtained success encourages research, extending it to other which use water harvested from the rain and alternative
industries, particularly across the building sector to develop sources, such as the condensation produced by air conditions.
new technologies based on the use of chemical photo- This paper, based on data and experiments acquired by the
catalyzation. As an example, the latest use of ammonia author, develops a simple concept of a “green brick”. This
capsules to treat escaping gases in diesel engines developed by simple concept could be used to satisfy complicated issues.
Amminex Emissions Technology was based on the separation Additionally, the simplicity of the concept could make large-
of molecules of nitrogen oxides, reducing emissions scale production and diffusion possible.
drastically [10]. Another example is the research conducted by
Italcementi using titanium-oxide as a photo-catalyzer. In
synthesis, the surface of building elements containing
titanium-oxide react under the sun or artificial light, which
ionizes nitrogen oxide and produces inert salts and oxygen
[11]. The literature highlights how global research attention
has focused on reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, leaving
the scenario opened as to how to reduce the carbon oxides
emissions. Sustainable greening remains one of the most
promising paths to valid contributions.

4. DISCUSSION

Conclusions from the literature review highlight the strong Figure 1. Spontaneous growth of primary vegetations (moss)
demand for vertical greening in contemporary architecture, on walls

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5. THE PROPOSED GREEN AND NON-IRREGATED As shown in Figure 2, the novel brick is a simple and
FACADE USING NOVEL BRICK’S DESIGN ordinary brick that differs from traditional bricks in its design,
while costs and construction methodology stay the same. The
The novel brick combines two principles: The first is the novel brick can be realized in many forms and materials that
continuous air exchange between the brick cavity and the satisfy the desired scope. In this paper, we focus on the use of
environment caused by different pressures and temperatures, clay as a material because of its consolidated techniques of
resulting in a natural respiration process. The second is the fabrication, low cost, availability, and durability. Clay is one
ability to have primary vegetation wherever water and sun of most important building materials, performance and quality
radiation are present (see Figure 3). These processes can when used in different parts of the building is demonstrated
avenue independently or together. cross a large history and diffusion offers a promising building
technology, able to respond to regional neediness to specific
climatic conditions. The large diffusion of the clay use in
different societies and periods permits us to propose it as a
modern building material able to satisfy different technical
issues. Durability, affordability and ecological characteristics
pose its use as appropriate in advanced building construction
sectors. Clay is diffused in all parts of the world; affordable,
not toxic, recyclable, high energy parameters. Thus, we can
consider clay able to be part of any building constructive
process. Clay is obtained by the disintegration of some rock
types, mixed with water becomes a malleable plastic form that
permits the formation of many forms, especially in this paper
with the proposed novel brick. Beside the facility of modelling
of the clay, there are different performances as its capacity as
humidity regulator, since it can absorb the moisture from the
air and release it, clay blocks can absorb particulates
contributing to the proposed novel brick targets. Figure 2
shows the external and internal cavity of the brick (the pores
(a)
are connected to the internal cavity). During the exposition,
the interactive facade builds up using the novel green brick
exchanges for many reasons the nearest air, which is
composed of a mixture of gas as water vapor, nitrogen,
nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides and many other pollution
elements. The hypothesis is that the novel brick will be able to
fix some of the cited elements.
Figure 3 shows the final aspect and sections of the proposed
brick. The dimensions of the brick can be altered as needed.
The industrialization of the brick is divided into two phases:
The first is the modelling and cooking of the clay. The second
is to print grains of grass or micro algae within the brick cavity.

5.1 Targets of the novel brick

(b) 5.1.1 Exchanging abnormal quantities of mix gas that compose

the atmosphere with finality to fix some pollution agents
Figure 2. The realization of the novel brick for major Building facades that are fully immersed in their
simplicity is divided into two parts environment (internal and external) are useful in dealing with
temperature, pressure, humidity, acidity, wind, and exposition
to sun radiation. The behavior of facades themselves differs in
relation to position and exposition. Building facades are a
complex system in which each part reacts differently. The
facade system has different conditions of temperature and
humidity with respect to the environment. Thus, the
hypothesis of having a continuous exchange of fluids with the
environment is confirmed by physics. Figure 4 shows how the
temperature of the facade is different from the nearest
environment and will not be in equilibrium in any condition.
Previous research demonstrates the efficiency of exchange
principles between facades and environments. For instance,
Italcementi industries developed a new cement using titanium
oxides photocatalytic (TiO2), creating a smog-eating material.
The material captures air pollution when the facade meets light,
Figure 3. The final aspect of the novel green brick: then transforms the pollution to inert salts, and thus reduces
Vegetation grown in the cavity smog levels in the environment [14].

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 6. NOVEL BRICK AND INTERACTIVE FACADE
DESIGN

6.1 Novel brick design and working method

The novel brick is designed in a manner that allows for

continuous exchange between the external layer of the facade
and the environment. Forms and materials used do not
constitute the matter of the research; the preferred material is
clay due to its durability, modelling ease, low cost, and natural
compatibility. The novelty presented in this brick is that it
allows greening elements to be transferred as part of the facade
of a building. Green can also be printed in special bricks to be
used normally as in all building construction processes. Thus,
the simplification of the greening process incentivizes its
diffusion.
Figure 4. A section of the traditional facade, demonstrating Figure 6 shows a section of the facade that is composed of
the dynamicity between facade and environment [12] novel bricks. The external environment and the cavities of the
bricks are separated by a surface that contains many pores,
5.1.2 Creation of a microenvironment within the cavity of the with the aim of creating different environments (external and
novel brick that incentivizes the growth of primary vegetation internal) with different relative temperatures and air pressures.
Algae live in water environments naturally or in photo- Thermal capacity, bulk density, and the nature of the brick’s
bioreactors artificially. The first use of photo-bioreactors in a surface produce several cycles of respiration and inspiration,
building facade was seen in the first “bio apartment building absorbing some pollutants and humidity.
(2013), designed by Splitterwerk and Graz and by engineering
firm Arup in Hamburg, Germany”. An algae facade separates
the indoors from the outdoors supplying direct thermal heating
and indirect biomass for building uses [15].
The novel brick’s cavity can be used to cultivate primary
vegetations or algae, which will provide a green facade.
Microvegetations do not need attention and do not constitute a
load on a building system. The air humidity (integrated with
an irrigation system) will guarantee their spontaneous growth
(see Figure 5). Some types of algae grow like plants in nature
(on rocks and wood). A variety of these types of algae grow
without needing attention. Algae, cellular organisms
considered the precursors to plants, are characterized by their
ability to photosynthesize efficiently as vegetation removes
CO2 from the surrounding environments, producing O 2. The
novel brick could also use types of grasses or other
microvegetations, as we will see later.
The design of the proposed novel brick could be considered
an environment that permits the growth of these types of algae.
The principal difference between rock algae and aquatic algae
that the first is directly exposed to sun radiation and the
atmosphere, consuming carbon dioxide directly as in all
vegetation.
Figure 6. Breathing-green facade section

6.1.1 How the novel brick absorbs carbon oxides and other
pollutants
The brick is thought to be a thermodynamic system, which
means it has the capacity to exchange fluids with the external
environment. The elements exchanged are the components of
the atmosphere (carbon oxides, nitrogen, oxygen, humidity,
sand, and others). It is possible that the brick works like a little
heat pump. Even heat, air, and moisture across the building
facade are phenomenal. Facade materials and design influence
the thermal behavior of this unique phenomenon and can be
controlled [16].
As stated previously, the brick is a thermodynamic system
that is subject to temperature and pressure variations. Such
variation grantee the continues input gas mixture. However,
Figure 5. Micro algae moss growing on a rock the smooth surface and the lightness of the brick verify the dew

208
point on the brick cavity. This process grantee the solution of
part of pollutants in the condensed water vapor, fixing some
parts. Many pollutants have a high capacity to be solved in
water, becoming inert and cleaned by successive rain.

6.1.2 How the novel brick develops primary or non-primary

vegetation
In the conditions described above, the cavity of the novel
brick is characterized as a humid environment with many
organic and spontaneous inorganic depositions. This
environment could be suitable for mini-vegetation (grasses) or
primary vegetation, such as micro algae moss. Many types of
grasses can resist to hard conditions and have a cycle life,
which means the capacity to stand by awaiting the best
conditions for growth. The result that we can plant special
types of grasses within the proposed bricks suitable for many Figure 7. World climate zones distribution
types of climates [17]. Nowadays, the need of industrial
applications of the use of grasses produced many scientific The use of the proposed interactive facade has some
innovations in this sector. Different vegetation types are limitations in arid climate zones where it is necessary to supply
produced to satisfy the demand of greening in architecture and irrigation to maintain greening. Analyzing a map of climate
in sports infrastructures, allowing us to have the suitable zones (see Figure 7) reveals that the temperate zone covers a
vegetation for every different climatic zone. large part of the word. Major parts of Europe, the United States,
China, and Japan belong to the moderate climate zone. These
6.2 Interactive facade’s functioning countries are directly interested in smog and pollution issues.
Humidity and temperature in temperate zones permit the
Based on the novel brick’s working process, we can design diffusion of irrigated vegetation in all seasons of the year. The
simple and complex breathing and green facades. The green physical form and materials used to produce the novel brick
facade is intended as a multilayer on which a cladding layer is help create suitable conditions for both proposed vegetation
directly applied to realize the proposed breathing-green facade. types: micro algae moss and mini grasses.
Use of the blocks to satisfy goals, simplify the building process, Table 2 shows the performances of the novel brick, the brick
and increase potentialities is summarized in Table 1. produced from cooked clay has smooth surfaces with relative
reduced thermal capacity (seen the bulk density related to the
Table 1. Limitations and potentialities of the proposed brick’s volume). Surface and thermal capacity are the
breathing and green facades fundamental elements required to verify condensation of water
vapor with decreasing temperature. The cycle of variations in
Geographic Carbone Structural Irrigation temperature and humidity on the surface of the bricks used in
location footprint issues and the facade during day hours shows that it is possible one
produced sustainability condensation at least once a day. While the temperature of the
Suitable in The industrial Do not add Irrigation is environment reaches a minimum near 6.00 a.m., the amount of
moderate process of an excessive supplied using water vapor is also greatest near 6.00 a.m. The drastic decrease
climates block load. air humidity. of temperature in the presence of high humidity guarantees the
and summer fabrication Maintenance However, quantities of water necessary to maintain vegetation life.
rain zones. does not not required. some cases The novel brick, which constitutes the breathing facade, is
increase fuel use partial
a smart technology because technology is included within its
consumption. irrigation.
realization. The pores and equipment for vegetation are
realized within the production process. Thus, the use of the
Table 2. Performances of novel brick
proposed brick does not add complications to the building
construction process. The industrialization of the product is the
Humidity Dew point Thermal Resistance to
attraction verification capacity chemical same one used in other types and does not increase costs or
agents carbon footprint. In building realization, novel bricks present
High; seen it High; the Reduced; High; clay the same characteristics as traditional ones.
the presence reduced thermal cooked clay bricks have a The use of the novel brick makes the use of green facades
of pores, capacity caused bricks have very high in high-rise buildings a reality; the technology can also easily
which by the reduced high resistance to be used in traditional ones. It can be used on internal walls and
permit the weight of the thermal chemical as a pattern of design. Facades realized with the proposed
absorption brick incentivize capacity agents and a technology can satisfy important design requirements and
of water losing heat, generally, reduced reduce pollution.
vapour from which is the first but if degradation
the nearest condition of designed to process,
atmosphere. verification of have resistant to 6.3 Novel breathing and greened facade design
the dew point; reduced oxidant
the smooth weight, agents and Once the conditions that determine the success of the
nature of brick’s acquire and physical breathing process and maintain vegetation life have been
surfaces is the lose heat phenomena defined, the design is reduced to technical matters that are
second easily. such as easily resolvable. Patterns, forms, and types of vegetation do
condition. abrasion. not play a crucial role in this stage.

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