Research Through Design

Project Title:
Double Face 2.0

Main Applicant:
Dr.ir.arch. M.J. Tenpierik
_____________

i
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Contact details 1
1.1 Main applicant 1
1.2 Co-applicant(s) 1
1.3 Title 1
1.4 Keywords 1
2. Summary 1
2.1 Research Summary 1
2.2 Utilisation Summary 2
2.3 Summary STWs website 3
3. Current composition of the research group 3
4. Scientific description 3
4.1 Research contents/Introduction 3
4.2 Existing infrastructure 7
4.3 Time plan and division of tasks 8
5. Utilisation plan 8
5.1 The problem and the proposed solution 8
5.2 Potential users 9
5.3 Past performance 9
6. Intellectual property 10
6.1 Contracts 10
6.2 Patents 11
7. Positioning of the project proposal 11
7.1 Uniqueness of the proposed project 11
7.2 Embedding of the proposed project 11
7.3 Request for support elsewhere 12
8. Financial planning 12
8.1 Personnel positions 12
8.2 Consumables 12
8.3 Travel abroad 12
8.4 Investments 12
8.5 Contribution from users 12
8.6 Cost breakdown 12
8.7 Letters of support 12
9. References 13
9.1 Selection of key publications research group 13
9.2 List of publications cited 13
10. Abbreviations and acronyms 14

ii
1. Contact details
1.1 Main applicant
naam, voorletters en titel : Tenpierik, M.J., Dr.ir., Arch (SBA)

organisatie : Technische Universiteit Delft, Faculteit Bouwkunde,

Leerstoel Bouwfysica
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built
Environment, Chair Building Physics

telefoonnummer : +31 6 281 67 832

e-mail : m.j.tenpierik@tudelft.nl

aanstellingspercentage : 100

vast dienstverband : ja

1.2 Co-applicant(s) University

naam, voorletters en titel : Turrin, M., Dr. MSc Arch., Arch. (SBA)

organisatie : Technische Universiteit Delft, Faculteit Bouwkunde,

Leerstoel Technisch Ontwerp & Informatica
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built
Environment, Chair Design Informatics

telefoonnummer : +31 (0)15 2787351

e-mail : M.Turrin@tudelft.nl

aanstellingspercentage : 100

vast dienstverband : nee / tenure track UD (a letter stating this position is attached)

1.3 Co-applicant(s) University of Applied Sciences

Not available.

1.4 Title
Double Face 2.0

1.5 Keywords
Trombe wall, solar wall, energy-saving, phase change materials, aerogel, 3D printing, usefulness,
performance identity.

2. Summary
2.1 Research Summary
As Barragan pointed out, if there are many equally valid technical solutions to a problem the one
which offers the user a message of beauty and emotion, that one is architecture. Few architectural
works take aesthetic advantage from technical aspects; they are often seen as constraining
requirements limiting creativity rather than inspiring principles triggering design concepts and being
integral part of the design identity. Due to the current urgency of sustainability, technical aspects

Double Face 2.0 1

 related to energy use deserve special attention. While advocating the use of technical performances
as integral part of the design identity, this research focuses on a system for passive climate control.
The main research question therefore is: How can we design an efficient building product for passive
climate regulation in which its engineering performances are part of its identity?

The research will focus on a specific demonstrator: a novel type of Trombe wall. It consists of a new
system that passively improves thermal comfort using new lightweight and translucent materials for
latent heat storage. We will use novel production techniques, like 3D printing, to explore their potential
for creating high quality translucent and highly performative products. Our approach is unique in that
we aim for a system with high levels of adjustability to the specific conditions at hand and that we aim
for a system in which the functioning will be part of the identity of the product. This latter aim will be
realised by a.o. the adjustability and shape of the system and by the materials that have a changing
appearance depending on their physical state (solid or liquid). While dealing with the use of
engineering performances as principles to trigger design creativity, ultimately, this research will result
in a set of design concepts and in general knowledge on thermal performances.

The research will be performed based on the initial development of 3 innovative design concepts for
the system. A combination of intuitive design and evolutionary and form-finding computer algorithms
will be used to generate and select design alternatives within the 3 concepts. These alternatives will
be evaluated and further elaborated upon soft and hard variables. Key soft variables are: design
identity (a.), usefulness (b.) and applicability in buildings (c.). Key hard variables are: thermal (d.) and
daylight performance (e.). Secondary criteria are: manufacturing possibilities (f.) and structural
performance (g.). The soft variables will be assessed in a series of workshops with architects and
industrial designers or users respectively. The hard variables will be assessed based on physical tests
and simulations. Continuous feedbacks form the workshops and computational assessments will be
used in an iterative manner to feed the design process and to generate improved concepts.

2.2 Utilisation Summary

Energy efficiency of buildings has become an important issue. Instead of designing buildings with an
appetite for energy, we need to make the transition towards energy-neutral or energy-positive buildings.
Passive systems, like Trombe walls, have an advantage over active systems since they do not require
auxiliary energy. Trombe walls can strongly reduce the energy demand of buildings. We estimate that our
proposed lightweight, translucent, adjustable Trombe wall will reduce the average energy bill of Dutch
households by roughly 338 euros/yr. This energy saving relates to mitigated CO2 emissions of around 680
kg/yr. per household. In light of the 7.3 million houses in the Netherlands, a large CO2 emissions reduction
potential arises, largely contributing to the European 20-20-20 targets. Not only new and existing dwellings
but also new and existing offices can be equipped with this wall, showing a large application market.

Despite their huge potential, the most important reasons why Trombe walls have hardly been used are
that they are heavy and thick, and block daylight into buildings. In our approach, we propose to remove
these issues by making the system lightweight, translucent and adjustable. Besides, we will strongly focus
on the visual appearance of the system and on the integration of the thermal performance into the design
identity. Engineering performances in architecture are crucial but often delegated to technical aspects
detached from the main architectural concept and design identity. There is growing evidence, though, that
clients and stakeholders require buildings that on top of being sustainable also express that they are
sustainable. Making aspects related to energy-efficiency visible is important also to raise sensitivity of
users of buildings, whose behaviour largely affects the total energy efficiency of buildings. This means
that building products that express aspects related to sustainability and include them as integral part of
their design identity are needed. In our workshops we involve potential users in order for the final design to
be attractive to users thereby increasing the penetration rate of Trombe walls in the Netherlands.

The research project Double Face 2.0 will lead to design(s) and preliminary prototypes. From the designs
and prototypes, knowledge regarding thermal performances and daylight transmittance of innovative
materials (PCM, aerogel) and production techniques (3D printing) will be generated. At a higher level,
knowledge on processes and results for integrating engineering aspects in the explicit identity of design
will be generated. After a period of about 3 to 4 years of further engineering for mass production by
companies in the user committee, and of obtaining KOMO attests and certificates, it is expected that the
product is market-ready and can be used for large-scale application.

Double Face 2.0 2

 2.3 Summary STWs website
Few architectural works take aesthetic advantage from technical aspects; they are often seen as
constraints limiting creativity rather than inspiring principles that become part of the design identity.
This research will focus on a specific demonstrator: a novel type of Trombe wall system. It consists of
a new system that passively improves thermal comfort using new lightweight and translucent materials
for latent heat storage. Advanced materials like PCM and aerogel are used in combination with novel
rapid prototyping techniques (like stereolithography) and advanced computational means (like
evolutionary algorithms) next to design intuition. We aim for the design of this novel Trombe wall
system to have high technical performance but also to show that its engineering performances are an
integral part of the design identity of the product.

3. Current composition of the research group

Dr.ir.arch. Supervisor Specialized in building physics, acoustics and architectural
Martin Tenpierik for BP design
Building

http://www.bk.tudelft.nl/en/about-faculty/departments/architectural engineering-
Physics

and-technology/organisation/chairs-ae-t/building-physics/
To be employed Researcher Specialized in creative and technical design with strong affinity to
and knowledge of thermal and daylight aspects
Dr.arch. Michela Supervisor Specialized in computational architectural design and additive
Turrin for DI manufacturing techniques.http://www.bk.tudelft.nl/en/about-
Informatics

faculty/departments/architecturalengineering-
and-technology/organisation/chairs-ae-t/chair-designinformatics/
Design

To be employed Researcher Specialized in creative and technical design with strong affinity to
and knowledge of 3D printing technologies
To be employed NSP Specialized in 3D printing and printing with robotic systems

The proposed research is multi-disciplinary in nature. Two chairs from TUDelfts Faculty of Architecture
and the Built Environment are involved. Dr.ir.arch. Martin Tenpierik, chair Building Physics & Services, will
be involved with his expertise in the field building physics and architectural design. Dr.arch. Michela
Turrin, chair Design Informatics, will be involved with her expertise in performance-based design and in
cutting-edge technologies like additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Both applicants are also registered
architects with the Stichting Bureau Architectenregister in the Netherlands; and Dr. Turrin is also
registered in the Italian architects register, has worked at the architecture office of FontanAtelier in Italy
and has co-established Novarc*Studio, a team of young professionals in architecture and interior design.
Moreover, the research team will get support from ir. Paul de Ruiter who is highly specialized in modern
production technologies and from Dr.ir. Wim van der Spoel, who is highly specialized in thermal
performance simulations; both working at TU Delfts Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment.
The main researchers in this project will be two researchers, specialized in creative and technical
design. One should also have a strong affinity to and knowledge of thermal and daylight aspects; the other
of modern production/prototyping technologies like 3D printing. The typical candidates would be recent
MSc graduates from the department of Architectural Engineering + Technology from the Faculty of
Architecture and the Built Environment or from the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. The division
of tasks among these two researchers is shown in the section time plan and division of tasks.
Furthermore, the architectural firm SHAU and the company GlassX, which works on faade
products integrating PCM, will provide input to this project with their specific expertise.

4. Scientific description
4.1 Research contents/Introduction
Research Question:
How can we design a building
product for passive climate
regulation in which its
engineering performances
are part of its identity?
Design component:
A system in which the functioning of
thermal mass is part of the identity of
the product Research Method:
Research through design with
Technological component:
a novel Trombe wall as case.
A system that is lightweight,
translucent and has high levels of
adjustability to tune it to the specific
conditions and needs at hand

Double Face 2.0 3

 Reasoning towards the main objective
As Barragan pointed out, if there are many equally valid technical solutions to a problem the one which
offers the user a message of beauty and emotion, that one is architecture (Ziff, 2000) and as Tombazis
states, technology cannot and should not be a substitute but rather an important support to rational and
creative thinking (Tombazis, 2009). In their composition and materiality, buildings can convey a message.
As Whyte highlights, architecture can be understood by analogy to language: as a code capable of use in
communicating the architects intentions (Whyte, 2006). The use of composition, technical aspects,
materiality (including technology) and design intents leads to what we call here identity of a design
referring to the unique character that identifies a certain design expression.

With this general view, this proposal addresses sustainability; and specifically energy use in architecture.
While an increasing portion of buildings deals with issues related to sustainability, almost no architecture
currently speaks about sustainability. Despite few exceptions, principles related to sustainability are not
influential on the architectural expression and few architects take advantage of them (Maciel, 2007).
Environmental issues are usually related to technical issues; and technical issues are by many architects
regarded as a limit to creativity (Maciel, 2007). As a result, it is generally uncommon that technical
performances are part of the design identity. Frei Otto provided perhaps some of the highest examples of
integration between technical load bearing functions and beauty in shapes. Exceptions may regard also
active systems and building services, such as in the Lloyds headquarters by Richard Rogers and in the
Centre George Pompidou by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano. There have been only few architects who
tried to use passive systems as a key meaning of architectural expression. Some recent examples are:
the Beddington Zero Energy Development by Bill Dunster (Chance, 2009), the Ryhad Ministry of Tourism
headquarters by Mario Cucinella; the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre by Renzo Piano. Despite these
exceptions, passive systems are almost never part of the design concept (Maciel, 2007). Differently, there
is a demand from clients to include statements and evidence that show aspects related to sustainability.

This research will not address the whole spectrum of passive systems. Instead, it proposes a specific
focus on a demonstrator. The demonstrator has been chosen specifically and regards the use of thermal
mass. In The Architectural Expression of Environmental Control Systems, Baird (2003) aims at inspiring
architects, building services engineers and building scientists to take a creative approach to the design
and expression of environmental control systems. In most of the examples, thermal mass plays a crucial
role, but in very few it is really used as integral part of the architectural expression in which its technical
performances are visible and part of its identity. We therefore propose to research and design a building
product for passive climate regulation in which its engineering performances are part of its identity. We will
use the design case of a novel, lightweight, translucent, adjustable Trombe wall to investigate how this
can be achieved. This leads to the following main research question: How can we design a building
product for passive climate regulation in which its engineering performances are part of its identity?

These engineering performances, in this case primarily thermal and daylight performances in combination
with novel materials, like phase change materials and aerogels, and novel manufacturing techniques, like
3D printing, form high-tech constraints that direct the design process. However, soft performances, in this
case mainly the identity of the product, are what we would like to achieve through this process. Our
research through design process will give us an understanding about how the selected engineering
performances of generally statically functional objects can become part of the design identity of a product.

The design case

Classical Trombe walls typically consist of a 10 to 20 cm thick heavy concrete or masonry wall behind a
glass faade and a 3 to 6 cm air cavity (Saadatian et al., 2012; Fiorito, 2012). The basic idea of such a
wall is that in winter it captures the heat from the sun and slowly gives off this heat towards the space
behind the wall through thermal radiation and convection. As a result of the time delay, the heat is
available when occupants are at home at night reducing the energy demand for heating. These traditional
walls, however, have several drawbacks: they are very heavy and thick; they are not suitable for
refurbishment projects; they block the admittance of daylight into the building; and they cannot be adjusted
to the varying outdoor and indoor conditions. Among the first studies that investigated lightweight thermal
storage systems in faades are the studies conducted by Kienzl (1995), Manz et al. (1997), Weinlder et
al. (2005) and Fiorito (2012). Although these studies investigated the possibilities for lightweight systems,
none of these were appealing to users and adjustable to varying circumstances as they were included in
standard static building components. In our proposal, we aim for a system in which the functioning of
thermal mass will become part of the design identity. Furthermore, we will explore design options for a
system that can be tuned concerning heat absorption and radiation for the varying conditions at hand.

Double Face 2.0 4

 Figure 1: Basic thermal principle of the lightweight, Figure 2: Artist impression of a possible appearance
translucent, adjustable Trombe wall system. of the envisioned Trombe wall elements.

Technically, the system is meant to work both in winter and in summer (Figure 1). In winter the system will
capture the heat from the sun during the day and will slowly release the accumulated heat towards chosen
areas in the evening; in summer the system will be exposed to a cold ventilation flow at night in order to
cool down and after being faced towards the surrounding areas acts as a cooling plate during the day. The
applicants of this proposal already showed theoretically that with such a system significant energy savings
can be achieved (Turrin et al., 2015). Successfully achieving these effects depends on the presence of the
thermal mass itself and on a proper tuning of its exposure to the energy source and sink, controlling of
wind- or buoyancy-driven air flow, and adjusting the direction of the system. Moreover, the system should
be lightweight in order to avoid structural overloads in buildings and to allow for use in existing buildings;
and it should be translucent in order for the surrounding spaces to benefit from daylight.

Our research through design project will therefore focus on the case of a novel type of lightweight,
translucent, adjustable Trombe wall system in which the key technical performances are part of the
identity of the final object/product. For this system, we will use new materials, i.e. translucent phase
change materials (PCM) for thermal storage and translucent aerogel for thermal insulation, that have very
high technical performances and as a consequence lead to low weight, but also have a changing
appearance depending on whether the PCM is in the solid or in the liquid state that can become part
of the identity of the system. Besides advanced materials, we will be using novel production techniques,
among which are 3D printing stereolithography and printing with a robotic arm, to explore their potential for
creating high quality translucent and highly performative products. As one example of a possible design,
such an element could be envisaged as in figure 2.

Research Design
Overall the process will be developed as a complex and multidisciplinary system of analysis, formulations,
evaluations, intuitive as well as rational decisions, which cyclically elaborate upon the extracted knowledge
toward general and re-usable scientific knowledge. It must be considered, however, that few design
precedents elaborate upon engineering performances as part of design identity. To generate design
solutions that elaborate upon such identity, the research cannot rely on prestructures, presuppositions or
protomodels, which are often used as the origins of design concepts (Roozenburg and Cross, 1991).
Similarly, the design process cannot use already available techniques (pragmatic design), relying on
established rules (canonic design), or replicating existing solutions (iconic design) (Geoffrey Broadbent,
1969). Instead, this research will have to generate innovative designs. To do so, two main aspects are
highlighted: emphasis on the real time learning process of the designer and use of advanced
evolutionary and form-finding computational algorithms. This research through design attributes large
importance to the real time learning process because looking for innovative solutions for new design
concepts deeply relies on it, not only on the experience of the designer. To empower the learning process
and favor design paths in which the learning process is an integral part, performance assessments are an
integral part of our exploratory design process. These assessments occur in the form of physical

Double Face 2.0 5

 measurements, simulations and workshops. Secondly, this research through design attributes large
importance to the use of advanced computational processes that have analogies to other disciplines
(analogical design) (Veloso, 1994; Goldschmidt, 2001). Design alternatives will thus be generated based
on a combination of intuitive design and computational methods.

The overall research through design process aims at extracting scientific knowledge from creative design
as such informing the learning process of the designer; it will start with the initial development of 3
innovative design concepts, by the researchers (Figure 3). All designed and generated concepts will be
evaluated to extract information both regarding soft and hard variables/constructs:
Key soft variables: the extent to which the key technical performances are part of the identity of the
product (a.), the usefulness for users (b.) and general applicability in buildings (c.)
Key hard variables: thermal performance (d.) and daylight performance (e.)
Secondary hard variables: manufacturing possibilities (f.) and structural performance (g.)
Subsequent to this evaluation, the strong points of the different alternatives will be extracted and will be
used for further generating improved design alternatives, which will again be evaluated on the
aforementioned aspects. Unveiling new possible design directions is one output of the research. Parallel,
the new designs are meant to be tested and measured in order to generate new data that will allow better
defining the thermal models and the technical potentials. The analysis of the initial design concepts will
also lead to a re-evaluation and fine-tuning of the design brief for the novel Trombe wall system.

The soft criterion identity will be assessed in a series of 3 workshops in which a group of 8 architects and
designers are invited to independently and blind to experimental conditions judge as experts the extent to
which the key technical performances are part of the identity of the product. These architects and
designers include people from architecture firms like aTA and Shau and from industrial design companies
like WellDesign and StudioKees. During these workshops this expert panel will judge the design concepts
and prototypes developed by the researchers. The construct identity will be broken down into a set of
variables that will be evaluated by this panel. These variables are a.) composition in general, b.) visibility
of thermal performances, c.) visibility of daylight performances, d.) materiality, i.e. the novel use of
materials and e.) design intents, i.e. how well have the original intents been achieved. Furthermore, the
soft criterion usefulness will be evaluated by a panel of 8 potential users which will make their
evaluations also independently and blind to experimental conditions; again in a series of 3 workshops
similar to the other workshops. In line with Amabile (2011), the construct usefulness is broken down into
three variables: a.) display, i.e. the extent to which someone would like to have this product at home, b.)
aesthetics, i.e the extent to which the design is aesthetically appealing and c.) liking, i.e. the extent to
which someone expresses a feeling of joy for the product.

Figure 3: scheme describing our research by design approach.

Double Face 2.0 6

 For each of the design concepts/alternatives, the hard or engineering performances will be iteratively
assessed based on a combination of measurement and simulation. Thermal performance will be assessed
using the energy performance simulation software DesignBuilder, which is the worldwide golden standard,
and a Matlab/Simulink simulation model which we developed at our own department in order to simulate
the adjustability of the system. Daylight performance will be simulated using Radiance, which is among
the most widely used daylight simulation software. Furthermore, prototypes will be tested on thermal
performance and light transmittance in our lab. The structural performance of the system, i.e. the system
should be self-supportive, will be tested using DIANA, a well-known structural analysis program from TNO.

Digital simulations are used for a deeper integration between design generation and engineering
performance assessment. Specifically, they will be exploited for integrating performance assessments
during geometric form finding. As highlighted by Pedrini (2003), the traditional use of charts and diagrams
for energy efficiency perpetuates the divide between environmental design and architectural expression.
Differently, combining shape exploration and performance evaluations by means of computer simulations
and parametric analysis helps bridging the gap between freedom in creativity and technical issues, by
placing equal emphasis on form and operation during the design (Pedrini, 2003; McGlynn, 2010). To do
so, this research will use geometric modelers (such as Rhinoceros and its parametric plug-in
Grasshopper) in combination with performance evaluations. Some of the performance evaluations will be
directly linked to the generation of the geometry to further reduce the gap between geometric exploration
of design alternatives and numeric quantification of performances. This supports both the learning process
of the designer by assessing individual solutions in order to iteratively re-define the design; and the
extraction of information to build re-usable scientific knowledge.

To further support these two aspects, additional computational means will be used next to geometric
modelers and performance simulations, namely evolutionary algorithms and data analysis and
visualization techniques, in order to select design alternatives and explore the design space. Evolutionary
algorithms are well-established techniques used in (design) optimization to identify design solutions that
perform well for a given set of objectives (Pardalos and Resende, 2002). These solutions will be used to
make design decisions and/or suggest further improvements for new design solutions. Moreover, the
design solutions generated will be analyzed to extract knowledge reusable in future projects. In order to
analyse them, data analysis and data visualization techniques will be used, such as Sensitivity Analysis
and Multi-Variate Analysis via digital tools like modeFRONTIER. These investigate interrelated effects of
input parameters and extract information about sensitivities and local influence of variables.

As Menges (2012) suggests, next to digital simulations, prototyping is crucial for approaches that use
properties of materials as integral driver of design conception. The research will take advantage of rapid
prototyping techniques like 3D printing (stereolitography and Robotic 3D printing). These manufacturing
techniques allow for producing intricate complex shapes, which together with the material properties affect
the technical properties of the final component. This offers huge potentials to add functionality to the parts
composing the Trombe-wall, like tuned insulation, light channels through the PCM and complex internal
structures to tune structural stability. Such integration between form and materials also affect the
appearance of the design, and can be used as integral part of the architectural expression.

4.2 Existing infrastructure

The research will be conducted at the faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of TUDelft. For
producing test samples and prototypes, the rapid prototyping machines of TUDelft (Lasercutters; 3D
printers: Zcorp Z310; Dimension Elite; LeapFrog for FDM) will be used. Very specific alternative RPMs at
Materialise will be used for SLA of final parts or of moulds (as current TU Delfts machines are not
advanced enough to produce very stiff transparent parts larger than 10 cm). For those parts that require
high-quality printing, mixed use of in house facilities and additive manufacturing machines of Materialise is
planned. For analysing the models, the research team will get a free 2 year license for the software
modeFrontier, the currently most advanced software for these purposes, from ESTECO as in-kind
contribution. For measuring the thermal behaviour of the prototypes, 2 Hukseflux HFP01 heat flux plates,
thermocouples and Eltek GenII data acquisition equipment is available. For measuring the daylight
transmittance, 2 Konica Minolta illuminance meters (T-10 and T-10M) and a Canon EOS 350D camera
calibrated for luminance measurements is available. For thermal simulations we have a.o. DesignBuilder
v.4, one of the golden standards for building energy performance simulation, and a Matlab/Simulink model
developed within our own group. For daylight simulations, Radiance and Dialux are available. Also these
two programs are well-established and widely used worldwide for daylight simulations.

Double Face 2.0 7

 4.3 Participating non-university partners
SHAU is an architecture firm based in Rotterdam (NL), Munich (G), Bandung (Indonesia). The office has
strong expertise on integral design based on computational techniques and digital manufacturing. It will
actively discuss the research findings, their practicality and applicability with respect to building projects.
GlassX is a company with strong position in the market for passive-climate control of buildings and leader
in the field of thermodynamic glazing. It will support the project with its expertise in the design, dimension-
ing, use and simulation of PCM facade elements; also the provision of measured data and the support
with simulation studies. ESTECO, the developer of the software modeFrontier will provide us with a 2 year
license for this software as in-kind contribution. Other companies, although not (yet) officially part of the
user committee, have already shown their interest in this project. These companies include Materialise, a
world-leading company in 3D printing and additive manufacturing and, Rubitherm, a world-leading
producer of PCM among which translucent PCM.

4.4 Time plan and division of tasks

4.5 Other media used

Video of the 3TU.Bouw project Double Face: http://www.3tu.nl/bouw/en/lighthouse2014/doubleface/. This
video shows the development of the Double Face project which was the starting point of this proposal.

5. Utilisation plan
5.1 The problem and the proposed solution
Energy efficiency of buildings has become an important issue. Depleting fossil energy resources, global
warming and geopolitical disputes urge us to rethink the way we design our buildings. Instead of designing
buildings with an appetite for energy, we need to make the transition towards energy-neutral or energy-
positive buildings. Passive systems, like Trombe walls or solar walls, have an advantage over active
systems since they do not require auxiliary energy. Trombe walls walls can strongly reduce the energy use
of buildings by increasing the energy gains from solar radiation. Castellon et al. (2009) experimentally
showed that the inclusion of PCM in facades may lead to a reduction in energy use of around 17%. In a
previous project, the Double Face project (see past performance), we have even shown based on
simulations that in an ideal case the energy use for heating of a typical dwelling in the Netherlands can be
reduced by an amount of 45% if a lightweight, rotatable Trombe wall system is used. These significant
reductions will have important positive consequences. First, home owners and tenants will have a lower

Double Face 2.0 8

 annual energy bill. According to RVO (2015), the average energy bill for natural gas of households in the
Netherlands was roughly 1207 euro in 2014, corresponding to an average gas use of 1529 m 3. Assuming
that 80% is used for space heating and that we can reach 35% (a conservative estimate) reduction for
space heating a household on average can save 338 euros each year on its energy bill. This energy
saving roughly corresponds to reduced CO2 emissions in the order of 680 kg per household per year (CO2
emission factor of natural gas 56.4 kg/GJ (Zijlema, 2013)). Multiplying this figure with the millions of
dwellings in the Netherlands, a very large CO2 emissions reduction potential arises.

Despite their huge potential, the most important reasons why such Trombe walls are hardly being used in
the Netherlands and in many other European countries are that they are very heavy and thick, and block
daylight entrance into the building. In our approach, we propose to remove these issues by making the
system lightweight, translucent and adjustable. Furthermore, we will strongly focus in our approach on the
visual appearance of the system and on how the thermal and daylight performances of this system can be
made visual. By including potential users in our workshops, we hope that the final design will be attractive
to users as a result of which increasing the penetration rate of Trombe walls in the Netherlands.

The market for our solution consists of dwellings and offices; both existing (because it is a lightweight
system) and new buildings. In dwellings the main purpose of the system will be capturing the solar heat in
winter and thus reducing the energy demand for heating whereas the main purpose for office buildings will
be capturing the internal heat in summer and thus reducing the energy demand for cooling. In total, there
are almost 7.3 million dwellings in the Netherlands (CBS, 2015). With a refurbishment rate in the order of
1.2% per year (Mlecnik and Kondratenko, 2012), about 87500 are refurbished in the Netherlands. Many of
these houses could be equipped with our new Trombe wall system. Similar numbers apply to the m 2 of
office space in the Netherlands. In a period of about 3 to 4 years, subsequent to this project, further
engineering for mass production (by a commercial company, like GlassX), and the obtainment of KOMO
attests and certificates (in order to have the product allowed on the building market) are expected. After
this, it is expected that the product is market-ready and can be used in the aforementioned buildings.

5.2 Potential users

Company Attendance Support Contri-
Company/
Contact Full contact details size user com- letter bution
Institute
mittee
Het Schieblock
Shau Schiekade 189, unit 412 yes
Mr. Ir. F.
Architecture 3013BR Rotterdam <250 yes yes In kind:
Heinzelmann
& Urbanism +31 10 711 0338 5300
info@shau.nl / www.shau.nl
Seefeldstrasse 224
Mr. M. 8008 Zurich, Switzerland yes
GlassX AG Schrcker +41 44 389 10 72 <250 yes yes In kind:
MSc martin.schroecker@glassx.ch 10600
www.glassx.ch
Loc. Padriciano 99
34149 Trieste, Italy yes
Mr. Prof.
ESTECO +39 040 3755548 <250 yes yes In kind:
Carlo Poloni
poloni@esteco.com 3000
http://www.esteco.com/

5.3 Expected impact

The major impact of the project is related to energy saving, as the proposed system aims at this. The
energetic and financial impact is described in section 5.1. As explained in the same section, apart from
benefits for home owners, tenants and office building users, large scale application also leads to serious
reductions in CO2 emissions. Application is expected on large scale thanks to the engineering efficiency of
the product, but also to the incorporation of efficiency into an interesting design identity. People generally
do not buy products they dont like; while, by specifically focusing on interesting design aspects, the
penetration rate of sustainable solutions for buildings will likely increase. The design also aims at being
explanatory, in the sense that it makes visible the thermal principles based on which it works. Using
designs to make the technical functioning of energy-systems visible will impact the awareness (and

Double Face 2.0 9

 consequent behavior) of the users of a building. In this respect, it serves to engage the users into a more
sustainable life-style, feeling to being part of a system that is based on sustainable mechanisms. A second
order of impact is related to the engagement of designers/architects into elaborating innovative design
concepts related to sustainability, for which this project aims at offering an appealing example. Such an
example proposes interesting design as a key to impact both professional and users attitude toward
reduction of energy consumption, instead of relying on regulations and policies only.

5.4 Past performance

Two chairs from TU Delfts faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment are involved in this proposal:
Building Physics (BP) and Design Informatics (DI). Both groups involve both architects and engineers.
Both groups have been highly successful in research acquisition and utilization. Several projects involved
companies, municipalities or government institutions. Only some examples will be mentioned below.

Both Dr. Tenpierik and Dr. Turrin have been involved in two projects specifically related to this proposal:
The first project investigated the use of an atrium as part of the passive climate system of an old
tobacco factory in Shenyang, China (Turrin et al., 2012). This project developed a system in which fixed
concrete panels were combined with sliding thermal insulation panels to prevent nocturnal release of
accumulated heat toward the atrium; and to favour the thermal behaviour at the back of the panels.
Numeric analysis has shown very promising results. The system proved the benefits of properly
addressing calibrated heat absorption and radiation; the main limitation of this system regarded the heavy
weight of the concrete panels and their high impact on reduction of daylight levels.
The second project, DoubleFace, was funded in the framework of the lighthouse call of the
3TU.Bouw Centre of Excellence for the Built Environment and brought this idea to the next level (Beerda,
2015) (http://www.3tu.nl/bouw/en/lighthouse2014/doubleface/). This project aimed at preliminary
investigation for a new adjustable system that passively improves thermal comfort of indoor spaces by
means of lightweight materials letting daylight passing through. Simulations, which included the rotation to
tune the thermal behaviour, showed that the adjustable Trombe wall system can lead to an energy
reduction for the heating of dwellings of roughly 45%. This project has led to first design sketches and a
rough working prototype that form the starting points for the proposed research.

Furthermore, both Dr. Tenpierik (as co-applicant) and Dr. Turrin (as researcher) are involved in the
recently started project Acoustics by parametric Design and Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) funded by
Technology Foundation STW. The aims of this project are to develop and validate the acoustics theory
that describes the relation between geometry and acoustic performance of interference absorbers; to
encode these relations in a computational design tool that enables highly customizable solutions for noise
and reverberation control; and to build and test a working prototype. Two companies, well-known in their
fields, contribute: Peutz, a consultancy in building physics and Materialise, a manufacturer of 3D printed
components. This project was initiated from the work of a student, whose MSc thesis was selected for the
national Archiprix 2012, an award for best MSc study in the field of Architecture in the Netherlands.

Besides, Michela Turrins PhD research focused on parametric and computational processes for
performance-oriented design. It included international collaborations, such as with the University of
Michigan (Dr. von Buelow) and Princeton University (dr.Axel Kilian); and the involvement in the design of a
4200 m roof in Italy (currently built). Michela Turrin was also involved in the design of a new office building
2

in Urfa (Turkey); and further research-collaborations with practice (i.e. on computational design for thermal
and daylight comfort) have been initiated with GWS Beijing and South China University of Technology;
and a Marie Curie grant allowed her to make visits to Beijing University of Technology for these projects.

6. Intellectual property
6.1 Contracts
There are no contracts or agreements with companies in the user committee or third parties, other than
with GlassX. For the 3TU Bouw Lighthouse project Double Face (see section past performance), we
signed a Materials Transfer Agreement with the Swiss company GlassX. This agreement deals with
confidentiality for GlassX not to disclose any information of that project in case of for instance
opportunities for patents arise. We do not foresee any impediments for utilisation.

Double Face 2.0 10

 6.2 Patents
TU Delft and the companies involved do not have a patent that directly relates to this research. A patent
search did show one patent that directly relates to the proposed thermal mass system. This patent deals
with a passive solar collector module for building envelopes (Amundarain Suarez, 2014). Furthermore, the
Swiss company GlassX does have a patent that relates to the use of phase change materials in glass
panels for faades (Schwarz, 2005). One important difference of our proposed system is that our system
will include higher levels of adjustability, like rotating or changing certain elements. These additional
adjustability elements in relation to the whole system may lead to a patent. If such an option arises, we will
discuss this first with the user committee and Technology Foundation STW.

7. Positioning of the project proposal

7.1 Uniqueness of the proposed project
In the past decades, several modifications to the classical Trombe wall have been proposed, most of
which however still relying on heavy thermal storage walls (Saadatian et al., 2012). Among the first studies
that investigated lightweight thermal storage systems in faades are the studies conducted by Kienzl
(1995), Manz et al. (1997), Weinlder et al. (2005) and Fiorito (2012). Recently also another group at the
firm Tecnalia in Spain has started working on lightweight solar walls for summer and winter use
(Amundarain Suarez, 2014). In principle, these Trombe walls and solar walls are still based on the
classical principle of being static objects with some performance adjustability using fans, sun screens and
valves. These systems lead to a heating energy reduction potential in the order of 17% for warm climates
(Castellon et al., 2009). Furthermore, these studies did not include the user aspect of usefulness and did
not include design aspects like identity. Our approach is unique and a leap forward in that we
1.) aim for a system with high levels of adjustability changing the whole behaviour of the system
according to specific conditions and needs at hand; as a result the energy-saving potential will
become much higher: in the order of 45% theoretically (Turrin et al., 2015);
2.) aim for a system in which the functioning will become part of the identity of the product; as a result,
awareness of people concerning sustainability issues will be increased which may lead to a so-called
spillover to other areas where pro-environmental behaviour is important (Evans et al., 2013).

7.2 Embedding of the proposed project

This proposal is initiated from the results of a project awarded as Lighthouse project in 2014 by the 3TU
Bouw Centre of Excellence for the Built Environment: Double Face. A short description of this project can
be found in section 5.4. Lighthouse projects are short imaginative projects related to Energy Innovation
and the Built Environment with a high risk of failure. The results of this project were so promising that we
decided to continue this research and shift the focus from the engineering towards the design component.

The proposed project lies on the boundary of two highly assessed research programs of TU Delfts Faculty
of Architecture: Green Building Innovation (GBI) and Computation & Performance (C&P).
The aim of the GBI program, led by prof Ulrich Knaack, is to provide the scientific foundations for a
sustainable built environment involving the competences of Products&Process, Building Envelopes,
Climate&Energy and Comfort&Health. The focus of the last two lies on the energy performance of
buildings and cities and on the comfort and health issues that relate to the thermal, acoustic, lighting and
air quality environment. Expertise of these groups includes the design of energy-efficient buildings, energy
performance simulations, energy and comfort monitoring and post-occupancy evaluation. Members of this
group have been involved in several large-scale (inter)national research projects, including: OFFICAIR
(EU FP7), SINPHONIE (EU DG Sanco), CITI-SENSE (EU FP7), EcoHeat4Cities (EU IEE), Celsius (EU
FP7), Better Airport Regions (NL NWO URD), UCER (NL TKI EnerGO), ADAM (STW OTP), several IEA
ECBCS research projects (Annexes 39, 44, 45, 62), RVO funded projects, and the Solar Decathlon 2014.
An important aim of C&P research program, led by prof. Kas Oosterhuis, prof Joop Paul and prof
Sevil Sariyildiz, is to apply the understanding of performance and quality to the computational design
process, so as to plan, construct and operate buildings or products where the reality meets or exceeds the
aspirations that motivated their production. Within this program this proposal has close links to the
following projects: Acoustics by parametric Design and Additive Manufacturing; Digital design in a
homogeneous environment (PhD research); Performance Based Design: New tendencies in lightweight
structures with regards to new materials and production methods (PhD research).

Double Face 2.0 11

 Furthermore, there are good contacts with prof. Manzan from the University of Trieste, an expert into the
use of PCM in buildings. The team is planning to have a visit of several weeks to Trieste for collaboration.

7.3 Request for support elsewhere

No financial support will be or is requested elsewhere for this project.

8. Financial planning
8.1 Personnel positions
Category1 Tariff
Position PhD, Postdoc, fte Months Name (optional)
NSP, SP, PDEng (zie salaristabel)*
1 SP 0.8 24 88,272
2 SP 0.7 24 77,238
3 NSP 0.4 12 18,211
1 (N)SP (non-)scientific personnel; PDEng Professional Doctorate in Engineering

8.2 Consumables
National travel costs for supervisors and researchers to industry partners: = 1,000
Bulk material for feeding the 3D printers and robotic arm printer = 6,000
Additional material needed for constructing the prototypes = 8,000
8.3 Travel abroad
Travel costs, lodging, and conference fees (*) for Postdoc: 2x 2,000 = 4,000
Travel costs, lodging, and conference fees (*) for supervisors 2x 2,000 = 4,000
(*) The conferences to be visited are the well-known design and building physics conferences like PLEA and eCAADe.

8.4 Investments
2 Hukseflux HFP01 heat flux plates 2x 340 = 680
1 Eltek GS24 transmitter thermocouple module 1x 378 = 378
2 Eltek GS41AV transmitter for air velocity sensors 2x 604 = 1,208
4 EplusE EE576 air velocity sensors 4x 246 = 984
100 m thermocouple wire type T 150
1 Kuka KR6 R700 sixx Industrial Robot including controls, teach
pendant, training and 1 year warranty or similar from ABB 25,000
3D printing extruder head, controller and additional parts (for robot) 6,000
1 3D printer Carbon3D or similar 5,000
1 3D printer FormLabs Form 1+ 3,400

8.5 Contribution from users

SHAU: approximately 50 man hours of contribution to the project: 50x106 euros/h = 5,300
GlassX AG: approximately 100 man hours of contribution to the project: 100x106 euros/h= 10,600
ESTECO S.p.A.: two year license for the modeFRONTIER software 3,000

8.6 Cost breakdown

Total project costs 268,421
Total contribution in cash 0
Total contribution in kind 18,900
Requested from STW (STW-bijdrage) 249,521

8.7 Letters of support

Annexes 4a, 4b and 4c: Letter of Support by SHAU, GlassX AG and ESTECO S.p.A..

Double Face 2.0 12

9. References
9.1 Selection of key publications research group
Baetens, R., Jelle, B.P., Thue, J.V., Tenpierik, M.J., Grynning, S., Uvslkk, S. and Gustavsen, A. (2010),
Vacuum insulation panels for building application: A review and beyond, Energy and Buildings 42
(2):147-172.
Setaki, F., Tenpierik, M., Turrin, M. and Timmeren, A. van (2014), Acoustic absorbers by additive
manufacturing, Building and Environment 72: 188-200.
Taleghani, M., Tenpierik, M. and Dobbelsteen, A. van den (2014), Energy performance and thermal
comfort of courtyard/atrium dwellings in the Netherlands in the light of climate change, Renewable
Energy 63: 486-497.
Taleghani, M., Tenpierik, M. and Dobbelsteen, A. van den (2013), A review into thermal comfort in
buildings, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 26: 201-215.
Tenpierik, M.J. and Kranenburg, C.J. van (2012), PCM: Opslag van warmte als latente energie, In: W.
Beemster (ed.), Innovatiecatalogus Stedebouw en Architectuur, Weka Publishers, Amsterdam, pp.
56-59.
Tenpierik, M.J. and Hasselaar, E. (2013), Reflective multi-foil insulations for buildings: a review, Energy
and Buildings 56: 233-243.
Tenpierik, M.J. and Cauberg, J.J.M. (2010), Encapsulated Vacuum Insulation Panels: Theoretical
Thermal Optimization, Building Research and Information 38 (6): 660-669.
Tenpierik, M.J., Cauberg, J.J.M. and Thorsell, T.I. (2007), Integrating vacuum insulation panels in
building constructions: an integral perspective, Construction Innovation 7 (1): 38-53.
Turrin, M., Buelow, P. von, Kilian, A. and Stouffs, R. (2012), Performative skins for passive climatic
comfort: A parametric design process, Automation in Construction 22: 36-50.
Turrin, M., Buelow, P. von and Stouffs, R. (2011), Design explorations of performance driven geometry in
architectural design using parametric modeling and genetic algorithms, Advanced Engineering
Informatics 25 (4): 656-675.
Turrin, M., Buelow, P. von, Kilian, A. and Stouffs, R. (2011), Parametric modeling and optimization for
adaptive architecture, In: Proceedings of the18th International Workshop of the European Group for
Intelligent Computing in Engineering, EG-ICE 2011, Twente University, Enschede, 6-8 July 2011.
Turrin, M., Tenpierik, M., Cohen, I., Stavrakantonaki, M., Sariyildiz, S. and Timmeren, A. van (2012),
Atrium in Shenyang Use of on-site energy resources for climate comfort in the atrium of a tobacco
factory in Shenyang, China, report for the Urban Knowledge Network Asia, TU Delft, Delft, p. 1-90.
Turrin, M., Tenpierik, M., Ruiter, P. de, Meijer, W., Chang Lara, C.A., Heinzelmann, F., Teuffel, P. and
Bommel, W. van (2015), Double Face, 3TU.Bouw newspaper Week van de Bouw, 9-13 Feb., p. 2-3.

9.2 List of publications cited

Amabile, T.M., (2011). The social psychology of creativity. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Amundarain Suarez, A., Campos Dominguez, J.M., Chica Paez, J.A., Meno Iglesias, S., Uriarte Arrien, A.,
Garay Martinez, R., Herrero Ruiz, J.C., Oliver Rips, M., Perez Barcenilla, S., Elguezabal Esnarriaga,
P., Romero Amorrortu, A., Apraiz Egana, I., (2014), Passive solar collector module for building
envelope. European Patent EP 2520870 B1, 5 March 2014.
Baird, G., (2003), Architectural Expression of Environmental Control Systems, Spon Press, London.
Beerda, B., (2015), Gevelelement bespaart energie, Cobouw, 3 Februari 2015, online available:
<http://www.cobouw.nl/nieuws/algemeen/2015/02/04/gevelelement-bespaart-energie>.
Broadbent, G., (1969), Design Method in Architecture, in Design Methods in Architecture.
Castellon, C., Castell, A., Medrano, M., Martorell, M., Cabeza, L.F., (2009), Experimental Study of PCM
Inclusion in Different Building Envelopes, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering 131 (4): 041006/1-6.
CBS (2015), StatLine - Woningvoorraad naar eigendom; regio, 2006-2012, retrieved April 15, 2015, from
the world wide web, <http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?VW=T&DM=SLNL&PA=71446ned>
Chance, T., (2009), Towards sustainable residential communities; the Beddington Zero Energy
Development (BedZED) and beyond, Environment and Urbanization, 21(2): 527-544.

Double Face 2.0 13

 Evans, L., Maio, G.R., Corner, A., Hodgetts, G.J., Ahmed, S., Hahn, U., (2013), Self-interest and pro-
environmental behaviour, Nature Climate Change 3: 122-125.
Fiorito, F., (2012), Trombe walls for lightweight buildings in temperate and hot climates. Exploring the use
of phase-change materials for performance improvement, Energy proceedia 30: 1110-1119.
Goldschmidt, G., (2001), Visual analogy a strategy for design reasoning and learning. In: C. Eastman,
W. Newsletter and M. McCracken, Editors, Design knowing and learning: cognition in design
education, Elsevier, New York, pp. 199219.
Kienzl, N., (1995), Advanced Building Skins. Translucent Thermal Storage Elements, MSc thesis,
Technical University of Munich, Munich.
Manz, H., Egolf, P.W., Suter, P., Goetzberger, A., (1997), TIM-PCM external wall system for solar space
heating and daylighting, Solar Energy 61 (6): 369-379.
Maciel, A.A., (2007), Bioclimatic Integration into the Architectural Design, PhD dissertation, University of
Nottingham, UK
Menges, A., (2012), Introduction, Architectural Design. Material Computation: Higher Integration in
Morphogenetic Design, 82 (2): 1421.
McGlynn, M., (2010), Environmental Design and Architectural Expression: Towards an Inclusive
Approach to Architectural Form Generation, Design Principles and Practices: An International
Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, pp.281-296. Article: Print (Spiral Bound).
Mlecnik, E., Kondratenko, I., (2012), Diepe renovatie van gebouwen in Europa kan 2 miljoen jobs
creren, be.passive 13: 35-36.
Pardalos, P.M., Resende, M.G.C., (2002), Handbook of applied optimization. Oxford University Press.
Pedrini, A. (2003), Integration of low energy strategies to the early stages of design process of office
buildings in warm climate, PhD dissertation, Department of Architecture Brisbane, The University
Queensland.
Roozenburg, N. F. M., Cross, N. G., (1991), Models of the design process: integrating across the
disciplines, Design Studies, 12(4): 215-220.
RVO (2015), Energie database, retrieved April 15, 2015, from the world wide web,
<http://www.senternovem.databank.nl/jive/>.
Saadatian, O., Sopian, K., Lim, C.H., Asim, N., Sulaiman, M.Y., (2012), Trombe walls: a review of
opportunities and challenges in research and development, Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews 16: 6340-6351.
Schwarz, D., (2005), Construction element for building that accumulates latent heat, US patent 6860079,
March 1, 2005.
Tombazis, N.A., (2009), Is Bioclimatic Architecture a New Style of Design? a Letter to a Young Architect,
Proceedings of ISES World Congress 2007, I-V: 124-128.
Turrin, M., Tenpierik, M., de Ruiter, P., Meijer, W., Chang Lara, C.A., Heinzelmann, F., Teuffel, P.,
van Bommel, W., (2015), Double Face, 3TU.Bouw newspaper Week van de Bouw, 9-13 Feb.,
p. 2-3.
Veloso, M., (1994), Planning and learning by analogical reasoning. Springer-Verlag.
Weinlder, H., Beck, A., Fricke, J., (2005), PCM-faade-panel for daylighting and room heating, Solar
Energy 78: 177-186.
Whyte, W., (2006) How do buildings mean? Some issues of interpretation in the history of architecture,
History and Theory 45(2): 153-177
Ziff, M.D., (2000), Exploring Pragmatics and Aesthetics in Design Education, Journal of Aesthetic
Education 34(2): 27-36
Zijlema, P.J., (2013), Berekening van de standaard CO2-emissiefactor aardgas t.b.v. nationale monitoring
2014 en emissiehandel 2014, AgentschapNL report UEMB1338336, AgentschapNL, Utrecht.

10. Abbreviations and acronyms

BP: Building Physics
C&P: Computation and Performance research program
DG sanco: European Directorate General for Health and Food Safety
DI: Design Informatics

Double Face 2.0 14

 EU: European Union
FDM: fused deposition modelling
FP7: 7th Framework Program
GBI: Green Building Innovation research program
IEA ECBCS: International Energy Agency Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems
IEE: Intelligent Energy Europe
NSP: non-scientific personnel
NWO: Nederlandse organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
OTP: open technologieprogramma
PCM: phase change material
RPM: Rapid Prototyping Machine
RVO: Rijskdienst Voor Ondernemend Nederland
SBA: Stichting Bureau Architectenregister
SLA: stereolithography
SP: scientific personnel
TKI: Topconsortia voor Kennis en Innovatie
TNO: Nederlandse organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek
UD: universitair docent
URD: Urban Regions in the Delta
3D: drie dimensionaal

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Double Face 2.0 15