Timber HyperSkins: Advanced Timber-based Materials for Façade Design

Abstract

The interest around advanced bio-based materials has grown in the last years due to an increased interest in products and materials with a low environmental impact. Some of these materials have been studied and applied to a series of innovative architectural designs to demonstrate their applicability to architecture. Most of them have been applied to the building envelope and in particular to façades. However, only a few of these materials have been commercialised. Research has identified a lack of knowledge on their properties, performance, and architectural integration. This research aims to further understanding of their properties from an architectural perspective and to extend the study of their possible use in façade design. To achieve this goal, the research investigates advanced timber-based materials, their properties, and performance related to façade design. The research provides a literature review on biobased materials and advanced timber-based materials. In total, 29 case studies of advanced timber-based materials are identified. These case studies involve four types of advanced timberbased materials: timber/PCM composite material, transparent wood, timber-based moisturesensitive material, and wood polymer composite (WPC). These are classified into three categories based on their functions and applications: the improvement of thermal performance, indoor humidity control, and the decoration and protection of building envelopes. By collecting data from relevant literature, the research provides separate analyses for individual types of advanced timber-based materials, summarises results according to different factors, and identifies limits and further research needed. The results show that the most advanced timber-based materials have properties and a performance level that are adequate for façade applications, and their limitations depend on their stage of development. The common limitations of their applications include environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, difficulty and the high cost of maintenance, and the requirement for more knowledge than conventional materials. In addition, the research indicates the future development of these materials that involves the improvement of material properties and the possibility of practical applications. The results may be valuable for researchers and architectural designers by helping them experiment with advanced timberbased materials in façade design and providing information for the further development of existing bio-based materials from an architectural perspective.