Shape morphing solar shadings: A review

This paper provides an overview of available innovative shape morphing building skins and their design principles. In particular, the proposed review deals with comfort-related issues associated with dynamic solar shading devices, building integration of smart materials, and morphological analyses related to the most recent shape morphing solar skins. In the first part of the paper, an introduction to the typologies of movement in architecture, its concept and application are presented. An explanation of biomimetic principles together with an overview of user’s response to dynamic shading devices is also provided. This is followed by the description of the design principles for shape morphing solar shadings with particular focus on energy and comfort aspects, smart materials and biomimetic principles for efficient movements. A review of most recent developments on the topics of comfort, users’ response and control of dynamic shading devices, is presented and summarized in a comparison table. The main technical and mechanical properties of the most diffused smart materials (Shape Memory Alloys, Shape Memory Polymers and Shape Memory Hybrids) that can be used for innovative shape morphing solar skins are illustrated in detail and compared. Biomimetic principles for efficient movements complete this part of the work. The principles illustrated in the previous part of this paper are then used to critically analyse the most recent examples of building integrated shape morphing shadings.