From the Efficiency of Nature to Parametric Design. A Holistic Approach for Sustainable Building Renovation in Seismic Regions

Abstract

Cities are growing dramatically. At the same time, we are witnessing the obsolescence of the existing building stock due to its low performance in terms of structural stability, energy efficiency and, last but not least, beauty. Especially in Italy, a highly seismic country, most of the buildings erected between the 1950s and the 1980s are not only earthquake-prone but also aesthetically unpleasant. In this perspective, the urgency of improving the existing building stock in terms of seismic vulnerability opens up the opportunity to also work on its architectural image. This article draws from the assumption that the search for beauty represents an important and often neglected dimension of the search for sustainability. In particular, the presented study suggests and combines the use of parametric design and the structural shape of steel exoskeletons to renovate a typical earthquake-prone apartment block from the 1960s in Italy. The results show that the proposed parametric approach can provide and select different effective renovation solutions.

Assessing the Transformability of Public Housing through BIM

“…Several efforts have been done in the last few years concerning the seismic-energy retrofitting strategy for residential buildings [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Nevertheless, regeneration processes have a substantial impact on all the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental) [17] and, concerning ERP stock housing, it should respect a holistic approach addressing not only energy interventions and structural strengthening but also new living spaces and new apartment architectural reconfigurations which better respond to user needs [18,19]. The goal of ERP housing renovation is to define regeneration interventions that integrate functional and spatial aspects with technological and constructive ones, combining retrofit with the demands of contemporary modification projects of suburbs [20].…”

Decision Support System for the Sustainable Seismic and Energy Renovation of Buildings: Methodological Layout

“…In particular, they explored the concept of the engineered double skin facade. D'Urso and Cicero proposed mesh exoskeletons to strengthen existing buildings through a parametric approach [16], paying particular attention to the architectural image, which is too often neglected in the combined redevelopment projects. Moreover, Calvi et al [17] propose the introduction of a "green and resilient indicator", in order to evaluate earthquake resilience and energy efficiency of existing buildings.…”

Seismic and Energy Retrofit of Apartment Buildings through Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks Infill Walls

“…Other studies deepened the concept of the engineered double-skin façade [19], also including energy dissipation systems [20], while D'Urso and Cicero proposed diagrid exoskeletons as a chance to strengthen a structure by means of parametric design [21], mainly trying to achieve the often-neglected beauty of the final output in a usual retrofit design process. The main difference with the present paper is related to the realization of an additional structure that requires a significant quantity of material and additional external space for the installation; however, it should be noted that exoskeletons can be more effective, especially from the structural point of view, making possible the achievement of higher levels of seismic upgrading.…”