Interactive Architecture for Enhancing Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in the Office Buildings

Thermal comfort and energy efficiency depend significantly on conditions prevalent in the environment, like the weather and climate. Optimizing thermal and energy efficiency is a challenging venture due to mutual conflicts occurring between the two. This research deliberates on how interactive architecture can be instrumental in achieving a building’s thermal comfort for the occupants and ensuring energy efficiency. The paper delves into building design that includes kinetic facades, and parametric design for implementing interactive architecture. In so doing, the method of implementation entails the use of automated systems and software applications designed to detect and monitor energy and heat changes to help establish the effectiveness of interactive architecture in providing thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings. The methodology of the research study is analytical descriptive for two interactive architecture design buildings in Abu Dhabi that illustrate the effect of interactive architecture on thermal comfort and energy efficiency. It is concluded that, despite interactive architecture posing a challenge in its implementation, it still influences thermal comfort and energy efficiency in office buildings.