Taxonomy of Small-Format Latticework for Building Energy Modeling

|

Accepted: 2026-03-11

|

Published: 2026-04-30

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/vlc.2026.25232
Funding Data

Downloads

The following illustrative examples demonstrate the morphological, geometric, chromatic, and attachment diversity of perforated facades constructed with small-format concrete and ceramic elements. The year of construction, project name, responsible studio, and geographical location are indicated at the bottom of each example.

Keywords:

Perforated façades, energy efficiency in uilding envelopes, solar control elements, parameterization, protection devices

Supporting agencies:

This research was not funded

Abstract:

This study proposes a taxonomy to characterize small-format concrete and ceramic latticework, defining
the parameters required for its integration of Building Energy Modeling (BEM) tools, particularly EnergyPlus and
DesignBuilder. Preliminary findings, based on observational studies, an analysis of existing literature on perforated
facades, and a case study conducted in Panama, suggest the presence of morphological and geometric variability
in contemporary perforated facades. These findings lead to the indication of key variables, including module
geometry, position within the envelope system, perforation percentage, operating depth of the module, the internal
section of the opening, surface properties, material properties, and environmental function. These variables are
then organized into a framework that articulates the steps necessary for parameterization. A previous study, which
was monitored and calibrated, is used as a demonstration case to establish a correlation between variables and
input parameters in BEM. This correlation is intended to demonstrate the influence of these variables on the
agreement between simulation and measured performance. It is concluded that the incorporation of module geometric modeling parameters, as defined by the taxonomy, can enhance the predictive capacity of simulations, fortify the consistency of modeling, and facilitate reproducible comparative analyses that support energy design decisions in perforated envelopes.

Show more Show less

References:

Araújo, Bianca C. D. de, and Sylvio R. Bistafa. “Façade elements for natural ventilation and sound insulation.” Building Acoustics 19, no. 1 (2012): 25-43.

https://doi.org/10.1260/1351-010X.19.1.25.

Barbosa, Sabrina, and Klaus Chaves Alberto. “Effect of the double skin façade material on the thermal performance of the educational building in tropical climate.” Architectural Science Review 62, no. 3 (2019): 206–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/0 0038628.2019.1586640.

Bernardo, Graziella. “The new building components of the Modern Architecture.” VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability 8 (May 2023): 4–17. https://doi.org/10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2023.18830.

Blanco, Jesús María, Aiert Buruaga, Jesús Cuadrado, and Arturo Zapico. “Assessment of the influence of façade location and orientation in indoor environment of double-skin building envelopes with perforated metal sheets.” Building and Environment 163 (October 2019): 106325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.106325.

Camacho, Darwin Onésimo Jaime, Helenice Maria Sacht, and Egon Vettorazzi. “De los elementos perforados al cobogó: histórico de uso en la arquitectura brasilera y consideraciones sobre su adaptación al clima.” PARC Pesquisa em Arquitetura e Construção 8, no. 3 (2017): 205. https://doi.org/10.20396/parc.v8i3.8650237.

Campusano Santos, Yenny. “El Cobogó en la arquitectura moderna: evolución, materiales y tecnología.” Master’s thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2014. https://hdl.handle.net/2099.1/24952.

Castillo-DR, Rosnery, Oriol Paris-Viviana, and Montserrat Bosch. “Thermal performance evaluation of a double skin façade with latticework solar protection: a case study in a humid tropical climate (Panama).” Energy and Buildings 351 (January 2026): 116747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116747.

Chi, Doris A., David Moreno, and Jaime Navarro. “Design optimisation of perforated solar façades in order to balance daylighting with thermal performance.” Building and Environment 125 (November 2017): 383–400.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j. buildenv.2017.09.007.

Dastoum, Mana, Carmen Sánchez Guevara, and Beatriz Arranz. “Efficient daylighting and thermal performance through tessellation of geometric patterns in building façade: a systematic review.” Energy for Sustainable Development 83 (December 2024): 101563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2024.101563.

Elzeyadi, Ihab M.K., and Ayesha Batool. “Veiled facades: impacts of patterned-mass shades on building energy savings, daylighting autonomy, and glare management in three different climate zones.” In Proceedings of Building Simulation 2017: 15th Conference of International Building Perfomance Simulation Association Conference, San Francisco, USA August 7-9, 2017, 2651–60. San Francisco, CA: International Building Perfomance Simulation Association, IBPSA 2017. https://doi. org/10.26868/25222708.2017.772.

Emami, Niloufar, and Harry Giles. “Geometric patterns, light and shade: quantifying aperture ratio and pattern resolution in the performance of shading screens.” Nexus Network Journal: Architecture and Mathematics 18, no. 1 (2016):

197–222.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-015-0279-z.

Kalla, Ruma, Ravish Kumar, and Sandeep Kumar. “Integrated ventilation strategies for energy efficiency enhancement in buildings: a case study of a hot and arid climate region.” Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research 15, no. 4 (2025): 26076–84. https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.12298.

Nordin, Norhaslin, Muhammad Azzam Ismail, and Ati Rosemary Mohd Ariffin. “Ventilation blocks: design feature in Malaysia public schools.” Journal of Design and Built Environment 19, no. 1 (2019): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.22452/jdbe.vol19no1.1.

París Viviana, Oriol. Un material para imaginar: innovación y singularidad en las fachadas de hormigón de Escofet. Barcelona: Escofet, 2023.

París Viviana, Oriol, Felipe Pich-Aguilera Baurier, Zuzana Procházkova, and Davide Zampini. “Climate concrete-prefabricated solution for bioclimatic façade design.” In International Conference on Construction Research Eduardo Torroja: Architecture, Engineering and Concrete: AEC, 21, 22, 23 November 2018, 1–8. Madrid: Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, IETcc-CSIC, 2018. https://hdl.handle.net/2117/339745.

Pich-Aguilera, Felipe, Teresa Batlle, and Pau Casaldàliga. “Concepción y realización de celosías cerámicas, una evolución constructiva.” Informes de la Construcción 68, no. 544 (October-November 2016): e170. https://doi.org/10.3989/ic.15.158.m15.

Pouran, Mahdi, Farivar Fazelpour, G. B. Gharehpetian, and Alireza Saraei. “The effect of phase change material application in double skin façade on energy saving of residential buildings considering different climates: a case study.” Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 46, no. 1 (2024): 209–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2282143.

Srisamranrungruang, Thanyalak, and Kyosuke Hiyama. “Balancing of natural ventilation, daylight, thermal effect for a building with double-skin perforated facade (DSPF).” Energy and Buildings 210 (March 2020): 109765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.109765.

Turner, Lewis, Siliang Yang, and Michael White. “Study of energy saving potential of solar shading devices in various climates.” In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Building Energy and Environment, COBEE 2022, edited by Liangzhu Leon Wang, Hua Ge, Zhiqiang John Zhai, et al., 1181-89. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2023. https:// doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9822-5_124. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9822-5.

Valladares-Rendón, L. G., Gerd Schmid, and Shang-Lien Lo. “Review on energy savings by solar control techniques and optimal building orientation for the strategic placement of façade shading systems.” Energy and Buildings 140 (April 2017): 458–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.12.073.

Verdasco, Ángel. “A ceramic double skin in an educational center in Melilla.” In Construction and Building Research, edited by Carmen Llinares-Millán, Igor Fernández-Plazaola, Francisco Hidalgo-Delgado, et al., 97–102. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7790-3_13.

Vettorazzi, Egon, Filipe Rebelo, António Figueiredo, Romeu Vicente, Marcelo Langner, and Gabriel Feiertag. “Expressions of Arab influence on the Brazilian Architecture: the case of solar control elements.” Buildings 14, no.1(2024).https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010194.

Show more Show less