Perforated building envelopes based on a parametric approach: a conceptual framework to improve indoor environmental quality

One trend in building design is building envelopes with perforated patterns, which create a sculptural envelope using parametric and generative design tools to adapt to environmental conditions and user preferences. However, there are gaps in understanding the potential benefits of perforated building envelopes (PBEs) and their key design parameters used in contemporary projects. Therefore, this study aims to examine the classification of PBE design parameters and their commonly used parametric design tools that provide appropriate indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for buildings. The study is based on (1) a review of relevant studies, and (2) an analysis of case studies of contemporary projects. The results reveal relationships between key design variables of contemporary PBEs based on a conceptual framework developed in terms of (a) general building properties, (b) detailed envelope properties, and (c) environmental performance indicators. This study contributes to the field of architecture by providing a design strategy for creating PBEs based on a parametric approach and highlights the importance of considering IEQ in the early digital modelling process. By applying the five-stage strategy: creativity, configuration, generation, performance, and evaluation, it was found that PBEs can be a powerful tool to enhance energy efficiency by about 26.91% compared to glazed envelopes in Egypt, which may lead to improved IEQ. Future research could apply the proposed strategy to explore the impact of PBEs on various IEQ indicators.