Sustainable Urban Planning for High-Rise Residential Complexes Using an Adaptive Facade System

This study proposes a sustainable urban planning strategy that enhances building energy self-sufficiency through photovoltaic-based renewable energy generation. This research focused on high-rise residential complexes and introduces an adaptive facade system designed to efficiently utilize the extensive solar-exposed surfaces of building facades. The system was programmed to automatically adjust according to the optimal tilt angle, which reflects monthly variations in solar altitude and azimuth, thereby maximizing energy generation. To further improve the effectiveness of the adaptive facade system, a “bridge-type apartment complex” layout was developed, in which building orientations varied around a south-facing axis to include southeast and southwest orientations. The proposed urban configuration was developed using a parametric design within the building information modeling software Revit 2023, and energy generation simulations were conducted for Seoul, South Korea, using Insight (a Revit plug-in) during 2024. Simulation results revealed that bridge-type apartment complexes achieved higher levels of renewable energy generation than conventional slab-type apartment complexes. These findings suggest that a three-dimensional urban design incorporating diverse facade orientations, combined with a dynamic adaptive facade system, not only enhances energy efficiency but also offers the potential to create creative and flexible urban landscapes that contrast with conventional, uniform cityscapes.