Biomimicry green façade: integrating nature into building façades for enhanced building envelope efficiency

Incorporating natural elements into the design of building façades, such as green façades, has emerged as a promising strategy for achieving sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. Biomimicry has become a key inspiration for the development of innovative green façade systems. However, there is still progress to be made in maximising their aesthetic and structural performance, and the application of advanced and generative design methods is imperative for optimising green façade architecture. This research aims to present a generative design-based prototype of a biomimicry green façade substrate with photosynthetic microorganisms to enhance building façade efficiency. The concept of green façades offers numerous advantages, as it can be adapted to a wide range of building structures and implemented in various climates. To achieve this, Rhino and Grasshopper were utilized to design the generative and parametric substrate, optimizing the architectural form using a genetic algorithm. Consequently, a bio-façade prototype was developed, determining the optimal number and shape of coral envelopes to maintain cyanobacteria within a generative and parametric façade. Furthermore, the photosynthetic microorganism façade acted as an adaptive façade, effectively improving visual and thermal comfort, daylighting, and Indoor Environmental Quality performance.