Modular Adaptive Facades: Systems for Urban Livability and Comfort indoor

The current application of adaptive façades remains limited due to high costs, technological complexity and difficulties in dismantling and reusing components. The research aims to improve indoor comfort and scalability across different climatic and functional contexts. Since no digital catalogue currently combines adaptive façade strategies with environmental impact indicators, this paper presents the first draft of a scalable and parametric catalogue of configurable modules for prefabricated façade systems and adaptive envelopes, grounded in the principles of Design for Disassembly (DfD) and Design for Adaptability (DfA), making this tool an innovative solution. The methodology includes three phases: state-of-the-art review, definition of circular design requirements, and development of three adaptive configurations representing key functional strategies, combinable into multiple façade configurations. The parametric catalogue makes adaptive façade systems more accessible and customizable for residential buildings. Multiple performance objectives can be achieved by implementing a digital tool to simultaneously control multiple parameters. However, some limitations remain at present: the catalogue, although customizable, still requires empirical validation through practical implementations and prototypes to confirm its effectiveness in different socio-climatic contexts and a pilot web application to ensure full operability, user accessibility, and commercial viability. This will be the next step of this research.