Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - faculty of Engineering - Department of Architectural Engineering

Designing buildings which are sustainable and can reduce the energy consumption is such an architectural turn. Historically, buildings were designed paying attention to the surrounding environmental conditions, using natural materials and creating comfortable indoor environment. Along with the technical development, buildings were designed depending on the technical systems to maintain the interior comfort that lead to the increasing of energy consumption and pollution of the environment. One of the most important methods of saving energy in a building is carefully designing its facade. Building{u2019}s facade is one of the most significant contributors to the energy budget as well as the comfort parameters of a building. The thesis will highlight the environmental concerns facing the world, the increasing rates of energy consumption in the entire world, Egypt specifically and the impact of buildings on the environment in order to achieve the indoor human comfort. Responsive architecture will also be studied, on the scope of history, types, technology of movement and the problems facing it. Responsive architecture adapts to the surrounding environment causing alteration in the envelope configuration to perform in a more effectively way. The thesis will analyze two international buildings, located in two different climatic regions. They use different types of responsive architecture. Three main points will be examined, which are the type of responsive architecture used, the technology of movement and the effect of the responsive architecture on each building. A comparative study between the two buildings will be composed, showing the differences and similarities between the two types of responsive architecture used

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