Thirteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

Various methods of harmonizing artificial environments with natural environments are being proposed to establish nature-friendly buildings in modern cities. One such method, which concerns the application of ‘fractal structures’ found in nature to building envelopes, is becoming recognized as a means of applying an environmentally friendly building envelope. This particular method does not concern the application of simple fractal structures but rather the application of environmentally friendly envelopes via methods of creating building forms. In light of this, this study examined the applications of ‘fractals’ - structures that geometrically embody the concept of self-similarity in which a small structure endlessly repeats itself in a similar form to the entire structure. The purpose of the study focus was to establish basic research materials used to realize environmentally friendly building envelopes that harmonize artificial environments with natural environments. This harmony would be achieved through fractal structures having self-similarity and cyclical properties and entailing a simple structure that repeats endlessly. This study first examined the theories of ‘fractal structures’ and the means of expressing building envelopes. Second, cases of building envelopes that apply fractal structures were studied to analyze their environmentally friendly characteristics. As a building envelope that responds to the environment in consideration of the current urban problems associated with abrupt climate shift, the application of fractal structures is expected to give rise to an environmentally friendly architectural form that maintains balance with its external environment, conserves energy, and is nature-friendly.