Sustainable architecture and human comfort through adaptive distributed systems

Distributed building systems have the potential to increase building performance toward zero energy / zero emission buildings in addition to raising occupant comfort. In this paper, we report on our concept and first prototype for a distributed facade system for power generation, reduction of heat gains and artificial lighting, and the creation of a new type of dynamic architectural expression. Rather than being preset, the components of the system interact with each other through the environment, as well with the user, in order to learn the optimal control policy from experience. This adaptation to the preferences of the occupant, together with the distributed approach results in an easy-to-use and easy-to-design system, which is necessary for conceiving sustainable buildings.