European Facade Networks

The European climate and energy targets for 2020 demand significant improvement of the energy performance of buildings since one third of the end-user consumption is used for heating and cooling. Therefore, the building envelope is the central instrument to serve and demand significant technological improvements. This paper will present several European networks and areas of cooperation in the field of facade research and education. They reach from national activities that extend beyond the country itself to Europeoriented and funded programmes to activities that extend beyond Europe.

One activity that was purposely established with a European focus in mind is the European Facade Network (efn) and the accompanying traveling workshop programme efnMOBILE. The efn network is a group of currently ten European universities (Bristol, Bolzano, Darmstadt, Delft, Detmold, Istanbul, Lucerne, Odense, San Sebastian, Sofia), focusing on educational MSc programmes in the fields of facade technology and design.

COST action “TU1403 – the adaptive facade network Europe” is a EU-funded networking programme, which was developed as a development, educational and exchange platform. The COST network is oriented towards scientific research within the European community and encompasses 120 participants from 26 European countries. The group focuses on increasing knowledge by sharing knowledge and expertise between the various European research centres and industry branches. The overall target is to harmonise, share and disseminate technological knowledge.

The scientific Journal for Facade Design and Engineering – JFDE – was established as an open access platform for the distribution of knowledge and valorisation. Even though published at TU Delft, it specifically aims to include international contributions and a worldwide audience.

One example of a national activity that has international links is the 4TU.BOUW – Centre of Excellence for the Built Environment –, which will be explained in its principals, outline and financial setup.

All networks and activities target the development of building envelope technologies by improving energy reduction, energy generation and storage as well as user centred functionality. This is to be combined with the structured distribution of knowledge and development via valorisation (journal, conferences, books) as well as via education programmes by the participating partners like the MSc Facade programmes.