ADAPTEX Klima+

Development of an adaptive textile through the integration of shape memory alloy for an autonomously controlled sun protection for public spaces in extreme climate regions.

Comfort factors such as temperature, air movement and glare play an increasingly important role in densifying public spaces. Within the framework of the development of ADAPTEX (basic research project) and the accompanying analyses of building typologies, it was determined that a responsive sun-shading textile activated by temperature changes in the immediate environment is particularly well suited for semi-public and public areas such as courtyards, squares, streets, lobbies, atriums, etc. In these usage scenarios, the activation is defined by climatic boundary conditions and no user interaction.

The ADAPTEX  Mesh and ADAPTEX Wave textile shading systems use the surrounding temperature and additional solar radiation to activate the textile structure and enable the closing of the surface. This ensures that maximum solar protection is provided in the case of strong solar radiation, preventing an overheating of the urban space. At the same time, the system allows for light- and air-transmission in cooler temperatures. The cooling reduces the heat load of adjacent buildings and thus passively reduces overall cooling requirements through an optimised microclimate. As a result, public and semi-public spaces can be used more intensively in extreme climates. 

The research project is being carried out by five partners from science and industry and is being funded as part of the smart3 consortium (www.smarthoch3.de, BMBF funding guideline Zwanzig20 – Partnership for Innovation). The weißensee school of art and design is responsible for research, content and operational aspects of the project, from the initial feasibility study to its implementation.