Timber Active Envelopes: Modular Facades for Resilient Built Environments

(April 2024 - December 2025)

Principal Investigators: Dr Eugenia GASPARRI, University of Sydney; Prof HENG Chye Kiang
Co-PIs: Dr Aysu KURU, Assoc Prof Arianna BRAMBILLA, University of Sydney; Dr CHEN Tianyi, Dr Carlos CLEMENT, Prof NG Ming Shan

Project Overview

This multidisciplinary research project tackles critical challenges in decarbonising the construction sector, enhancing building energy sufficiency, strengthening food security, and bolstering urban resilience. The project focuses on developing innovative, high-performance façade systems for multi-storey buildings using low-carbon materials, such as mass timber, which are integrated with active technologies for renewable energy production, including Building-Integrated Photovoltaics – BIPVs, and vertical farming (Building-Integrated Agriculture - BIA).

Key Objectives

  • Design and prototype modular, fully prefabricated timber façade systems that are easy to assemble, disassemble, and maintain.
  • Assess hygrothermal performance and moisture safety under Singapore and Australian climatic conditions.
  • Evaluate environmental and economic benefits of the façade systems using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Analysis.
  • Demonstrate technical feasibility through the construction of full-scale prototypes.


Key Achievements

  • Development of novel Timber Active Envelope (TAE) designs combining sustainable materials with active technologies.
  • Successful collaboration between two leading universities in sustainable construction.
  • Industry partnerships established with Permasteelisa Group and ARC Advance Timber Hub.
  • Completion of prototype construction and exhibition.
  • Submission of journal and conference publications.
  • Laying of foundation for future large-scale research funding applications.
The Active Timber Envelope (ATE) system integrates two modular and unitised active technologies: solar PV and vertical farming. ATE offers customisable facade options, including an opaque solar PV facade with insulation and a semi-transparent double-glazed facade with integrated vertical farming, to meet specific building design requirements.
The Active Timber Envelope (ATE) system integrates two modular and unitised active technologies: solar PV and vertical farming. ATE offers customisable facade options, including an opaque solar PV facade with insulation and a semi-transparent double-glazed facade with integrated vertical farming, to meet specific building design requirements.