Today's cybertecture: smart control over the building envelope. Ideas from Schüco

We can endlessly discuss the smart gadgets that people have at their disposal today in their office or home, but we would like to focus on the innovations that directly relate to architecture and are part of the construction of the building. We talk about the progress in the direction of Smart building envelopes with the support of Schüco experts.

And where did it all start?

The 1933th century became the century of rapid automation of the household sphere. After appreciating the fruits of the second industrial revolution and the ease of use of the first electric vacuum cleaners and toasters, people wanted to realize the long-standing dream of mankind — to transfer the maximum amount of routine to assistant robots. And not only the production routine, but also the home routine. At the XNUMX World's Fair in Chicago, the Home of Tomorrow Pavilion featured dimmable lighting systems, central home air conditioning, and automatic garage doors.

The futuristic aspirations of humanity affected literature, cinematography, and culture in general. In one issue of 1939, the American magazine Popular Mechanics published an article called "The Electric House of the Future", which described a cottage with an automatically opening door, an intercom and intelligent lighting. "The house of the future is likely to be equipped with several control centers, and any housewife will be able to issue commands," wrote the author of the article, George H. Bucher. In fact, he described the cottage as being from the 2020s.

The XNUMXth century became the century of rapid automation of the household sphere. After appreciating the fruits of the second industrial revolution and the ease of use of the first electric vacuum cleaners and toasters, people wanted to realize the long-standing dream of mankind — to transfer the maximum of routines to assistant robots

The Second World War significantly slowed down progress, directing the efforts of inventors and scientists in another direction. But in the 60s, the US and Europe again returned to hedonistic futurism, which, despite crises and challenges, reached its peak in the early 2000s. The pandemic and climate change have only accelerated the adoption of services and software for smart buildings.

It is quite difficult to say who can rightly be called the "father of smart buildings". The concept was developed by many architects, engineers and other specialists on different continents. The definitions of "smart building", "intelligent building", "cybertecture" can be considered synonyms.

The term "intelligent building" was first used by the United Technologies Corporation in 1981 in the United States. The City Place Building in Hartford, Connecticut (USA) was named the world's first intelligent building. In the US, the National Institute of Building Sciences even appeared, and in 1989 it gave the following interpretation: "An intelligent building provides a productive and cost-effective environment by optimizing the four main elements: structures, systems, services and management, as well as the relationships between them".

In Ukraine, the most common term is "smart home", introduced in 1984 by the American association of home builders The National Association of Home Builders. In 1984, a New York Times article wrote that developers are creating "a new generation of buildings that think almost independently - so-called intelligent buildings." By the way, the term "cybertecture" also comes from the 80s (and is not at all an invention of the architect and futurist James Low from Hong Kong, famous for his capsule houses and speeches at techno forums).

"A house is a machine for housing," was how Le Corbusier formulated the principle of constructivist architecture. Paraphrasing the master, we can say that the house of the XXI century is a computer for housing

Today, people already understand what smart appliances are in their kitchen, but what are Smart building envelopes? Here's how it explains it Oleksiy Sverchkov, commercial director of Schüco Ukraine: "I'm sure that people who are far from construction have heard about a smart house, many even have a general idea of ​​how it works. For a relatively long time, there are applications for controlling various devices, platforms that combine it all into a single whole, and even voice assistants, such as Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, Microsoft's Cortana, Amazon's Alexa, and others. But in order to control objects remotely, those objects must allow you to do so. We no longer perceive it as something incredible that many of the electrical appliances today can be connected to some application, and the user can control them through the Internet or other communication channels. These are office and household appliances, various equipment (boilers, cleaning systems, generators, etc.).

It turns out that it is also possible to control transparent elements, this is exactly the peculiarity of Schüco systems. We are by no means creating a new smart home system, we are enabling existing systems to be expanded to control windows, doors, facades, sun protection and more. Several years ago, we made a strategic decision that all our systems can be motorized if desired.

For this, we have created a whole platform of Schüco TipTronic mechatronic accessories, which we have already talked about many times. The principle is that all "outputs" from our designs have free code and can be connected to the most common smart home control protocols, such as KNX and BACnet. Simply put, by adjusting indoor climate and lighting from your smartphone, you can also control windows, doors, roller shutters and other elements of your home. Currently, for those consumers who do not have a smart home system, but have our windows, doors or sliding systems equipped with Schüco TipTronic fittings, we provide additional comfort with our Schüco Building Skin Control (BSC App), Schüco IoF and BlueCon applications.”

Connected by the same network

The ideal relationship between individual units and gadgets really remained unattainable for a long time. It would seem that the idea is quite transparent, and the benefits are obvious. But still, until the millennium, a smart home remained mainly the prerogative of people who have an unlimited budget for organizing their own comfort. The problem is the cost of smart gadgets and the fact that not all of them are "friends" with each other. The garage opened with one remote, the lights turned on with another, and each door required a special key and a special setting.

In 1999, British engineer and inventor Kevin Ashton formulated the concept of connecting physical objects to each other using sensors in one network and proposed the term Internet of Things — IoT. And only in 2014, the tech giants Samsung, Dell and Intel founded the Open Interconnect Consortium and agreed on a protocol that allows connecting IoT devices from different manufacturers into one network. Advances in wireless communications such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee have contributed to the wider adoption of IoT devices.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "All our elements with Schüco TipTronic fittings are open source and easily connect to a single building management system"

For example, the window, door and ventilation control system from Schüco is compatible with light and heating control systems, says Oleksiy Sverchkov: "All our elements with Schüco TipTronic fittings are open source and easily connect to a single building control system. Therefore, if you wish, you can control lighting, climate and ventilation, windows and sliding doors together and separately, and all this will be combined into a single software complex. Of course, such complex and modern software complexes require a professional approach. Specialized companies deal with the installation of smart home systems and the adjustment of equipment and its subsequent maintenance. Since this industry is developing rapidly, it is necessary to constantly monitor software updates and modernization of the system itself. Only a small number of enthusiasts can independently understand the complex of devices and software, while most consumers prefer to trust professionals."

The level of intelligence, or "IQ", of a smart building depends on how interconnected its systems are and how clearly they interact and exchange information. SmartScore or WiredScore certificates are introduced to assess intelligence. They evaluate a building's internet connectivity, IoT device connectivity, and overall level of technological quality, similar to how LEED or BREEAM evaluates a building's environmental and energy efficiency. Thousands of smart buildings have already been built in the world, and it is simply impossible to list them all. Here are just a few examples.

The Edge office building, designed by PLP Architecture to house the employees of the Deloitte headquarters in Amsterdam and completed in 2014, remains among the leaders of the rating to this day. 28 IoT sensors are integrated into the Mapiq control system. The building has an exceptional BREEAM certificate.

The Edge's peer is Glumac's Shanghai headquarters (designed by Glumac, Terrapin Bright Green, Gensler, Shimizu, GIGA), which is Asia's first zero-energy, zero-water and zero-carbon project with LEED Platinum accreditation.

In the US, there are hundreds of smart buildings competing with each other. 800 Fulton Market, due to open in 2021, is designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as "Chicago's smartest building." The newcomer has already received a full bouquet of certificates: platinum LEED, WELL Gold, SmartScore and WiredScore.

One Central Park in Sydney, designed by Jean Nouvel and opened in 2017, is a mixed-use complex famous for its Sky Garden system, which uses smart home technology to control energy consumption and create a sustainable environment. A cantilevered heliostat with automatically controlled mirrors captures sunlight and directs it onto the vertical gardens. In the dark, the heliostat is an interactive screen or a huge lighting device.

The door opens

The ancient Greek mathematician and mechanic Heron of Alexandria is known not only as the inventor of mechanical dolls, which became prototypes of robots, but also as the inventor of automatic doors. He invented the mechanism of the temple doors, which opened at the appointed time before the arrival of the priests.

In the 1931th century, Heron's idea was rethought. The first self-opening door was installed in XNUMX at Wilcox's Pier in Connecticut, opening in front of waiters with both hands busy with plates and trays. At the request of the owner of the restaurant, engineer Horace H. Raymond of the Stanley Works company developed a drive connected to an optical device. A sample of automatic doors working with optics can be seen today at the entrance to one of the buildings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Later, in 1954, Horton Automatics founders Dee Horton and Lew Hewitt marketed automatic sliding doors that were windproof enough to be used as entrances to public buildings—stores, hotels, offices, train stations, and more. Since then, automatic door control technologies have become much more sophisticated and offer many usage scenarios.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "The development of Schüco BlueCon deserves a detailed description. Actually, it is a sensor based on NFC technology, which allows you to create a pair between the door and the owner's phone. When a person approaches the door at a distance of 5 m, it opens automatically.

There are various interaction scenarios and their combinations. For this, only the reading device itself changes. For example, openings are possible using:

• smartphone;
• keychain;
• code;
• fingerprint;
• Face ID.

This is a relatively inexpensive and compact solution that allows you to equip almost any door (made not on the basis of Schüco systems as well) that has an electric lock or an electric bolt. It does not require complex and comprehensive smart home systems, it is a local, simple and very effective tool to modernize your front door and provide complete access control.

Schüco BlueCon is a very useful device that also allows you to save money. For example, if you rent an apartment through different services, you do not need to leave to hand over the keys. You can send access to the premises for a certain period with a simple message

Many small hotels use this feature to save on the night desk: guests can check in even at night by simply scanning the barcode you send. It is very convenient for various small salons and workshops, when it is not possible to constantly monitor the entrance door, but at the same time it is necessary to provide the client with access to the premises."

Evolution of the window

The first reason windows need automation is ease of use. Not all windows are located at an accessible height: there are skylights, windows in greenhouses or for solar lights. In large buildings, for example in offices or enterprises, it is necessary to open and close a large number of windows, so it is obvious that an automated solution is better. If the premises are guarded in the evening, automated systems can ensure that all windows are closed before the alarm is activated.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "Management is carried out both by individual wings and by entire groups. For example, floor-to-floor or on facades facing a certain direction. For this, the Schüco range includes special "automation managers" that combine individual elements into such groups, after which they are already combined into a single building management system. One "automation manager" can combine from 1 to 30 movable shutters, but the number of such groups combined into a smart home management system is no longer limited. Also, the "automation manager" with appropriate additional components allows you to control elements remotely, monitors breakdowns and errors in operation, and if retrofitted with an IP Gateway module, allows remote maintenance and troubleshooting. This makes periodic maintenance of opening elements timely and efficient.

The system monitors the number of opening-closing cycles, response time, information about malfunctions and signals this to the service department in a timely manner. If it was not possible to eliminate the malfunction remotely, a request for a service engineer to visit the place is automatically received. Last year, we had a novelty, these are small Schüco SenseTrack sensors, which are shaped like small hardware hooks. Using a radio signal, they transmit information about the state of the window (open or closed, as well as the number of such cycles). The peculiarity is that they do not require power, but work on the energy produced when the window is closed. There can be one device on the floor that reads such single signals from individual leaves and then transmits information about them to the central control panel or application. This is a very budget-friendly and effective solution for windows that are not equipped with automation. We can know when it is necessary to carry out window maintenance and plan work schedules, and even optimize the route of the service service. For private households, information about the state of the window can be transmitted to the user's smartphone using a special application."

Management scenarios can take into account both the schedule set by a person and external factors such as weather or air quality. For example, at the Harvard Green Building Center and HouseZero, a naturally ventilated laboratory building, windows open automatically in response to measured air quality readings. This function is urgently needed in large cities, where smog, unfortunately, is not uncommon.

In Schüco One, Schüco's headquarters in Bielefeld, windows and sunblinds can be controlled centrally, but employees still have the option of opening and closing them manually. In this way, individual comfort is created.

Air conditioners, which over the centuries have evolved from a machine that created ice with the help of a compressor and was driven by horse, water, wind or steam, to a compact and elegant device, have also turned into an integral attribute of a comfortable home. But sun protection and natural ventilation of buildings significantly reduce the costs of forced cooling or heating and are a priority in the concepts of sustainable construction.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "As for ventilation, windows that open are the most effective natural ventilation. It is the automatic openings combined into groups that allow us to carry out the so-called morning ventilation, when in advance, for example, 20-30 minutes before the start of the working day, all rooms of the office building are centrally ventilated, and employees start the working day with fresh air, and the room temperature Automatic ventilation control makes it possible to ventilate large classrooms or halls in a short time, if it is a classroom or, for example, fitness studios. Increasing productivity, improving well-being and comfort are the advantages that automation gives us."

Previously in articles "Window of opportunities: how facade systems help to manage the microclimate of the home and office" we talked about climate solutions and, in particular, about the variety of sun protection systems.

Outdoor sun protection is, without a doubt, highly effective, economical and affordable. But more and more attention is paid to the use of windows, where the panes themselves are able to adapt to the situation and wishes of a person

Back in the early 1980s, scientists from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the National Laboratory named after Lawrence in Berkeley, California, developed adaptive glass that can dynamically change its shade. Dimming was achieved by applying electric pulses to the conductors placed between the layers of glass. By blocking light waves of a certain length, in particular ultraviolet, smart windows prevent overheating of the room and provide comfortable light brightness for a person.

There are windows that respond not to light or a signal from the remote control, but to temperature. For example, vanadium dioxide (VO2) reacts to high temperature by reflecting infrared light. Thermosensitive materials have already been invented that accumulate heat during daylight hours and release it when the need for heating arises. The script can be programmed or the function can be controlled using a remote control or a smartphone. For example, with Schüco's smart tinted windows, functions can be controlled automatically, at the touch of a button or via the SageGlass® mobile app.

The smart glass market is already around $8 billion and will only grow. In an effort to make products more affordable, scientists are experimenting with various electrochromic and thermochromic materials. The task is to reduce the price of dynamically adapting windows to the level of ordinary energy-saving double-glazed windows, so that it becomes possible to use them not only in the construction of high-tech architectural landmarks, but also everywhere.

Donations

All smart solutions for offices can be used for living spaces with equal success and benefit. There are no fundamental differences.

"The only difference is that for individual housing, the management should be more individually configured. This involves different scenarios of interaction of devices and a smaller number of them combined into a single system. There are many different home management programs available now, and their "equipment libraries" are expanding exponentially. "Almost all manufacturers of appliances introduce entire lines of products into their range that can be connected to a smart home," explains Oleksiy Sverchkov.

James Sinopoli, author of Smart Building Systems for Architects, Owners, and Builders, a practical guide for construction and design professionals, writes: “The driving forces behind smart buildings are economics, energy, and technology. For developers and owners, smart homes increase the value of real estate. For real estate and facilities managers, smart buildings provide more efficient subsystems and more efficient management options, such as system management consolidation. For architects, engineers and construction contractors, this means unifying parts of design and construction, resulting in savings and increased efficiency in project management and planning."

"Practically all manufacturers of appliances introduce entire lines of products into their assortment that have the ability to connect to a smart home," explains Oleksiy Sverchkov

Smart systems require investment because they involve the purchase and installation of equipment, as well as training to use it effectively. However, in the long run, these costs are always justified.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "Any investment requires preliminary analysis and decision-making based on accurate data. Building maintenance costs, the cost of energy and other resources are increasing every year, so the possibility of cost management appears to be an attractive investment. We no longer have questions about whether it is worth installing motion sensors in corridors that control lighting, although a few years ago such investments were perceived by some as excessive. Today, the philosophy of smart consumption and saving resources has given impetus to the development of equipment control and management systems, and this applies not only to electricity, but to almost everything that surrounds us.

The second aspect of using smart home systems is comfort. If it can make a person even a little happier, such an investment is already justified. Someone wants to open windows or curtains, turn lights on and off using voice commands, someone wants to remotely control the climate and air quality in their home, and someone wants to adjust the temperature in the bathroom via smartphone. All this became possible with the help of smart home systems. Of course, such services make real estate more attractive in the eyes of investors."

Time to decide

At what stage should the customer decide whether their windows and doors will be smart or conventional? From the designer's point of view, the sooner the better. Since smart home design involves the integration of various technologies and systems, the smart home architect must consider several key aspects.

1. Automation systems:

• lighting: the use of smart lighting systems that can adjust the intensity of light depending on the time of day, the presence of people in the room and user preferences;
• climate control: integration of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with the possibility of controlling programs or automated scenarios.

2. Smart devices:

• smart thermostats: adjusting the temperature in the house depending on the habits of the residents and weather conditions;
• smart locks and alarms: the ability to remotely control access to the house and monitor security.

3. Integration with the network:

• smart sensors: the use of sensors to monitor the state of various parameters, such as the level of illumination, temperature, humidity, etc.;
• Internet of Things (IoT): Connecting different devices over a network to share data and coordinate their work.

4. Energy efficiency:

• energy-saving technologies: the use of sensors and automated systems to optimize energy consumption, for example, turning off electrical appliances without people;
• solar panels: integration of renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on power.

5. Interface and management:

• voice control: the use of voice control systems that allow residents to control smart devices using voice commands;
• mobile applications: development of convenient mobile applications for remote monitoring and control of smart home systems.

6. Security and Privacy:

• data encryption: ensuring the security of data transmitted between smart home devices and systems;
• access control systems: use of modern methods of authentication and access control.

The designer of a smart home must take into account the needs and preferences of residents, ensure the reliability and safety of systems, and strive to integrate various devices and technologies to create a unified and efficient smart home system.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "As for Schüco products, not only the functionality of our products is important to us, but also their design. We want our windows and doors to meet the highest aesthetic standards. Therefore, we hide all structural elements (drives, wiring, sensors, hooks, etc.) inside the profiles, while maintaining convenient access to them. For example, an automatic window or door is outwardly no different from a mechanical one, so you can combine them, optimizing costs. For this, a separate nomenclature of profiles is used, which have special channels and outputs for this purpose. Also, during the assembly of such an element, special accessories are installed that allow high-quality wiring and installation of all automation components.

Oleksiy Sverchkov: "As for Schüco products, not only the functionality of our products is important to us, but also their design. We want our windows and doors to meet the highest aesthetic requirements."

Therefore, we must know in advance whether the windows, doors or sliding structure will be operated automatically. The idea of ​​"upgrading later" seems simple, but in reality it is practically unrealistic, because it is not only about the windows and doors themselves, but about the entire equipment complex. In order for costs to be effective, it will be correct to design automation elements at the stage of finishing works. Although there is always the possibility of retrofitting and expanding the function with the help of additional blocks or software.

Who is driving the IoT?

People are becoming increasingly mobile. Mobility, the opportunity to travel and live in different parts of the world is an absolute value for each of us (with the exception of convinced isolationists). And yet the image of a cozy house with indoor flowers and a beloved pet remains fundamental and valuable, while imposing obligations. While you're traveling, someone has to protect your house, take care of your flowers, play with and feed your cat, keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Artificial intelligence becomes that someone. Transferring IoT control functions to artificial intelligence seems like a logical next step.

Voice control systems first appeared in the 1950s and 1960s, when Bell Laboratories developed the Audrey system, which could recognize numbers spoken with a single voice. Since then, voice control has improved so much that the plot of Spike Jonze's She, about how a writer falls in love with the voice of his operating room, doesn't seem so fantastical. The holographic assistant managing the hotel and affairs of a futuristic billionaire from the new series "Murder at the Edge of the World" is no longer perceived as the future, but as the present.

And what will happen tomorrow? Will AI be limited to the role of an assistant? Isn't it too imprudent to hand over complete control over communication, infrastructure, and even more so your own home to a computer? The question is not at all philosophical, but very practical. What happens if there is a power outage in my area or home? Is it mobile? I won't be able to get into the apartment and open/close the windows? Manufacturers are aware of this request.

"As for our products, we have a principle: priority is always given to mechanical opening. If there is a sudden loss of power or signal, the automatically opening door or window becomes a mechanically controlled object for the time being. It can be opened either with a key or with a regular handle. If the design does not provide for a handle or lock, there must be a special emergency unlocking device. I am sure that this principle is followed by all manufacturers of windows and doors with automatic control," says the commercial director of Schüco Ukraine.

Modern smart houses are primarily focused on safety, environmental friendliness and energy efficiency. Consumers do not seek total automation of their home, they would like to always leave control to themselves, especially when it comes to such a vital area as architecture. In short, architectural smartization, like any rapidly developing field, poses many challenges to people. All the more interesting!

 

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