Smart Building Materials in Sustainable Architecture: A Case Study in Electrochromic Glass

Abstract

Applying smart building materials in addition to be more compatible with the surrounding environment, meet the users’ need with higher quality and also reduce environmental problems. In recent decades and following dramatic scientific progresses as well as new approaches in sustainable architecture this type of materials have been proposed. Smart materials have opened a new opening to the architects and builders and removed many restrictions. Smart glass are the smart materials that permit the controlled light and heat get transmitted into the building and remove some traditional restrictions in applying windows. In this study, after investigating electrochromic glass as one of the smart glass, their application in the smart sustainable buildings are shown with some case studies. The approach of the study is descriptive–analytical and reliable documents of library were used in it. the results of the study confirmed that using smart materials cannot lead us to the objectives proposed in sustainable architecture but smart apllication of a colloction of materials and architectural facilities appropriate to the needs of the project form ideal results. Since this issue is new in Iran, the neccessity on conducting these kind of studies in order to identify various technical and executive aspects as well as the equipment provided for the architects and builders is confirmed.