A presentation of the research team and project research by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel on the domain of sustainable construction. Provided by NCP Brussels and the Greenov Cluster

1. æ-­‐lab:
Research
Lab
for
Architectural
Engineering
“using
engineering
tools
to
create
architecture”
æ-­‐LAB
is
the
research
laboratory
of
the
department
of
Architectural
Engineering
at
the
Vrije
Universiteit
Brussel.
The
research
within
æ-­‐LAB
is
focused
on
three
topics
that
ask
for
an
interdisciplinary
approach:
Transform
niels.de.temmerman@vub.ac.be
Re-­‐use
ine.wouters@vub.ac.be
Lightweight
Structures
Lab
marijke.mollaert@vub.ac.be
h$p://www.vub.ac.be/ARCH/ae-­‐lab/

2. æ-­‐lab:
Transform
“Transformable
Structures
for
Sustainable
Development”
ExperDse:
• Technical
and
structural
performance
of
transformable
structures
-­‐
from
rapidly
deployable
to
permanent
building
structures
• Their
environmental
and
financial
life
cycle
impact
• Their
implementaFon
in
at
urban,
building
and
component
scale
Transform

3. Dynamic
Reuse
Strategies
for
the
retrofiJng
of
post-­‐war
housing
in
Brussels
Context:
Post
war
apartment
buildings
in
Brussels
require
urgent
renovaDon
measures:
introduce
material
and
waste
efficiency
over
remaining
life
cycle
ObjecDve:
Develop
dynamic
soluDons
for
renovaDon
based
on
detailing
with
reversible
connecDons
&
reusable
and
standardised
building
elements,
which
anFcipate
alteraDons
during
the
building
life
cycle
so
that
demoliDon
waste
and
material
consumpDon
is
avoided
Researcher(s):
dr.
ir.
arch.
Anne
Paduart
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
Transform
CURRENT
SOLUTIONS
DYNAMIC
SOLUTIONS
static

4. Enhancing
the
adaptable
capacity
of
urban
fragments
Context:
Sustainable
urban
development
is
based
on
dynamic
theories
such
as
transiFon
management
or
resilience,
but
sustainable
urban
neighbourhouds
are
not
built
for
change.
ObjecDve:
A
methodology
to
demonstrate
the
impact
of
change
on
urban
projects
and
the
importance
of
adaptability
in
reaching
sustainability
goals
by
means
of
a
guided
parDcipaDve
design
experiment,
supported
by
a
framework
of
assessment
tools
and
guidelines.
Researcher:
ir.
arch.
Pieter
Herthogs
Supervisors:
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman,
dr.
Yves
De
Weerdt
(VITO)
Transform

5. Technical
and
financial
assessment
approach
for
transformable
construcFon
typologies
Context:
The
financial
effects
of
‘transformability’
are
hardly
understood
and
only
parFally
included
in
other
researches.
However,
a
constantly
changing
configuraFon
and
performance
are
expected
to
have
an
important
impact
on
its
financial
feasibility.
ObjecDve:
New
insights
in
the
impact
of
design
choices
on
the
financial
feasibility
of
transformable
buildings,
consFtuFng
the
basis
for
mulFple
building
and
design
assessment
tools.
A
life-­‐cycle
approach
on
buildings,
components
and
materials
for
a
holisBc
assessment
of
our
built
environment
and
assets
under
development.
Researcher:
Waldo
Galle,
MSc
in
engineering:
architectural
design
and
construcFon
Supervisor:
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
Transform

6. Dynamic
detailing
of
building
elements
specified
to
the
Belgian
context
Context:
When
adapFng
buildings
to
evolving
requirements,
(parFal)
demoliFon
is
o[en
the
only
opFon
due
to
the
non-­‐adaptable
way
buildings
were
iniFally
constructed.
The
environmental
impact
of
these
energy
and
material
consuming
intervenFons
can
be
reduced
by
implemenFng
an
addiFonal
parameter
during
the
design
phase:
the
Fme
dimension.
ObjecDve:
Dynamic
detailing
of
building
elements
(based
on
tradiFonal/staFc
masonry,
steel,
Fmber,
cycle
closed
and
concrete
construcFon)
&
development
of
a
design
framework
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Mieke
Vandenbroucke
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman,
dr.
ir.
arch.
Wim
Debacker
Transform

7. Design
and
Analysis
of
Deployable
Structures
with
Universal
Scissor
Components
(USC)
for
Mobile
Architectural
ApplicaFons
Context:
The
increase
of
mobility
and
awareness
of
resource
depleFon
and
waste
producFon
in
our
society
requires
systems
for
mobile
and
temporary
structures
ObjecDve:
Develop
a
methodology
for
opDmum
design
of
deployable
scissor
structures,
for
which
the
USC
offers
a
sustainable
soluFon
by
allowing
component
re-­‐use
Researcher:
ir.
Lara
Alegria
Mira
Supervisors:
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
(VUB)
&
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Ashley
Thrall
(University
of
Notre
Dame,
IN,
USA)
Transform

8. OpFmal
geometric
and
kinemaFc
design
of
foldable
scissor
and
plate
structures
for
architectural
applicaFons
Context:
Foldable
scissor
and
plate
structures
allow
for
rapid
transformaFons
to
answer
to
changing
needs.
They
are
broadly
applicable
in
the
built
environment,
but
due
to
their
inherent
complexity
only
few
have
been
constructed.
ObjecDve:
To
unravel
the
mathemaDcal
principles
behind
these
structures,
in
order
to
explore
the
design
possibiliFes,
as
well
as
the
effects
of
geometrical
opFmisaFon
and
discrete
thicknesses
on
the
deployment
process.
Researcher:
ir.
arch.
Kelvin
Roovers
Supervisor:
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
Transform
DESIGN
METHOD
FOR
A
FOLDABLE
SCISSOR
STRUCTURE
1.
3.
4.
2.

9. Robust
design
opFmisaFon
for
deployable
adaptable
shelters
Emergency
tent
(for
field
hospital,
storage
rooms,
…)
are
not
adequate
because
they
are
slow
to
build,
are
not
adaptable
and
are
le[
as
waste.
CURRENTLY
Context:
Slow
to
build
&
Not
flexible
Develop
a
new
design
method
for
mulD-­‐
criteria
opDmisaDon
with
uncertainDes
(robust
design)
in
order
to
obtain
a
opFmal
deployable
adaptable
shelters
with
can
be
used
for
different
phases
of
the
recovery.
RESEARCH
ObjecDve:
Researcher(s):
ir.
Aushim
Koumar
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Tine
Tysmans
&
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
Transform
Scissor
structure
for
quick
and
easy
deployment
Using
the
same
components
for
the
housing
of
the
local
populaDon

10. AdapFve
shading
elements
based
on
curved-­‐line
folding
Context:
Since
the
control
of
solar
radiaFon
and
daylight
has
a
major
influence
on
the
energy
efficiency
and
comfort
in
buildings,
architects
and
engineers
are
experimenFng
with
new
adapFve
shading
soluFons.
ObjecDve:
Design
and
analysis
of
adapFve
shading
elements
based
on
curved-­‐line
folding,
using
elasFc
deformaFons
as
a
form-­‐generaFng
strategy.
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Aline
Vergauwen
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
Transform

11. Transformable
‘acBve
bending’-­‐structures
for
temporary
architectural
shelters
Context:
The
elasFc
bending
of
iniFally
straight
elements,
allows
for
lightweight
and
material-­‐efficient
structures
to
be
built.
Its
reversibility
facilitates
transportaFon,
assembly,
adaptability
and
re-­‐use.
ELASTIC
BENDING
ObjecDve:
ASSEMBLY
Developing
new
structural
systems
for
temporary
and
transformable
shelters,
based
on
the
manipulaFon
of
the
elasDc
bending
of
the
structural
members.
DEPLOYMENT
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
SFjn
Brancart
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Niels
De
Temmerman
&
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Lars
De
Laet
Transform

12. æ-­‐lab:
Re-­‐Use
“reconcile
the
authen8city
of
architectural
heritage
with
modern
standards
”
ExperDse:
• InternaDonal
comparaDve
research
on
19th
and
20th
century
construcDon
materials
&
techniques
• Study
of
19th
and
20th
century
building
pracDce
and
culture
in
Belgium
Re-­‐Use

13. Riveted
connecFons
in
historical
metal
structures
(1840-­‐1940)
Hot-­‐driven
rivets:
technology,
design
and
experiments
Context:
Nowadays
most
remaining
historical
riveted
structures
need
renovaFon
and/or
strengthening
or,
if
not,
at
least
some
maintenance.
ObjecDve:
This
research
consFtutes
as
input
to
the
structural
assessment
of
exisFng
riveted
structures
by
adding
to
our
knowledge
of
hot-­‐
driven
structural
rivets
(1840-­‐1940),
their
technology,
design
and
structural
behaviour.
Researcher:
ir.
arch.
QuenFn
Colleke
(VUB,
Belgium)
Supervisors:
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Ine
Wouters
(VUB,
Belgium)
Ass.
prof.
dr.
ir.
Stéphane
Sire
(UBO,
France)
Re-­‐Use
[Edwin
Clark,
1850]

14. Understanding
and
conserving
the
post-­‐war
housing
stock
in
Brussels
(1945-­‐1975).
Retrofit
for
conBnuity!
Context:
The
majority
of
post-­‐war
houses
needs
retrofiJng
within
the
next
decades,
yet
the
framework
to
determine
the
heritage
value
of
this
post-­‐war
heritage
is
lacking.
ObjecDve:
The
goal
of
this
research
is
to
offer
criteria
for
evaluaFng
the
heritage
value
of
post-­‐war
houses
in
the
Brussels
region,
in
order
to
idenFfy
levels
of
intervenFons
that
would
be
appropriate
for
them.
Researcher:
dr.ir.arch.
Stephanie
Van
de
Voorde
Supervisors:
prof.dr.
Inge
Bertels,
prof.dr.ir.arch.
Filip
Descamps,
prof.dr.arch.
Ann
Verdonck,
prof.dr.ir.arch.
Ine
Wouters
Re-­‐Use

15. Architectural
Heritage
&
Energy
Efficiency:
RenovaFon
strategies
for
stone
imitaFng
rendering
mortars
Context:
Many
stone
imitaDng
renders
from
the
early
20th
century
suffer
from
degradaDon.
Since
there
is
lack
of
knowledge
concerning
their
composiFon,
properFes
and
applicaFon
technique,
incorrect
decisions
are
o[en
made
during
restoraFon,
resulFng
in
increasing
damage.
ObjecDve:
Development
of
an
appropriate
set
of
repair
mortars
for
damaged
surfaces
and
exploring
the
benefits
of
insulaDng
base
layers.
Researcher:
ir.
arch.
Yves
Govaerts
Improper
repair
of
a
damaged
rendered
surface
with
simulated
joints
[Old
Bank
building
in
Leuven,
2011]
Supervisors:
Prof.
dr.
arch.
Ann
Verdonck,
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Arch.
Michael
de
Bouw
&
Dr.
ir.
Wendy
Meulebroeck
Re-­‐Use

16. Reuse
and
opFmizaFon
of
heat-­‐
and
wind-­‐induced
low-­‐pressure
venFlaFon
systems
Context:
Current
renovaFon
strategy
for
buildings
consists
of
a
structural
renovaFon
to
which
techniques
are
added
to
enhance
user
comfort
in
a
second
phase,
instead
of
(re)integraFng
techniques
in
the
renovaFon.
ObjecDve:
develop
a
method
for
the
analysis
of
low-­‐
pressure
venFlaFon
systems
through
the
analysis
and
modeling
of
19th-­‐century
venDlaDon
systems
and
their
opDmizaDon
by
introducing
modern
hybrid
venDlaDon
techniques.
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Maaike
van
der
Tempel
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Filip
Descamps
&
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Ine
Wouters
Re-­‐Use

17. IntegraFng
human
behavior
in
dynamic
energy
simulaFons
in
homes
Context:
Current
energy
performance
calculaFon
methods
focus
on
building
characterisDcs
and
neglect
the
influence
of
human
behavior.
These
methods
enable
an
objecDve
comparison
of
buildings,
but
lead
to
poor
predicFons
of
the
actual
energy
consumpFon.
ObjecDve:
Develop
models
to
include
human
behavior
in
dynamic
building
simulaFon
tools
to
obtain
more
accurate
individual
energy
consumpDon
predicFons.
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Dorien
Aerts
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Filip
Descamps
&
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Ine
Wouters
Re-­‐Use

18. SmartBlind
Project
Context:
The
potenFal
for
improving
the
glazed
facades
and
windows
of
Europe's
building
stock
is
enormous.
The
benefits
of
using
a
glazed
facade
with
an
adaptable
control
strategy
is
the
ability
to
control
privacy,
adjust
shading,
reduce
solar
gain
and
control
glare
when
needed.
ObjecDve:
The
Smartblind
project
aims
at
the
development
of
an
acDve
film
for
smart
windows
with
inkjet
method.
The
VUB
focusses
on
the
simulaDon
of
the
smart
window
and
the
building
integraDon
as
well
as
the
exploitaDon
and
disseminaDon
of
the
project.
Researcher(s):
arch.
Evi
Corne,
ir.
arch.
Charloke
Goovaerts
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Marijke
Mollaert,
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Filip
Descamps
Re-­‐Use

19. æ-­‐lab:
Lightweight
Structures
Lab
ExperDse:
• Structural
design
and
analysis
of
membrane
structures
• Design
and
analysis
of
lightweight
systems
for
spaDal
structures:
tensairity,
compression-­‐only,
acFve
bending
Lightweight

20. Architectural
and
structural
design
of
adaptable
lightweight
structures
Context:
Lightweight
structures
are
material
efficient
by
being
designed
and
conceived
in
an
ingenious
way.
They
are
found
in
a
broad
range
of
structures,
from
large-­‐scale
membrane
canopies,
to
shelters
and
shading
elements.
ObjecDve:
The
research
and
innovaFon
of
lightweight
and
flexible
texDle
and
composite
structures
focuses
on
new
social
and
environmental
needs
such
as
adaptable
energy-­‐efficient
building
envelopes
or
compact
temporary
shelters
for
events
and
emergency
situaFons.
Supervisor:
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Lars
De
Laet
Lightweight

21. S(P)EEDKITS:
Rapid
deployable
kits
as
seeds
for
self
recovery
Context:
More
and
more
disasters,
either
natural
or
man-­‐made,
occur
worldwide.
As
a
result,
countless
people
are
rendered
homeless
without
any
medical
care,
sufficient
and
clean
water,
decent
sanitaFon
or
energy
supply.
ObjecDve:
A
new
emergency
system
of
modular
rapid
deployable
shelters
will
be
developed.
This
to
provide
temporary
infrastructure
and
to
limit
the
damage
to
economic
and
social
fabrics.
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Jan
Roekens
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Marijke
Mollaert
Lightweight

22. Integrated
analysis
and
experimental
verificaFon
of
KinemaFc
Form
AcFve
Structures
for
architectural
applicaFons
Context:
KinemaFc
form
acFve
structures
combine
the
structural
efficiency
and
low
self
weight
of
fabric
structures
with
the
high
versaDlity
of
kinemaFc
structures
ObjecDve:
Develop
the
necessary
tools
and
knowledge
to
make
the
design
and
applicaDon
of
kinemaFc
fabric
structures
with
preserved
prestress
possible
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Silke
PuysFens
ir.
arch.
Maarten
Van
Craenenbroeck
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Marijke
Mollaert
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Danny
Van
Hemelrijck
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Wim
Van
Paepeghem
(UGent)
Lightweight

23. Inflatable/Tensairity
structures
Context:
Inflatable
structures
are
mostly
known
for
their
light
weight,
small
transport/storage
volume
and
quick
set-­‐up;
which
can’t
be
offered
by
other
convenFonal
structures.
ObjecDve:
The
structural
concept
Tensairity
is
the
synergeFc
combinaFon
of
an
airbeam,
slender
struts
and
some
cables.
The
feasibility
of
this
concept
is
tested
on
structural
elements
like
beams
and
arches.
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Jan
Roekens
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
arch.
Lars
De
Laet
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Marijke
Mollaert
Supervisor(s):
Dr.
Rolf
Luchsinger
Lightweight

24. TexFle
Reinforced
Cement
(TRC)
composites
as
flexible
formwork
and
tensile
reinforcement
for
concrete
shells.
Context:
The
construcDon
of
concrete
shells
is
expensive
and
complex
due
to
the
labour
intensive
and/or
material
wasFng
formwork
methods
and
the
needed
tensile
(steel)
reinforcement.
ObjecDve:
Design
of
the
innovaFve
formwork
and
reinforcement
consisFng
of
TRC
composites,
exploiFng
their
flexible
properDes
in
wet
phase
to
create
the
formwork
and
their
sDff
and
strong
properDes
in
hardened
phase
.
Researcher(s):
ir.
arch.
Evy
Verwimp
Supervisor(s):
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Tine
Tysmans
en
Prof.
dr.
ir.
Marijke
Mollaert
Lightweight