Timberbased element systems for improving the energy efficiency of the building envelope

Biological building materials, especially timber could gain great importance if it would succeed to offer appropriate construction systems that achieve the vital potential of the material, i.e. prefabrication and ecological value. The challenge lies in th e implementation of consistent sustainable strategies to save resources in building construction as well as long term service and maintenance. The main objective of this project is the prototype design of large-scale prefabricated elements based on timbe r and other biogenic based construction materials for the improvement of the energy efficiency of the building envelope of the existing real estate stock and thereby create the basis for the development of an European wide marketable construction system. The innovation of the TES-energy facade project is the implementation of prefabrication methods in the renovation process. As a result, the renovation costs are more predictable, the duration of the renovation project is considerably shorter and the ener gy-efficiency of the building envelope can be upgraded. Introducing the TES-energy facade for the renovation of the existing building stock opens new possibilities for the integration of technical elements (i.e. plumbing, electricity and ventilation) or b uilding elements (i.e. balconies) within the building envelope. The work flow should be based on a digital master data. The data flow from site measuring, planning to the prefabrication process should show a high extent of automation to create a frictionl ess digital chain from the documentation of the existing building via the design and production of the elements to the assembly at the building site. The project defines basic guidelines for the measuring actions for the different stages of the fabricatio n process. This gives the opportunity to develop and later on work with digital surveying tools such as 3D scanners and to explore the potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for this special purpose.