Architectural form integrated with double skin facades: An environmental responsive housing with reference to Colombia

Double skin facades have been recently developed as an alternative to reduce the thermal unsteadiness of inner spaces caused by the growing use of large glazed areas in buildings. The concept of Double Skin Facades (DSF) is nowadays under continuous development and research. This has proved the possibilities of multiple combinations of providing increased sound insulation, pre-heating of ventilation air, protected solar shading in urban areas. However, little has been done in the field of thermal control, particularly in relation to housing. This paper examines an approach of the integration of the architectural form with the DSF concept on sustainable envelopes, as an alternative used to obtain steady indoor conditions with reference to Bogotá, Colombia; which is a city that requires buildings with high levels of ventilation and also thermal insulation during the same day.