Double-skin ventilated glass façades. An overview of concepts, product, systems, realized examples

Double skin façade systems are employed increasingly, mainly in high profile buildings being touted as an exemplary green building strategy. It is a new technology that is more often found in North European countries, even if in the last ten years also in Mediterranean Countries this totally glazed envelope had large diffusion. The aim of the paper is to improve the definition of the double-layer ventilated glass façade concept, illustrate a proposal for the classification of the concept technologies and ventilation criteria, supported by existing examples, in order to improve the understanding of the general principles of the double skin façade system and the possibility of application both in cold than in hot climates.