Associated Doctoral Researcher
Research Area C
Faculty of Engineering | Department of Microsystems Engineering University of Freiburg
Email: eleonora.galli@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Tunable hygromorphic biomimetic actuation for adaptive facades Smart, climate-responsive architecture is key to sustainable building design, reducing energy use and carbon emissions by leveraging natural light, heat, and airflow instead of artificial systems. A promising approach is biomimetic design, which draws inspiration from nature’s adaptive mechanisms. In particular, humidity-driven actuation in plants like pine cones inspires the development of hygromorphic actuators for adaptive facades. These programmable materials respond predictably to environmental changes, enabling energy-efficient, self-regulating building systems without external power. This project focuses on deepening the understanding of hygromorphic actuation to optimize material behaviour, while also creating façade mechanisms that allow user interaction, thereby expanding the technology’s potential for both sustainable performance and practical application.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rühe