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Osirys is a European Research Project where a holistic solution for fa��ades and interior partitions ready to be applied in building retrofitting and new construction has been developed. The project uses biocomposites as the base material to define different products: a multilayer fa��ade, a curtain wall, a window, and an interior partition. The biocomposites developed have different functionalities able to meet the strictest requisites of the European Building Codes in relation to fire and structural performance, improve indoor air quality through the elimination of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and microorganisms, increase thermal insulation, and increase the durability of construction elements. The new systems are lighter than traditional ones, leading to reductions in overall weight, thereby reducing implementation costs during both manufacturing and assembly processes, thanks to an industrialised concept that utilises modular elements. The project was developed with the collaboration of 18 European partners (5 research centres, 9 SMEs, 2 large industries, and 2 public bodies). The main activities were devoted to the establishment of requirements, the development of materials, the design of products, the integration of materials into products, the verification of properties by simulation and testing according to EU standards, the integration of products into real buildings, and economic and environmental assessment. The scope of this paper is to provide a general overview of the entire project work and results to demonstrate the feasibility of using biocomposites in envelope solutions with the aim of solving some of the main problems that exist in fa��ade traditional solutions. The project finishes with the implementation of the developments in real buildings as prototypes; further research is required before industrial scale manufacturing of the systems can be launched into the market., Journal of Facade Design and Engineering, Vol. 6 No. 2 (2018): Special Issue ICAE2018

The present document includes a state-of-the-art review of solar envelope systems that are already on the market or that can potentially reach that stage in a short-medium timeframe. The analysis focuses on the technological integration of such solutions in the envelope and building, but non-technical issues such as aesthetic, architectural integration and customer acceptance are also tackled. The solar envelope systems are classified in: Solar harvesting systems: systems that generate electricity or heat; Solar gains control systems, controlling; Hybrid systems: combination of solar harvesting and solar gains control systems.

Dear Scientists, Engineers, and Designers, With this new edition we continue the collaboration with our funding member Tecnalia and the International Congress on Architectural Envelopes (www.icae2018.eu), which they organise every 3 years in San Sebastian (Basque Country, Spain). The eleven articles found in this new issue were carefully selected from 50 abstracts that will be presented during the scientific section of the congress. The final selected papers were subjected to the regular double-blind review process of the journal. With this selection of papers, we want to give an overview of the traditional technologies that are normally discussed in the context of fa��ades, while also making some mention of new technologies, which, some time ago, existed only in the realm of the laboratory but which have begun to appear in real buildings and construction in recent years. In fact, the main topic of the conference this year is the Envelope 4.0, and consequently the aim of the magazine. Under this title, the aim is to unify two elements: the architectural envelope, due to it being the main reason for holding the conference, and the term ���Industry 4.0��� as a representation of the need to improve the manufacturing, assembly, distribution, and installation processes of many of the products included in today���s envelopes in order to be competitive in the market. We hope that with this selection we can provide you with new ideas and possibilities. An interesting set of approaches to new technologies is demonstrated (using robotics systems to install fa��ades), new materials for the envelope (biocomposites, smart and multifunctional materials, and new types of membranes), use of BIM from design to manufacturing, 3D printed fa��ades for thermal regulation, solar heating and cooling technologies in the envelope, characterisation of the thermal performance in roof solutions, and numerical and experimental performance assessment of structural thermal bridges. In conclusion, we want to thank our special editors, Julen Astudillo and Jose Antonio Chica from Tecnalia, for their effort in making this partnership happen. The editors of this special edition, Julen Astudillo Jose Antonio Chica Ulrich Knaack Tillmann Klein, Journal of Facade Design and Engineering, Vol. 6 No. 2 (2018): Special Issue ICAE2018