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05 Jan 2026
7 Min Read
Dr Jan-Frederik Flor (Academic Contributor), Nellie Chan (Editor)
In the built environment, operational energy use is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions. Most of this energy goes towards cooling and lighting, particularly in warm climates, and these demands are especially taxing in older buildings that were not designed for efficiency. Upgrading such buildings to meet modern performance standards is often complicated, costly, and highly disruptive. But what if an adaptive skin could do that work instead?
At Taylor’s University, Dr Jan-Frederik Flor has developed a next-generation double-skin façade that responds dynamically to sunlight and shifting climate conditions. His approach reimagines the building envelope as something light, flexible, and intelligent—opening up the possibility for structures that adapt in real time to reduce energy use. It is a way of rethinking how buildings breathe, evolve, and interact with their environment.
Dr Jan is a senior lecturer at the School of Architecture, Building, and Design, where he specialises in adaptive building envelopes and low-carbon materials. His latest project, the Tunable Solar Façade, earned recognition at the 36th International Invention, Innovation, Technology Competition & Exhibition (ITEX 2025).
While much of the world’s building stock still relies on decades-old materials and methods, the façade combines innovative materials and intelligent software to make buildings smarter, more efficient, and responsive to their environment.
We spoke with him to trace the project’s evolution, explore the unexpected directions it has taken, and consider its potential to shape the future of sustainable cities.
Q: How would you explain this project to someone outside your field?
A: This project aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from buildings using a lightweight, adaptive double-skin façade. It can enhance energy efficiency and sustainability across a range of building types and climates, helping maintain comfortable indoor conditions while lowering operational energy use.
Q: How does the façade function?
A: The façade is made from air-filled cushions of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil, with adjustable layers that expand or contract in response to sunlight and local climate conditions. Embedded smart controls actively adjust the cushions in real-time to manage heat gain while maintaining natural daylight, reducing overall energy use and associated emissions.
Q: What inspired you to pursue this project?
A: The project drew inspiration from two sources. First, I noticed a stagnation in smart building technologies for lightweight construction and saw an opportunity to innovate. Second, I’ve long been fascinated by nature’s adaptive behaviours, as well as pneumatic control systems and membrane materials. Bringing these together resulted in a façade that responds intelligently to its environment.
Q: Did the project take any unexpected turns?
A: Yes—initially, I focused primarily on materials and mechanisms, drawing on my expertise and industry experience. But through collaboration with colleagues from the School of Engineering, it became clear that control systems and software were equally critical to the façade’s potential. This shift became even more evident when students developed remote IoT (Internet of Things) controls and a real-time performance-monitoring dashboard for the prototype. Seeing these components come together showed that the most meaningful innovation would come from integrating hardware and software—precisely the direction the market is moving towards.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in getting the project to this stage?
A: The biggest challenge was time management. As a full-time lecturer, progressing the project required significant extra effort, often working nights and weekends. Balancing teaching responsibilities, supervising student projects, and managing other academic duties made carving out mental space difficult. Fortunately, I had an excellent team to share the load, and the students were disciplined, organised, and dedicated, which kept the project moving forward despite these demands.
Q: Why is this innovation particularly urgent right now?
A: While we’ve spent decades advancing computing hardware, software systems, and digital applications, the physical infrastructure we live and work in—especially buildings—has barely changed. Cities are still built with materials and methods from 50 years ago, and this stagnation has contributed to the climate crisis. With the built environment responsible for 39% of global CO₂ emissions, there is an urgent need for bold innovation in how we design, construct, and operate buildings.
Q: Are there common misconceptions about the innovation?
A: Many people assume our façade system generates energy, like solar panels. In reality, it’s designed to save energy rather than produce it. By limiting heat gain, enhancing natural daylight, and minimising solar glare, the system eases the demand on air conditioning and artificial lighting. This not only improves thermal comfort and light quality for occupants but also reduces energy costs and supports more sustainable building operations.
Q: Who will benefit most from the façade?
A: The façade system benefits multiple groups. Building occupants enjoy well-regulated, naturally lit indoor spaces. The construction and design industry gains a flexible, energy-efficient solution that can be applied to both new and existing buildings, helping teams meet sustainability targets and lower operational costs. Beyond that, cities and communities benefit as buildings contribute less to carbon emissions, supporting broader environmental and societal goals.
Q: What would it take for the façade to be adopted at scale?
A: Adopting the façade at scale starts with proving it works reliably through a full-scale performance mock-up. The next step is a pilot project in an actual building to test it at scale and demonstrate its benefits under real-world conditions. Widespread adoption—whether in new builds or retrofits—will likely require strategies or incentives to make the investment attractive, as initial costs are typically recovered over several years, similar to rooftop solar installations. Alignment with initiatives like the Malaysia Green Building Council’s Carbon Score programme, which aims for full decarbonisation of the Malaysian building sector by 2050, could further encourage uptake.
Q: And if it were adopted at scale, how could it influence the future of urban living?
A: At scale, it could keep urban buildings cool while reducing the energy needed for mechanical cooling, lowering costs and improving conditions for occupants across the city. It could also enable large, enclosed spaces filled with natural daylight, giving occupants the feel of being outdoors while maintaining a pleasant indoor environment—something currently difficult to achieve in commercial or social venues due to cooling costs. Taken together, this façade could transform how urban buildings and shared spaces are designed, supporting human-centred, adaptable, and sustainable cities.
Q: How has your background shaped your approach to this project?
A: I’ve worked on the ideas behind this project for many years, and each part of my professional and academic background has shaped how I approach it today. My industry experience has been particularly valuable, providing insight into both the technical challenges and the real opportunities for innovation. Working hands-on with various foil and textile materials has also helped me understand the current state of the art and anticipate what the next generation of materials and related systems will need to deliver.
My PhD research strengthened the other side of the equation: performance measurement, careful experimentation, and an iterative mindset—constantly testing, refining, and improving ideas. Together, this combination of practical experience, technical expertise, and a curious, can-do attitude has been instrumental in guiding the project to its current stage.
Q: Is there a moment that captures what this project means to you?
A: The moment that truly captures the significance of this project was seeing the idea come to life and be embraced by others. I remember receiving a video from the lab, sent by the students, showing the prototype operating live for the first time. Watching the façade we had designed reach full scale and function autonomously made it clear that our concept could move from an idea to a working reality, embodying the potential and purpose of the work we’ve done.
Dr Jan’s Tunable Solar Façade points to a future where buildings are no longer passive structures but active participants in their environment. By combining lightweight materials with intelligent controls, it provides a way to reduce carbon emissions while creating brighter, cooler, and more comfortable spaces.
Next, he is moving the façade from prototype to practical application by developing a minimal viable product before advancing to industry validation. He is also preparing a full-scale performance mock-up to test the system under realistic conditions and is actively seeking industry partners, early adopters, and investors to support this transition towards real-world deployment.
At a time when the climate crisis demands urgent action, Dr Jan’s work shows that meaningful innovation doesn’t always require bigger, heavier, or more complex systems—it can be smarter, more adaptive, and ‘tuned’ to both people and planet.
This project was funded by our Knowledge Transfer and Commercialisation Office. For those interested in collaboration or commercialisation opportunities, please contact Ts Mohd Roydean Osman (Roydean.Osman@taylors.edu.my) or Nor Farah Natasha Tajuddin (Natasha.Tajuddin@taylors.edu.my).
