The Return of Spatial Dimension into Architecture

The aim of the paper is to explore and establish a base for a possible development of a more holistic and spatially-inclusive method for evaluating energy performance of buildings. This is to be achieved by envisioning building envelopes as arrangements of spatial zones, which could improve the overall energy balance of buildings but at the same time reduce the usage of construction materials and thus consumption of production energy and built-up space. The wall deconstructed in spatial zones, as shown e.g. in Antivilla by Brandlhuber-+, opens a series of questions about the future of existing building codes and certification tools. The potentials are discussed based on the aspects of flexibility, responsiveness, adaptability, replaceability and affordability. The analysis outlines the benefits of the inclusion of those paradigms in the definition of sustainable architecture, and at the same time exposes the lack of possibility to reflect their potential by the established certification criteria. The paper aims at opening the discussion about the limits and traps of quantifying architecture and calls for rethinking of established schemes of sustainability in building sector.