Innovative Materials and Building Envelopes: New Paradigms in Architectural Engineering in the Age of Climate Change

Today, the building envelope plays a key role in addressing the several challenges posed by climate change. Indeed, it is no longer simply a passive barrier between indoor and outdoor, but an active interface that must not only mitigate the impacts of climate change, but also adapt to them, making cities more sustainable and resilient, while also improving the quality of life for buildings’ users. The renewed role of the building envelope therefore requires the devel-opment of new and innovative technologies that meet current needs for long-term durability, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate adaptability. In this context, the academic discipline of Architectural Engineering plays a strategic role in guiding the technical and technological evolution of building envelopes. This contribution thus explores the evolving role of the building envelope and provides an overview of the most recent trends and challenges in innovative building materials and advanced construction technologies for new, resilient, and efficient building envelope systems.