Responsive building façades: a systematic review of technologies, challenges, and future directions

Responsive facades, also referred to as adaptive, kinetic, or dynamic facades, have recently gained increasing attention for their ability to regulate indoor environments in buildings by responding to the external climatic conditions. This study systematically reviews the applications and performance outcomes of responsive facade technologies using PRISMA 2020 guidelines and reorganizes the literature through an intersecting analytical framework linking technical mechanisms, performance dimensions, and system integration levels. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, resulting in 48 eligible studies. The synthesis demonstrates that responsive facades consistently enhance thermal and visual comfort, improve environmental adaptability, and reduce total building energy demand by up to 40–70% in specific climatic contexts. Technologies such as electrochromic glazing, shape-memory materials, phase-change elements, and building-integrated photovoltaic systems demonstrate particularly high potential for integrated energy management. Beyond energy efficiency, responsive facades contribute to occupant satisfaction and system resilience. The proposed framework clarifies the interdependencies between design logic, operational performance, and systemic integration, offering a comprehensive basis for understanding responsive facades as coordinated environmental systems. Key challenges and strategic research pathways are identified to support their broader implementation in sustainable and energy-efficient building design.