Multi-criteria material selection for buildings in challenging environments

Climate change and future weather conditions are likely to challenge the way buildings are designed because there will be an increase in extreme climatic conditions. What should architects change in their design process to produce human habitats able to withstand those extreme conditions to ensure adequate comfort conditions? This paper presents preliminary results within the scope of an on-going research that addresses one single key issue: what materials will be most suitable in extreme temperature conditions. A set of 52 materials is analysed through a multi-criteria decision process that includes thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, linear thermal expansion, service temperature, fracture toughness, recycle potential and embodied carbon as criteria. The goals are to find the best-fit materials for each climate scenario within the scope of contradictory objectives and to develop a methodology for the selection of construction materials for buildings in challenging environments. Results show that the best possible material for extreme temperatures, whether it would be a very cold or a very hot environment, is one that could combine the properties of polymers with a very low environmental impact (at the level of the impact from materials such as natural fibres, wood or wood derivatives). The results thus suggest that further research may be directed at biomaterials development.