In the recent past new concepts for the building envelope have been developed with theunderlying wish to improve the energy performance of a building as well as comfortconditions in the inner spaces. Examples are: solar walls, high-tech window systems, doublefacades and integration of daylighting systems and of PV-panels. In this paper the doublefacade concept is discussed.This kind of facade is considered as a device to be used for pre-heating the ventilation airduring winter as well as for nocturnal cooling of the building during summer.