Façades

Façades, also known as curtain walls, are the exterior sides of buildings, typically the front, derived from the French word “façade” meaning “frontage” or “face.” In architecture, the façade holds significant importance as it sets the design tone for the entire building and often includes doors or windows.

Some utilize facade systems, segments attached to a building’s external face like skin. A crucial element of the building envelope is the curtain wall, which, by definition, is a non-load-bearing exterior skin. Its primary functions include maintaining air and water integrity, withstanding wind, thermal, and seismic forces, and allowing light into interior spaces.

The constitution of a curtain wall is pivotal, often comprising various system types combined to express architectural intent and define the building’s profile. These may include all-glazed façades (aluminum-framed systems, point-supported systems, cable net systems), opaque façades (precast, natural stone, or metal panels), or a blend of schemes depending on the building’s purpose.