Façade is a French word that’s become part of the English language and is used to describe the front of a building. In French, the word means face, and it’s an incredibly important feature in the architecture of a building. Just as our faces are important to how people perceive us, so too is a building’s façade. Our faces give us a unique personality and give the first impression to anyone who sees us and buildings are no different. The façade is integral in giving the building its character and it offers a chance for the architect to showcase their talent.
Aside from aesthetic reasons, the façade of a building can also play a role in energy efficiency and ensuring the building has enough ventilation. In addition, it can affect the security of the building and how sounds are transmitted from inside to outside and vice versa. In short, there are a lot of reasons why the façade of a building is an important feature for architects to focus on. Façade systems offer a way to easily implement a high-quality façade into a building in a wide variety of styles.
Choosing the Right Façade
Correct façade construction is crucial since it can have a big impact on a building’s lighting, heating, and ventilation. While there are numerous elements to take into account while building façades, selecting the proper material is one of the most difficult. Additionally, choosing the proper façade material requires taking into account a number of aspects, including water resistance, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, aesthetics and much more.
Glass facades are one of the most popular types and in terms of aesthetics, they’re hard to beat. Combined with an aluminium frame and quality glazing, glass facades are extremely durable and energy efficient. Durability is a major factor in material choice as naturally, architects and construction managers want their projects to last a long time.
Aluminium has one of the best strength-to-weight ratios of any building material, making it ideal for building lightweight yet incredibly strong facades. It also has excellent insulative properties, making it ideal for conserving heat and keeping building energy efficient. In the modern world, it’s become more important than ever for buildings to be able to conserve energy and be eco-friendly.
Building facades made from aluminium have the added advantage of being highly sustainable. While aluminium is mined from bauxite ore, it can also be obtained through recycling. Aluminium is 100% recyclable, and recycled aluminium is indistinguishable from its original form while having the same properties.
Designing a Building Façade
Choosing the right material for a façade is crucial, but there are many factors to consider when designing one. It’s important to base the building’s façade around its surroundings. A sleek modern looking building may look out of place in an area that only features traditional style. However, standing out against the backdrop can look good in the right circumstances.
Simplicity and symmetry are two of the most important concepts to keep in mind when designing architecture. If you want your building to be pleasing to the eye, symmetry is important. Asymmetrical buildings can still look great, but it’s best to use simple and clean lines to avoid making it stand out in an ugly way.
If you’re creating a façade using aluminium and glass, you may not have to worry about colour and the finish of the building. However, for other materials, this is an important factor to consider. Choose a colour that not only blends well with the backdrop but also suits the character and personality of the building. Modern buildings often go for darker colours, while lighter shades are often better for traditional styles.
