Façades: Principles of Construction

Introduction to building façades as revised edition Façades determine the appearance of a building. Hence, they constitute a major element in architecture. At the same time, the building’s envelope has important functions to fulfil, such as lighting, weatherproofing, thermal insulation, load transfer and sound insulation. Over the past 15 years, façades have become increasingly complex – ‘intelligent’ facades, for instance, adapt to changing climate and lighting conditions.  Newly developed materials and technologies have broadened the scope of façade functions. This book demonstrates the principles of façade construction. It systematically describes the most common types, such as post-and-beam façade, curtain wall, corridor façade or double façade, and provides guidelines for appropriate detailing. Numerous drawings made especially for the book explain the principles of different types of facades, which are then illustrated with built examples. For this second edition, all chapters were revised and all four examples in the case studies chapter were replaced by new material. The new chapter “Future Façades” offers insights into what’s next.

Table of Contents:
1 Introduction 2 From Wall to Façade Solid wall construction Warm façade, cold façade Openings in solid wall construction Bridging the gap Single glazing Box window Insulated glazing Walls with skeletal structure Half-timbered construction Platform and balloon framing Resolution of the wall into loadbearing structure and façade Post-and-beam façade Post façade Beam façade Curtain wall System façade Double façades Second-skin façade Box-window façade Shaft-box façade Alternating façade Integrated façade 3 Principles of Construction Areas of construction Façade bearing structures and load transfer Grid and positioning of the façade within the building Systems used in façade construction Post-and-beam construction Unit system façade Designing with systems Openings in façade constructions Hardware Windows Assembly Detailing and Tolerances Building grid and positioning of components Combination of functions Detailing principles Layering of details Examples of detail development Masonry cladding Post-and-beam façade Unit system façade Parapet Plinth unit Joints Tolerances 5 Climate and Energy Façade as interface to the exterior User comfort Thermal requirements Visual requirements Hygienic requirements Acoustic requirements Regulating the comfort level with the façade Ventilation Heating Cooling Sun and glare protection Light-directing systems Adaptive Façades Sun Light Heat Greenhouse effect History of adaptive façades Collector façade Trombe wall Transparent heat insulation Exhaust-air façade Double façade Box-window façade Shaft-box façade Corridor façade Second-skin façade Alternating façade Integrated façade 7 Case Studies Unit system façade: Debitel Headquarters, Stuttgart Solid concrete façade: Zollverein School of Management and Design, Essen Free-form metal façade: Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao Timber-frame structure with multiple cladding: Hageneiland Housing, Ypenburg 8 A Look Into the Future The forces driving new developments Materials and technology Technology transfer Nano coatings Adhesive materials technology Smart materials Production and assembly Free-form façades Modular construction Composite building materials Generative manufacturing methods Computer technology Evaluation strategies Façade functionality Design tools The integrated envelope Appendix Authors Selected Bibliography Index Illustration Credits