Façades and the Environment
The façade of a modern building is one of the most expensive and important elements of building construction and can represent up to 35% of construction costs. Façades represent the manifestation of the architect’s expectation of the external appearance of a building, are the primary environmental modifier and are the element that has the greatest level of historic failure.
Until recently, the technical design and execution of building façades has largely been a process established from the application of emperical techniques. With the implementation of new and more onerous regulations, the design of façades must be part of a holistic strategy.
In particular, science needs to be carefully considered to deal with, for example, façade performance and energy conservation. There now needs to be consideration of issues such as predictive thermal modelling techniques, testing, lighting and acoustic engineering, added to existing issues of durability, sustainaility and structural engineering to drive best value for Clients.
The blurring of the boundaries is in part recognised in the fact that energy conservation and statutory compliances are now, quite rightly, a matter of balance.
