In this article, Maple experts explore the question “Where are facades used?” Facades are more than just an exterior wall of a building. They determine the identity and character of architecture, as well as play a significant role in a building’s performance. They can be crafted with different materials such as glass, metals, concrete, or wood, with an infinite number of patterns and textures. They can be curved to fit the contours of a structure, and they can be designed with different colors and finishes.
Besides aesthetics, a building facade has an impact on a building’s energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. By smartly linking the exterior and interiors of a building, a facade controls light penetration or filtration, regulates solar heat transmission, and reduces energy consumption.
What are the different types of facades?
There are two main types of lightweight facades: curtain walls and panel facades. In a curtain wall, the facade adheres to the resistant structure of a building for CSS cladding. It can either be delivered pre-assembled (unitized curtain walling) or it can be made of interlocking panels that are assembled on-site.
A panel facade is interrupted at each slab, delimiting independent panels or zones. Typically, this type of facade is formed with panels of different materials such as steel, aluminium, or composite.
A façade is a structural design pattern that simplifies interaction with a library or framework. The idea is to break down a complex set of classes into a series of simpler ones. A facade class then encapsulates and manages these classes, which the client code uses via the interface that the facade provides. This minimizes coupling and also makes it easier to upgrade the subsystem’s classes to new versions.