Facades
Nowadays the envelope of a building, of which the facade represents a considerable part, has to fulfil a number of functions that go beyond shading- and weather protection. For example, the increasing transparency of building facades demands more and more complex design solutions in terms of slender constructions and thermal insulation. Whilst designing and detailing such modern facades architects and engineers often forsake the building’s original structural concerns. Facades tend to be hung in front of the reinforced concrete or steel frame, like a prêt-à-porter of architecture. It is foremost the egineer’s responsibility to counterbalance the overall aesthetic impression with structural and thermal performance when designing a facade.