Introduction:
A building's elevation reveals its story. It's the first impression. It expresses the building's function, the architect's creativity, construction details and technologies used, and the architectural elements used for climate response. It is a physical encapsulation to protect internal spaces. It is the connecting portal between the internal functional space and the external environment.
Facade of an apartment in New York City. Exposed brick wall facade, fire staircase and shops below
Architectural surfaces include the material finishes, colours, and architectural details that form a facade design. These variable features together form aesthetically pleasing elevations and characterize the identity of a place. This identity exhibits the shift in architectural typologies and their uses throughout history. When it comes to architectural surfaces, its details make it expressive of the region's socio-political and natural context.
Facade Development:
Facade development has 3 elements:
1 Architectural Design: This is the creative interplay between the solid surface - the wall, and the voids - windows and entrances. The overall design that is seen is termed a facade. It sets the overall visual tone to perceive a building. The architectural design of a facade also includes:
Lighting: It defines and accentuates the facade. It also serves multiple functions. Each facade requires varying levels of illumination based on its design & function. Lighting on facades is most typically used during the non-sunlight hours.
Exterior Lighting at Yifang Art Center
Source: Arch-Exist
Light composition with artificial lights is crucial in a facade system. The lines, symmetry, patterns, and reflections can highlight the built forms and enhance the structure’s beauty. The context surrounding the building can also contribute to its creative composition. It creates a visual story for the viewer.
Surface & Voids: It is a fundamental aspect of facade design. A delicate balance of this further achieves the building's functional requirement, expresses the architect's design concept and harmonizes with the surroundings. This enhances the building's overall visual appeal.
The surfaces include the materiality of the building such as colours and textures. It helps to define the building's aesthetic. These qualities impact the visual appearance and enhance the tactile qualities of the built environment.
Facade for a residential home
Source: MCA Estudio
The above facade has a mixture of functional surfaces and voids. The voids can be managed manually based on the inhabitants' requirements. The surfaces are treated based on the climatic conditions of the region. The architectural designer has curated the facade for a choice-based social interaction as well as a natural climatic response.
The voids connect the internal architectural spaces to the external environment. It serves both aesthetic and functional purposes. Architects often use voids as a means to play with the sunlight and cast shadows in the internal areas. These can also be used to ventilate the space well.
2 Function: A functional facade is that which is responsive. There are some ways in which a facade responds to the external environment and regulates the internal. The most common function is the window or entrance into the building. Other facade services include using green walls or arranging the pipes for rainwater harvesting.
The Chivi House
Source: Quang Tran
The facade in the above image expresses the inhabitants' need for privacy. The glass openings are as slits or small windows. The open terrace includes an abundance of vegetation to maintain privacy. The garden allows the terrace space to feel pleasant during the daytime. The plain concrete boundary walls ensure the house is being barricaded from any external interference.
Wall Surface: Different materials are used for the wall surface in a facade. It enables physical and visual connection. The colours and textures used for the wall surface are also considered to align with the aesthetic of the structure. Each building is designed with its overall form and abstract character in mind. This ensures a seamless and unified appearance.
Facade of a South Indian Villa
Source: Open Architects and Design Studio
Considering the contextual aspect of the region is critical to creating a functional and innovative facade. This includes considering the regional architectural styles, historical context, and a visual relationship with the neighbouring structures.
Interconnectivity: The facade's elements are connected to the overall building structure and functions. It provides stability and support vertically. This also includes the load-bearing capacities, wind resistance and seismic performance of the structure.
The Lilly House
Source: Aslam Sham Architects
The interconnectivity in an architectural facade includes a seamless integration of structural elements, functional systems, and positioning designs of the fenestrations. This creates cohesiveness between the internal space and the external environment. This also ensures that the facades contribute constructively to the overall performance, transition spaces within the structure and the identity of the structure.
3 Material:
Materials in facades are used for aesthetic as well as functional uses. The design enables the material choices to fully activate these purposes. The facades' materials and functions keep evolving - with new technology and sustainable visions for the future.
The architects, engineers, designers and researchers in the field are constantly evolving the designs, materials and facade construction techniques for ease, accuracy and a comprehensive, sustainable impact.
Gallery of the Looking Glass Facade
Source: Eva Bloem
To create a suitable facade - multi-faceted functions are considered. A combination of materials, construction techniques and design are curated to achieve a balance in the overall design. This eventually creates an enduring facade design
Citations:
Leatherbarrow, D. and Mostafavi, M. (2002). Surface Architecture. Massachusetts| MIT Press Publication
Juracek, JA. (2002). Architectural Surfaces: Details for Architects, Designers and Artists. Hong Kong| Phaidon Press
Pell, B. (2010). The Articulate Surface: Ornament and Technology in Contemporary Architecture. Basel| Birkhäuser
Kite, S. (2022). Shaping the Surface: Materiality and the History of British Architecture 1840 to 2002. Camden| Bloomsbury Visual Arts Publication
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