The Power of a Facade

 Sustainable design is something that has (more times than not) become integrated into our brains as a natural design response rather than something we may forget about. Specifically when we talk about a sustainable façade system, in many cases this is something that the architect may just add on for effect. When we looked at the Birmingham Train Station, we saw how the architect added onto the existing to add onto the experience and make it a place that brought awareness to the public about its importance to the city. How do we combine a system that is just there for conceptual and aesthetic purposes into something that can be integral part of a building. In our comprehensive project we started  out with a screen façade that was quite random to the design and more so something the building did not need to make it a successful project. Ultimately it was solely for aesthetics and it developed into something that the spaces on the interior would not thrive in without it. Some reviewers told us to make it something that makes the building stand out such as by adding LED’s and making it a screen. While that has been done before, we decided to examine our climate and concept and dig deep. We made the screen something that enhances the aesthetics, it exposes the variety in our double height spaces and the programs within the space, it allows for a cooler interior environment while allowing natural light to flood into the spaces, and something that helps relocate water into a cistern. The façade can make a large impact on a project by having it be more of an add on element, but it could be even more as we examine the climate and its patterns.

photo: A polycarbonate screen for a building with no further purpose other than aesthetics.


Comments

  1. Mady, I like the fact that you took the studio project and reflected on your purpose for the facade. Many times in studio projects we are so focused on programming and circulation we begin to think about integrating the facade during the process. the facade can be important into helping amplify program and circulation.

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  2. Facades are extremely important, they add to culture and create a sense of place. Facades contribute to the larger picture and can enhance a neighborhood, city, or environment. Facades contribute directly to culture, while the interior is not something that someone reflects on until inside. To your point, the envelope works as a barrier, enhancing sustainability or diminishing it. In my opinion, to say that the interior is more important and a facade can do whatever it needs to do to support the interior is just silly. Interiors are for a specific person, one who has access. And in many instances, these interiors are not public. The facade is for the public, anyone can gaze onto its beauty and see the impact it has on those around. When designing a facade, I believe, you design for everyone. When designing an interior, you're designing for a specific user group. The proper facade will also support interior activity is done correctly.

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  3. It's impressive to see how something initially added for aesthetics can become an integral part of a building, enhancing both the design and the functionality.

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