Exterior wall cladding is a crucial aspect of building design that offers both practical benefits and aesthetic value. It enhances a building’s appearance, protects it from the weather elements, and contributes to its overall performance and longevity. The choice of cladding material should be made based on factors such as climate, architectural style, maintenance considerations, and environmental impact. The right cladding helps to maintain the buildings weather-tight and cost-effective. It provides thermal insulation and helps in reducing the temperature variation inside the building. It also helps to improve interior acoustics and daylighting. The cladding can influence the value, saleability and safety of the building. So cladding your property effectively is a wise investment that pays both short and longer-term dividends. Certainly, investing in new cladding for your property can be a great way to enhance its aesthetic appeal and give it a unique touch. Investing time and thought into selecting...

The importance of cladding in buildings goes beyond functionality and serves as a crucial aspect of modern architecture. It not only protects the structure, from weather conditions but also contributes to its visual appeal. The selection of cladding material, design, and installation technique greatly impact the building’s energy efficiency, durability, and overall aesthetic impact. With a range of options architects, designers, and builders can now choose from various cladding options to seamlessly integrate structures with their surroundings while meeting sustainability and durability requirements. In this cover story, we will delve into the role of cladding as it has the potential to transform buildings into visually stunning and environmentally responsive works of art. For this, we have interviewed a few industry experts to bring to you all the important aspects related to cladding. Here are the excerpts: Types of Exterior Cladding Materials and Criteria of Selection [caption id="attachment_54224" align="alignright" width="150"] Mathieu...

The construction industry in India is expected to grow by 12.0% to reach INR 45,907 billion in 2023- 24. The growth momentum is expected to continue over the forecast period, recording a CAGR of 9.9% during 2023- 2027. So the data clearly shows that gradually our fenestration industry, and accordingly the hardware industry, will grow. There was a scare during Covid and the future was uncertain. The prices of raw materials like PVC resin, steel, aluminium were touching the sky but fortunately, things are stable at present. In the year 2022-23, we expect that majorly all companies have grown by 20 to 25 % compared to 2021-22. The hardware industry in India is around 2500 Cr (350 Cr uPVC, 1500 Cr aluminium, wood and the rest others like steel, PVC, etc.). As we can see from the above data the Industry will keep growing and the future looks bright. Budget...

Vietnam’s construction industry is flourishing, with major cities like HCM City and Hanoi witnessing a remarkable upswing in stunning high-rise developments. The market’s strong inclination toward top-notch quality and technologically advanced products underlines the immense potential of custom-designed façade products in Vietnam. Major Vietnamese façade contractors have made impressive strides, not just within the country but also on the global stage. BM Windows stands out with its grand projects on coveted land, showcasing world-class façade designs that epitomize Vietnam’s current façade development. BM Windows is poised by ambition to elevate the company to international acclaim. Urbanisation remains an undeniable global trend, and Vietnam is firmly entrenched in this trajectory of progress. Presently, Vietnam stands as one of Southeast Asia’s most developed nations, with urban centres experiencing remarkable growth and breakthroughs. Nearly all major cities in Vietnam are swiftly embracing globalisation and international modernisation trends. The rapid development of Vietnam’s urban...

Buildings consume about 40% of energy use and carbon emissions in the world. The total energy consumption of buildings especially for cooling purposes varies as a function of the quality of design and climatic conditions. With the worsening global climatic situation, achieving carbon neutrality has become a goal, and Green buildings always make business sense. But it is always important to know if the building is really “Green” when it comes to the use of the glass façades for the buildings. There is always a debatable issue of whether glass is a really green product or not. In tropical countries like India, is extensive use of glass really advisable? The vast glass envelopes of the buildings led to a rapid increase in temperature inside the buildings and increase the heat loads. It became unbearable, especially because the glass panels designed as windows would not open. Despite many such experiences, the...

Façade claddings are evolving as time passes with their functional features being upgraded and their aesthetic getting more contemporary and smarter. Façades are the key elements to beautify our structures. There are various façade systems and materials available to select from: [caption id="attachment_50388" align="alignright" width="300"] Perforated parametric & fibre-reinforced polymer(FRP) façade[/caption] 1. Perforated parametric designs are the trends in façade panelling taking into account sun paths, wind direction, shading coefficients, etc. Façades are screens, which can be shaped with multiple algorithms to make them more sustainable and efficient. Vibrant colours and parametric designs are the new norms of expressive façades Parametric-based designs for kinetic façades not only optimise daylight performance but also reduce the heat gain in the structure. 2. Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials exhibit high thermal insulation and corrosion resistance, making them cutting-edge over traditional materials. They are cheap and quick to produce, strong, lightweight and resistant to heat....

All our lives are based on technology. In the future, our vision of façade design will significantly evolve as the use of materials in construction takes a shift due to technological advancement. Our project Nilkanth uses parametric tools to create a simple, yet elegant façade. Experimentation is increasing on parametric design. Before Frank Gehry, we didn’t think a façade could be made of titanium. Façade materials should be lightweight, heavy materials burden ecology and the core building structure. Glass - a versatile material, that connects the outside and inside, but must be placed thoughtfully. Biomimicry with simple façades will prevail. There are experimentations on rammed earth, and bamboo; whilst considering their longevity. Climate change has resulted in increased Air Conditioning. An optimal solution is a breathable façade. Jean Nouvel’s Barcelona building is an example with a double-skinned façade, one competing with Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia leaving Barcelona with two icons....

In the contemporary world, a city is nothing but a culmination of multiple clusters of built entities. These built entities have ‘forms’, the exterior. The exterior/façade of the building is responsible for drawings people’s attention towards it, but it also serves a bigger purpose. The façade design of a building reveals a lot about the interior spaces. [caption id="attachment_49744" align="alignleft" width="300"] A fusion of modernity & sustainability, this building situated in Mohali is spread over a sprawling 2.09 acres, combining two plots. Carbon footprint is extremely low because of the smart sustainable features like double glazing glass, cooling tower system, and rooftop garden, all these design considerations helped the building get decorated with a 5-star GRIHA rating[/caption] It highlights the structure’s style, geographical region, materials used, and construction, as well as the period during which it was created. Other than highlighting the structure’s elevation of façade health and regulating or...

The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) recognise green building certification systems and provide verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance, their interpretation for façade design remains largely unexplored in India. Presently, innovations in façade design across the Indian landscape are limited to the use of double-glazing and cavity walls as strategies for energy efficiency; however, these may not always be effective and resilient in the long term. One solution that shows promise is designing façades as living environments with habitable spaces. To achieve mean temperatures, these spaces can integrate cooling systems by taking the return air from internal air-conditioned spaces through the façade skin, and back into the Air Handling Units (AHU). House Under Shadows The name suggests a house ornamented in the moving shadows of the day creating a symphony between the...

Tell us about four major trends in exterior wall cladding? Structural Glazing – Glass envelopes for the built blocks allow for a sleek modern façade, add to the aesthetics of the building, let the light in and also protect the interior of the place from weather conditions. [caption id="attachment_48137" align="alignleft" width="217"] Victor MTB3- Bangalore; Fritted orange glass panels[/caption] Natural cladding for aesthetic - Stone cladding, ceramic cladding, tile cladding, and terracotta cladding. Natural stone cladding was one of the traditional choices and has started to gain popularity once again. This material has an earthy look and unrivalled beauty. Its extreme durability and long lifespan and fire resistance. Metal sheet cladding - The Aluminium, Copper and Zinc cladding sheets do more than just provide the skin of the building with a smooth and durable finish. It is corrosion resistant and is available in a wide variety of choices. Wood and marble...

Net-Zero and Sustainability Climate change is one of the most significant problems facing our world today. It impacts everyone on our planet and people are the main cause of that disruption. The man-made built environment is contributing negatively towards the increase of greenhouse gas emissions and the whole climate change issues. Countries across the globe are taking decisive measures to reduce GHG emissions and committing to achieving net-zero energy and carbon neutrality. Net-zero is all about conserving water, reducing energy use and carbon emissions, eliminating waste, and thus more financial benefits arise, helping economies thrive, supporting communities socially, and ensuring a resilient and sustainable environment. To achieve net-zero energy, a balance is needed between the demand and supply in the built environment which can be done if we worked towards that goal for decades. Countries are setting 2050 and 2060 to achieve net-zero and launching initiatives, signing agreements, and making...

With rapid urbanization in developing countries, the need to reduce environmental impact and building energy costs has never been greater. The Indian construction industry is at a critical juncture wherein it has to balance the demand for low-cost construction but simultaneously comply with the stringent environmental & efficiency norms that are becoming the order of the day. Building services engineers now can challenge existing concepts for energy reduction and investigate alternate materials and façade configurations that affect building’s electro-mechanical designs and has a direct consequential impact on the project’s capital and operating costs. With the majority of buildings in India expected to be constructed in the next three decades, the experts are working towards creating a balance between the technology from the western world and the old wisdom of Indian buildings that evolved over a while in harmony with nature. [caption id="attachment_46826" align="alignnone" width="774"] Building-integrated photovoltaics capture the solar radiation...

Façades are without a doubt the most important building element from the perspective of both users and architects. In fact, they are the most difficult to design as well, because their responsiveness is based on variables that are difficult to predict and generate in each design that includes social aspects, geography, climatology, and, of course, sustainability, and material costs, etc. During the past few years, an incredible number of creative building and façade materials have been developed and introduced. Most of these advances guarantee huge upgrades in energy productivity and occupants’ comfort, with easy availability in the market. What are the current trends indicating the likely direction of the façade in the coming decades? What do industry experts think about future façades, the preferred materials, the technologies, and materials that can be seen in coming years? Read it here in this cover story. Important Tools for Creating Future Façades [caption...

“Future Façades will be Much Advanced than We Have Ever Known” Imagine being in a world that has its façade components 3d printed, dismantled, and reused in another project. A design to be generated through computational programming while incorporating passive designs and eco-friendly fabrication methods. High-performing façades with smart materials that can be responsive with their shape, properties, and orientation to act according to climate conditions. It is Time for Design Customisation Based on Intelligent Data, Complex Requirements, and Regulative Constraints (Custom designed BIM/ Parametric) The software can be used to automate repetitive tasks easily. You can use new software that has BIM, climatic analysis, and simulation all integrated into one place. BIM is the process adopted for years to replace the non-informative 3d models. It’s applied to provide information about cost, fabrication, and transportation data into the model. It also can be parametrized that you can change its profiles,...

What are the important tools for creating future façades? We are in a time now where climate action is the key agenda in the Built Environment and COP26, no doubt raised many questions that are to be answered if we are to safeguard our world for future generations to come. Key to many of the actions in the built environment especially as it relates to buildings is energy generation and consumption. The impact and contribution of the façades to carbon neural buildings will drive the design, fabrication, and installation of cladding elements going forward. The ability to be able to demonstrate the embodied energy within the façade against benchmarked designs will be a major driver in creating the façades of the future. What are the future opportunities for smart façades, adaptive façades & integrated façades? The façade of a building functions as the skin does; i.e., it is expected to...

After the great Chicago fire in 1871, there was a rapid improvement in build construction and selection of building materials for construction. From 1883, when William LeBaron Jenney was able to design a 10-story building for home insurance building, his achievement paved the way for Chicago School. From there, together architects and engineers developed modern skyscrapers for that era. Understanding and mastering in glass mass productions and engineering of smarter design, fabrication, and erections of glazed curtain walls have led us to many façades wonders today we see all around the globe. [caption id="attachment_45023" align="alignnone" width="774"] From 1883, when William LeBaron Jenney was able to design a 10-story building for home insurance building, his achievement paved the way for Chicago School[/caption] THEORETICALLY IDEAL SYSTEMS [caption id="attachment_45025" align="alignright" width="300"] Three different thermodynamic systems[/caption] Ideally, to make any system most efficient in the context of heat transfer the system has to control...