In architecture and design, the façade of a building is often the most important aspect, helping to set the tone for the rest of the property. If you’re designing or building a façade, here are four trends we’re seeing more often in modern buildings.
Lower Energy Bills
Although elaborate building façades can cost more to build, modern designs that incorporate lots of
glass can have a huge impact on the energy efficiency of a building, lowering utility costs. With a steep rise in energy bills this year, anyone would be thankful for a strong source of constant natural light and heating for when the sun beams through the panes. The lower cost of building maintenance could even help to keep a business afloat during difficult times.
Carbon Neutral Focus
Environmentalists within the sector are already placing greater emphasis on carbon-neutral developments (greenhouse gas emissions are minimised at all stages of the manufacturing and construction process), but it’s accepted that building more modernised façades, with their lightweight, long-lasting materials, is another great way to reduce carbon footprint. If you thought lower energy bills were a bonus, there are architectural experts who claim that the next generation of façades should even be able to generate and store energy!
Smart Façades
Technology has come on in leaps and bounds in all areas of life, and glass fitting is no exception. A smart façade knows how to use its specialist features to its advantage, benefitting the building’s users in a way that a typical façade is unable to provide. How they work is simple: the panels will adapt to suit the current environmental situation, both inside and outside of the building, responding by balancing the level of natural light in rooms when necessary and controlling both thermal heat and ventilation.
With a changing climate due to global warming, smart façades will likely prove to be important in regulating temperatures within the workplace, another incentive for construction companies to make the shift. For an example of a type of glass used in smart façades, Saint-Gobain’s SageGlass tints automatically, so shades and blinds are not required. This is a cost-effective way to manage glare and heat and while enjoying the view.
Coloured Façades
Façades are not just environmentally friendly, but they are also mesmerising to look at. Coloured glass has gathered plenty of newfound appeal in more recent years with more projects scrapping the old rules in favour of going with a quirky approach. Façades have typically always been grey, white or black, but we have recently seen a rise in the number of buildings going for bright, vibrant façades.
Learn More About Installing Façades With King Contract Services
Here at King Contract Services, we specialise in installing façades and can provide skilled workers in this area. For more information about recruitment in construction, get in touch today.