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Police Training Academy, Khalal Dist, Gujarat

ongoing projects?

IG: Glazing is an essential part of our architecture. The advantages of proper use of glazing are unmatched. The type of glazing is dependent on the typology of the building. We have recently finished installing 30,000 sq. ft of glazing for an office building with predominant south-facing windows. The main idea was to allow the right balance of light and heat. In addition, we decided not to have high reflectivity as it is a nuisance for people walking in close proximity to the building. We also recently finished a private residence that makes use of a uPVC single pane frame. The main concept here was of keeping the sound from the outside to a minimum but also having a sleek look with thinner frames.

What are the key factors to consider while designing and installing glass façades & fenestration?

IG: Using high-performance windows can drastically reduce heat gains and in turn reduce energy bills to cool the building. In addition, window systems with low-e and special coating can filter UV radiation. This coupled with other passive techniques

Raffles Park Project - Using high-performance windows can drastically reduce heat gains and in turn reduce energy bills to cool the building

can help build a building that is sensitive towards its environment. A few other important factors that influence our decisions is the visual requirements, shading, acoustic control and colour effects.

Please brief on the design and technical details of a safe glass façade, considering fire safety, and wind, rain and earthquake resistance?

IG: When we start with designing the fenestration, we work with experts who help us with all the design calculations that make the glass safe and secure to wind and fire. In one project we found that by tilting the glass by a few degrees we were able to reduce the direct heat into a particular room.

How would the façade design and other elements of the façade help the building to be energy efficient, at the same time provide better interior environment? What about sustainability and environmental considerations when choosing the façade/cladding material?

KG: The façade design and related elements of a project are designed such as it should give maximum energy efficiency and better interior environments in all our projects; which culminates with a particular project or a site which is no harm to any environmental or sustainability problems to the project in any way.

What are your views on future façades & fenestration technologies, and materials?

KG & IG: In the recent past, windows have undergone a tech revolution. A High-performance, energy-efficient window is now available that can dramatically cut energy consumption. Many studies also show how health and productivity are improved because of a well-ventilated room with ample natural light. The natural next step would be to create a glass that can harness the suns energy. There are solar panels available that are transparent which can be applied to your glazing. However, this seems a long way in the future before it is available to the masses.

What is your advice to young, aspiring architects?

KG: There is no disbelief that we live in uncertain times; times that are made harder by the presence of a growing economic crisis and a dramatic increase in natural disasters and pandemics. The building industry has been hit very hard over the past few years and at times the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be growing dimmer, and moving farther

Alembic Museum at Alembic City Art District, Baroda

Alembic Museum, arched corridor, exhibition space and the courtyard

away. Our industry has adapted to accept new realities of how we must design, and a movement has ushered in a new era of energy and resource-saving techniques.

We are at a climax in our history, a pressure point of our times, and as we begin to understand and accept the responsibilities of our actions, we are forced to change how we create our built environment. The changes we make today will help preserve our cities, our cultures, and our world for generations to come. We are at the crossroads of a major decision. We are faced with a choice, a chance to change.

Akshar Center for Hearing Impaired Children, Baroda

SHAPING TOMORROW’S FAÇADES

Façades are an indispensable and essential part of a building’s overall aesthetic as well as usability. Over the years, advancements in technology and the availability of sustainable and innovative materials have transformed the purpose, identity, and designs of façades and fenestrations. With the advancement of the industrial revolution façades transformed drastically from bulk masses to fully transparent frameless glass panes, connecting inside with the outside. In future, with the progress in technology, we will find a sea change in the design approach and use of façades. Human imagination is endless and probably unstoppable. Novelty constantly attracts everyone and the architect has a great responsibility to strike the right balance between human aspirations and our ecosystem. The construction industry is a huge contributor to environmental degradation worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency, the building and building construction sector combined are responsible for 36 per cent of global energy consumption. There are many ways for a building to be more environmentally sensitive. The simplest way is to design buildings which are energy harvesting, sensitive to local climate and thus need less energy to build and operate.

WFM spoke to many experts including many architects, façade consultants and other professionals, checking with them and questioning them on the key characteristics they look for in high-performance façades, and their outlook on future façades. The focus of this article is to help you to choose the right kind of design and materials for the façades of the future. Read on…

Green Terraces, Parkroyal Singapore (Studio Meraki)

The façades have the power to transform the occupant experience and energy consumption. Façades are not just aesthetic skins over the buildings; they have a large role to play in how the buildings function and interact with its occupants.

KEY CHARACTERS OF HIGHPERFORMANCE FAÇADES AND FENESTRATIONS

In architecture, the building envelope, otherwise known as a façade, is increasingly becoming important in terms of building performance and architectural design. The façade is the only interface dividing the interiors and

AR. ANIL BADAN

Principal Architect, Studio B Architects exteriors where the design of this spatial boundary should allow a seamless transition, says Ar. Anil

Badan, Principal Architect, Studio B Architects.

Façades and building envelopes determine visual identity, character, and the expression of architecture. Façade in a building is placed at the intersections of the interior and exterior environment, these play an integral part of the building aesthetics as well as the performance of the structure. Thereby, an integrated optimisation of the conflicting performance criteria of cooling load, daylighting, sound insulation,

SHWETA KAW

Principal, Studio Meraki

Kapil Tower by Katerra Design

occupant comfort, structural stability, cost, and aesthetics requires an advanced façade design process, explains Shweta

Kaw, Principal, Studio Meraki.

Thus, high-performance façades should primarily be looking into putting up a balancing act amongst all the above mentioned key players as façades can have up to 40% impact on the total energy use of the building and also significantly impact the occupant productivity within a building.

AR. AMIT GULATI

Founder, Design21

The material of a façade, says

Ar. Amit Gulati, Founder,

Design21, is of paramount importance. Before deciding on material or design, one has to think about objective, colour, safety, comfort, sound insulation, thermal insulation, glare control, passive heat gain and loss, surrounding structures, and many other essential factors. High-performance materials aid in controlling the light, heat, and sound in a structure in order to create the optimal comfort range for the users. The right type of material will also aid in energy and building efficiency. These materials reduce the ingress of heat and at the same time allow a higher percentage of daylight into the building. The lower the shading coefficient of glazing, the better the material is in preventing solar heat gain.

According to Ar. H.H. Nishanth &

Ar. Veda T.N, Associate Directors,

Architecture, Katerra Design, the key characteristics of an efficient high-performance façade are: l Must be climate, region and building function specific for it to be efficient in providing a comfortable interior environment for its occupants. l Must enable daylight penetration into the building while cutting down the heat and glare, providing comfortable well-lit interiors. l Good acoustic performance to provide sound insulation from the external environment. l Must be durable and future proof with the ability to adapt to future requirements. l Façade systems, screening

AR. H.H. NISHANTH

Associate Director, Architecture, Katerra Design

AR. VEDA T.N

Associate Director, Architecture, Katerra Design 3-D view of a project by Cityspace ‘82 Architects

and fenestration design must work in tandem to achieve the goals of aesthetics, responding to climate, good visual light transmission and cutting of heat gain and glare. This also makes the building system a lot more efficient and sustainable.

Ar. Rohit Krishna Gulati, Principal Architect, Incubis

Architects too agrees that high-performance commercial building façades incorporate comprehensive (passive and active) design features and systems that incorporate daylighting, solar heatgain control, ventilation and space conditioning leading to enhanced sun protection and cooling-load control, increased thermal comfort, and ample daylighting.

According to Ar. Gulati, the key characteristics of highperformance façades include providing visual focus and intent from inside to outside depending on the use and function of the space within and accordingly provide for minimum glazing and moderate window-wall ratios; providing adequate natural ventilation and controlled daylight based architectural features based on the solar-orientation of the façade; and providing passive and/ or active systems to control heatgain and minimise lifecycle costs for space conditioning. He adds that the highest performance is likely to be achieved when all measures are conceived, designed and executed in an integrated manner.

“When it comes to designing and

ROHIT KRISHNA GULATI

Principal Architect, Incubis Architects

creating a façade or fenestration that is high performance in nature, the impact on the daylight needs to be calculated and considered. As daylight and views can have a drastic impact on the real estate value of a building, a façade must factor in building massing, window to wall ratio, the orientation of glass, visual transmittance of glass, solar shading strategies and more that can have a significant impact on the amount and quality of daylight penetration”, observes

Ar. Sumit Dhawan, Founder and Principal Architect at Cityspace ‘82 Architects.

AR. SUMIT DHAWAN

Foundr and Principal Architect, Cityspace ‘82 Architects

Ar. Parag V Singal, Principal Architect- Parag Singal Architects says that a highperformance façade & fenestration not only increase the thermal

AR. PARAG V SINGAL

Principal Architect, Parag Singal Architects Elevation of a project designed by Parag Singal Architects

comfort level of the occupants but also lowers the energy consumption of the building. The façade design must be such that the reduced heat gain should not lead to loss of daylight. To summarise, a high-performance Façade & fenestration is essentially a comprehensive system that incorporates sufficient daylight, controls solar heat gain and ventilation.

Thus it is understood that highperformance façades maintain constant comfort in terms of light, heat, and sound to create the optimal space that can be enjoyed by the user. The façade can also be retrofitted with solar panels, wind tunnels, etc., hence, reducing the power consumption of the building, says Ar. Badan. Highperformance façades not only help in the temperature control of the indoors but also maintain a certain lux level, reduce energy consumption and create a soft transition between the indoors and outdoors, adds Badan.

LOOKING AT THE PARADIGM SHIFT

As the world becomes more technologically driven, the old façades used for simple purposes like temperature control and limiting energy consumption will be easily replaced by automated façade patterns. At the same time, the materials used to make the façade are also envisaged to be much more sustainable. Many materials used in the building of façades, such as aluminium, glass, and steel, can be used more frequently, making a truly sustainable façade. Talking about the future façades, Ar. Dhawan predicts that both kinetic façades and bio façades that use the power of photosynthesis are the next choices to be an eco-friendly alternative to the façades that use fossil fuels.

Advancement in computational technologies over the past few years has resulted in the revolution in the façade industry, notes Ar. Kaw. Not just a surge in visually enticing and more efficient materials, but there has been an ever-increasing jump in technologically challenging intelligent façade systems as well as breathing green façades. Kinetic façades, in which the panels open and close throughout the day in response to the sun’s movement, thereby balancing heat ingress and daylight to enter the building as required and green façades have seen a rise, especially keeping in sync with the philosophy of a sustainable green future. Parametric façades

Ranchi Express Towers - Day View by Incubis Architects

owe their birth due to the digitisation of production and technological resources bringing advantages in both aesthetics and efficacy. The potential to produce flexible designs, complex and uneven geometries, better product visualisation, faster design iterations and quick turnaround has increased their popularity amongst architects and designers. Biomimicry inspired living façades wherein we mimic nature and try to avail the utmost benefits that one can have from them at minimum cost have also started gaining ground.

Ar. Amit Gulati expects a paradigm shift in façade design - regarding its requirements, roles, and responsibilities. The design of façades that do not become obsolete and gel perfectly with the building interiors while still managing to reflect the culture around the building is the need of the hour, adds Gulati. “One exciting feature for façades is humanisation, with which the façades could focus on human needs and understand their interaction with the environment. Another popular trend would be ventilated façades, which are essentially an energyefficient system that allows for an active exchange of air,” says Gulati.

One façade design that we think will be popular in the future is parametric design, predicts Ar. Badan. Parametric design is envisaged to be a paradigm in design where the relationship between elements can be manipulated to form complex geometric designs and structures. This design process uses algorithmic relations to create multiple possible designs.

REVOLUTIONARY ADVANCEMENT IN FAÇADE AND FENESTRATION DESIGNS, TECHNOLOGIES & MATERIALS

Inspired by the computational changes and the rapid advancements in the world of architecture and design, façade design has grown by leaps and bounds in the past five years. When comparing the present face design to a design that was popular five years ago, one can see a vast difference between them. One of the noteworthy advancements made in the façade design sector is the introduction of smog neutralising façades, notes Ar. Dhawan, This idea was originally conceptualised in Berlin, but this façade design made of steel and plastic does a fantastic job of reducing air pollution. Another

Green façades with vertical gardens - Green Terrace of ParkRoyal, Singapore (image courtesy, Studio Meraki)

development that has been seen over the last five years is the use of homeostatic façades, initially developed by a firm in New York City. In this case, the building’s climate is controlled on the basis of the external environment automatically.

Ar. Amit Gulati observes that the industry has witnessed a considerable change in terms of new material usage, façade treatments, and even technological advancements. “Façades these days have become more of a functional element in addition to their aesthetic importance. Materials like glass, wood composite plastics, tiles, dry cladding systems, sunscreens, aluminium, and titanium are becoming increasingly popular,” observe Ar. Amit Gulati and Ar. Badan. The architecture and design of commercial, institutional, residential, or public buildings are adapting to include an integrated façade system that aid in building performance and energy consumption, points out Ar. Badan. Ar. Amit adds that in India, one of the significant developments in urban construction is the IT/BPO boom which has led to a noteworthy transformation in the urban skyline. The buildings have presented mind-numbing possibilities both in terms of design and use of modern materials. The architecture and design of commercial spaces like malls, hospitals, public utilities, and even educational institutions are adapting to include an integrated façade system aiding in the building performance.

Technology and digitalisation are transforming our world into a more and more intelligent place each day. Façade technology has also advanced in the recent past and building façades will continue to become more and more intelligent in the coming years. Ar. Nishanth & Ar. Veda from Katerra Design adds that technological advancements in the façade systems have enabled architects to achieve cutting edge and complex façade design. According to them, the following advancements brought a revolution in the present day façades: l Automated façade and window systems make building energy-efficient, secure and weatherproof. l Dynamic glass with

electrochromic coating

that automatically changes its properties based on the climatic conditions outside.

This depending on the building orientation reduces the need for shading devices and interior blinds. l BIPV (Building Integrated

Photo Voltaic) façade systems

integrate solar power generation with façade and open building terraces for better usage. l Photosensitive shading devices that automatically change orientation based on the changing sun angles throughout the day. This complements a high-performance glazing

system and provides a smart solution to efficient façade design. l Smart glass screens that sense occupants and accordingly change from transparent to opaque for screening, making interior spaces very dynamic.

Some of the path-breaking innovations have been electrochromic and photovoltaic glass, agrees Ar. Singal. Such glasses have been widely used in interiors especially in offices to create private spaces as per need. But now the same technology has found its way to the exteriors and is being actively used in building façades. “The ability of electrochromic glass to go from translucent to opaque has been facilitating offices to reduce the solar heat gain dramatically while keeping the visual connection with the outside world as per need,” he adds.

The use of photovoltaic glass enables the building to produce its own energy and reduce its carbon

Projects by Parag Singal Architects - elevation

High-Performance Façades

ASHISH K JAIN

Partner - AEON Integrated Building Design Consultant LLP

Key Characters of HighPerformance Façades

& Fenestrations: Highperformance façades typically get associated with energy efficiency but those have a great deal of other focus areas too including thermal comfort, visual comfort and well-being of the building occupants for whom the building is made. Therefore, key characteristics of high performing façades include striking the right balance between efficiency, health, comfort and cost-efficiency.

Advancements in Façade & Fenestration Designs, Technologies & Materials:

Façade designs have always evolved to solve problems of the particular era when those are built. We have seen Dynamic Glass as one such revolutionary advancement in fenestration technologies which has the power and potential of changing the way we think and use our façades. At the same time, we are moving into a Digital World and Artificial Intelligence is right there, it will be exciting to see the integration of these hightech elements into building façade and fenestration in the next few decades to come.

With a great deal of focus on solving global issues including carbon footprint reduction, energy and water conservation, food crisis and pollution mitigation, the next few decades are expected to see some great advancements in the façade design and technologies. To name a few, these may include Power Generating Façades, Living Walls, Dynamic & Interactive Façades, Façades Growing Fresh Air, Hydroponics addressing food crisis etc.

Innovations in materials

& technologies: Without innovations in products and technologies, it is not possible to reach the next level of efficiency. One best example can be seen in the fenestration of buildings. From Zero glass in traditional building façades, we have graduated to fully glazed buildings today. Had there been no advancement and innovation in the Glazing Manufacturing industry, this was simply not possible.

Façade & Fenestration materials & technologies of future buildings have even more crucial issues in hand to solve including carbon neutrality, energy and water neutrality, health & safety, comfort & wellbeing and most importantly cost-effectiveness. Therefore, innovations in materials and technologies shall be imperative to achieve highly efficient and more aesthetically appealing façades.

Tools, Automation &

Digital Technologies: Digital Twinning of buildings through computer simulations have significantly helped façade design optimisation. To achieve optimised façade design considering Energy Efficiency, Cost Efficiency and Occupant Comfort perspective, there are specialised computer simulations conducted viz. Wind CFD Analysis, Solar & Daylight Analysis, Glare & Visual Comfort Analysis, Natural Ventilation Analysis, Parametric Modelling. etc. Whereas, for making costbased decisions on façade, Life Cycle Cost Analysis is also undertaken to enable owners to make more thoughtful decisions.

Computer simulations conducted at different stages of the projects help optimise the building designs to enhance performance and achieve comfort at the same time. The simulations are aimed to evaluate building designs for identifying potential concerns and providing solutions to ensure appropriate façade design by identifying the most feasible and cost-effective options for the project. The quantified results help owners, architects and engineers to make informed design decisions.

Vertical garden

Projects by Katerra Design

footprint. Since the cells are sandwiched between two glass panels, the said glass is not 100% transparent. This not only enables cutting down on the extra sunlight entering the premises but it can be utilised to create beautiful patterns when mixed with standard glazing, explains Ar. Singal.

Ar. Kaw too vouches that electrochromic/photochromic glass usage along with reflective coatings and the variety of façade materials has grown not just in terms of aesthetics or functionality but are having a major hand in contributing to the environment as well.

Ar. RK Gulati talks about several advancements especially in control systems, technologies and materials over the last few years. In his opinion, the key revolutionary innovation is the improved availability and increased use of analytical 3D modelling software that can calculate energy use and predict life-cycle costs based on the combination of design features and specification features employed. These have resulted in the ability to model different options and analyse iterations accurately and quickly leading to lower design time with a much higher level of predictability. The resultant data being integrated into BIM systems, will lead to improved coordination and execution methodologies. “This will help us achieve our sustainability goals faster apart from improved energy efficiency and productivity,” infers Ar. RK Gulati.

INNOVATIONS IN MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGIES

The façade and fenestration industry is extremely technology-driven, where innovations keep happening. Currently, sustainable buildings are the leading trend in the construction industry. This increases the demand for environmentally friendly and automated façades and fenestration solutions. Ar. Amit Gulati notes that products like high-performance glass use the least amount of energy to maintain a comfortable environment inside the building. Technological advancements have made it feasible to manipulate the percentage of transmittance, reflectance, and heat absorption of different wavelengths. Much of the recent innovation in glass for fenestration products has been focused on controlling solar radiation, thus improving building performance and reducing maintenance costs. In real-life applications, it can be seen that when a certain panel or glass has been used, it is easier to control the internal temperature homeostasis. At the same time, beautiful façades are also a must in commercial buildings like malls or retail outlets, and these façades can attract more people.

Besides glass, durable, malleable, and scalable materials like aluminium, zinc, and concrete will

Projects by Parag Singal Architects - elevation

Green Façade Oasia Singapore

soon be the go-to choice for many architects who play an essential role in the innovations made in the field of façade building, envisages Ar. Dhawan. According to him, the design of façades has been highly complex, but at the same time, they are vital in determining the overall use and flexibility of the building.

Architects Nishanth and Veda assure that advancements in technology like façade simulation studies are assisting in deciding the right fenestration and glazing parameters like sizes, modules, orientation and locations. “As the global temperature rises, we also see the rise of innovative and energy-efficient façade materials as an alternative to glass,” they predict. This will all lead to highly sustainable and energyefficient façades. Technological advancements in the façade system design have enabled architects to achieve cutting edge and complex façade design.

Softwares like the grasshopper, rhino, etc., have made parametric designs so much easier to calculate as the computer does all the major calculations and even checks for risk factors, points out Ar. Badan. This also makes it possible to use local materials most sustainably to create a design that is also visually stunning. The need for environmentally friendly façades that aid in improving air quality, soundproofing, temperature, and light control is a necessity of today and will remain a demand in the future as well. Nuances to maintain optimal internal comfort levels can now be automated with the help of technology. These technologies also become a part of the building management system, hence optimising the building performance, adds Ar. Badan.

Ar. Singal explains it through the case of Al Bahar Towers in Dubai. “The kinetic façades is a prime example of how technology and products are changing the definition of façades. It has a responsive façade that takes cultural cues from the “mashrabiya”, a traditional Islamic lattice shading device. The screen operates as a curtain wall, sitting two meters outside the buildings’ exterior on an independent frame. Each triangle is coated with fibreglass and programmed to respond to the movement of the sun as a way to reduce solar gain and glare. In the evening, all the screens will close”, he gives details of an illustrious case study.

Ar. Kaw describes the projects like Oasia Hotel and Park Royal at Singapore as apt and illustrious sustainable ventures. “I have visited these buildings located in the heart of the city during my tenure in Singapore so I would like to share my personal experience as these buildings go miles ahead even after achieving the basic prerequisites of Greenmark certification and rating. Their façades are not just their identity and a major revelation in creativity but they have led the green movement in Asia,” she vouches.

ADVANCEMENT IN AUTOMATION AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

The energy that we consume is limited and precious in nature. So, many architects are trying to create energy-saving façades that will ultimately help future generations and are also looking into selfcleaning façades to eliminate pollution. Individual solutions such as ventilation and heating can, of course also be smart, notes Ar. Dhawan. “A smart façade is a façade that relies exclusively on renewable sources of energy rather than using up the energy sources that are non-renewable. An innovative façade requires numerous sensors to measure all possible external influences like wind and transmit these readings to a control unit. Gateways enable networked devices to communicate with each other. The network can be either cable- or radio-controlled,” reveals Ar. Dhawan.

Technological advancements

have made it feasible for any typology of building to engage in extensive sustainable practices. In terms of development, says Ar. Amit Gulati, innovative sustainable materials with smart automation technology can inspire a generation of architects to create climatically responsive architecture which prioritises human comfort and experience. In terms of design, inventive and original architecture becomes more feasible. For example, the Parametric form of design was challenging to create a few years ago; but today, with the help of technology like Rhino and Grasshopper, it has become super accessible. In terms of installation, automated machinery is constantly decreasing the amount of time and effort required for construction. This advancement will keep upgrading as time passes, continually aiding in creating stunning architecture.

Architects from Katerra Design too agree that digital technology is assisting in designing, developing and installation of efficient façades. Simulation study software assists in arriving at the right material for the relevant façade. Software like Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, etc assists in achieving complex parametric façade designs and executing them. Tools like Ecotect are assisting designers with daylight simulation, thermal energy simulation, glare analysis, etc. which help in designing energy-efficient façades. Ar. Kaw, adds that architects try various permutations and combinations on computers, finding out different inputs and solutions, to develop the right algorithm, that can bring the desired results like the flow and the type of air, besides pouring in natural light to achieve a highperformance building.

TOOLS AND SOFTWARE FOR DESIGNING & INSTALLING EFFICIENT FAÇADE & FENESTRATION SYSTEMS

The software industry has been helping out the designers with their incredible algorithms. We have come a long way from basic 2D drafting software. Ar. Singal elaborates on the available software - Now we have options like Rhinoceros 3D which can create, edit, analyse, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS curves, surfaces and solids, subdivision geometry (SubD), point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no limits on complexity, degree, or size beyond those of your hardware. Accompanied by its plugin Grasshopper that builds generative algorithms, Rhinoceros is a powerful tool to use.

Another name that has made it to the list is Fenestra Pro, adds Ar. Singal. In a short period, Fenestra Pro has established itself as a powerful façade design software that supports the design and construction of beautiful, highperforming buildings. It facilitates architects in designing sustainable solutions towards net-zero carbon initiatives.

According to Ar. Dhawan, using the structural analysis software RFEM and RSTAB as well as the stand-alone program RSECTION, you can design façade structures, such as glass façades, curtain walls, double façades, element façades, and many others.

Ar. Amit Gulati adds that Softwares like COMFEN, CAD interface, Rhino, Grasshopper, ERP systems, RIFD technology, FEMP, etc., all make the process of façade design much more accessible and convenient. Ar. Anil Badan too agrees with Ar. Amit Gulati.

The recent penetration of 3D printing dovetailed with parametric design tools such as RHINO, PYTHON and SOLIDWORKS is a great help to model and experiment and innovate façade design, explains Ar. RK Gulati. It helps in quick modelling of surfaces and concepts with ease of iterations till the desired concept is finalised. Once the design is finalised, the same 3D data can be utilised by

Elevation of a future project by Parag Singal Architects

Medical College, Bengaluru by Katerra Design

Analysis and conceptualisation for façade in hot dry climate

the execution team to derive shop drawings. This seamless movement from conceptualisation to 3D printing to design development and execution detailing and then to execution reduces the overall timelines as well.

Some examples

1. Analysis and conceptualisation for a façade in a hot dry climate 2. Express towers_façade concept with parametric passive shading features 3. Façade with vertical landscape & passive shading

Various analytical procedures and simulation tools are now readily available for the evaluation of high-performance complex façade design. In design, manufacturing, and installation, the architect’s tireless artistic pursuit and the continuing emergence of urban complexes and super high-rise buildings give façade design technology plenty of space to play its role, and the advent of BIM brings good opportunities for the development of façade design engineering, fabrication, and installation.

FUTURE OF FAÇADES & FENESTRATIONS - 50 YEARS FROM NOW

According to Ar. Amit Gulati, City planning is adapting to include intelligent design and smart technologies. This would have a significant impact on the design of façades, as façade designs are a reflection of the city as well. Hence, the architectural design of the building envelope needs to be sustainable and energy-efficient. The materials will become far more durable, malleable, and environmentally friendly. Solutions like hollowed-out bricks that prevent excessive heating or cooling will become more apparent. Technology will also improve to instantly provide quick, easy, time-saving, and environmentally responsive façade solutions with sustainable materials. Smart façades that are automated to be climatically responsive will also become extremely common and widely used.

One of the most significant predictions made for the future of the façade design is that nonrenewable and non-recyclable

Ranchi Express Towers- Day view, Designed by Incubis Architects Vertical Greenery, Oasia Singapore by Studio Meraki