Cover Story
“GFRC is an Ideal Material for Building Envelopes”
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hat ar e the 4 k e y t r e n d s in exte rio r w al l c l adding ? Cladding, besides decorative appeal, is beneficial with its isolating characteristics of the soundproof and thermal insulation. While considering all aspects given above, glass façades, ACP cladding, metal claddings and GFRC cladding panels, etc. are the most trending solutions for cladding which are now improvised and used. How would clever use of cladding technologies and materials regulate daylight and ventilation as well as provide privacy? As an architect it’s our responsibility to make the building more climate responsive and hence the façade to be intelligent and adaptive. Such façades include rear ventilated, double skin, kinetic, etc. which show better performance index in varied aspects. According to you what is the most preferred and dominant
cladding material in this industry at present and why? Glass has been the foremost choice across the country, although bemoaned by many architects. But the understanding that glass as a complete façade solution may not be ideal, has paved the way for other trends. On the other hand, the ACP cladding sheet is also the most preferred material along with glass. The availability of this material in its economic manner makes it easily accessible and also weather proof, stain resistant and highly durable. The panels retain their colour, shape and size even after exposure to sunlight and weather changes making it ideal for all seasons. What is the trendiest cladding material which can be called as the material for the future façades? Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is an ideal material for building envelopes because it is durable, it can resist fire,
AR. PRASHANT DESHMUKH Principal Architect, Prashant Deshmukh & Associates, Pune and the environmental impact is low compared to other materials because the base materials used in the production of GFRC are widely available throughout the world. It is prefabricated, reducing the construction cost and time, noncorrosive, lightweight and complex shapes can be worked out well. Now, pneumatic façade technology has come into the industry with the interesting concept of flexible adjusting skins operated by soft robotics, one of the best examples of adaptive and responsive cladding. What do you mean by intelligent & responsive cladding? An intelligent and responsive building envelope adapts itself
An office for Hager
WFM | SEP - OCT 2020
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