Facades
Building envelopes explained through performance, detail and design — rainscreens, glazing, shading and brick systems for durable facades.
A facade is simultaneously weather control, thermal boundary, daylight filter, maintenance surface and public face. Good design depends on how those roles meet at openings, edges, joints and changes of material.
The stories in this topic translate envelope principles into decisions architects can inspect: drainage paths, cavities, shading, continuity and tolerances. Product choice and final details must still follow local codes, testing and manufacturer guidance.
Published stories
- Balcony Thermal Bridges: How to Read the Slab Edge
A balcony is an environmental junction as well as an outdoor room. Follow the load path, thermal layer and threshold to ask better questions before the slab edge is built.
- Low-E vs Triple Glazing vs Smart Glass: 8 Decisions That Matter
The best glazing is not the pane with the most layers or the darkest tint. It is the verified whole-window system that fits climate, orientation, comfort, daylight, controls and construction reality.
- Rainscreen Facade Design: 9 Details That Keep Water Out
A rainscreen succeeds by expecting water, giving it a clear exit and keeping the inner control layers continuous—especially at windows, parapets, bases and penetrations.
- Climate-Responsive Facades: 7 Strategies for Better Cooling
A climate-responsive facade is not a decorative skin. It is a coordinated environmental system that manages sun, heat, air and daylight before mechanical cooling begins.