Material selection is a critical factor in designing sustainable facades.

- Gurjot Bhatia, Managing Director, Project Management, CBRE India, Middle East and North Africa

“Parametric design and computational design are widely used in India now and with respect to facade design they can aid in developing smarter facades that can perform a multitude of tasks in an optimized way,” says Gurjot Bhatia, Managing Director, Project Management, CBRE India, Middle East and North Africa. Excerpts from the interview…

How do you assess the market for facades and fenestration?

Facades and fenestration are an integral part of building design and are developed keeping in mind aspects such as energy efficiency, aesthetics and sustainable nature of the overall development and the project. With the technological advancements and the rising developments in the construction and real estate sector, the demand for facade and fenestration too is on a rise. The Covid-19 pandemic has reiterated the need for health and hygiene and has opened the doors for various new innovations in the industry with more focus on wellness.

Moving forward, the industry will witness more technology-driven solutions and innovations. Increased focus on green and sustainable buildings is one of the major growth drivers in the segment, creating an increased demand for sustainable and eco-friendly facade & fenestration solutions and technologies.

Overall, building owners are much more conscious and cognizant today about energy efficiency. Owing to the need to bring down the cost incurred in heating and cooling down the buildings globally, and for achieving power efficiency, the market for facades is gaining traction. No longer is 'all glass' a fashion statement that needs to be replicated across the country irrespective of weather conditions.

What are the major trends in facades systems for commercial and residential projects? 

Facades play an important role in driving building performance, engaging with the external environment, significantly enhancing durability and reducing energy consumption. In commercial projects, performance-centric facades can allow for a reduction in peak cooling loads and thus provide the opportunity to implement a smaller HVAC system and/or a low-energy alternative, which can translate into increased energy savings, reduced initial costs, and HVAC system operation and maintenance savings. In residential projects, they have the potential to redirect and filter daylight, provide natural ventilation, manage heat transfer, enhance the productivity of occupants, create visual and physical connections between inside and outside, and most importantly, reducing operating costs of a building.

The idea is to maximise the benefits of energy-saving and provide comfort to people by eliminating sun radiations inside. Ventilated facades market has the largest market share owing to the factors such as heat ventilation and soundproofing.

What are major trends in use of materials supporting the shift towards greener and energy efficient and performance-oriented facades?

Material selection is a critical factor in designing sustainable facades. Improving the thermal performance of building envelopes and minimising thermal bridging arve extremely important design strategies for sustainable facades. Facade materials carry out a number of functions and performances in several ways. Factors like structural integrity, durability, weather-tightness, acoustic insulation, thermal insulation, safety and security should be kept in mind while selecting the material.The selection of material and the design elements are critical to ensure the sustainability of the project and create an environment that is not only conducive but also cost-effective.

In recent times, the high-pressure laminate is increasingly gaining acceptance. After the revision of National Building code, people are looking at fire rated Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) and solid aluminium sheet cladding in the place of normal ACP. When it comes to glass, the latest trend is sage glass, which can be converted into graphic screens with the click of a remote button.  In addition to this, screen printing on the glasses of facade is also gaining traction.

On the design front what are the latest trends especially computational designs and using digital elements and light? 

The recent developments in computation technology and the availability of diverse software and coding platforms have provided the tools to identify problems and develop unique design solutions.Parametric design and computational design are widely used in India now and with respect to facade design they can aid in developing smarter facades that can perform a multitude of tasks in an optimized way. The use of these tools createsvast possibilities of controlling performance-based factors.

Transparent facades in architecture is no longer limited to clear glass and illuminating the interiors. These trends are the result of dynamic technological progress and processes, the advancement in the field of materials.

How does the advent of disruptive technologies have impacted this segment, especially the design and execution part of it?

Use of leading-edge technologies is playing a huge role in bringing transformation in the segment, facades are becoming more complex, dynamic, and interactive, with more focus towards sustainability and operational cost-effectiveness.

Technologies like Building Integrated Photo Voltaic (BIPV) are helping in designing intelligent facade that react to the external climatic conditions. Use of CAD software has traditionally contributed to increasing efficiency, accuracy, and coordination, but BIM and parametric software are now taking efficiency and coordination to new levels.

What are the major challenges this segment is facing? 

Facade and fenestration industry in India is still at a nascent stage. A large part of the sector remains unorganized and non-regulated. There is need for set of regulations and codes of practice as to keep a check on the quality and efficiency of the products and bring in new practices. In addition to this, acceptance or implementation of the new products and practices will takesome time andrequires participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders.  There is a lack of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and consultants.

There is a need for involvement of façade consultants in early stages of design, feedback from contractors to identify constructability issues to be better prepared during construction stages and also there is limited information on new materials and technology.

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