TOWARDS INTELLIGENT FAÇADE SYSTEMS

Façade systems have evolved from aesthetic to functional over the years. Construction Times explores the evolving application trends in façade systems and the market outlook.

The usage of facades in building construction has seen a significant growth in the recent times. While earlier façade systems were used for better aesthetics of the building or structure, now it has been used for beyond looks and aesthetics. The India facade market reached a value of US$ 2,424.4 Million in 2021, and the market is expected to touch US$ 3,930.4 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.30% during 2022-2027, according to figures of IMARC Group.

Emerging trends

Facades are the most crucial component of a building, looking from the perspective of the designers, developers, architects and the consumers. The recent trends have witnessed a considerable surge in terms of façade treatments and the latest building material in exteriors. Ar. Sumit Dhawan, Founder and Principal Architect, Cityspace' 82 Architects, says, “Many architects and designers are experimenting with complex patterns and symbolizing forms, making them a visual identity of the building. Integral materials like aluminium, corten steel, WPC, and porcelain are extensively being used for cladding exteriors. Dry cladding is an emerging trend.” According to him, lacquered and opaque glass is also an alternative cladding option in outlining the entire façade rather than being restricted to fenestrations.

Rounaq K Choudhari, Founder and Managing Director, Micasa Luxuries, adds, “Adaptive fritting is the evolution in the fritting industry. It is an integrated glass unit with a personalised movable graphic design that may adjust its transparency to manage transmitted light, solar gain, privacy, and views. Adaptive fritting has the ability to adjust between opaque and transparent states while conventional fritting depends on a set pattern. Façade lighting design has acquired relevance in recent years and is utilised to modernise and iconize significant buildings.”

T. Chandrasekhar, Director-Technical, Aparna Enterprises, says, “The use of materials and facade treatments has increased significantly over the past ten years. Nowadays, facades serve more useful purposes than a decorative one. The most recent application trend in India uses a variety of materials to clad buildings, including glass, wood composite polymers, tiles, dry cladding systems, solar screens, aluminium, titanium, and zinc.”

Demand-supply scenario

Chandrasekhar is of the view that nowadays, the preference for the façade is constantly evolving. According to him, earlier commercial buildings focused more on facades but now residential buildings are also choosing facades. The major reason being the sturdy material used to make facades is it protects the building from noise pollution and creates a barrier from the outer world.

Dhawan says, “Façade and fenestration industries are building back post-pandemic, undismayed by significant labour & supply chain challenges, reduced margins, and raw material price variations. To maintain the momentum, the industry is in immediate need to navigate elevated risks while advancing sustainability priorities. To achieve long-term profitability, companies should embrace digital capabilities and progress with digitalization, seeing results from more connected, efficient, and reliable processes at production.”

Products and solutions

Nowadays, facades serve more useful purposes than only decorative ones. Buildings can be covered with a variety of materials, including smart glass, wood composite polymers, tiles, dry cladding systems, solar screens, aluminium, and titanium. Choudhari adds, “From glass glazing to stone cladding, ACP to louvers and now doing the world's largest smart glass project Bagmane Rio, we have a vast variety of façade options for the architects and developers.”

Aparna Craft is presently providing services for the most commonly used façade system like bespoke unitized & semi-unitized curtain walls, metal & metal composite cladding (ACP, aluminium, zinc, SS, atriums, spiders, shop fronts, canopies). “We have professionals who are well versed and have knowledge of BIM modeling, thermal and acoustic analysis, finite element analysis to meet the structural requirements and ensuring the façade stability along with warranties of all materials,” claims Chandrasekhar. 

Design & technology trends

Along with the evolving materials that furnish the look and feel of a building, technologies applied to façades and fenestrations are also unfolding at a greater level. Ar. Robin Sisodiya, Founder and Principal Architect, ASRO Arcade India, elaborates, “Technological advancements have been made in the application of new techniques that have made recent façade trends more responsive to the environment as well as the design. The deviation towards energy conservation and efficiency paves way for flourishing trends of perforated metal facades, kinetic facades, and smart facades, that maintain ambient internal temperature, ventilation, and natural light at the same time ensuring visibility from inside. Metals like copper, corten steel, aluminium, and brass alloys are now being explored as new façade elements in Indian homes.”

Design and application trends vary with commercial and residential structures. According to Chandrasekhar, commercial building and residential building have their own set of advantage look wise and utilities. “The façade primarily holds importance from appearance, superior performance and design standpoint setting the tone of the building and the final selection of the type of façade plays a crucial role in differentiating a building's aesthetics and function-wise,” he adds.

However, in residential facade systems, aluminium and uPVC, both will co-exist with aluminium being the choice for long and tall systems and uPVC for high level noise insulation and thermal properties.

Future outlook

According to Choudhari, innovation and sustainability are perhaps the most preferred words in the world of architecture lately. “In light of climate change and the growing population, a larger group of consumers have limited resources, resulting in developers and architects looking for innovative façade developers. And talking about innovation, if I have to note down a few points for façade innovation, I would say the façade needs to be not only visually appealing on the exteriors of a building but also driven with high-end technology and performance when it comes to functionality,” he concludes.

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