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Construction of facades
With modern non-traditional facades the link between appearance and form of construction is more flexible. For instance, stone may
be placed using traditional methods or may comprise thinner slabs bolted to a carrier frame. Conversely metal panels may give a
modern appearance to a traditional blockwork wall when they are used as overcladding.
It is common practice to think of design options in terms of materials, appearance and image, and indeed the client may well express
preferences in terms of precedent buildings. However, the constructor will be thinking in terms of function, buildability, safety, time and
cost.
These latter aspects of the façade depend on the following primary decisions:
Design guidance
Although two building envelopes are seldom the same they are equally unlikely to be entirely bespoke. Most building
envelopes are constructed from systems of components. These offer benefits over bespoke design but are unable to deliver a
completely unique construction. Some of the benefits to consider are:
Standard system walls can be given a variety of styles by selecting appropriate infill panels and additional items such as brise soleil. It
has to be remembered that even the most standard of systems will have bespoke components such as brackets, flashings, and
interfaces with adjacent cladding. Modified standard systems are sometimes used. In these one or more of the framing profiles, such as
a pressure cap, is changed but the structural and sealing components remain unchanged.
Bespoke systems comprise framing components that are bespoke to a project. The profiles are designed and dies cut to extrude the
required cross-sections. Note that bespoke wall may also comprise standard systems components were appropriate.
Envelope types:
Walls are constructed using one of the basic forms of construction shown below. Further information is available in CWCT Technical
Notes:
This is the most common method of constructing curtain Unitised construction consists of pre-
walls in the U.K. although it is less popular elsewhere. fabricated units normally the width of a
Simiar techniques are used to assemble roof glazing. glazing bay and one or two storeys in
height.
Stick construction consists of a grillage of mullions
supported from the floor slabs and transoms. These are Units are supported from the edge of
assembled at site and the resulting openings are infilled with the floor slab. Units are delivered to
glazing or opaque panels. site glazed and infilled and only the unit
perimeter seals are made at site.
It has the advantage that it is economical and the
construction sequence is flexible. Disadvantages are the Unitised construction is marginally
lengthy intallation time and high dependence on site more expensive than stick construction
workmanship to ensure acceptable quality. but normally leads to a higher quality
wall. It should be noted that the choice
of materials has a greater effect on
cost.