Facade composition

A façade is a primary exterior face of a building. It generally comprises the main entrance to the building and the most elaborate architectural features.

A façade is the most public face of a building, it is of vital importance because it can attract customers, users and so on to come to a building. Good façade design improves the overall image a place, it promotes togetherness, business activities, vibrancy and so on.

The architectural composition in the design of a façade consist of forms, elements, details, materials, textures and finishes. These create the architectural character and design theme of a building.

• Façade form, refers to a shape or configuration of a façade.
• Façade elements refers to decorative architectural elements that include cornices, architraves, windows and other elements that can be raised and contoured thus supplying the façade plasticity.
• Façade details are characteristic features that enhance its aesthetics and give character. Façade details may have an architectural styled, whether modern, postmodern, classical, gothic and so on.
• Façade materials, refers to materials used in the construction and design of façade. They range from masonry, metal, glasses, EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish System); stucco, cementitious (Fiber cement siding), precast concrete and so on.
• Façade texture, is the property of smoothness, softness, coarseness of a surface or the structural character of a solid object or granular material. Façade pattern may also be considered as a texture.
• Façade finishes are materials installed along the wall surface to enhance its thermal and weather resistance and amplify its aesthetics. Façade finishes include brick finishes, wood, metal, ceramic, concrete, composites, stone, metal, plastic and so on.
• Façade styles and character, refers to the architectural style of the design -classifying buildings into semantic categories belonging to certain periods, regions, and cultural influences. Façade styles comprise of arrangement of architectural structural elements like windows, domes, towers, columns, doors, eaves, etc.
• Windows and doors may cover a large area compared to other elements. Simple and clear windows can add to attractiveness of the façade, repetition and scale of both windows and doors create a pattern which if not well designed can create a cluttered appearance.
• Façade colour, should be considered in respect to sunlight, context and so on, this helps to determine how the colour will appear to the eyes. A well-designed façade complements and responds to architectural character and details.
• Lighting, Illuminates the façade surfaces, signs, doors, windows and so on. Flashing, pulsating and moving lights draw attention to façade.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Barrier wall system.
• Building fabric.
• Doors.
• Dynamic façade.
• Elements of buildings.
• Elements of structure in buildings.
• Elevation.
• Exterior wall.
• Façade.
• Façade retention.
• Living façade.
• Reaching new heights in the design of fire-safe tall buildings.
• The building as climate modifier.
• Types of wall.