In January 2020, about 764,000 homes sold in the United States.
If you’re in the market to buy a home, now is a great time to invest. Mortgage rates are at a three-year low.
While shopping around for properties for sale, you may have heard the term “facade” used, but what is a facade? Keep reading to find out more!
What Is a Facade?
When referring to a building, a facade means the front exterior of a building. In most cases, the sides of the building would not be a facade. The portion that holds the main entrance and faces out toward a street or open space is the facade.
Facades often have double duties to perform.
The facade of a building is the first thing a person sees. That’s why their visual appeal is so important. The facade of a home influences the curb appeal it has.
Because the facade of a home determines how much curb appeal a building has, they often receive more detailed designs. The facade of a building or home often has more intricate architectural elements than the rest of the structure.
Beyond enhancing curb appeal and influencing a person’s first impressions of a structure, facades also help with resistance to wind and other elements. A reinforced facade might even play a role in giving weather and thermal resistance.
What Is a Dynamic Facade?
A dynamic facade is sometimes known as a responsive facade.
It is the exterior of a building that can alter its shape in response to the current environment. By remaining responsive to the environment, a dynamic facade can maximize its performance.
A dynamic facade helps control the interior climate of a building and reduce energy consumption.
The details of how a dynamic facade work vary based on the type in use.
For example, automated blind systems could be part of a building’s facade. Another newer form of a dynamic facade is electrochromic glazings.
Electrochromic glazings are most common in the form of a “smart window”. The term “electrochromic” means that the material can change color or transition from transparent to opaque when an electrical voltage is applied.
Can Structures Have More Than One Facade?
In the instances of a building being larger and more ornate than usual, it can have multiple facades.
Take the US Supreme Court building as an example. It has multiple major entrances. There are the East and West entrances, which are sometimes referred to as the East or West facade.
Facades and You
So, what is a facade? In most cases when talking about a building, it is the exterior side that faces outward with the primary entrance.
However, there are instances when a building may have multiple facades. There are also dynamic faces to take into consideration. Responsive facades are more focused on improving the function of a building when it comes to interior climate regulation and improving energy efficiency.
We hope this article helped shed some light on what a facade is when it comes to architecture. If you enjoyed this read, please take a moment to browse our website for other related topics.
