Fasade

Fasade, also written facade, is the exterior face of a building—the portion that faces the street or public space. It is often the most architecturally significant element, shaping a building's identity and its relationship to the surrounding streetscape.

Etymology and variants: The term derives from the French façade, from Italian facciata, from Latin facies (face). The spelling fasade is common in several languages, including Norwegian and Danish.

Functions: A façade provides weather protection, insulation, and daylight management while expressing a building's character. It mediates between interior and exterior, influences energy use, and contributes to urban aesthetics and the perception of scale and rhythm in streets.

Components and types: A façade comprises walls, openings (doors and windows), cladding, and decorative or structural elements such as cornices and pilasters. It may be load-bearing or non-load-bearing; common modern schemes include curtain walls and ventilated façades, which separate the structural frame from exterior finishes.

Materials and technology: Traditional façades use stone, brick, stucco, timber, or metal. Modern façades often feature glass curtain walls, lightweight metal panels, or composite cladding with ventilated or double-skin systems to improve insulation, moisture control, and acoustic performance.

Design and regulation: Façade design must balance aesthetics, performance, and safety, shaped by climate, building codes, fire safety standards, and energy performance requirements. Maintenance and restoration are ongoing considerations in preserving both historic and contemporary façades.