Fasadefronter

Fasadefronter is a term used in Nordic architectural practice to describe one of the exterior faces of a building—the facade front. The term is commonly applied to the street-facing or publicly visible facades, but it can also refer to any individual exterior face that contributes to the building's outer envelope. In practice, fasadefronter encompass both the visual design of the exterior and its technical performance, including material choice, color, texture, window arrangement, and integration with insulation and weatherproofing.

In planning and design, fasadefronter are evaluated for aesthetics, rhythm, proportion, and relation to surrounding streetscape. They also have important functional roles: controlling light, heat gain, and acoustics; housing openings (fenestration); and supporting fire safety and moisture management through cladding systems and moisture barriers. Common materials include brick, concrete, metal panels, glass, wood, and composites, often combined in composite façades or rainscreen systems.

From a regulatory and standards perspective, facade fronts are typically subject to planning guidelines and building codes regarding aesthetics, energy performance, envelope air tightness, fire resistance, and maintenance requirements. In architectural discourse, fasadefronter are used to analyze how a building reads in its urban context, how the façade expresses identity, and how different fronts can respond to sun orientation and wind.

While the term is most common in Nordic countries, it is understood in broader architectural practice as the separate outward faces that define a building’s exterior appearance and performance.