façana

Façana is a Catalan term that denotes the exterior face of a building, commonly referred to in English as a façade. It encompasses the principal elevation facing a street or public space and includes the arrangement of planes, materials, ornamentation, and openings such as doors and windows. Façades shape the building's character and influence its interaction with light, climate, and the surrounding urban environment.

Origin and usage: The word belongs to the Romance-language family for the front of a building; it is cognate with the French façade and the Spanish fachada, all derived from Latin facies meaning face. In Catalan, façana is the standard term for the building front in architectural and urban contexts.

Design and function: Façades are shaped by stylistic choice and technical requirements. They combine structural elements and cladding, with materials ranging from stone and brick to glass and metal. Modern façades may incorporate energy-efficient glazing, insulation, and ventilation strategies; curtain walls and double-skin systems are common in contemporary design. The façade also mediates security, weather resistance, and accessibility, and it often defines a building's visual signature.

Heritage and practice: In urban planning and heritage discourse, façade preservation can be a policy goal, sometimes leading to façadism, where the exterior is retained while the interior is rebuilt. Many cities regulate façades through listing, restoration guidelines, and design codes to maintain historical streetscapes and identify urban identity.