faade

Faade, often spelled facade or faade, denotes the exterior face of a building that is visible from the outside. It encompasses the outer envelope and the front elevation, which are often defined by alignment, proportion, and ornament. The term derives from the French façade, from Italian facciata, meaning "face" or "front."

The facade serves protective, climatic, and aesthetic functions. It provides weatherproofing, insulation, and noise control while admitting daylight through openings such as windows and doors. Common elements include cladding materials (stone, brick, metal, glass, timber), framing, mullions and transoms, glazing, seals, and decorative features such as cornices and pilasters. In modern practice, facades may be load-bearing or non-load-bearing.

Types range from traditional load-bearing masonry facades to framed or curtain-wall systems, and ventilated facades with an external cladding layer separated by an air cavity. Facade design also addresses energy performance, daylight, solar gain, ventilation, and maintenance access. Materials and finishes vary with climate, culture, and budget.

Historically, facades express architectural style and urban identity, from classical orders to modernist skins. Preservation of historic facades requires balancing aesthetics with structural safety and performance. In contemporary design, façades function as branding elements and adaptable building envelopes in smart, energy-efficient architecture.