Secondary Facade

More than a decorative element

This building element plays a critical role in setting a building’s style and identity. On a modern, minimalist building a flat, plain facade shell emphasises simplicity and elegance, while on a traditional structure a detailed, ornate facade shell underlines architectural richness and historic significance.

A facade shell matters not only for aesthetics but also for function. It performs important duties such as protection from natural disasters, providing insulation and adding durability to the structure. For example, a facade shell fitted with special sun-reflecting coatings protects the interior from the sun’s harmful effects and saves energy.

Facade shells also span a wide range of materials. Concrete, metal, glass, stone, wood and composite give architects and designers flexibility across different styles and functions.

In short, a facade shell is not merely a decorative element on a building’s exterior but a functional structural component — one that, carefully chosen and applied in architectural projects, defines the building’s character and brings it into harmony with its surroundings.

Solar shading

The sun-shading properties of secondary facades raise a building’s energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact while also improving user comfort and aesthetics. With the right design and material choice, sun-shading systems have become an indispensable part of modern architecture and contribute significantly to creating sustainable, liveable buildings.

• Energy savings: 20–30%
• Indoor comfort: 15–25%
• Reduced artificial-lighting need: 10–20%
• Building lifespan & maintenance cost: 5–15%

Absorbing sound waves

Secondary facades play an effective role in reducing outdoor noise by improving a building’s acoustic performance. By controlling the diffraction and reflection of sound waves they make interiors quieter and more comfortable; the materials, structure and surface design used are important factors in sound absorption and insulation.

• Outdoor noise reduction: 5–50%
• Sound-insulation performance: 5–45%
• Echo reduction: 10–40%
• Sound absorption: 10–60%

Clean-air intake & stale-air exhaust

Secondary facades are used to improve a building’s air quality and increase energy efficiency. These systems ease the intake of clean air while optimising the exhaust of stale air.

• Clean-air intake: 30–50%
• Stale-air exhaust: 25–40%
• Air-curtain effect: 5–50%