Facades

A solid wall consisting of courses of red bricks, a double layer of reflecting glass or a rear-ventilated skin of ornamental metal sheeting: modern facades exhibit an almost unlimited range of materials, forms of construction and appearances. In this issue, a library in Spiez, Switzerland, is distinguished by a modern ­timber outer skin, a material that is nevertheless in the local, rural tradition.

In contrast, the stone outer wall of a housing development in Hangzhou, China, radiates a sense of solidity and reliability. The warm texture of the brick facings of a housing block in Santiago, Chile, are contrasted with the strict lines of the prefabricated metal window elements, while the perforated, corrugated copper facades of a new sports hall in Villach, Austria, are like a semi-transparent veil drawn over the building.

In an office complex in Geneva, the outer skin combines design elegance with the latest technology. Here, the triangular elements, set at a slight angle, catch the light kaleidoscopically, lending the closed cavity facade a crystalline appearance. Further information on the projects in this issue can be found on our home page at www.detail-online.com which, incidentally, was awarded the prestigious prize for the best website 2016 by the Deutsche Fachpresse.

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