A façade, commonly referred to as a curtain wall, typically constitutes one exterior side of a building, usually the front, originating from the French word “façade” denoting “frontage” or “face.” In architecture, the façade often holds paramount importance as it establishes the design tone for the entire structure, usually featuring doors or windows. Some employ facade systems, constructed segments affixed to a building’s external face like a skin.

A fundamental element of the building envelope, the curtain wall, is defined as a non-load-bearing exterior skin that does not contribute stiffness to the building structure. Key requisites of a curtain wall include maintaining air and water integrity in the cladding system, offering adequate wind, thermal, and seismic response, and providing light transmission to interior spaces. The constitution of a curtain wall is crucial, typically a blend of various system types to express architectural intent and aesthetically define the building profile. These systems may include all-glazed facades (such as aluminium-framed systems, point-supported systems, cable net systems), opaque facades (such as precast, natural stone, and/or metal panels), or a combination of schemes depending on the building’s purpose.