"International Facades - CROFT" (B&W paperback) links the fields of architecture, building services and building physics. It aims at an international diversity in facade design to reduce energy consumption in building design. Current architectural planning practices, such as the International Style, perceive the climate often as a problem, rather than an opportunity to work with it. This doctoral thesis presents a "Facade Expert Tool" (FET) that analyses the climate and the combination of the facade and building services. The goal of FET is to easily analyse the climate of a particular location and to then limit the possible combination of facade and building services components to a practical level. Through FET Marcel Bilow has developed "Climate Responsive Optimised Facade Technologies" (CROFT). CROFT demonstrates the potential for sustainable building operation through the use new technologies that respond to the requirements posed on facades in climate zones as divers as those found in Moscow, Singapore, Berlin and Dubai.

Introduction to building facades as revised edition Facades determine the appearance of a building. Hence, they constitute a major element in architecture. At the same time, the building's envelope has important functions to fulfil, such as lighting, weatherproofing, thermal insulation, load transfer and sound insulation. Over the past 15 years, facades have become increasingly complex - 'intelligent' facades, for instance, adapt to changing climate and lighting conditions. Newly developed materials and technologies have broadened the scope of facade functions. This book demonstrates the principles of facade construction. It systematically describes the most common types, such as post-and-beam facade, curtain wall, corridor facade or double facade, and provides guidelines for appropriate detailing. Numerous drawings made especially for the book explain the principles of different types of facades, which are then illustrated with built examples. For this second edition, all chapters were revised and all four examples in the case studies chapter were replaced by new material. The new chapter "Future Facades" offers insights into what's next.

Facades determine the appearance of a building. Thus they have a very important role to play in architecture. At the same time, the building envelope has important functions to fulfill, including lighting, weatherproofing, thermal isolation, load distribution, and sound insulation, to name only the most important. In the last fifteen years, facades have become significantly more complex. For example, "intelligent," climate-active facades use self-regulating systems to respond to changing light and weather conditions. This book demonstrates the principles of facade construction. Guidelines are suggested for good detailing. The installation procedures are described for the most common materials –glass, wood, steel, concrete, and aluminum. Numerous drawings made specially for the book explain the principles of the individual types of facade which are then illustrated with built examples.

Facades determine the appearance of a building. Hence, they constitute a major element in architecture. At the same time, the building's envelope has important functions to fulfil, such as lighting, weatherproofing, thermal insulation, load transfer and sound insulation. Over the past 15 years, facades have become increasingly complex - 'intelligent' facades, for instance, adapt to changing climate and lighting conditions. Newly developed materials and technologies have broadened the scope of facade functions. This book demonstrates the principles of facade construction. It systematically describes the most common types, such as post-and-beam facade, curtain wall, corridor facade or double facade, and provides guidelines for appropriate detailing. Numerous drawings made especially for the book explain the principles of different types of facades, which are then illustrated with built examples. For this second edition, all chapters were revised and all four examples in the case studies chapter were replaced by new material. The new chapter "Future Facades" offers insights into what's next.

The renovation of buildings past their prime can no longer be regarded as a necessary evil that costs money and causes inconvenience. Increasingly, it is being acknowledged that to renovate a building and its facade (or 'envelope') can has considerable advantages. Not only does it improve the quality of life and the performance, it can save energy and increase the building's market value. This makes renovation an interesting proposition for owners, users and architects alike. The facade research group at Delft University of Technology, working with the Dutch facade builders' association VMRG, carried out a three-year research project that yielded a number of basic requests, strategies and practical examples which it then developed together with several enlightened companies. "Reimagining the Envelope" reports on this exchange of ideas between science and practice. The result is a variety of strategies for renovating the envelope and examples of successful projects. It also presents a number of far-reaching design ideas.