Facades & envelopes

The layered wall: cladding, rainscreen, weather line.

10 entries

White concrete interior looking through an open door to a minimalist white outdoor patio and water feature under clear sky.

Daily Line

Zurich’s Hydrologic Veil: Passive House with Anodised Aluminium and Water

This Zurich passive house demonstrates precision in material application, marrying advanced thermal performance with traditional water features and a stark white aesthetic.

20 Aug 2026

Modern building with dark timber and textured concrete walls, reflecting in a black tiled ground and water feature.

Future Living

The Singapore Baroque Institute: Concrete Shells and Reflected Light

The Singapore Baroque Institute employs precise concrete shells and rammed earth formwork to create a contemporary research environment, integrating water features as central design elements. Its design in black basalt and charred cedar reflects a new approach to tropical architecture.

13 Aug 2026

Close-up, worm's-eye view of an illuminated timber soffit with dark metal framing and glass windows at night.

Construction Diaries

Kikuchi Kengo: The Georgian Retreat and Anodised Aluminium

This piece examines Kikuchi Kengo's Tokyo studio retreat, a Georgian-era project integrating anodised aluminium rainscreen and principles of circularity for future adaptability.

9 Aug 2026

Abstract close-up of a dark stone and glazed tile building facade with a small recessed window.

Colour & Palette

Eugen Wörle's Vienna: Glazed Tiles and Neuro-Architecture in the Black House

Eugen Wörle's Black House in Vienna, completed in 1954, exemplifies mid-century modern design through its dark material palette and human-centric proportions for psychological effect.

11 Jul 2026

Perforated Architecture building with concrete and metal screens, viewed from a low angle at dusk.

Details That Matter

Perforated Logic: The Materiality of Light and Air

Perforated surfaces in architecture are not merely decorative. They are systems that manage light, airflow, and privacy, shaping occupant experience.

24 Jun 2026

Modern concrete and glass building with a prominent glass curtain wall and reflections of nearby towers.

Global Icons

Curtain Wall Logic: The Lightweight Envelope of Transparency

The curtain wall, a non-load-bearing exterior enclosure, transforms building facades into lightweight, transparent skins that optimize natural light and views.

20 Jun 2026

Close-up of a modern building showing textured and fluted terra cotta facades with a dark window.

ARCHITECTT Cases

Terra Cotta Logic: The Clay Tectonics of the Earthen Facade

Terra cotta, a material with ancient roots, is experiencing a resurgence in contemporary architecture. Its inherent properties make it a viable choice for facades seeking both performance and aesthetic value.

16 Jun 2026

Architectural detail showing a concrete wall with an illuminated vertical entryway next to a carbonized timber wall.

ARCHITECTT Cases

Carbonized Logic: The Resilience of the Charred Envelope

Carbonized logic utilizes controlled fire to preserve timber. Explore the technical and aesthetic benefits of the traditional Shou Sugi Ban method.

21 May 2026

Building facade featuring a grid of brushed metal panels, some angled open to reveal dark spaces and a warm glow within.

Built Intelligence

Kinetic Logic: The Intelligence of the Moving Envelope

Kinetic logic explores the shift from static envelopes to dynamic, mechanically responsive façades that adapt to environmental stimuli in real-time.

18 Jan 2026

Concrete facade with deep, vertical fins creating alternating patterns of light and shadow, seen from a low angle.

Built Intelligence

Thermodynamic Logic: The Intelligence of the Passive Envelope

Beyond 'smart' sensors, a new era of thermodynamic logic is shaping the building envelope through computational fluid dynamics and performative geometry.

14 Feb 2025

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