Beyond Day Zero: Angela Mejorin on Performance-Based Façade Design

beyond-day-zero-angela-mejorin-performance-based-facade-design

People

November 3, 2026

After PBFD 2026 in Venice, Angela Mejorin talks durability, serviceability, wind, standards, and why the most sustainable façade is very often the one already installed.

Angela Mejorin

Performance-Based Façade Design

Silent Façades: A Reflection by Ricardo Dan Díaz

silent-facades-ricardo-dan-diaz-palacio-de-bellas-artes

Voices

November 3, 2026

From the Palacio de Bellas Artes to the curtain walls of Paseo de la Reforma, architect Ricardo Dan Díaz asks what today's silent façades say about the societies that build them.

Ricardo Dan Díaz

The Façade Studio

Architectural Shields: Blast-Resistant Façades, by Chiara Bedon

architectural-shields-blast-resistant-facades-chiara-bedon

Voices

November 2, 2026

From brute force to controlled flexibility: Chiara Bedon, University of Trieste, on interlayers, dissipative anchors, retrofits and multi-hazard façades for blast protection. From The FFF Journal Vol. 02.

Chiara Bedon

University of Trieste

Generali Stadium: Foster + Partners and MANICA unveil Milan's new San Siro

generali-stadium-milan-new-san-siro-foster-partners-manica

Urban Icons

October 31, 2026

Foster + Partners and MANICA unveil the 71,500-seat Generali Stadium for AC Milan and Inter: a bowl on a podium, an X-shaped precast concrete façade that carries the roof, and 27,500 m² of photovoltaics.

The Process, Not the Product: Matteo Cipollini, ESA Engineering

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People

October 28, 2026

Matteo Cipollini, Head of Façade Engineering at ESA Engineering, on prefabrication, building physics, circular façades and the decisions that should never be automated. From The FFF Journal Vol. 02.

Matteo Cipollini

ESA Engineering

Engineering Never Stops: Mustafa Alkan, Werner Sobek Istanbul

mustafa-alkan-werner-sobek-istanbul-engineering-never-stops

People

October 19, 2026

Mustafa Alkan, General Manager of Werner Sobek Istanbul, on structure, earthquakes and the building envelope, and why the façade engineer belongs in the project from day one. From The FFF Journal Vol. 02.

Mustafa Alkan

Werner Sobek Istanbul

What’s Next? Priedemann’s Next Chapter

whats-next-priedemann-next-chapter-lars-anders

Voices

October 15, 2026

Lars Anders, CEO of Priedemann Facade Experts, on configuration over customisation, façades as absorbers, revitalisation, AI and the next chapter of a specialist company. From The FFF Journal Vol. 02.

Lars Anders

Priedemann

V&A Dundee: a prefabricated cliff

va-dundee-prefabricated-cliff-facade

Urban Icons

November 10, 2026

Around 2,400 precast reconstituted stone planks on 21 twisting concrete walls: how Kengo Kuma, Arup and Techrete turned the Scottish coastline into a museum façade.

One Vanderbilt: terracotta returns to the skyscraper

one-vanderbilt-terracotta-facade

Urban Icons

November 3, 2026

Glazed terracotta spandrels, a unitized curtain wall and a view of Grand Central restored: how KPF brought masonry back to a 1,401-foot supertall.

Terracotta on the supertalls

terracotta-supertalls-new-york

Materials

October 29, 2026

From Sullivan's Buffalo to Manhattan's supertalls: why glazed and extruded terracotta is back on New York's tallest towers, and what it asks of façade teams.

Jewel Changi: 9,304 glass panels, no two alike

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Urban Icons

October 27, 2026

9,304 triangular glass panels, all dimensionally different, on a 6,000-tonne steel gridshell: how Safdie Architects and BuroHappold enclosed a forest and a waterfall at Singapore's airport.

Louvre Abu Dhabi: 7,850 stars and a rain of light

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Urban Icons

October 20, 2026

A 180-metre dome, eight layers of cladding, 7,850 stars and just four hidden supports: inside the envelope Ateliers Jean Nouvel and BuroHappold designed to filter the Gulf sun.

National Museum of Qatar: 76,000 panels for a desert rose

national-museum-of-qatar-desert-rose-facade

Urban Icons

October 13, 2026

539 intersecting discs, 76,000 glass-fibre-reinforced concrete panels from 3,000 master moulds: how Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Arup and Werner Sobek built a crystal in Doha.

Arena Santa Giulia: the façade that lights up Milan

arena-santa-giulia-unipol-dome-milan-facade

Urban Icons

October 6, 2026

Three rings of shimmering aluminium tubes and nearly 50 km of LED bars: how David Chipperfield Architects and Arup turned Milan's Olympic arena into a media façade.

Three Façades, One Century

three-facades-one-century-sullivan-mies-lloyds

Voices

September 24, 2026

How three iconic façades — Sullivan's Guaranty Building, Mies's Lake Shore Drive, and the Lloyd's Building's Polyvalent Wall — mark the turning points of a century in envelope design.

Multi-Layer Façade Systems: A Scientific Review on Criticalities and Future Perspectives

multi-layer-facade-systems-a-scientific-review-on-criticalities-and-future-perspectives

Voices

September 23, 2026

A scientific review of Multi-Layer Façade Systems, exploring how parametric design, simulation, AI, digital twins and predictive control are transforming the building envelope from a static assembly into an adaptive computational system.

The Enamel Effect

the-enamel-effect-adapta-enterprise-research-campus-boston

Materials

September 22, 2026

How Adapta Powder Coatings brought a glossy ceramic effect to MVRDV's residential buildings at the Enterprise Research Campus in Boston.

Curved by Design

curved-by-design-color-glass

Latest news

August 19, 2026

How Color Glass turns complex architectural geometry into buildable glass through curved processing, double-curvature bending, coated glass expertise and integrated manufacturing.

Between Industrial Charm and Comfortable Climate

siegenia-between-industrial-charm-and-comfortable-climate

Urban Icons

August 4, 2026

John & Will Silo-Hotel: sustainable design hotel with KNX-controlled ventilation technology from SIEGENIA

Precision in Steel

precision-in-steel

Focus Articles

August 3, 2026

A technical look at Montanstahl’s laser-welded steel profiles for sharper, slimmer and more expressive façade systems.

The Invisible Protection

the-invisible-protection

Materials

July 30, 2026

Flooding is reshaping façade design worldwide. Innovative laminated glass systems with high-performance interlayers now enable buildings to withstand water pressure, without sacrificing transparency, aesthetics, or architectural intent.

The Human Performance of Windows.

the-human-performance-of-windows

Voices

July 28, 2026

Through stories of love, conflict and everyday life, Ricardo Dan Díaz reflects on how windows shape not only environmental performance, but the way we experience architecture itself.

Built From the Facade Up, Q&A with Alex Dantziguian

alex-dantziguian

People

July 27, 2026

For more than three decades, Alex Dantziguian has worked across the entire façade value chain—from fabrication and installation to thermal performance and business leadership. In this conversation, the Managing Director of Technoform Middle East shares practical insights on specification, harsh climates, value engineering, thermal breaks, procurement, and the human relationships that shape the global façade industry.

Surface in Motion: The Sculptural Façade of the Heydar Aliyev Center

surface-in-motion-the-sculptural-facade-of-the-heydar-aliyev-center

Urban Icons

September 30, 2022

Zaha Hadid's wave where floor, wall and roof become one surface — GRC panels cast from parametric moulds turn pure curvature into buildable skin.

Dr. Tolga Aycı: Innovator in Façade Systems

dr-tolga-ayci-innovator-in-facade-systems

People

October 5, 2023

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE 2026

fensterbau-frontale-2026

Events

February 23, 2026

Schüco FWS 50 SG.SI Super-Insulated Structural Glazing

schuco-fws-50-sg-si-super-insulated-structural-glazing

Materials

February 18, 2026

All-glass transparency at passive-house performance — a 50mm structural glazing system that stops trading insulation for a flush glass face.

Structure as Identity: Torre Reforma

structure-as-identity-torre-reforma

Urban Icons

September 27, 2022

A tower where the concrete wall is the structure — LBR&A and ARUP turn seismic resistance into civic identity above Mexico City's Reforma.

Geometry in Motion: The Façade Choreography of Angle Lake Station

geometry-in-motion-the-facade-choreography-of-angle-lake-station

Urban Icons

September 5, 2025

7,500 anodized panels that read as curves but are cut from straight lines — Brooks + Scarpa turn a transit stop into dance, installed in three weeks.

Facades Today: London Edition

facades-today-london-edition

Events

May 22, 2026

Engineering the Envelope: A Conversation with Edoardo Tabasso, CEO of Gualini

engineering-the-envelope-a-conversation-with-edoardo-tabasso-ceo-of-gualini-krr7s

People

March 26, 2026

Gualini's CEO on why the envelope is now a system, not a surface — and how integration, not invention, defines the next era of façade delivery.

Designing Performance, Delivering Reality

designing-performance-delivering-reality

People

May 12, 2026

Future-Proof Buildings, in conversation with Daniela Castro

future-proof-buildings-in-conversation-with-daniela-castro

People

May 20, 2026

JWA Mexico's CEO on sustainability as financial logic — where retrofit cuts embodied carbon 50–75% and a façade that can't decarbonize becomes a stranded asset.

Design Freedom and Thermal Performance: The MB-MT50N Façade System

design-freedom-and-thermal-performance-the-mb-mt50n-facade-system-3

Materials

March 10, 2026

Aluprof's mullion-transom workhorse, pushed further — passive-house-grade insulation and complex geometries within one consistent system logic.

Two Decades at the Interface: Anees Backer, Managing Director, Priedemann Facade Experts, Dubai

two-decades-at-the-interface-anees-backer-managing-director-priedemann-facade-experts-dubai-2

People

February 19, 2026

Twenty years of façade delivery in the Gulf — Anees Backer on specialist focus, local climate reality, and the human side of the building envelope.

FENSTERBAU FRONTALE & HOLZ-HANDWERK 2026: A successful trade fair duo gives the industry a strong voice

fensterbau-frontale-holz-handwerk-2026-a-successful-trade-fair-duo-gives-the-industry-a-strong-voice

Events

March 30, 2026

Around 75,000 visitors from 117 countries and 1,022 exhibitors: FENSTERBAU FRONTALE and HOLZ-HANDWERK 2026 confirm Nuremberg as the meeting place for windows, doors, façades and woodworking.

Rewriting Façade Installation in Modular Construction: Toward a Scaffolding-Free Unitised Strategy

rewriting-facade-installation-in-modular-construction-toward-a-scaffolding-free-unitised-strategy

Voices

February 24, 2026

Can modular buildings eliminate scaffolding? A customised unitised curtain wall for PPVC construction, validated through modelling, mock-ups and waterproofing tests, makes façade installation faster, safer and lower in carbon.

Façades on Fire: Understanding Envelope Risk and Resilience

facades-on-fire-understanding-envelope-risk-and-resilience

Voices

November 12, 2024

Research by Nikola Perković, Chiara Bedon, Jure Barbalić and Vlatka Rajčić on how increasingly complex building envelopes behave in fire, and the gap between architectural ambition, structural safety and regulation.

The Future of Façades: Innovation Meets Design

the-future-of-facades-innovation-meets-design

The Fff Journal

June 29, 2026

A feature exploring cutting-edge façade technologies, from dynamic glass systems to energy-efficient building envelopes. This editorial piece dives into how design and performance are reshaping the façade industry.

Motion 10600 — Kinetic Folding Façade by Motion Facades

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Materials

January 19, 2024

Electric sashes that fold up into a horizontal brise-soleil — dynamic shading and full façade access in one kinetic system.

Blast-Resilient Glass: Understanding Near-Field Explosive Risk for Laminated Windows

blast-resilient-glass-understanding-near-field-explosive-risk-for-laminated-windows

Voices

September 27, 2024

This article examines how laminated glass can be engineered to withstand blast risks from near-field explosions. The piece discusses the technical aspects of blast-resistant glass, its application in high-risk buildings, and safety regulations surrounding its use in façade design.

Façades Today: Visions, Materials, Methods

facades-today-visions-materials-methods

Events

April 27, 2026

A recap of the event Façades Today, exploring the latest trends in façade design, the materials being used, and the innovative methods being implemented. The event brought together experts to share insights on the future of façade technology and design.

Two Skins, One Home: Passive Performance in Modern Living

two-skins-one-home-passive-performance-in-modern-living

Voices

November 1, 2023

This piece delves into the benefits of double-skin façades in residential architecture, focusing on how they can enhance passive performance. It combines aesthetics with functionality to improve energy efficiency and comfort in modern homes.

Engineering Glass for the Future: A Conversation with Allan Gibson

engineering-glass-for-the-future-a-conversation-with-allan-gibson

People

September 29, 2025

An in-depth conversation with Allan Gibson on the future of glass in façade engineering. The article explores advancements in performance, material innovations, and the evolving role of glass in modern building design.

Reynaers SlimWall 35: Light, Strong, Smart

reynaers-slimwall-35-light-strong-smart

Materials

April 6, 2023

Barely-there framing that performs like a fortress — Reynaers' 35mm curtain wall pairs maximum daylight with passive-house numbers and RC2 security.

Kalzip® Standing Seam Façade

kalzip-r-standing-seam-facade

Materials

October 22, 2025

Kalzip® aluminium façade system used for Inverurie Campus blends modern aesthetics with durability and award-winning performance.

Schüco FWS 60 — High-Performance Mullion-Transom System

schuco-fws-60----high-performance-mullion-transom-system-alptp

Materials

February 20, 2026

Fall protection built into the profile — a 60mm mullion-transom platform that carries safety loads and RC3 security without thickening a single sightline.

Structural Glass: Engineering Transparency in Façade Design

structural-glass-engineering-transparency-in-facade-design-2

Voices

April 16, 2026

A comprehensive exploration of the structural role of glass in façade design, from material properties to Eurocode 10, based on the research of Kozłowski, Cwyl, and Jóźwik.

When Facades Meet the Fault Line

when-facades-meet-the-fault-line

Voices

September 2, 2025

What happens to a façade when the ground moves? Chiara Bedon and Nicola Cella of the University of Trieste investigate the seismic vulnerability and performance of non-structural façade systems.

Nature in Structure

nature-in-structure

Voices

March 16, 2026

Where the eye meets the load path: Ivanov and Sato's workflow tunes façade pattern for visual calm and structural safety at once.

Flectoline: Towards A New Generation of Responsive Façades

flectoline-towards-a-new-generation-of-responsive-facades

Voices

July 6, 2026

A façade that behaves like an organism — Stuttgart's fibre-composite panels bend without motors, shading and generating energy as they move.

Designing Performance: A Conversation with Alina Valcarce

designing-performance-a-conversation-with-alina-valcarce

People

May 6, 2026

Valcarce Architects' founder on why the façade is part of the form from the first sketch — and why projects fail in translation, not in the concept.

Kais Al-Rawi at Eckersley O’Callaghan, Designing the Intelligence Behind Façade

kais-al-rawi-at-eckersley-ocallaghan-designing-the-intelligence-behind-facade

People

April 15, 2026

Kais Al-Rawi, Associate Director at Eckersley O’Callaghan in Los Angeles, works where architecture, engineering and technology meet, turning complex geometry and performance into buildable façade systems.

FFF Talks, SIEGENIA | The Future of Smart Windows & Connected Façades

fff-talks-siegenia-the-future-of-smart-windows-connected-facades

People

April 13, 2026

From components to systems: SIEGENIA’s Markus Bade on how windows and doors are becoming part of a connected ecosystem with building automation, sensors, HVAC and users.

The Shard: A Vertical City in Glass and Light.

the-shard-a-vertical-city-in-glass-and-light

Urban Icons

September 27, 2024

“I hate tall buildings,” Renzo Piano said. Then he sketched The Shard. A deep dive into the façade, vision and engineering of London’s vertical city in glass and light.

Wasl Tower, the Ceramic Skin Redefining Dubai’s High-Rise Façades

wasl-tower-the-ceramic-skin-redefining-dubais-high-rise-facades-2

Urban Icons

April 12, 2026

In a city of glass towers, UNStudio and Werner Sobek’s Wasl Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road speaks a different language: a 300-metre high-rise wrapped in a ceramic skin.

Shining Bright: The Solar Carve Story

shining-bright-the-solar-carve-story

Urban Icons

March 17, 2026

Studio Gang’s Solar Carve Tower at 40 Tenth Avenue, New York, is shaped by the angles of the sun: a faceted glass façade that brings light and air to the High Line below.

270 Park Avenue: The Bronze Tower Redefining Midtown

270-park-avenue-the-bronze-tower-redefining-midtown

Urban Icons

October 22, 2025

Foster + Partners’ 270 Park Avenue for JPMorgan Chase rises 1,388 feet over Midtown, trading the reflective glass box for bronze cladding, depth and a high-performance glass façade.

CityWave Milan, BIG’s Energy-Positive Landmark for CityLife

citywave-milan-bigs-energy-positive-landmark-for-citylife

Urban Icons

October 27, 2025

At the southern edge of Milan’s CityLife, BIG’s CityWave links two office buildings under a sweeping, wave-like photovoltaic canopy, an energy-positive landmark between historic and contemporary Milan.

The Olympic House Façade: Engineering Movement in Glass

the-olympic-house-facade-engineering-movement-in-glass

Urban Icons

March 17, 2026

On the shores of Lake Geneva, 3XN’s Olympic House expresses the Olympic movement through its undulating glass façade: movement, transparency, flexibility and sustainability.

Morpheus, Engineering the Limits of the Free-Form Façade

morpheus-engineering-the-limits-of-the-free-form-facade

Urban Icons

April 23, 2026

Zaha Hadid Architects and BuroHappold’s Morpheus in Macau is the world’s first free-form high-rise exoskeleton, a structure that does not sit behind the façade but becomes the façade itself.

Phil and Penny Knight Campus: The Cascading Glass Façade

phil-and-penny-knight-campus-the-cascading-glass-facade

Urban Icons

March 16, 2026

How Ennead Architects' cascading double-skin glass façade defines the Knight Campus — 650 folded panels, a full-scale prototype, and design-assist delivery.