Facade design is an important aspect of architecture. With advancements in technology, new ways of designing facades have also emerged, paving the way for the exploration of diverse forms in buildings. One method that enhances this exploration is the development of parametric facades, which have transformed how buildings are built and interact with their surroundings. Continue reading to understand what a parametric facade is, how and why it is designed and explore examples of stunning parametric facade design.
What is a Facade?
A facade is any external face of a building or structure. It may refer to outer walls or any other additional frameworks, skin or surfaces added to a building. Facades form the building envelope and protect it from environmental adversities, creating safe enclosures. Apart from being a major component of climate responsive architecture, facade design often shapes the first impression of buildings, providing an insight into the building’s architectural style and design process.
What is a Parametric Facade?
A parametric facade is a building facade designed by using computational tools and parameters. Computational tools are digital software that analyse various parameters that can be input by designers to suggest the best possible design solutions. These tools enable architects to create complex organic structures by optimising functionality and aesthetics. Parametric facades are thus a crucial constituent of parametric design in architecture, majorly promoting the concept of design thinking and innovation.
How is Parametric Facade Design Beneficial?
- Energy Efficiency: Parameters like local microclimate and site conditions can be input into computational modeling tools. These tools analyse the input parameters and suggest facade designs that reduce the dependency on HVAC systems and enhance passive design strategies. This results in the creation of buildings that are energy efficient and have lower utility bills.
- Aesthetic Freedom: With the integration of technologies like 3D printing with parametric modeling, facades of any shape, form and size can now be easily designed, visualised and built. Other construction aspects such as structural design and climate response can be studied together, helping architects design facades that are not limited by concerns of practicality.
- Savings in Time and Cost: The design of parametric buildings is typically done using digital tools that can provide all the details—such as cost, timelines and material quantities—regarding a building project. Considerable amounts of time and money can thus be saved on manual budgeting and timeline estimations. Any changes made in the design are also analysed by the digital tools, which can predict the implications of these changes on the project cost and construction time.
- Sustainability: Using collaborative tools for site analysis, parametric facades are optimised to suit the local physical, cultural and environmental conditions. Many computational tools recommend materials that are locally available and construction methods that have local origins and are durable in case of earthquakes and other natural disasters. Apart from preserving the local architectural style, this process also enhances sustainable building practices.
How is a Parametric Wall or Facade Designed?
Parametric Modeling
Parametric modelling for facade design involves the following steps:
- Plans: Floor plans are designed, finalised and uploaded onto computational tools and software.
- Input Parameters: In these tools, designers can add customised parameters on which they want their facade design to be based. These include local site and climatic conditions, project and client requirements, building budgets or even materials available and type of finish desired.
- Design Generation: Based on the parameters input, the tools generate facade designs that fulfill all the requirements. Each of the parameters can be modified to obtain varying and optimised design solutions.
Parametric Architecture Tools
Architects typically use the following software for facade design:
- BIM: Building Information Modeling (BIM) software like AutoDesk Revit can provide detailed analysis of materials used in building envelopes and generate construction drawings for the same.
- Rhinoceros and Grasshopper: These are digital tools that help design and generate very complicated geometric and organic forms with ease. Multiple variable parameters can be input to produce versatile facade forms which require advanced technology for construction.
- Blender: This is a free software with high flexibility enabled by coding with Python. Although it is commonly used for animation, facade design is also made easy by this software due to the multiple parameters that can be explored simultaneously.
Examples of Parametric Facade Design
Some of the most popular representatives of parametric facades are:
KAFD Metro Station
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) metro station in Saudi Arabia is one of the most magnificent examples of parametric design. Its massive 600ft long facade is designed to mimic the region’s desert sand dunes and the sine waves of the daily traffic expected inside. Functionally, the facade’s structure was optimised to reduce solar heat gain and enhance air ventilation through the building, producing an architectural masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of innovation.
KAFD Metro Station, Saudi Arabia
Image source: Link
Bund Finance Center
Located on a busy road in China’s Shanghai, the Bund Finance Center—designed by Foster+Partners and Heatherwick Studio—is a mixed-use building. Multiple layers of magnesium alloy cylinders with granite accents make up the building’s veil-like facade, referencing the traditional Chinese bridal headdress. The parametric structure utilised computational modeling tools to ensure resistance to earthquakes and adverse weather conditions with the aid of these movable layers.
Bund Finance Center, China
Image source: Link
Zahner Factory Expansion
The Zahner Factory Expansion, designed by Crawford Architects, is an extension of an existing metal factory in the USA. Vertical aluminium fins extend across the building’s facade, forming a rippling surface that provides privacy in the glass structure while still allowing ample natural light inside. This parametric wall design used computer-based algorithms to generate a facade that seamlessly blended the old rigid structure with a new dynamic form.
Zahner Factory Expansion, USA
Image source: Link
Parametric Design for Tomorrow
In an era when issues like global warming and climate change are imminent, parametric facades are architectural solutions that help combat these issues with responsible designs. Although there are a lot of challenges in implementing parametric facade designs—such as limited awareness, technological resources and skills—this design technology is rapidly gaining popularity and revolutionising architectural design across the world. The global construction industry can significantly benefit from adopting this technology and aid in making buildings more sustainable, energy efficient and aesthetic.
Apoorva H P Achar