Project Research
Facade
2025
This section is dedicated to current facade research.
In New York City, there is a history of facades that covers the geneaology of global architecture. The steel skyscraper, starting in Chicago begins with Louis Sullivan, however the first actual highrise, was notibly,
The Monadnock Building
The Monadnock Building, by Burnham and Root was a cutting edge masonry building, completed in 1889. It used the true strength of brick for a highrise, and the bearing wall is visibly larger towards the bottom of the building. This here, is an honest use of materials, perfectly fitting for its time.
Louis Sullivan becomes the one to pioneer steel construction. He uses classical techniques of ornate detailing, and masks the steel with a neoclassical style. Sullivan’s ornate detailing becomes famously known for his building in New York,
The Bayard Condict Building
In comes Mies van der Rohe, the superstar from Germany. Who had already dreampt up visionary designs with his crystalline skyscraper,
The Friedrichstrasse Skyscraper
Mies would later on proceed to pioneer steel technology within the architecture industry. Steel, becoming a well researched building material from WWII in America, and a post-war economic boom led Mies to construct some of the most well renowned buildings of the 21st century.
Mies had a great understanding of philosophy, and knew exactly where society was in the post-war era. He pushed architecture, as a titan of industry, moving architecture to become more like the Bauhaus in the United States.
Over time, Skidmore Owings and Merrill became a new pioneer of facades and highrise research. Starting in Chicago, with the John Hancock Building, and the Sears Tower, the large company became a research group for new technology within the profession.
SOM - John Hancock Building
SOM - Research Facility----
Fast Foward to now. I don’t have to time explain the rest. But will later. In Japan, the curtain wall has taken a refined approach, utilizing both Japanese technology and western to create a facades with minimalism. And some...that are not at all minimal.
Curtain Wall in Omotesando - A possibility of wide glass, with combination of thinner panels that are operable. Minimal T-shaped mullion cap details, horizontal shelf detail (channel) to cover slab edge.
The Current Trend: Performance.
The Past Trend: Aesthetic - (fancy profiles, Architecture, by architects. People want comfort, and they want open customizability.
The Past Trend: Aesthetic - (fancy profiles, Architecture, by architects. People want comfort, and they want open customizability.
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As profiled facades became increasingly popular in the recent decades, we set out to design a profile that would make the building stand apart from the rest on 14th Street, eventually ending on a gold-coated aluminum frame with a doubly curved corner piece.
As profiled facades became increasingly popular in the recent decades, we set out to design a profile that would make the building stand apart from the rest on 14th Street, eventually ending on a gold-coated aluminum frame with a doubly curved corner piece.
