How can we transform the façade to strengthen a building’s adaptability over time? This question marks a paradigm shift, inviting us to consider the façade no longer as a static component, but as a dynamic system. RECONCILING EXTREME HEAT WITH COMFORT Extreme heat is undoubtedly the hazard where the role of the façade is most visible. Solar protection systems (solar control glazing, sunshades, overhangs, or fabric systems) can limit direct radiation while preserving natural light. Light-colored, reflective coatings reduce surface temperatures and help combat urban heat islands. Greened façades and roofs add a layer of regulation through shade, evapotranspiration, and thermal inertia. Added to this are high-performance envelopes, based on thermal insulation and inertia of the walls, which stabilize indoor temperatures. Pelgulinna State Secondary School in Tallinn (Estonia) thus uses large glass façades to create a bright environment conducive to learning. Its key feature is the use of high-performance solar control glass, which allows up to 60% of natural light to enter while significantly limiting heat gain. This choice guarantees visual and thermal comfort throughout the year, reduces the need for air conditioning, and minimizes heat loss in winter. CONTROLLING WATER FLOWS Episodes of heavy rainfall also place the façade at the heart of adaptation strategies. Beyond resistance to water, the challenge is to slow down, store, and manage water flows in order to limit damage. So-called blue-green solutions, combining vegetation and water management, play a key role here. Roofs capable of temporarily retaining water, façades that protect against driving rain, continuous membranes and seals, moisture-resistant insulation: the building envelope is becoming a risk-prevention tool in its own right. A notable example is the Colegio Público Gabriela Mistral school in Badajoz, Spain, which has undertaken a complete renovation focused on nature-based solutions to address high temperatures and lack of water. The project combines green roofs, planted façades, indoor vertical gardens, shaded pergolas, and permeable paving. These improvements have lowered classroom temperatures below the recommended comfort threshold of 27 °C, with a difference of 5.4 °C observed between areas with green roofs and those without. They have also reduced rainwater runoff from 13% to just 3%. Pelgulinna State Secondary School in Tallinn (Estonia). Designers: Arhitekt Must OÜ. Among the resilience levers being applied today, building envelope solutions are becoming increasingly important. This is highlighted in the report Adapting Buildings to Climate Change from Arup(1) and Saint-Gobain. SPOTLIGHT The façade, a pillar of resilience (1) Arup is an international consulting firm specializing in the built environment and operating in more than 130 countries. It guides, plans, and designs the future of the built environment, providing extensive technical and strategic expertise to its clients. 55 54
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