FACING THE FUTURE OF FACADES: The imminence of climate change

Faced with the imminence of climate change, architecture is faced with challenges that require innovative solutions, while at the same time assuming responsibility for the future performance of buildings. Responsible for around 38% of global carbon emissions, the construction sector is facing the need for radical change.

Implementing sustainable practices has become less an option than an absolute necessity. The facades of buildings, which are not only architectural elements but also key elements influencing energy efficiency, play a central role in this transformation. Good facade design can significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating, resulting in lower energy consumption and a smaller carbon footprint. In the coming years, we can expect facades to evolve towards even greater integration with nature and technology.

Green facades, which are already gaining in popularity, not only improve air quality, but also act as natural insulators. Technological innovations such as intelligent glass or photovoltaic facade panels will also gain in importance, enabling buildings to generate their own energy. The move towards carbon neutrality in construction is no longer just a question of the survival of our planet, but is also an economic necessity. Introducing solutions that minimise the environmental impact of buildings is becoming a key element of sustainable development strategies.

Responsible construction practices not only reduce harmful gas emissions, but also cut operating and maintenance costs. In the future, facades will not only protect and insulate, but will also actively contribute to the environment in which we live, becoming a dynamic element that responds to changing external conditions and user needs. Bricks can play an important role in sustainable construction, thanks to their properties which, despite certain difficulties, can be valuable in an ecological context. Their durability, recycling potential and natural insulation properties mean that bricks, used appropriately and produced using modern methods to minimise their carbon footprint, can contribute to the construction of more sustainable spaces. However, this requires a conscious approach to the entire life cycle of the material, from the extraction of raw materials, all the way to its production, use and eventual dismantling.

It was in the Ore House project in Ore, designed by the TOPROJEKT studio, that bricks played a key role. The building's walls were constructed using reclaimed bricks hand-selected from local brickworks. The architects used an unusual cross-shaped brick assembly in the design of the facade, where two adjacent bricks are stacked vertically. One extends outwards, the other is set back inside the wall. This treatment has created a facade that is both simple and decorative, offering an interesting interplay of light and shadow. In addition, the removal of pairs of bricks in certain places created openwork sections of the wall, subtly masking the windows, thus maintaining a unified facade structure.

The architects designed the building so that it appears to emerge directly from the ground, with no clear separation between the structure and the ground. In this way, as the ceramic material develops a natural patina, the dividing line between wall and floor becomes increasingly blurred, leading to a gradual fusion of the colours of the roof and walls. According to the design concept, the green roof should be maintained with minimal intervention and, over time, its vegetation type and colouring will harmonise with the surrounding landscape, creating a coherent whole with the natural environment.

Another relevant example of how architecture can contribute to sustainable development is the design of Primary School No. 400 in Warsaw. This ultra-modern educational facility has been recognised in many fields and has won several prestigious awards, including the first prize in the Architectural Award of the Mayor of the City of Warsaw competition, as well as the Grand Prize in the Wienerberger Brick Award 2023 competition. The project also won an award in the Sharing Public Spaces category, demonstrating its unique contribution to the creation of public spaces that promote integration and the sharing of urban space.

The complex comprises the main school building, linked to the gymnasium, and an above-ground single-storey garage, the roof of which houses a sports field. The centrepiece of the complex is a paved entrance square, surrounded by the three main buildings, which transforms into a green amphitheatre. Around the buildings are a variety of green spaces, including natural lawns, flower meadows and recreational areas interspersed with taller plantings and shrubs. In addition, the roof of the main school building is covered by a green roof which, although not included in the balance of biologically active areas, is an important ecological element of the project. One of the priorities of the project was the use of sustainable and timeless materials, sourced locally wherever possible.

The visual coherence between the school and gymnasium buildings is ensured by the three-layer walls made of classic hand-formed bricks, produced at a factory in Kraśnik. In addition, brick elements, wood finishes and external lintels in precast coloured concrete complete the aesthetic concept. On the other hand, coloured concrete, cast on site in a formwork, was used for the structure of the garage, which has both a structural and decorative function.

The advantages of prefabrication technology should be highlighted in the context of this project. It is a solution that offers a number of significant advantages that are often underestimated in traditional construction methods. Firstly, prefabrication speeds up the construction process considerably. The use of prefabricated elements minimises the risk of execution errors, which translates into greater safety on site. This is all the more important as each stage of production is subject to rigorous quality control before the elements are used on site. In addition, prefabrication extends the construction season, as work can be carried out whatever the weather conditions. The absence of joints and the elimination of construction waste on site considerably reduce the negative impact on the environment, while saving on materials. Structural safety is another essential aspect.

The flagship example of the large-scale use of prefabrication is certainly the Sprzeczna 4 building by BBGK Architekci.

This project has also won numerous awards, including the Polish Cement in Architecture competition prize and the Warsaw City Mayor's Architecture Prize. The residential building at 4 Sprzeczna Street in Warsaw is an excellent example of the modern use of prefabrication technology.

Thanks to the skill of BBGK Architekci, it was possible to successfully apply this method even on a spatially limited and irregularly shaped site. It took just four and a half months to assemble the structure, with the fully equipped modules already delivered to the site, including window joinery, vents and installation openings. It is worth mentioning that Sprzeczna 4 was the first building to be constructed using 95% prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. It was in this unique building that a mass-coloured facade was used, meaning that the first seven-centimetre layer of reinforced concrete is coloured red entirely.

Wood is another material that can be used for facades and can be considered a sustainable solution, provided it is sourced responsibly. Its environmentally friendly processing and use in well thought-out architectural designs are essential to maximise environmental benefits. Consideration should be given to choosing wood with environmental certifications such as FSC or PEFC, which guarantee that the material comes from sustainably and ethically managed forests. What's more, wood is a renewable material that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows, helping to reduce greenhouse gases. This makes it one of the most environmentally-friendly choices when it comes to building. What's more, its production requires much less energy than that of other building materials such as concrete or steel, which further reduces the carbon footprint. Despite popular belief, wood is a very durable material if it is properly maintained and protected from damp and pests. Properly maintained, it can last for generations. It has natural insulating properties that are far superior to those of other commonly used building materials. It was this material that was used in another project: the Służewski Cultural Centre. This is a dynamic cultural institution located in a building designed by studio WWAA in collaboration with the European Union Institute of Architecture. The complex consists of five buildings which, in their shape, size and materials, refer to the farmhouses that could be found in Służewo in the early 1970s. The area is an ecological enclave on the edge of a residential area. The characteristic houses with sloping roofs, clad in larch boards, are surrounded by a goat pen, a mini-pasture and a small educational vegetable garden.

The centrepiece of the complex is an amphitheatre with an open-air stage, which is set into the grounds. This amphitheatre, hidden from view of passers-by, is equipped with stepped wooden seats for the audience. Thanks to this architectural concept, the amphitheatre is sheltered from the wind and provides an intimate atmosphere for the audience.

The public library in Choszczówka is another project in which the architects opted for wood. For their project, the architects from the Ambient studio won an honourable mention in the Best Environmental Project category of the PLGBC Polish Green Building Council Awards 2023. They also won a prize in the 10th Warsaw Mayor's Award competition, in the Public Utility Architecture category, and a prize for accessibility solutions.

The library building is distinguished by its wooden facade and custom-designed details. The wall cladding and plywood buildings were made to measure. It is one of the few public buildings in Poland to use glulam construction and prefabricated wall and floor elements. The designers placed particular emphasis on their commitment to reducing the structure's carbon footprint. When designing the surroundings for this project, the emphasis was placed on harmonious coexistence with nature.

In order to minimise the impact on the environment, exterior lighting was used with downward-facing luminaires to reduce light pollution. The plant species chosen for the planting are native trees and shrubs that are melliferous and provide edible fruit for birds. A flower meadow has been provided in place of the traditional lawns. The fences have also been removed, allowing small animals to roam freely. Around the most precious trees, the natural environment has been preserved without interference, further emphasising the ecological character of the project. A summer reading room and a space for cultural events, such as film screenings or meetings with authors, have been created in the library garden. Innovative water-saving solutions were also used as part of the project. A 6 m³ tank has been placed in the building to collect rainwater from the roof. The collected rainwater is then used to irrigate the vegetation surrounding the building.

Bien que l'architecture ait inévitablement un impact sur l'environnement, cet impact peut être considérablement réduit par l'utilisation réfléchie de matériaux et de techniques de construction appropriés. Les concepteurs jouent un rôle clé dans ce processus, car la forme de notre environnement dépend de leur conscience et de leur volonté de prendre en compte les conséquences à long terme. Au lieu d'opter pour des solutions rapides et faciles, ils devraient analyser en profondeur chaque projet en termes d'impact écologique. Cette conception responsable ouvre la voie à la création d'espaces non seulement fonctionnels et esthétiques, mais aussi en harmonie avec leur environnement naturel.