A lot is happening in the field of facades. Key trends include reducing CO₂ emissions and material usage, increasing focus on safety, and embracing circular and modular construction. All these trends will take center stage at the Future Facade trade fair on May 7 and 8 at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht.
Expert Insights
Joep Römgens, Head of Service, Marketing, and Product Management at Schüco Benelux, will open the program on day 2 in Theater 1. He will highlight and elaborate on several industry trends. “A key trend is modular construction, as it enables the realization of more housing in a shorter period,” he says. “Safety is, of course, another hot topic. This includes fire safety, but unfortunately, facades are increasingly required to meet standards related to violence, such as bullet resistance, burglary resistance, and even explosion resistance. The latest trend is facade leasing, which can significantly enhance the sustainability of building facades. Under a leasing model, the facade remains the property of the builder and is leased by the building owner. This facilitates material recycling and reuse, contributing to greater circularity within the sector.”
Innovations
After Römgens’ opening, various Schüco colleagues will take the stage. Andrea Pilla, Senior Façade Engineer, will present two innovations that are still in the research phase. Römgens explains: “With the ‘Minimal Wall’ product, Schüco aims to reduce material usage. It is a smart combination of glass and aluminum that, through a special adhesive technique, forms a laminated system. This results in a highly strong connection, while also reducing material costs and CO₂ emissions.
Daniel Arztmann, Head of Custom Engineering, will discuss how Schüco brings architects’ often unconventional designs to life. “He receives the most extreme ideas,” says Römgens. “The title of this lecture is ‘Crazy Architectural Engineering.’ By this, we mean: architects, let your imagination run wild—we’ll make it feasible. Of course, within the laws of building physics, environmental impact, circularity, and so on. But essentially, no idea is too ‘crazy’ for us to tackle. Daniel will showcase stunning projects that Schüco has completed in the Middle East.”
Andreas Bitter, Head of Sales Grid2Shell, will present the self-supporting aluminum/glass structure Grid2Shell. Römgens: “With this structure, entire glass facades and skylight constructions can be built.” [Link to interview with A. Bitter?]
Stephen Tanno, Director of Pre-Construction Services, will address the necessity and challenges of high-rise construction. “Pre-dimensioning plays a crucial role in the construction process,” Römgens explains. “It involves early-stage collaboration with the architect. Tanno, who is based in London, focuses exclusively on high-rise construction. This is a hot topic in today’s housing shortages and urbanization.”
Challenges
Römgens will conclude Thursday morning’s program with a presentation on the challenges facing the facade construction industry. “New buildings are, of course, designed to be energy-efficient and smart. But if we aim to be Paris Proof by 2050, the real challenge—and opportunity—lies in existing buildings. About 85% of these buildings will still be standing in thirty years, and the majority are neither energy-efficient nor energy-neutral, let alone energy-positive. A massive effort is required to transform, renovate, or upgrade these homes and buildings. At Schüco, we refer to this as ‘Value Up’—creating added value. We offer solutions for various scenarios, from maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to complete core renovations where a building is stripped down and given an entirely new facade. There are many possibilities in between.
It’s crucial to develop solutions that go beyond just the product level. People often forget that residents must vacate their homes during renovations. However, temporary housing options are scarce. The solution is to approach renovations so efficiently that residents can leave their homes in the morning and return to a completed project by the evening. This requires much more than just a product—it demands a well-thought-out strategy.”
Get Your Ticket
Are you an architect, engineer, facade builder, or otherwise professionally involved in the facade construction sector? Join us at Future Facade, where groundbreaking solutions, innovative insights, and best practices take center stage. Visit Future Facade on Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8, at the Royal Jaarbeurs in Utrecht.
