The vast majority of existing buildings are vulnerable to climate change. The construction materials typically used in the past 50 years or more are not durable enough to withstand the potential effects of adverse weather conditions, wet, hot or cold.
Violent storms and heavy downpours present the most imminent threat. High winds and the increased potential for rising water levels call for buildings to be safeguarded against floods and seepage.
Construction experts believe aluminium rainscreen cladding will help provide a defence against climate change. Reports reveal the global rainscreen market is positioned to rocket to US$183.34 billion in the next six years.
The boom is being driven by climate change protocols that impact the construction industry. Building regulations assert that construction materials must be sustainable, durable and energy-efficient.
Why Aluminium Rainscreen Cladding?
Architects are increasingly adopting ‘materials in motion’ to find new ways of creating dynamic designs that have aesthetically pleasing features. Metal cladding facades are visually captivating and provide a number of performance-related benefits.
Aluminium rainscreen cladding is a light and durable material. Because the panels are lightweight, the facade does not overburden the core structure of the building which means significant savings can be made on the foundations and support columns.
Masonry materials that are typically used for building the foundations are made from high embodied energy materials. By reducing the need for these elements, architects are able to create open spaces and allow more natural light to flood into rooms.
Rainscreen cladding systems have a pivotal role in preventing wind-driven water from seeping through small breaches in the surface of buildings. By diverting water, rainscreen systems reduce the risk of the diverse weather conditions breaking down building materials.
The growing trend of using aluminium rainscreen panels to construct ‘green’ buildings is also thanks to the materials energy-efficient properties. Aluminium deflects 95% of the sun’s rays thus improving the cooling efficiency of a building in high temperatures.
Future-Proofing Architecture
Composite materials are one of the most popular rainscreen cladding materials used in contemporary architecture because they are sustainable and highly versatile.
ACM is ideal for fashioning innovative designs. For example, the flexible material can be used to create an overhanging canopy, parabolic curve, geometric shapes and gouged-out apertures in the facade of a building.
Some of the futuristic designs that modern architects are producing will maintain their appeal for hundreds of years. ACM can also be used to modernise post-war architecture that is not so aesthetically appealing.
There are countless examples of how aluminium rainscreen cladding is being used in modern architecture. One of the stand out designs is the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida designed by Stanley Saitowitz of Natoma Architects.
Saitowitz was challenged with creating a design for the museum that would ensure the exhibits remained above an 18-foot flood line and also protect the precious artwork from light damage without making the galleries too dark.
Perforated aluminium panels provided the perfect answer. The metal surface creates a stunning visual appeal by reflecting the sky and water without upstaging the priceless pieces the building houses.
The durable facade also diffuses heat and allows just enough natural light into the building without direct sunlight providing a danger to the artwork.
Perforated rainscreen cladding was also used in the construction of the visually dramatic Leeds First Direct Arena. The honeycomb facade is made from aluminium panels that alternate colours that produce a mesmerising palette of colours in the Leeds skyline.
ACM was instrumental in producing a technically complex design. The durability and flexibility of the metal composite provided builders with a high level of precision that suited the backlighting enhancements and created a subtly translucent effect for veiling and screening.
Prada’s Las Vegas was also built with a modular system of cast aluminium panels. The three-story building was designed by Roberto Bacoicchi and brings architecture, technology and fashion together.
The facade reflects Prada’s cutting edge image and combines aluminium cones of varying size with a state of the art LED lighting system housed in the coneheads.
We expect to see more building facades clad with aluminium composite materials in the near future. The metal meets energy-efficient performance specifications and can be integrated into multi-functional designs.