FACADE ANALYSIS

Façade is the linkage between building and the public domain. It determines the
relationship between inside and outside, built and open, public and private, individual and
community.

In urban architecture buildings and open spaces consider as totally not separately and
success of buildings is determined by its ability to make a positive contribution to the public
realm, to face the street, animate it and make sure that all adjacent open space is positively used.

Façade is a building primary exterior face generally one side main entry to the building
especially the front side but sometimes we can consider the sides and rear.

People’s evaluation of building façade is based on visual elements such as shape, color, and
architectural style which is indicates architectural visual elements influence the image of building
facades. Building façade is known as feature of environment image of city therefore it is very
critical and challenging to use a certain and specific ornamentation to establish a rich context.

Decoration on buildings and in the city generally is the means by which varieties of visual
experiences are introduced to the viewer and is called visual richness. It depends upon the
contrast of elements such as windows and walls, the contrast of buildings materials, their color
tone, & texture or the contrast of light and shade on the highly modeled surface depend upon
the number of elements in the viewer’s field of vision.

A commercial façade is divided into three sections: the street level storefront, middle façade, and
upper façade. The middle and upper facades frequently have architectural elements that align
with abutting buildings, so the rhythm of the architecture, window openings, banding, and other
elements continue along the streetscape.

In light of building facades, the lower facades create an important linkage between scales,
buildings, and people. For the buildings regarded a unified entity, the lower facades should own
a brilliant and friendly design .As the horizontal lines lead the eye, ground floor height is essential
to pedestrians. Designing continuous cornices, applying similar techniques, and architectural
elements create a horizontal line above the ground floor. Rhythm is another important factor
that modulates building façades in an urban context. It is a mysterious fact of esthetic experience
that is formed by groups of elements to create emphasis, interval, accent, and /or direction To
avoid monotony, contrast and variety are two essential factors in achieving interesting rhythms

We can analysis façade according to:

Continuity

Urban façades that delineate transition between public and private domains seem vital if
continuity of the façades helps to define urban spaces as the container of urban life

A common building line creates continuity of frontage and provides definition and enclosure to
the public realm. It can also help ensure new development is properly integrated into an existing
street.

Enclosure

It is the three dimensional mass of each building which defines the public realm. Building
elevations and the cross-sections of public spaces should therefore be scaled to foster a sense of
urbanism so that streets, squares and parks are defined by appropriately scaled buildings and/or
trees fronting onto them.

Visual effect

Form of the buildings should appear as a surface rather than as a mass. Concurred that buildings
with strong three-dimensional forms create masses that dominate urban scenes in which urban
spaces lose significance, harmonious rhythm of articulated building facades plays a considerable
role in improving visual identity of urban spaces. This can be achieved by

 frequent doors and windows, with few blank walls;

 narrow frontage buildings, giving vertical rhythm to the street scene;
 articulation of facades, with projections such as bays and porches incorporated,
providing a welcoming feeling;
 Lively internal uses visible from the outside, or spilling onto the street
Devices can be incorporated into a façade so that a building reaches out to the street. The views
from outside to inside or vice reversal will attract or provide interest to the people and make the
area functional apparent and contribute to neighborhood safety by providing windows at the
street that act as “eyes on the street”.

The visual interest and safety comes from by doing:

 The more windows and doors onto the public realm.

 using transparent glass for windows, where privacy allows, rather than mirrored or
frosted glass that only allows occupants to benefit from views out;
 enlivening edges with balconies, bays, porches, awnings, colonnades or other
projections that provide a more comfortable threshold in inclement weather,
prolonging activities and enabling users to overlap into the street;
 considering level changes between the ground building level and pavement, with
steps up to house front doors or raised terraces for pubs or restaurants by considering
access for the disable it gives a sense of privacy and surveillance

Urban façade deals with the building façade as a whole. To have good connection the buildings
enrich the surrounding fabrics both visual and physically by respecting the context and stick to:

 continuity of building line; a street’s vertical and horizontal rhythms (the building widths,
the proportion and scale of windows and doors);the local morphology (the pattern of
streets, blocks and building types);adjacent building heights, roof and cornice lines; local
building materials;

The building façade can have great role for the places to have their own character and
atmosphere. It can provide a unique sense of cultural and community identity.

Reference
• Urban Design Compendium-1
• THE ROLE OF BUILDINGS FACADES OF ON URBAN LANDSCAPE
• Ornament and Decoration (second edition)
• Urban design street and square