What are the design aesthetics of aluminium curtain walling?

The design aesthetics of aluminium curtain walling typically include clean lines and sleek glass surfaces. Known for providing a modern appearance, aluminium curtain walling is suitable for a range of buildings such as offices, shopping centres, blocks of schools, hospitals and universities.

When specifying aluminium curtain walling, there are a number of different design aspects to consider to ensure the result meets your aesthetic requirements. These include:

• Frame finish – Curtain walling frames can be finished in different ways. Polyester powder coating and anodising offer a wide range of colours, as well as an additional level of protection against corrosion. Anodised and Anolok finishes should be to BS3897: 1991, providing a minimum coating thickness of 25 microns.
• Profile depth – Curtain wall frames are made from extruded aluminium, and the depth of these metal pieces can have an impact on the appearance of the building, as well as the amount of natural light that gets in, the structural performance of the curtain walling, weather resistance and thermal efficiency. The depth of the curtain walling is governed by structural performance.
• Cap styles – As well as their practical purpose, the caps can also add an aesthetic element to the curtain walling system, and they are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The caps cover joins and hides both the glazing pressure seals and internal drainage systems.
• Infill panels – The most common option for curtain walling systems is cleaned glass; this can also be tinted or treated with reflective coatings to change its appearance. Other materials can also be used to within aluminium curtain walling to create unique design aesthetics. Options include fibre-reinforced plastic and insulated panels. Vents and louvres may also be used in place of solid panels, providing another design element that also serves a practical purpose.

To find out more about the design options available in Soundcraft’s range of curtain walling systems, please download our product datasheets.