The façade never lies. And yet it is more illusion than truth – at least when it envelops the building as a “second skin” in the form of a curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz.. What was seen as technocratic progress in the 1950s is now a stage for digital engineering, sustainable ambitions and architectural vanity. But how much logic is really behind the shimmering shell? And are curtain walls still the measure of all things in German-speaking countries – or have they long since become obsolete?
- Curtain walls have been shaping the image of modern cities for decades – and are a field of constant innovation in terms of both technology and design.
- Digital planning processes, BIMBIM steht für Building Information Modeling und bezieht sich auf die Erstellung und Verwaltung von dreidimensionalen Computermodellen, die ein Gebäude oder eine Anlage darstellen. BIM wird in der Architekturbranche verwendet, um Planung, Entwurf und Konstruktion von Gebäuden zu verbessern, indem es den Architekten und Ingenieuren ermöglicht, detaillierte und integrierte Modelle... and AI-controlled simulations are fundamentally transforming the design, production and operation of façades.
- Sustainability remains the key issue: material selection, circularity and energy performance are becoming mandatory disciplines.
- Germany, Austria and Switzerland are adapting new façade technologies at different speeds.
- Curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. façades struggle with criticism: from wasting resources to the question of the meaning of the “second skin”.
- New façade systems integrate photovoltaics, adaptive shadingShading beschreibt ein Phänomen bei Teppichböden, bei dem sich bestimmte Stellen des Belags durch Licht- und Schattenwirkungen unterschiedlich dunkel darstellen. Es handelt sich dabei um eine optische Täuschung, die durch die Struktur des Teppichbodens verstärkt wird. and smart sensor technology.
- The global discourse has long revolved around the circular economy and digital fabrication – but how far along are DACH planners really?
- Façade logic remains a minefield between cool engineering and hot architectural dogma.
- Anyone planning curtain walls today needs more than just good detailed knowledge – they need the courage to mediate between sustainability pressure and the will to design.
The curtain wall: an icon with a system error?
Curtain walls are the chameleon of modern architecture. Sometimes glassy and cool, sometimes playful and material, but always a statement of the times. What began as a technical revolution – the decoupling of the supporting structure and building envelope – is now a symbol of progress, but also of lavish ambition. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. is omnipresent, from the office towers of Frankfurt to the university buildings in Vienna. But behind the shiny surface lurk questions that are increasingly burning under the industry’s nails: How much material is allowed? How much energy is wasted through the glass front? And is the second skin still appropriate in a world that calls for sufficiency?
The current situation in German-speaking countries is characterized by a mixture of innovative drive and regulatory paralysis. While ambitious façade projects with high-tech components are being developed in Zurich and Vienna, the path of least resistance still dominates in many German cities. Standardized systems, little courage to experiment and a planning landscape that likes to hide behind DIN standards and fire protection regulations. Yet now would be the time to try out new façade logics: adaptive, resource-saving, recyclable.
Curtain walls are no longer a purely architectural playground. Their technical complexity requires interdisciplinary know-how: building physics, material science, climate technology, digital production – and all of this in interaction, please. Anyone working on façade details today should have the entire energy balance in mind. And yet: the myth of the “second skin” persists. Perhaps because it is so beautifully deceptive. Perhaps because it promises freedom where the shell only offers restrictions.
But criticism is growing. Too much glass, too much use of resources, too little consideration for the climate and users. The curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. is becoming a symbol of overproduction – and a touchstone for the seriousness of sustainable architecture. Anyone who still believes they can win an innovation prize with a chic glass façade has missed out on the discourse of the last ten years. The questions have long since changed: How can layers be successfully separated during deconstruction? How can materials be recycled? And how can digital planning help to avoid mistakes before they are built?
The answer lies somewhere between tradition and transformation. The second skin remains a projection surface – for desires, fears and beliefs in progress. Understanding its logic means not only mastering technical details, but also asking the big questions of our time. Because the future of the curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. will not be decided on the construction details, but at the interface between sustainability and digitalization.
Digitalization and AI: the new façade logic
Anyone planning a curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. today can no longer avoid digital tools. Building Information ModelingBuilding Information Modeling (BIM) bezieht sich auf den Prozess des Erstellens und Verwalten von digitalen Informationen über ein Gebäudeprojekt. Es ermöglicht eine effiziente Zusammenarbeit zwischen verschiedenen Beteiligten und verbessert die Planung, Konstruktion und Verwaltung von Gebäuden. (BIMBIM steht für Building Information Modeling und bezieht sich auf die Erstellung und Verwaltung von dreidimensionalen Computermodellen, die ein Gebäude oder eine Anlage darstellen. BIM wird in der Architekturbranche verwendet, um Planung, Entwurf und Konstruktion von Gebäuden zu verbessern, indem es den Architekten und Ingenieuren ermöglicht, detaillierte und integrierte Modelle...) has long been standard in construction, but the real game changers are AI-supported simulations, parametric design processes and digital production technologies. Although the firstFirst - Der höchste Punkt des Dachs, an dem sich die beiden Giebel treffen. lighthouse projects are being celebrated in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the widespread use of digital planning logic remains slow. Many offices are still working at the interface of 2D plans and Excel spreadsheets, while digital twins have long been simulating façade behavior in real time internationally.
The advantages are obvious: digital planning makes it possible to compare variants in a matter of seconds, optimally dimension façade modules and even predict the behavior of the envelope under changing weather conditions. AI algorithms help to identify sources of error at an early stage, minimize material waste and optimize installation. In Zurich, for example, the complete façade geometry for several high-rise projects was generated digitally and production was initiated automatically. Vienna is experimenting with sensor-supported façade elements that react to temperature and solar radiation. In Germany, on the other hand, the digital breakthrough often remains a paper tiger. Data protection concerns, a lack of interfaces and the chronic lack of IT expertise in planning offices are often to blame.
But the pressure is growing. International competitors are focusing on complete digital supply chains – from the design logic to the construction site. Those who don’t keep up will be left behind. At the same time, digital tools are opening up new opportunities for sustainability. Lifecycle analyses can be integrated at an early stage, material passes can be generated and dismantling can be simulated in the BIMBIM steht für Building Information Modeling und bezieht sich auf die Erstellung und Verwaltung von dreidimensionalen Computermodellen, die ein Gebäude oder eine Anlage darstellen. BIM wird in der Architekturbranche verwendet, um Planung, Entwurf und Konstruktion von Gebäuden zu verbessern, indem es den Architekten und Ingenieuren ermöglicht, detaillierte und integrierte Modelle... model. This sounds like science fiction, but it has long been a reality in countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands. In German-speaking countries, however, it often remains a pilot project when it comes to digital façade planning.
And then there’s AI. It is the elephant in the room: still barely regulated, but already omnipresent in practice. AI models analyse façade behaviour, simulate energy flows, predict maintenance cycles and suggest optimizations that no human team could achieve at this speed. Some celebrate this as a quantum leap, others warn of black-box decisions and algorithmic arbitrariness. And, as always, the truth lies somewhere in between. The fact is that anyone who ignores the new façade logic will be overtaken by smarter buildings – or get stuck in the thicket of standards.
The technology is there, but the will is limited. More courage is needed to use digital methods not just as a fig leaf, but as an integral part of façade planning. Because the second skin of tomorrow will not be drawn on the drawing board, but designed, tested and perfected in digital space. And that is nothing less than a small revolution – if you let it happen.
Sustainability: between aspiration and reality
The big question in 2024 is: can the curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. really be sustainable? The answer is sobering – at least if you look at the status quo. Energy-intensive materials such as aluminum and glass still dominate, recyclingRecycling - Das Verfahren, bei dem Materialien wiederverwendet werden, um Ressourcen zu sparen und Abfall zu reduzieren. rates can be improved and the carbon footprintCarbon Footprint: die Menge an Treibhausgasemissionen, die durch eine Person, Organisation oder ein Produkt verursacht werden. of many projects remains alarmingly high. In Germany, trade associations are making every effort to establish new sustainability standards, but the market is slow to follow. Austria, on the other hand, is increasingly relying on regional materials and innovative hybrid façades, while Switzerland is scoring points with ambitious circular projects in which entire façade elements are reused after dismantling.
The technical challenges are enormous. Insulation layers, anchoring, waterproofing, shadingShading beschreibt ein Phänomen bei Teppichböden, bei dem sich bestimmte Stellen des Belags durch Licht- und Schattenwirkungen unterschiedlich dunkel darstellen. Es handelt sich dabei um eine optische Täuschung, die durch die Struktur des Teppichbodens verstärkt wird. – everything has to be considered together without sacrificing deconstructability. This is where digital material passports come into play: they document the origin, composition and recyclability of each individual component. The great art is to develop modular façade systems that can be separated by type at the end of their life. BIMBIM steht für Building Information Modeling und bezieht sich auf die Erstellung und Verwaltung von dreidimensionalen Computermodellen, die ein Gebäude oder eine Anlage darstellen. BIM wird in der Architekturbranche verwendet, um Planung, Entwurf und Konstruktion von Gebäuden zu verbessern, indem es den Architekten und Ingenieuren ermöglicht, detaillierte und integrierte Modelle... models help to plan life cycles and simulate scenarios for maintenance or dismantling. However, the market is sluggish, clients are still hesitant and many architects are clinging to the aesthetics of the all-encompassing glass façade.
At the same time, exciting innovations are emerging: Photovoltaic modules are invisibly integrated into the façade, adaptive shadingShading beschreibt ein Phänomen bei Teppichböden, bei dem sich bestimmte Stellen des Belags durch Licht- und Schattenwirkungen unterschiedlich dunkel darstellen. Es handelt sich dabei um eine optische Täuschung, die durch die Struktur des Teppichbodens verstärkt wird. systems react to daylight and temperature, smart sensor technology measures energy flows and reports defects before they become a problem. Pilot projects with bio-based façade elements made of wood and hemp are underway in Zurich, while green façades are being tested as a “third skin” in Vienna. Germany is experimenting cautiously – there is too much concern about technical risks and too little courage to change the system.
However, sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have, but the new mandatory discipline. Anyone planning curtain walls today must be measured against CO₂ balances, deconstruction concepts and the question of how much gray energy is really justifiable. International role models show that regenerative façade systems can be technically possible and economically viable – if planning, execution and operation are considered as a continuous process. However, as long as fee models and building regulations reward the status quo, genuine sustainability will remain the exception.
The future of curtain walling will not be decided by the thickness of the material, but by the ability to use resources intelligently, close cycles and see technology as an enabler rather than an excuse. Anyone who understands this can reinvent the second skin – and perhaps also make architecture a little more honest.
Facade knowledge: What professionals really need today
The days when an architect could push through a curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. with a little detailed knowledge and a nice render image are definitely over. Today, a whole arsenal of skills is needed to survive in the maze of standards, material innovations and digital tools. Anyone planning with façades needs to understand building physics, know production processes, take into account the pitfalls of installation and keep an eye on the interactions between the envelope and building services. That sounds like an excessive demand, but it is the new normal.
Technical knowledge alone is no longer enough. Anyone planning curtain walls must also master digital processes: Setting up BIMBIM steht für Building Information Modeling und bezieht sich auf die Erstellung und Verwaltung von dreidimensionalen Computermodellen, die ein Gebäude oder eine Anlage darstellen. BIM wird in der Architekturbranche verwendet, um Planung, Entwurf und Konstruktion von Gebäuden zu verbessern, indem es den Architekten und Ingenieuren ermöglicht, detaillierte und integrierte Modelle... models, maintaining data interfaces, operating simulation software and, ideally, being able to interpret lifecycle analyses. The industry is struggling with an enormous need for further training – at a time when young talent is in short supply anyway. Many offices are improvising, buying in external consultants or bringing entire façade planners on board. This shows that The second skin has long been a professional field in its own right – somewhere between engineering, architecture and IT.
And then there is the issue of regulation. Fire protection, sound insulation, sustainability certificates, building regulations – the list is endless. In Germany, the fear of liability dominates, in Austria and Switzerland people are more willing to experiment, but even there the regulations are not becoming less stringent. If you don’t know your way around, you run the risk of unpleasant surprises during acceptance or during operation. That’s why further training is a must, and the courage to cooperate even more so.
But there are also rays of hope. More and more universities are offering specialized facade courses, start-ups are developing new digital tools and international cooperation is facilitating the transfer of expertise across national borders. The global discourse has long gone further than many German planning offices: In Asia and North America, façades are being built that produce energy, respond to environmental data and can be completely dismantled. If you want to keep up here, you have to learn – and preferably quickly.
The second skin therefore remains a minefield for all those who believe they can design the building of tomorrow with yesterday’s technology. Those who master it can set standards. Those who underestimate it will be overwhelmed by its complexity. Knowledge is power – and in the case of curtain walls, unfortunately, also a survival strategy.
Discourse and the future: where is the second skin heading?
The debate about curtain walls is as old as their invention – and it is constantly being reignited. For some, the second skin is a triumph of modernity, for others a symbol of resource mania. In recent years, the discourse has shifted: Away from pure form, towards function and sustainability. Critics complain that many façades are still being planned without taking into account the needs of users and the climate. Proponents, on the other hand, argue that innovation is taking place on the building envelope – and that the second skin is the best opportunity to make architecture fit for the future.
There are plenty of visionary ideas. Adaptive façades that adjust to light and temperature like chameleons. Façade elements from the 3D printer that are recyclable and manufactured locally. Systems that storeStore: Ein Fenster- oder Türbeschattungssystem, das aus einem Stück Stoff, Jalousien oder Lamellen besteht. energy, collect water and filterFilter: Ein Material, das bestimmte Wellenlängen oder Frequenzen von Licht oder anderen Strahlungen blockiert oder durchlässt. airAIR: AIR steht für "Architectural Intermediate Representation" und beschreibt eine digitale Zwischenrepräsentation von Architekturplänen. Es handelt sich dabei um einen Standard, der es verschiedenen Software-Tools ermöglicht, auf eine einheitliche Art auf denselben Datenbestand zuzugreifen und ihn zu bearbeiten.. The global discourse is characterized by a desire to experiment and the courage to fail – while in Germany, Austria and Switzerland the principle of “never change a running system” often still prevails. But the pressure is increasing: climate targets, new building regulations, rising energy prices and user expectations are turning the envelope into a driver of innovation.
At the same time, the curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. remains a political issue. Who decides on the form, function and sustainability? Is the second skin a luxury for prestige projects – or will it become the standard for everyday buildings? The answers remain vague, because the tension between cost pressure, design intentions and regulatory constraints is too great. One thing is certain: the classic glass façade as a status symbol has had its day. New narratives, new solutions and, above all, new alliances between planners, engineers and users are needed.
A look into the future shows: The second skin will become more fluid, smarter, more sustainable – or it will be replaced by more radical concepts. Perhaps we will soon see the renaissance of the solid perforated façade, perhaps the breakthrough of the bio-based envelope. One thing is certain: the logic of the curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. remains a field of permanent negotiation between desire and reality, technology and aesthetics, local context and global trends.
And that is a good thing. Because the second skin forces the industry to constantly reinvent itself. It is a touchstone, laboratory and stage at the same time. Those who understand it can create architecture that is more than just a surface. Those who ignore it will fall by the wayside – between standards, climate targets and user requirements. The future of the curtain wallCurtain Wall: Eine Art von Fassade, die aus Vorhangfassadenelementen besteht. Die einzelnen Bauteile sind nicht tragend, sondern dienen hauptsächlich als Wetterschutz. remains open. And that is perhaps its greatest attraction.
Conclusion: The second skin must be able to breathe – and think
Curtain walls are more than just brilliant shells – they are an indicator of the industry’s innovative strength and honesty. Anyone who understands their logic is not only planning beautifully, but also cleverly and responsibly. The future belongs to those who have the courage to change, see digitalization as an opportunity and live sustainability not as a fig leaf, but as a matter of course. The second skin must be able to breathe, change, close cycles and read data. Only then will it become a symbol of architecture that not only deceives, but also shows attitude.