The Façade Is a Climate Machine

The fully glazed office tower is one of the Gulf's most photographed building types — and one of its most expensive to cool.

Why is glass a problem?

Glass lets in light, and with it heat. Even high-performance coatings can only do so much against direct sun. The result is oversized cooling systems, glare-blinded offices and blinds that stay closed all year.

What works better?

• External shading, which stops heat before it reaches the glass.
• Right-sized openings — more on north, less on west.
• Deep reveals that create self-shading.
• Screens and fins tuned to sun angles for each orientation.
• Solid, insulated walls where views and daylight aren't needed.

Does performance limit design?

The opposite. Some of the most expressive façades in the world are shading devices. The constraint gives the building a reason for its form — and a design language that belongs to its place.

We draw sun paths before we draw elevations. It is the fastest way to a façade that looks good in a photograph and feels good at 3 p.m. in July.

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