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Sustainability in facade construction has been a theme for years. It's in the design, choice of materials and every change along the way. Pieter Bas Bovee, technical director at Wijnveen Aluminiumbouw, sees the bar rising rapidly. It is no longer just about ambitions, but also about new solutions and strong collaborations throughout the chain. “The more sustainable, the better.”
Many projects require more from facade systems, Bovee observes. Think triple glazing or extra insulation. That directly affects the facade system. More weight often means thicker profiles and different detailing. At the same time, there is also a movement towards more efficient solutions. Sometimes insulation glass already turns out to be more than sufficient, making an additional pane unnecessary. “That saves material and mass and can improve the sustainability score,” he says.”
Bovee is seeing this more and more often. A change in planning seems small, but can have major consequences. He recalls Kavel F in Amsterdam, a project near the UMC, designed by UNStudio. “In the tender it is already specified exactly how much glass is in the facade, how many square meters and what thicknesses. Design adjustments often follow afterwards in the construction team. An architect still wants larger windows or different corner pieces. That sometimes seems like a small change, but can have major consequences for performance and environmental scores. Then you have to go back to the requirements and retest for, among other things, the MPG. If it complies, then it can be done, otherwise not.”
Much also shifts in the choice of materials. At Pearl in the Polder, for example, Wijnveen worked with (ultra)low carbon aluminum. “We do see clearly: what was exceptional before is gradually becoming more normal. Recycled glass and specific glazing, such as Category 1, are also part of this.” Wijnveen therefore sets clear requirements for suppliers. Think of NEN standards and the supply of product data. Bovee notices that chain cooperation is becoming more important in this regard. “It only works if all parties move in the same direction. If we want it alone and the rest don't, we won't make it. Fortunately, we see that everyone sees the added value.”
According to Bovee, therefore, the development does not stop here. “This will continue. The requirements are becoming more ambitious and the market is getting used to the higher ambitions.” At the same time, there is a practical problem: aluminum, for example, is highly recyclable, but there is not enough recycled aluminum to make everything fully circular. “That puts the industry before a choice. Do you go for a few top-level projects, or do you go to a solid base that is met everywhere?” There is also more focus on demountable construction and limiting things like adhesives, sealants and films that are less good for the environment. “Upgrading existing facades is also becoming more relevant. Not always demolish and replace, but see what you can improve within existing profiles.” Facade construction is thus increasingly becoming a profession of calculation, consideration and forward thinking. And this development will continue for the foreseeable future.
