MATERIALS AND

METHODS OF BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION
By
Ashwin C D,
Prathima,
Bharath Rao,
Bhavya S,
Jeebesh J,
Nandan M,
Pranav Kumar,
Sanjana P,
Varshini K J
ENCLOSURE SYSTEM
The enclosure systems for high-rise
buildings are usually curtain walls
similar to those of low-rise buildings.
The higher wind pressures and the
effects of vortex shedding, however,
require thicker glazing and more
attention to sealants. The larger extent
of enclosed surfaces also requires
consideration of thermal movements,
and wind- and seismic-induced
movements must be
accommodated. Window washing in
large buildings with fixed glass is
another concern, and curtain walls must
provide fixed vertical tracks or other
attachments for window-washing
platforms. Interior finishes in high-rise
buildings closely resemble those used in
PRINCIPLES OF ENCLOSURE
SYSTEM
■ The principles of building enclosure
were defined by the building scientist
Neil Hucheon in 1963:
■ Strength and rigidity.
■ Control of heat flow.
■ Control of air flow.
■ Control of water vapor flow.
■ Control of liquid water movement.
■ Stability and durability of materials.
■ Fire.
■ Aesthetic considerations.
■ Cost.
COMPONENTS OF AN ENCLOSURE SYSTEM

The components of
the building enclosure
include:
 The roof system.
 The above-
grade wall system
(including windows and do
ors).
 The below-
grade wall system.
 The base floor system.
TYPES OF ENCLOSURE FACADES:

■ CURTAIN WALL:
■ DOUBLE SKIN FAÇADE
■ ADAPTIVE FACADES:
■ ELECTROCHAMIC GLASS:
■ DEPOLLUTING FACADES:
■ LIGHT ADAPTIVE FACADES:
CURTAIN WALL
■ Curtain wall systems are non-
structural cladding systems for
the external walls of buildings. They are
generally associated with large, multi-
storey buildings.
■ Curtain walls separate the interior from
the exterior, but only support their own
weight and the loads imposed on them
(such as wind loads, seismic loads, and so
on) which they transfer back to the
primary structure of the building.
■ Typically curtain wall systems comprise a
lightweight aluminum frame onto
which glazed or opaque infill panels can be
fixed. These infill panels are often
described as 'glazing' whether or not they
are made of glass.
DOUBLE SKIN FACADE
■ Double skin façades. Almost a self-
explanatory name for façade systems
consisting of two layers, usually glass,
wherein air flows through the
intermediate cavity. This space (which
can vary from 20 cm to a few meters)
acts as insulation against extreme
temperatures, winds, and sound,
improving the building's thermal
efficiency for both high and low
temperatures. Perhaps one of the most
famous examples of double-skin
facades is Foster Partners' 30 St Mary
Ax Building, "The Gherkin."
■ The airflow through the intermediate
cavity can occur naturally or be
mechanically driven, and the two glass
layers may include sun protection
devices.
ADAPTIVE FACADES:
■ The building façade is no longer seen as just a
static barrier that separates the interior
building environment from the external one. In
contrast, the façade becomes a dynamic
playground to optimize between energy
objectives and occupants' wishes.
■ Multi-functional and adaptive facades have the
potential to significantly improve energy
efficiency and economic value of new and
refurbished buildings, whilst providing a
healthy and comfortable indoor environment
to the building occupants.
■ An adaptive façade has the ability to adapt, in
real time, some of its functions, features and
behavior in response to changing
environmental conditions, performance
requirements, occupants' wishes or other
boundary conditions.
ELECTROCHAMIC GLASS:
■ Electrochromic glass (a.k.a. smart
glass or dynamic glass) is an
electronically tint able glass used for
windows, skylights, facades and curtain
walls.
■ Electrochromic glass, which can be directly
controlled by building occupants, is
popular for its ability to improve occupant
comfort, maximize access to daylight and
outdoor views, reduce energy costs and
provide architects with more design
freedom.
■ Electrochromic glass is a smart solution for
buildings in which solar control is a
challenge, including classroom settings,
healthcare facilities, commercial offices,
retail spaces, museums and cultural
institutions. Interior spaces featuring an
atrium or skylights also benefit from the
use of smart glass. 
DEPOLLUTING FACADES:
■ Depolluting performance consist on
converting various organics pollutants (VOCs)
and inorganic (NOx, Sox and others) to water
soluble inert substances, contributing to
cities sustainability, fighting against
pollution(contamination).
■ The photocatalytic external walls made with
I. Active cements get, thanks to photo
catalysis, theirs depolluting
(decontamination) and self-cleaning
performance.
■ That solubility allows that rain or cleaning
operations remove those substances of the
surface, maintaining the aesthetic quality of
the façade for a longer time with less
maintenance necessities, this is what we
consider self-cleaning performance of the
envelope.
LIGHT ADAPTIVE FACADES:
CASE STUDY