Cladding is one of the most important elements which ensures that the exterior of a building is protected from the elements of nature and potential sources of damage. Cladding extends the longevity and lifespan of the building. It also provides the other important benefits that include providing strength to the structure and thermal insulation to the buildings. Cladding not only protects the building envelope but also enhances the appearance of the building. It is also very important that the cladding design and the right choice of cladding material should have the right balance of aesthetics and efficiency.
Among all the solutions dotting the market, dynamically tinting electrochromic glass is a game-changer in the sector. It not only maximises natural light, but also cuts glare significantly – thereby enabling better thermal and visual comfort, and greater well-being. But there are many more cladding material like wood, stone, ceramic and tile having different features. Architects choose between various materials according to their and building’s requirements. For example: for a unique and polished look tile will be a good choice.
The Middle East market has always been a challenging arena due to its central geographical location, which means that access to various cladding materials from across the world has never been a hindrance. However, changing the mindset of developers and consultants due to the use of traditional insulation materials for buildings by default has been a challenge. there has been a paradigm shift in the understanding of the building’s thermal dynamics more recently, resulting in newer and more efficient material being made available in the market.
Recently architects in this region have been experimenting with different materials and we have seen a few new types of cladding materials such as perforated screens, WPC panels and timber panels being used in low rise built forms and we are also starting to see an increase in the use of mineral fiber panels replacing the old traditional metal panels and many more.
If you want more detailed information about various cladding choices, challenges faced and also about exterior wall cladding design principles then read the article
