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While the façade is one of the most thoroughly theorized elements of architecture, it is also one of the most questioned since the end of the 19th century. Within the discipline of architecture, the traditional understanding of the façade focuses primarily on semiotic and compositional operations (such as proportional laws and linguistic codes), which are deployed on the building's surface. In contrast to this, our material and environmental theory of the envelope proposes that the exponential development of building technologies since the mid-19th century, coupled with new techniques of management and regulation, have diminished the compositional and ornamental capacities of the envelope in favor of material, quantitative, and technical performances. Rather than producing a stylistic analysis of the façade, we investigate the historical lineages of the performances, components, assembly types, and material entanglements that constitute the contemporary building envelope.

Building envelope --- Building materials --- History. --- Environmental aspects. --- Surfaces. --- Peinture et décoration murales --- Murs extérieurs --- Murs-rideaux --- Construction durable --- Exterior walls --- Facades --- Architectural materials --- Architecture --- Building --- Building supplies --- Buildings --- Construction materials --- Structural materials --- Materials --- External walls --- Walls --- Architectural fronts --- Fronts (Architecture) --- Social aspects --- Economic aspects --- Details --- 692.23 --- 72.038 --- 72.037 --- Gevelconstructies ; buitenmuren --- Architectuur ; socio-economische aspecten --- Constructie-elementen van gebouwen ; buitenmuren, gevels --- Architectuurgeschiedenis ; 1950 - 2000 --- Architectuurgeschiedenis ; 1900 - 1950 --- Mural painting and decoration --- Curtain walls --- Sustainable construction --- Façades --- 69 --- 691 --- 692 --- 574 --- Bouwtechniek --- Bouwmaterialen (architectuur) --- Materialen (design) --- Constructie-elementen --- Ecologie & bioverscheidenheid --- 692.2 --- 691.504 --- 692.23 Exterior, external walls. Enclosing walls above ground generally. Walls in elevation. Façades --- Exterior, external walls. Enclosing walls above ground generally. Walls in elevation. Façades --- 691 Building materials. Building components --- Building materials. Building components --- 692.2 Walls. Partitions --- Walls. Partitions --- 691.504 Building materials and the environment. Sustainable building materials --- Building materials and the environment. Sustainable building materials --- Exterior walls - Social aspects --- Exterior walls - Economic aspects --- Building materials - Social aspects --- Building materials - Economic aspects --- Peinture et décoration murales --- Murs extérieurs