Facade
A facade is the exterior face of a building, most often referring to the principal elevation that addresses the street or the main approach.
The facade does the public work of a building. It sets the first impression, mediates between inside and outside, and determines how the building sits within its streetscape.
It is also a performance layer. The facade controls solar gain, daylight, ventilation, privacy, acoustics and weather. On a north-facing elevation the design problem is shading and glare; on a south elevation it is capturing usable daylight without losing heat.
Councils frequently assess facade treatment directly through their controls, particularly regarding bulk, scale, and how a new building addresses neighbouring properties. Articulation, material change and the rhythm of openings are the main tools available.