In order to keep a building strong and able to fulfill its purpose, it needs to have protection from weather. It must protect the insulation inside so that moisture doesn’t gain a foothold on the building’s interior and cause problems. The comfort and wellbeing of the occupants of a building is of vital importance in the function of a building. All of these items are priorities for the architect as the design process gets underway. But there is another aspect of architectural design and that includes the appearance of a building. A structure is, if it’s well constructed, going to occupy space in a community for some time. It should add to the appearance of the area in which is it located so that the occupants as well as the neighbors can benefit from its presence. Translucent cladding is one of the ways in which a building can perform its function, fulfill its purpose and also display its own unique character.
Translucent Cladding: Letting the Light In
Translucence is the in-between stage. Transparency means that we can see through something; opacity means that our view of something is entirely blocked from sight. That makes translucent cladding especially appealing in terms of construction: we don’t want buildings that we can see through, and a building with no view at all would be grim. Translucent cladding lets the light in and, thanks to the miracle of construction technology, how much light comes in depends upon your preference.
The Beauty of Translucent Cladding
In the United Kingdom’s Blackburn Youth Zone Center, we see the extraordinary traits of translucent cladding. It’s a building where light enters the interior structure from outside; not so much that the building is overwhelmed with glare and not so little that it’s not even noticed. The translucent cladding adds natural light to the interior space of a building. This natural illumination has an enormous effect on the mood of the occupants inside; extra natural light in a living or working space enhances a person’s productivity and sense of well being. Imagine living or working in a building where the addition of natural light can have a positive effect on your mood!