What is a false facade?
A false facade (Dutch: schijngevel) is a front that is not the building’s actual structural wall but usually stands in front of it. It does not carry the building; its main job is to determine how the building looks from outside.
Why a false facade?
- Architectural: visually dividing a tall, blank wall (of a cinema, sports hall or industrial unit) into “storeys”, so that the building fits in better with its surroundings.
- Human scale: giving a large, plain building a smaller-scale appearance, with windows, cornices or a roof shape that do not match the layout behind.
- Retention: keeping a historic front and building new behind it (facade retention, sometimes called façadism).
- Planting: a free-standing steel or cable frame in front of a wall for climbing plants (green facade).
A well-known historic example is the “false front” of American frontier towns: a square-topped facade in front of a simple gable-roofed building to make it look larger.
Application
Points to watch in design and construction:
- Fixing: a false facade catches the wind. Its connection to the structure behind must be designed by a structural engineer, especially for tall or free-standing fronts.
- Moisture: make sure rainwater can drain behind the false facade and that the cavity is ventilated.
- Facade retention: when building behind an old front, it must be temporarily propped or braced during demolition and construction.
- Regulations: the appearance of a facade is normally subject to planning permission, and conservation area rules may apply. Check with the local authority first.
Related Terms
- Facade
- Cladding
- Green facade
- Blind wall
- Propping
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