Design Checklist
- Achieve a high level of construction quality in mixed use developments
- Enhance buildings’ performance and amenity for occupants
- Provide effective noise control to enhance the amenity, marketability, reputation and value of the development
Overview
The building envelope is the skin of the building. It consists of the external walls, doors, windows, roof and lowest floor of the building. It has the important functional role of ensuring internal spaces are healthy and pleasant environments for the inhabitants, as well as contributing to the image and character of the building within the public realm.
The building envelope must balance ventilation and daylight requirements while providing moisture and thermal protection appropriate to the climatic conditions of the site. It is a major factor in determining the operational energy use, and therefore the lifecycle costs, of a building. The success of the building envelope depends upon the selection of appropriate materials and components, and how these are brought together. Also increasingly important today is the source and manufacturing processes of the materials involved.