Vertical panel joint
Coordinate joint width, shadow line, movement and drainage with panel edges and rails.
Architects · façade consultants · specifiers · contractors
Specifier & Tender Centre
Use this layer to compare façade families, structure an RFQ, develop concept details, plan finish approvals and prepare evidence-safe tender wording before a manufacturing system is frozen.
01 · System selection matrix
Compare the design role before choosing the product family.
This matrix is for early specification and design-team discussion. It does not rank systems or replace project engineering.
| System | Visual role | Typical application | Ventilation | Shaping potential | Weight consideration | Key review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid aluminium | Clean, precise, monolithic | Commercial, civic, transport, soffits | Behind-panel cavity where designed | High — folded, faceted, selected curved | Light-to-moderate | Alloy, thickness, stiffening, subframe, finish, fire and wind evidence |
| Perforated aluminium | Pattern, transparency, solar control | Parking, transport, education, plant screening | High open-area potential | High — flat, folded, selected curved | Light-to-moderate | Open area, edge distances, stiffness, pattern, wind, framing and finish |
| Laser-cut screens | Graphic, bespoke, high-identity | Hospitality, entrances, privacy, feature façades | Pattern-dependent | High — flat and folded pathways | Material / gauge dependent | Pattern integrity, climbability, wind, frame, cut edges and finish |
| Fins & battens | Rhythm, depth, strong shadow | Offices, hotels, education, sun control | Open system | Profile-led | Profile / spacing dependent | Profile span, support centres, thermal movement, wind and fixing visibility |
| Honeycomb panels | Very flat, large-format | Transport, canopies, soffits, premium façades | Behind-panel cavity where designed | Flat and selected shaped forms | Low relative to large panel area | Face sheets, core, edge construction, bond evidence, fire and supports |
| Mesh / expanded metal | Open, layered, industrial-refined | Parking, sports, plant and infrastructure | Very high | Pattern / frame dependent | System dependent | Aperture, orientation, edge treatment, tension/support, impact and corrosion |
| Weathering steel | Warm patina, material depth | Civic, cultural, landscape-integrated architecture | System dependent | High for plate / folded forms | Moderate-to-heavy | Material grade, runoff, coastal exposure, drying cycles and galvanic compatibility |
| UHPC / architectural concrete | Mineral, sculptural, monolithic | Civic, cultural, hospitality, feature envelopes | Rainscreen pathway where designed | Very high via moulded geometry | Higher — lifting strategy important | Mix, reinforcement, anchors, weight, joints, water, structural and seismic evidence |
02 · Concept detail library
Resolve the junctions that make the façade look deliberate.
These detail types define what needs coordination. They are intentionally conceptual until the actual system, substrate and local engineering are known.
Horizontal panel joint
Resolve water-shedding logic, panel returns, support and visual alignment.
External corner
Compare folded returns, expressed joints, corner cassettes and trim pathways.
Internal corner
Maintain drainage, access and intentional joint geometry through recesses.
Window reveal
Coordinate jamb, head and sill interfaces with windows, membranes and drainage.
Parapet / top termination
Resolve capping, cavity closure, ventilation and water management.
Base / lower termination
Define drainage, clearances, impact exposure and cavity closure at the bottom edge.
Soffit transition
Carry material rhythm through horizontal surfaces while coordinating lighting and services.
Fin / batten support
Coordinate blade depth, spacing, support centres, movement and concealed / expressed fixings.
Curved panel zone
Set radius, segmentation, joint rhythm, tolerances and transport constraints early.
03 · Finishes & materials centre
Approve appearance with samples, not assumptions.
Finish names below describe design pathways. Exact chemistry, coating supplier, exterior rating, warranty and colour tolerance stay tied to the selected production system.
Solid colour coating
Project-selected colour; exact coating system and warranty confirmed per manufacturing pathway.
Metallic coating
Metallic appearance requires sample approval and consistent production orientation.
Anodised pathway
Where available for the selected aluminium system; colour and finish variation need sample control.
Wood-look finish
Decorative architectural finish pathway subject to exact production method and exterior suitability.
Stone-look finish
Decorative lightweight visual pathway where supported by the selected system.
Weathering steel
Natural patina pathway with runoff, adjacent surfaces and exposure reviewed carefully.
UHPC mineral finish
Smooth, textured or pigmented pathways depend on mould, mix and sample approval.
Custom texture / pattern
Project-developed textures, reliefs and perforation patterns subject to manufacturability review.
04 · Sample & mock-up pathway
Move from colour chip to production release in controlled steps.
Not every project needs every stage. The project team can scale the process to façade complexity, visual sensitivity and procurement risk.
05 · Tender wording
Generic clauses that preserve the project-specific checks.
These clauses can be copied into early tender or specification documents and then completed by the project team once verified system data is available.
01
Architectural aluminium façade — generic clause
Provide a project-specific architectural aluminium façade system comprising formed aluminium panels, coordinated support rails / brackets, project-required trims and fixings, and the approved finish. Final alloy, temper, panel thickness, stiffening, joint geometry, subframe, anchors, coating system and performance evidence shall be confirmed against the selected manufacturing system and project structural / building-envelope requirements before production.
02
Perforated architectural screen — generic clause
Provide custom perforated architectural façade / screening panels to the approved pattern, open-area intent and finish. Panel geometry, gauge, edge distances, structural support, wind performance, frame centres, drainage, access and public-safety considerations shall be developed for the specific project. Pattern artwork and finish samples shall be approved before production release.
03
UHPC / GFRC façade — generic clause
Provide project-specific UHPC / GFRC architectural façade elements to the approved geometry, texture and colour intent. Final material specification, reinforcement, panel thickness, weights, lifting points, anchors, support structure, joints, tolerances, water management, structural / seismic performance and test evidence shall be confirmed for the selected system and destination before manufacture.
04
Samples and mock-up — generic clause
Submit representative finish / material samples for approval before production. Where required by the project documentation, provide a physical mock-up or prototype sufficient to review panel appearance, joint intent, corner / interface conditions and buildability. Sample or mock-up approval does not replace project engineering, statutory review or final production drawing approval.
Important: these are generic project-intent clauses, not certified specifications. Final structural, fire, moisture, thermal, seismic, coating and local-code requirements remain the responsibility of the appointed project professionals and selected verified system.
06 · Application pathways
Specification changes with the building type.
Each application page frames the system choices and early coordination issues without turning representative imagery into an Apollo completed-project claim.
Transport architectureAirports & TransportLarge, highly visible envelopes where repeatability, durability, ventilation, solar control and coordinated maintenance access matter.
Open application
Hospitality architectureHotels & ResortsGuest-facing façades where privacy, shade, material character and premium detailing need to work with coastal or high-exposure conditions.
Open application
Schools · universities · learningEducation & CampusRobust façade and screening systems for learning environments, campuses and shared public spaces with strong daylight and lifecycle requirements.
Open application
Public architectureCivic & CulturalHigh-identity public buildings where sculptural form, material depth, long-life detailing and strong civic presence are central to the brief.
Open application
Retail · mixed-use · precinctsRetail & Mixed UseLayered façades, screens and feature zones that help manage identity, services, shade, tenancy variation and pedestrian-scale experience.
Open application
Workplace architectureCommercial OfficesPrecise architectural envelopes for offices and headquarters where clean panel geometry, solar response and repeatable detailing drive the result.
Open application
Arenas · aquatic · community facilitiesSports & RecreationVentilated, durable and high-impact architectural skins for large-span recreation and sporting buildings with demanding public use.
Open application
Residential · multi-residentialPremium ResidentialRefined cladding and screening for premium homes and multi-residential projects where privacy, material junctions and close-range detailing matter.
Open applicationReady for project review?
Turn the specification intent into an RFQ.
Build the façade brief first, then upload the current plans, elevations, sections or BIM/CAD files.