Samenvatting

To mark the 50th year of FAECF, the European Federation of the National Window and Curtain Walling Manufacturers ' Association, this paper looks back at the development of the façade with a focus on curtain walling and asks: "Is there anything new under the sun?" While on the face of it, the building skin has performed the same functions for the last 50 years and beyond, we show that it is the detailing and implementation of the builiding envelope, along with our ability to integrate energy efficiency, occupant comfort and sustainability, with the aid of computer modelling, modern manufacturing techniques and improvement materials, that sets the modern façade apart from those in the past. As we look to the next 50 years, we can only expect innovation to accelerate. We can anticipate greater control of the indoor environment and more intelligent structures: structures that can share data and sense and adapt to the external conditions and occupant requirements. We will also see an increased emphasis on the cirucular economy and the use of robotics for manufacture and installation, presenting opportunities and threats for our members.