In recent years, there has been a major shift in architectural design towards a more modern, contemporary aesthetic. Clean lines, dynamic shapes, and visually striking facades have become hallmarks of this style. And leading the way in creating these bold architectural statements? Contemporary exterior claddings.
As the outer skin of a building, exterior cladding plays a major role in the overall visual impact. By utilizing modern cladding materials and unconventional forms, architects can transform structures from modest to dramatic. The result is eye-catching curb appeal and a unique architectural identity.
Key Benefits of Contemporary Exterior Claddings
What makes contemporary claddings so suited to bold, modern designs? There are several key advantages that these cutting-edge facade treatments offer:
- Visually Striking Curb Appeal: Contemporary claddings enable textures, patterns, and shapes that capture attention and convey modernism.
- Distinctive Design Statement: Stand out from traditional buildings with abstract shapes and asymmetric designs that display an edgy, avant-garde style.
- Material and Form Experimentation: Innovative composites, metals, and other claddings open up creative possibilities for architects to reach new heights of expression.
- Customization and Flexibility: Manufacturing advancements allow for tailored contemporary cladding solutions, customized to a building’s unique vision.
By leveraging these benefits, exterior claddings can transform structures from ordinary to extraordinary exemplars of modern architecture.
Popular Materials for Contemporary Claddings
The materials selected for exterior cladding have a major impact on the aesthetics and design options. Here are some top contemporary cladding materials making a splash:
Perforated and Textured Metal Claddings
Metals like zinc, copper, and stainless steel offer the sleek, reflective properties that exemplify modern architecture. Tools and techniques like perforation, pressing, folding, and etching allow metals to become even more eye-catching. Customized perforated patterns enable lighting elements to shine through metal facades with artistic effect. Deep pressing and etching create bold shadow effects. Folded and angled metal can shape buildings into sweeping contemporary forms.
Fiber Cement Claddings
As more durable and resilient alternatives to wood, fiber cement claddings have extensive design flexibility. Panels can emulate the rich texture of wood while resisting weathering. Planks can shape dramatic contemporary forms with bold colors and angular designs. Rainscreen systems with integrated insulation and air chambers provide functionality as well. Factors like size, thickness, finish, texture, and accessory integration allow for virtually endless customization.
Composite Materials
Composite claddings combine substrates like aluminum, magnesium oxide, and cement for new material properties. The result: lightweight and easily formed facades that maintain the sleek look of metal with impact resilience similar to masonry. These panels can replicate finishes from metallic to wood to stone textures. With few limits on shaping, folding, and angling, composite claddings are ideal for the sweeping curves, cantilevers, and odd angles that make contemporary architecture stand out.
Key Contemporary Cladding Styles
From sleek and futuristic, to fragmented and asymmetric, contemporary exterior claddings enable all kinds of bold architectural statements. Here are some of the most impactful modern styles:
Futuristic and Space-Age Designs
Gleaming metallic claddings, cantilevered angles, and sweeping futuristic shapes evoke speed, advanced technology, and a progressive architectural vision. This eye-catching style provides the allure of living in the architecture of tomorrow.
Fragmented and Deconstructed Styles
Fragmented cladding arrangements with irregular orientations, overlapping planes, and uneven protruding shapes add a provocative dynamism through destabilizing common structure. The visual effect is a deconstructed, almost glitchy architectural style that ruptures expectations.
Biophilic and Naturalist Styles
While many envision contemporary architecture as cold and sterile, warm naturalist styles are also emerging. Tactile wood claddings, planted living walls, and organic forms better connect structures to their environments. The contrast of natural claddings and manmade materials makes for globally conscious contemporary architecture.
| Contemporary Cladding Style | Key Features |
| Futuristic and Space-Age | Gleaming metals, sweeping curves, aerodynamic angles |
| Fragmented and Deconstructed | Asymmetric patterns, irregular shapes, overlapping planes |
| Biophilic and Naturalist | Warm natural textures, organic forms, living walls |
Whether sleek or organic, angular or curving, the versatility of contemporary exterior cladding styles opens up endless possibilities for architects to explore new visually impactful frontiers in built environments.
Design Considerations
While contemporary claddings present exciting opportunities, effectively integrating them requires some careful planning. Below are some key design factors:
Structural Analysis
Unconventional shapes and asymmetry may have structural impacts that require engineering adjustments. Advanced analysis ensures unusual geometries withstand wind, seismic, and gravity loads.
Material Performance
From standing up to weathering to accommodating movement, claddings require rigorous testing procedures. Standards for wind pressure, water infiltration, corrosion resistance, and thermal cycling ensure safety and longevity.
Integration Complexity
Three-dimensional forms mean more variation across facades. Connection points, window and door spacing, and detailing around corners grows more complex. Careful attention to transitions prevents water and air infiltration.
Visual Cohesion
Contemporary architecture risks visual chaos without cohesive elements. Repeating patterns, geometric relationships, scaling ratios, and other organizing principles unify striking forms into a harmonious vision.
With thoughtful solutions to these challenges, functionality and design excellence can advance hand-in-hand.
Complementary Architectural Features
To enhance bold exterior cladding statements, complementary building elements should align with the modern aesthetics. Here are some impactful supporting players:
Illuminated Accents
LED strips and floodlights heighten the drama of angular or multifaceted exteriors. Glowing materials make sweeping futuristic shapes look like spaceships ready for flight. Programmable color changes keep facades fresh and vibrant at night.
Framing Landscaping
Plants, screens, sculptures, and water features strategically frame and offset contemporary claddings. Natural elements ground edgy materials with organic context.
Transition Zones
Shift aesthetics gradually with screening and siding elements between cladding types. Abrupt transitions between highly contrasting textures or colors visually clash.
Coordinated Entryways
Doorways, canopies, and signage should complement bold facades. Custom metalwork, contemporary lighting, and similar colors/textures amplify exterior statements.
Exterior cladding holds great potential for delivering eye-catching contemporary architectural statements. With the variety of modern materials and fabrication methods now possible, dramatic visual impacts push creative boundaries ever further. Paired with thoughtful design integration and complementary accents, contemporary claddings take buildings beyond modest shells to become bold cultural symbols representing the innovative spirit of the times.
The days of boxy buildings with mundane, function-only exteriors are over. Contemporary claddings make no excuses for captivating aesthetics taking precedence. Buildings become visually arresting works of art. Thoughtful materiality and daring forms promise fascinating skylines to come. Contemporary claddings usher in an exciting new era where every architectural facade conveys an elevated message – one of creativity, innovation, and the endless possibility of built form.
