The exterior of a building does much more than shelter the interior from the elements. The exterior can guide the overall aesthetic but also serve as a functional element to guard stairwells and patios and even impact the interior by filtering sunlight and creating art. These are just some of the reasons why metal screen facade ideas have become popular in modern architecture.
What Are Metal Screen Facades?
Metal screen facades are lightweight architectural design elements made of a perforated or patterned metal panel system used to improve the aesthetics of a building, control sunlight, and increase privacy. However, the screen also acts as a protective barrier against weather.
Let’s take a look at ways to incorporate metal screen facade ideas into a building design.
Metal Screen Facade Ideas for Modern Buildings
Here are 7 metal screen facade designs to use to improve the value of modern architecture and building functionality.
1. Create an Exterior Enclosure
The Sterling Park Safety Center uses the FOLDTM Metal Panel Railing System to create an enclosure around an exterior staircase. Seen here from the inside, the detailed perforations create a sense of motion as it protects the stairs from the elements.
Seen here from the outside, this perforated screen facade architecture creates a unique aesthetic and adds a dynamic element to the exterior of the building.
2. Use to Separate Spaces
In this application at the Sterling Park Safety Center, the metal screen is used to create separation between a utility area and the sidewalk. It helps to designate spaces in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and ties in with the larger design while being used as a functional element.
On a larger scale, these metal screen facade panels are integrated into a larger design that designates walking areas from biking areas, creating separation and safety.
3. Include for Added Safety
Used as a railing at the TCC Southeast Campus, this perforated metal system provides fascia mounted support for those using the stairs. To create a fully functional system, we combined our STRUCTM Metal Panel Railing System with our FSRTM Free Standing Rail System to provide the necessary guardrail protection on the outer edge of the stair and necessary handrail provisions on the stairs themselves.
4. Use as a Sunscreen
Sun control on a building that includes a lot of glass can be a challenge, but our MetalSpaces systems can provide sun protection without compromising aesthetics. At Braintree South Middle School, the varied perforations allow sun to filter into the interior of the building without being blinding. This system also offers added aesthetic benefits — as the sun moves, the patterns change, creating an ever-changing sun scape.
A close-up view of the perforations reveals the different shapes and sizes that create the overall look.
5. Customize the System
We offer a wide variety of perforated patterns and powder coating colors, but we can also create customized designs.
The sun control system at FUSD Hopkins Jr. High School features sun shades powder coated to match the school’s colors that help reduce the glare of the sun on the inside of the building.
The innovation of our systems is displayed at the Anne Arundel County Severn Intergenerational Building. The exterior gathering area features our MetalSpaces line on the canopy-style system with customized perforated hand silhouettes and a powder coating that fits the colors in the overall design.
6. Incorporate Metal Panels Inside
Metal panels can work wonders to enhance the building’s exterior, but they can also be used inside to enhance the interior. Perforated metal panels can be installed on ceilings to enhance the acoustics and define spaces as well as conceal unsightly ceiling elements.
7. Use Metal Screen Facades for Interior Art
FotoFacade systems also enhance the interior space with custom designs and images whether abstract as seen above or more photorealistic as seen below.
Use Viva Railings for Metal Screen Designs
At Viva Railings, our MetalSpaces line offers a number of different metal screen facades designs, colors, and styles. The Wall Systems are decorative laser-cut wall panels that double as a functional element as they offer noise reduction and privacy benefits. Our FotoFacade systems use halftone dot patterns to recreate images from photos or graphics to fully customize your space. We use stainless steel, steel, or aluminum, so you can choose the material that will work best for your particular application.
Choose MetalSpaces to Meet Design and Safety Needs
VIVA Railings provides prefabricated and custom metal screen facade solutions with our MetalSpaces systems. You can choose from a wide selection of perforation patterns or create a custom design. To use them to their full potential, you can integrate them into the building’s facade and stairways, around the windows as sun shades, as a way to create separation or privacy, and into the aesthetic design with images.
Contact the experts at VIVA today to see how MetalSpaces can complete your design.
