Curtain Wall

Non-structural exterior skin.

Overview

Curtain walls, using glass and metal, form lightweight, non-load-bearing facades in modern buildings globally.

Core Characteristics

• Glass and aluminum panels.
• Non-structural, weatherproof.
• Modern aesthetic.

Notable Examples

• Seagram Building (USA, 1958).
• Burj Khalifa (UAE, 2010).

Architectural Connections

• Modern: 20th–21st century.
• Commercial, Civic: Skyscrapers, offices.
• Modernism: Core movement.

Influence and Legacy

Defines modern skyscraper aesthetics.

Related Concepts & Techniques

Panel Construction (technique), Transparency (theory), Facade (element), Modernism (movement)

Directory

Elements Registry, Architecture Hub, History