Converging views: Stewardship & Façade engineering
Converging views - Stewardship and facade engineering
A conversation with two leading voices in architecture and facade
LuxembourgAt an event in March 2024, celebrating over 40 years of innovation at our Bascharage, Luxembourg plant, two leading voices in facade engineering, Søren Peter Kristensen, Chief Specialist at Ramboll Façade Engineering, and Steen Elsted Andersen, Head of Façade Design at Henning Larsen, shared with us their insights on the role of glass in sustainable building design.
Q - In your view, what does Stewardship mean within the facade sector?
Steen Elsted Andersen - There have been a lot of changes in facade design over the years. If we go back 8-10 years ago, our focus was primarily on the energy performance of buildings, which is still important. But now, sustainability has become a major priority. The industry is focused on reducing CO2 emissions in facades, and since glass makes up a large part of a facade’s environmental impact, it plays a significant role.
Søren Peter Kristensen - Sustainability means being mindful of the carbon footprint, the potential for reusing and disassembling materials, and ensuring a long lifespan for buildings. It’s about getting the design right from the start, and it also means considering the impact on the people who live and work in the building.
The lifespan of the facade is always top of mind. Sustainability isn’t just about glass production; it’s also about how we install it, whether it can be replaced or maintained, and ultimately ensuring that the building remains effective over time.
Steen Elsted Andersen - A big aspect of sustainability in facades is how materials are produced and sourced. Where do we get the materials? Are we sourcing them from other parts of the world, or can we use materials that are produced locally? In the future, reusing glass could become more common in architecture, and we’re already starting to see it. Glass can be remelted, but perhaps in the future, we’ll find ways to reuse glass without remelting it.
Q - What do you find most exciting yet challenging about working with glass in today’s facade design?
Søren Peter Kristensen - As a facade expert, acting as the interface between different disciplines is what really excites me because the design process begins with the facade. You can’t develop a strong building design without considering the properties of the glass—otherwise, you’re letting down the people inside.
What motivates me most is maximizing the facade's potential, both aesthetically and functionally. In northern regions, for example, bringing in more natural light during darker months is essential, and glass plays a critical role in making that happen.
Q - How do you see glass evolving?
Søren Peter Kristensen - While glass usage had been increasing in recent years, we’re now seeing a shift toward more selective and thoughtful use. Good daylight is something people prioritize today. Great glass creates great light, which results in a better environment and promotes well-being.
Steen Elsted Andersen - We want the design to allow people to see into the building—an important aspect of architecture—and to allow people inside to look out. The grass should be green, and the sky should be blue when it’s blue outside. It’s about capturing the natural colors from outside and bringing them into the space.
In Northern Europe, clarity in glass is crucial because we have less daylight. It’s about getting as much natural light as possible without excessive cooling requirements, striking the right balance between light transmittance and U-value. Facade engineering explores the latest advancements in glass technology and the demand for adaptable, efficient building materials that not only meet aesthetic goals but are also easy to maintain, reusable, and integrated with smart technologies.
About the Experts
Søren Peter Kristensen was Chief Specialist at Ramboll Façade Engineering at the time of the interview. He recently moved to Ingholt Consult as Facade Specialist & Head of Facades. He highlighted how sustainability, digitalization, and circular economy principles are reshaping the facade sector with a single goal: enhancing both building performance and occupant well-being.
Steen Elsted Andersen - Head of Façade Design, Henning Larsen, is involved in façade business for a little bit more than 25 years. He is specialized in the design of technically complex structures and facade solutions. He has designed a wide range of different facade solutions, in Denmark, such as the as the Opera in Copenhagen, as well as around the world. As we conversed, he brought a unique perspective on facade engineering, exploring the latest advancements in glass technology and the requirements from rules and regulations.