Monday 3 February 2014

DELIGHTFUL EXTERIORS TO BUILDING


Treating the facade of a built structure with accessories can beautify an ordinary exterior turning it into a visual delight. Cladding is one treatment that can transform a wall from just a vertical feature to something of character form and proportion in any home. Normally, the front part of a building receives treatment as it is the part visitors are greeted with. Where a building is situated in a large estate and is open to view from all sides elevation treatment can be given to the whole exterior.

Very often there are multiple uses for accents. For instance when a concrete or brick wall is covered with flamed or polished granite, the wall is protected by the hard stone, maintenance costs are reduced and it increases the elegance and splendor through the elevation. If it is desirable to decrease the feeling of expansiveness and hardness of this material one can have grooves and striations to divide the whole into smaller parts. There can be colored grouts or metal strips such as brass to produce an effect and to create a focus on framed areas. Differently colored granite will induce interest and lessen the dullness of a solitary material.

For an ethnic feel clay tiles can be used to clad walls with a theme running through the entire home. One can utilize translucent glass blocks to form a wall that is used at the entrance and leads into an enclosed, dimly-lit space giving privacy. Simple doors and windows are made into special openings through the treatment of fenestration. The shape and size of the frames and shutters, the security grills and the chajjas lends a visual decorative quality.

Though they are flat traditionally, when they are sloping they can change the architectural face into a traditional or Grecian one if decorated with a pediment and pilasters. An appealing extra is a window box for plants. The garden is elevated to eye level where it can be seen and gives an accent to the opening with lovely greens and flowers. The grills usually of cast iron or mild steel or aluminum can be very ornamental for traditional style or simple and smart for contemporary homes.

When the built form is dynamic through the alteration of profile heights or a varied mixture of solids and voids or through combining flats and slopes accents are possible.The illumination should create a play of shadows making the simple facade into a splendid one.

Pillars, patios, pergolas and water bodies can be distinct pieces or merged with the building. Design languages with foreign elements such as skylights, dormer windows and a faux fireplace can add drama. You can treat these particular items in a different way to give them an emphasis thus upgrading their effect. For impact use textured paints.

Ornamental eaves for sloped roofs, moldings and cornices along walls and ceilings, and creepers growing up stone walls are some ideas to add to the outer design plan. Mosaics and murals, exposed brick walls and artifacts can also be incorporated. Accents should be used moderately to add refinement.

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