curtain wall
Non-structural building envelope
A curtain wall is an exterior building wall that carries no structural load—it hangs from the frame like a curtain rather than supporting the floors above.
Modern skyscrapers typically have curtain walls of glass and metal panels: The tower's glass curtain wall reflects the city skyline.
In fortification, a curtain wall is the stretch of defensive wall between two towers.
Vertical window bar
- spandrelSpace flanking arch curves
- glazingGlossy protective coating
- fenestrationPlacement of openings
- claddingOuter protective layer
unitized · structural · envelope · thermal · acoustical · sealant · waterproofing · prefabrication
Fortified defensive wall
- parapetLow wall at edge
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
castle · bastion · bulwark · enceinte · gatehouse · tower · siege · stone
Influential modernist design school
- International StyleFunctionalist architecture movement, 1920s
- functionalismTheory emphasizing purposes and roles
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
- glass boxTransparent rigid container
Gropius · open plan · transparency · grid · postwar · corporate
Two-layered window glass
- laminatedBonded between protective layers
- temperedStrengthened through heat treatment
- tintedGiven subtle coloration
- reflectiveCasting back light
insulated · fritted · coated · safety glass
Multistory tall building
- towerTall slender edifice
- skylineUrban profile against atmosphere
- facadeDeceptive outward appearance
- office towerTall commercial building
podium · setback · atrium · lobby · core · wind load · sway · maintenance
Heat flow rate measure
- R-valueInsulation effectiveness measure
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
- energy efficiencyMinimizing wasted power
LEED · sustainability · daylighting · acoustic · weather resistance · fire rating · durability · maintenance
mullion
Vertical window bar
- spandrelSpace flanking arch curves
- glazingGlossy protective coating
- fenestrationPlacement of openings
cladding · unitized · structural · envelope · thermal · acoustical · sealant · waterproofing · prefabrication · gasket
rampart
Fortified defensive wall
- parapetLow wall at edge
- battlementToothed fortress wall crown
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
medieval · castle · bastion · bulwark · enceinte · gatehouse · tower · siege · stone · masonry
Bauhaus
Influential modernist design school
- International StyleFunctionalist architecture movement, 1920s
- functionalismTheory emphasizing purposes and roles
- minimalismAesthetic of reduction
glass box · Gropius · open plan · transparency · grid · postwar · corporate
double-glazing
Two-layered window glass
- laminatedBonded between protective layers
- temperedStrengthened through heat treatment
- tintedGiven subtle coloration
reflective · insulated · fritted · coated · safety glass
high-rise
Multistory tall building
office tower · podium · setback · atrium · lobby · core · wind load · sway · maintenance · window washing
U-value
Heat flow rate measure
- R-valueInsulation effectiveness measure
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
energy efficiency · LEED · sustainability · daylighting · acoustic · weather resistance · fire rating · durability · maintenance · lifecycle
- architectureEiffel Tower, buildings, architects, design, thatching
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- barriersfences, fence, barrier, gates, privacy fence
- castlekeep, moat, drawbridge, battlements, dungeon
- castle historymoat, drawbridge, keep, tower, battlements
- castle partsmoat, keep, drawbridge, battlement, tower
wall, curtain, walls, walled, curtained, walling, curtaining, uncurtained, curtain walls