Facade choices make or mar buildings. The right facade can instantly change a building’s entire appearance, form, and function and make it blend or stand out impressively. Facades can also make a building green – many architects are opting for eco-friendly perforated metal facades to help boost environmental ratings for their projects.

Arrow Metal presents a short guide on important design considerations for perforated metal facades. The guide also explains why perforated metal is superior to other types of facades when it comes to creativity, architectural expression, and visual impact.

Advantages of a perforated metal facade

Perforated metal facade systems offer considerable benefits for modern architecture projects, including:

Perforated metal is one of the greenest materials around when project sustainability is an important consideration. Not only is it recyclable, a perforated metal facade can also help to reduce a building’s energy costs. Through clever perforation specification, a perforated metal facade allows precise control of light and airflow, whilst also deflecting heat and solar radiation.

Perforated metal is a sound solution to noise issues. Used together with acoustic materials, a perforated metal facade can reflect, absorb, or scatter nuisance indoor and outdoor noise depending on the specification. Many architects also use a perforated metal facade to attractively ventilate and hide building service machinery.

No other type of facade offers the level of customisation that perforated metal does. Architects can make a building truly unique without compromising on function and performance. There are endless patterns and CAD-drawn customisation options to suit every budget and project schedule.

Many residential apartments and office blocks have a perforated metal facade because it offers privacy without compromising views, light flow, and ventilation. Choose a closely spaced profile for a sheer veiled effect or opt for a geometric or nature-inspired pattern for interior light play.

Choosing the pattern and metal: What to consider

Now that you know the suitability of a perforated metal facade for your project, the next questions are which pattern, and what metal? These are some of the key factors to bear in mind:

Talk to your perforated metal manufacturer about your facade requirements – they will be able to advise you on the best metals and patterns to suit your needs and budget.

From custom, unique CAD-drawn designs to bold geometrics in a range of base metals, with perforated metal you have almost limitless design scope for a facade:

The most popular metal for facades is aluminium.

All patterns can be customised so that the pitch and open area percentage – the amount of open area or ‘holes’ in the panel – meet exact project requirements.

A finish is the final process, which alters the surface of the facade panels to create varied looks, brightness, colours, and textures. Some finishes can also help improve durability and resistance to corrosion and wear.

How is the facade installed? For seamless and easy fitting, panels typically come with hidden numbers or indicators, which show the order and positioning. This is particularly useful for intricate designs and panels that make up a composite image, logo, or words.

Arrow Metal: Perforated metal facade expertise

Arrow Metal perforated metal facade panels have been used for major architectural projects throughout Australia, including luxury residential schemes and cutting-edge, award-winning green buildings. We have considerable expertise in custom facade solutions – contact our expert team for expert advice on metal materials, design options, bespoke facade creation and more.

Main image: Perforated metal panels by Arrow Metal at University of Newcastle

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