THE RETROFIT OF 70'S OFFICE BUILDING'S CURTAIN WALLS

by Alessandro Cirillo

Considering the ambitious plan of London to become a zero-carbon city and that 75% of the existing building stock will be still in use in 2050 (London Environmental strategy,2017), particular attention must be paid on retrofit to reduce emissions and achieving this goal. Commercial buildings are responsible for almost 20% of the total emission in the UK, and façade technologies can help in reducing energy consumption and pollution (B. Ford, R. Schiano-Phan, ‘Double-Skin Facades: Improving Performance and Reducing Costs’,2005). They play a crucial role being one of the first building elements that need refurbishment (generally after 50 years from the construction), and the point of contact between outdoor and indoor.