Double-skin facade

Apart from the type of the ventilation inside the cavity, the origin and destination of the air can differ depending mostly on climatic conditions, the use, the location, the occupational hours of the building and the HVAC strategy.

The essential concept of the double-skin facade was first explored and tested by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in the early 20th century.

His idea, which he called mur neutralisant (neutralizing wall), involved the insertion of heating/cooling pipes between large layers of glass.

Such a system was employed in his Villa Schwob (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, 1916), and proposed for several other projects, including the League of Nations competition (1927), Centrosoyuz building (Moscow, 1928–33), and Cité du Refuge (Paris, 1930).

Examples of notable buildings which utilise a double-skin facade are 30 St Mary Axe (also known as The Gherkin) and 1 Angel Square.

A Waagner-Biro double-skin facade being assembled at One Angel Square , Manchester . The brown outer facade can be seen being assembled to the inner white facade via struts. These struts create a walkway between both 'skins' for ventilation, solar shading and maintenance.
The Gherkin in London. Windows open on the outer skin to allow air to enter the cavity between the inner and outer skin.
One Angel Square in Manchester. The use of a double skin is evident in construction.