Choosing the wrong façade system can blow up timelines, balloon costs, and compromise long-term performance. This guide breaks down the major façade families and where each one shines.
Unitized Glass Façade
Pre-assembled at the factory as modular panels with glass already glazed, then craned and clipped onto the building. Best for tall buildings (10+ floors) where on-site labour is risky and timelines are tight. The biggest advantage is precision: every panel is fabricated in controlled factory conditions, so weather seals and waterproofing are reliable. Tolerances are tight, lead times are longer, but installation on site can be dramatically faster — often 200–400 m² per day.
Semi-Unitized Façade
The frames go up on site, then glass panels are installed afterwards. Lower factory tooling cost makes this attractive for mid-rise projects (3–10 floors) and irregular geometries where panelisation isn't economical. The trade-off is slower on-site progress and more dependence on site quality control.
Spider Glazing
Glass panes held in place by point-fixings (the "spider") with no continuous frame. Visually striking — used for storefronts, atriums, canopies, and double-height entrances where the architect wants the glass itself to do the talking. Requires structurally laminated glass and meticulous engineering of the spiders and back-up structure. Expensive, but unbeatable for that signature look.
Curtain Wall (Stick System)
The classic on-site assembly: mullions and transoms go up first, glass and panels are installed after. Most economical for small to medium projects with flexible timelines. Quality depends heavily on the installer.
Ventilated Façade Cladding
Not a curtain wall in the traditional sense — these are rainscreen systems with an air cavity behind the cladding (terracotta, ACP, metal, or stone). The air gap drains rainwater, improves thermal performance, and protects the building envelope. Combined with insulation, these dramatically improve energy efficiency and acoustic performance.
Picking the right one — the quick decision tree
- Tall, repetitive, time-sensitive → Unitized.
- Mid-rise, irregular geometry → Semi-unitized or stick.
- Statement entrance / atrium → Spider glazing.
- Long-term energy savings priority → Ventilated façade with insulation.
- Tight budget, small scope → Stick-built curtain wall.
At Hatchway, we manufacture all five families in our own facility — which means we can specify, prototype, and value-engineer your façade against the actual constraints of your project, not against a sales catalogue.
