Technologies of façade systems. Studies for the proposal of a new support system for timber claddings

The essay outlines the initial results of a research project developed within the DPIA (Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture) of the University of Udine and ICEA (Department of Civil, Enviromental and Architectural Engineering) of the University of Padua. This research laid the foundations for the conception and subsequent experimentation of a new support system for façades timber finishes. Following a brief introduction highlighting the current potential and values of using wood in the context of contemporary construction, the newsystem for fixing timber elements is described. This includes a substructure that aligns double-framed configurations with vertical posts and horizontal beams into a single plane, using a single base element that can be customized in various dimensional ranges. This results in the formation of regular quadrilateral elements that can extend both horizontally and vertically, thanks to the variability offered by a telescopic movement. The lateral junction of multiple quadrilateral elements is achieved thanks to a cavity on the surface facing the cladding elements, near the corner joint between the two “arms” of a base element. The research is therefore ongoing and it is considering a possible redefinition of the base elements to allow the use of stainless steel open-section profiles, instead of aluminium as initially hypothesized. Laser cutting technologies are being considered for defining the necessary openings and holes.