As the exterior wall of a building, the facade provides the first impression. It protects the structure from weather conditions and plays a crucial role in a property’s energy efficiency. Unfortunately, building envelopes often meet structural requirements but settle for standard designs. However, the facade presents an opportunity to give buildings character and identity, transforming a mundane structure into an architectural gem. An aesthetically appealing facade design not only enhances property value but also raises the profile of the architect. Many architects are thus seeking new, design-oriented materials that offer maximum creative freedom.
James Hardie has expanded the range of its Hardie® Architectural Panel facade panels with the new Hardie® Architectural Panel Metallics, opening up new dimensions for architects and planners to create a distinctive look. The Metallics color series draws inspiration from metals like silver, gold, copper, steel, bronze, and cast iron. The elegant sheen of these hues adds a special touch to any building, allowing for visually impactful accents. The color effect is further enhanced by combining it with the natural fiber cement surface, which uniquely harmonizes with sunlight, making the facade glow.
Overall, architects planning with Hardie® Architectural Panel facade panels have access to an almost limitless variety of trendy colors. In addition to timeless standard colors like snow white, pebble gray, anthracite gray, mist gray, slate gray, and black, it’s possible to select custom colors based on individual preferences from various color systems such as RAL and NCS. Furthermore, two modern surface variants—‘brushed concrete’ and ‘textured plaster’—are available, allowing for boundless creativity. The finishing touches are provided by accessories that perfectly match the panel color.
The design advantages are complemented by substantial economic benefits: Easy-to-maintain, weather-resistant surfaces with lightfast finishes enable the realization of durable solutions in both multi-story residential construction and commercial projects. Additionally, low maintenance costs extend throughout the building’s lifespan. Hardie® Architectural Panel facade panels offer the highest fire protection (A2, s1-d0) and straightforward installation. These large-format facade panels (3048 mm x 1220 mm x 8 mm) made of resilient fiber cement are suitable for both new constructions and renovations. They can be installed as a ventilated facade on a wooden or aluminum substructure, with or without insulation.
Furthermore, Hardie® Architectural Panel facade panels are EPD certified, aligning with current sustainability requirements while delivering high-quality design and superior cost-effectiveness. This makes James Hardie’s facade panels suitable for installation in buildings certified under DGNB, BNB, BREEAM, and LEED building certification systems.