Contemporary glass façade systems play a crucial role in shaping both the environmental performance and the architectural expression of buildings. This study presents a comparative analysis of selected façade solutions, including internal louvres, adaptive façades, louvre systems combined with glass, and façades incorporating printed graphics. This research is based on in situ measurements of light reduction, digital analysis of enamel coverage, and a multi-criteria evaluation of compositional and communicative aspects. The analysis covers twelve European public buildings and focuses on the relationship between daylight modulation, solar protection, and the visual articulation of façades. The results indicate that façade systems differ significantly in their ability to control light and shape architectural expression. Adaptive façades and louvre-based systems demonstrate high efficiency in daylight modulation, while façade graphics integrated with selective glazing offer a balanced performance, combining effective solar protection with high daylight transmittance. This study highlights the role of façade design as a multi-functional element that integrates environmental performance with compositional and communicative functions. The proposed comparative framework provides a useful tool for evaluating façade strategies in the early stages of architectural design. The findings suggest that façade graphics, when integrated with contemporary glazing systems, provide a balanced solution combining environmental performance with architectural and communicative functions.
Alina Lipowicz-Budzyńska (Wed,) studied this question.