DETAIL 12.2025: Transparency, Translucency

Facades that let in Light

We humans long for daylight, a view of greenery, and a sense of connection. Yet today, transparent building envelopes seem less in demand. Instead of granting views in and out, we create retreats. What forms of transparency remain desirable amid social uncertainty and urban densification? And do transparent or translucent envelopes still make sense when contemporary energy concepts are applied? Light, air, and sun are no longer universally welcome. The spaces behind the climate envelope must be protected from solar gains and heat loss. Limited opening ratios, smart building technology, and algorithm-driven facade design have become the norm. In such scenarios, people are treated as disruptive elements, better kept passive.

Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal show that another way is possible. Working with 51N4E in Brussels, Lacaton & Vassal recently extended a residential block in the Peterbos district using their familiar approach: adding new winter gardens. Transparent and translucent sliding panels alternate, while curtains provide shade or privacy when needed. The result is adaptable space that responds to changing conditions – yet always leaves the final decision to the human user. A drawn curtain can create a sense of withdrawal, but it can just as easily be opened again.