A facade in architecture refers to the exterior wall or face of a building, and it usually involves design elements like deliberate placement of windows or doors. The term "facade" comes from the French word "façade," which means "frontage" or "face". The facade of a building is often the most important aspect from a design standpoint, as it sets the tone for the rest of the building. From an engineering perspective, the facade is also of great importance due to its impact on energy efficiency.

Below are some characteristics and types of facades used in architecture:

• Lightweight facade: This type of facade provides less heat and sound insulation, and it has higher maintenance costs in the medium and long term. It is mainly installed in medium and high-rise office buildings.

• Curtain wall: This type of facade is a cladding system in which the exterior walls are non-structural. They are usually associated with large multi-story buildings and tend to be made up of construction materials of considerable weight.

• Prefabricated: This type of facade is formed mainly from prefabricated elements, which are assembled on-site.

• Metal facade: Metal facades are one of the most important factors in the modern appearance of buildings. They provide long-lasting protection for the building and do not require maintenance at short intervals. Metal facades are a system that can be mounted conveniently with other facade systems such as glass.

The facade not only acts as a barrier between the inside and outside but also has a distinct identity of its own and sits perfectly in a given context. It has a crucial functionality role in light transmittance, acoustics performance, and energy efficiency. The design of a facade is similar to that of clothing where one dresses according to context.