DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Form vs function: The fight for façades
With sustainability and energy efficiency, not to mention decarbonisation, increasingly taking priority during building design, MEP engineers and architects are coming into conflict as part of an ever-changing air quality landscape. Nowhere is this better highlighted than in the increasing need for louvres to be designed and incorporated into buildings, especially in applications where plant equipment requires effective air intake or exhaust. Alexandra Davis, mechanical associate at Whitecode Consulting, assesses the importance of balancing aesthetics and ventilation, and highlights how mechanical and electrical (M&E) design should be incorporated into decision-making.
A building with piers either side of the windows to create shading can be preferable to flat glazed façades.
At first glance, our latest project looked like it had plenty of space – especially with a large, open, naturally ventilated basement. That would make it perfect for air source heat pumps, right? However, upon closer inspection, that ‘airy’ space
wasn’t just for the heat pumps; it had to accommodate ventilation for the underground car park, electrical
substations, a standby generator, a spa and pool, gym facilities, and multiple plant rooms. Each one comes with its own airflow demands, and they’re all competing for the same free area. What looked like abundant ventilation quickly turned into a game of Tetris, attempting to fit oversized ductwork, louvres, and exhaust routes into a limited envelope – and the implications spill far beyond the basement.
The façade often pays the price Many across the built environment don’t realise how much pressure additional mechanical and electrical (M&E) demands put on the building façade. For instance, more ventilation requires more louvres. However, façade space is finite, especially when planning permissions demand large glazed areas or impose strict acoustic and aesthetic conditions. Additionally, more plant equipment means more noise. This can often trigger acoustic requirements, increasing the need to design ventilation openings with attenuators, oversized plenum zones, or acoustic ventilation panels. There is also the consideration of ductwork, with any increase meaning more coordination challenges. Larger ducts need more space within floor zones, and when vertical risers reach façade levels, they create serious clashes with window positions, curtain walling, or brick detailing. Finally, more cooling equals larger air source heat pumps. In turn, this means larger heat rejection requirements. Another key issue is that plant is often being pushed out of view. Put simply, architects, planners, and clients don’t want to see bulky kit on rooftops. Instead,
An example of how big the plant is getting and the many services cluttering the roof top.
28 Health Estate Journal March 2026
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