Facade & Windows

The German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) has granted Sunovation’s frameless PV façade element a general building authority approval, known as an abZ. The decision clears the way for much faster, permit-free BIPV façades in ventilated rainscreen (VHF) systems throughout Germany.

After being acquired by Forterro, Orgadata is taking the final step: the traditional name will disappear entirely from the market. From now on, all digital solutions for windows, doors, and façades will operate under the Forterro brand.

Bavarian facade builder Gartner is currently installing a walkable glass cross on top of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Gartner's fitters have now attached the first horizontal arm.

The RGNT is a striking mixed-use building in the centre of Stockholm. The curved glass facade units are made by Finiglas, using coated Saint-Gobain glass. The building envelope combines transparency, complex geometry and ambitious sustainability goals.

Recognised with the German Design Award 2026, the PR60 glass roof with PV integration blends transparency with solar output. Ventilation, smoke extraction and insulation are integrated into a single system, making it suitable for complex modernisations and ambitious sustainability targets.

The supporting programme of Fensterbau Frontale 2026 will allow trade fair visitors to delve deep into the topics that are driving the industry – from sustainable building concepts and digital solutions to new business models. Here is what you need to know.

For over 40 years, Aliplast has been synonymous with innovative aluminium systems and well-designed solutions for facades, doors and conservatories. In this interview, Managing Director Xavier Van Sebroeck explains how the company is developing, what role sustainability plays and why the company's headquarters in Lokeren, Belgium are the key to its success.

The renovation of the listed Lavater school complex in Zurich shows how historical heritage and modern glass technology can be combined. High-performance insulating glass with a spacer from Swisspacer Ultimate was used in the renovated windows, creating added value in terms of monument protection.

The entire headquarters of the insurance company Helvetia in Basel, Switzerland is being reorganised. At the heart is a new office tower, which is an identical copy of an existing building from the 1950s. Special facade profiles based on existing Schüco models were used for the facades of both tower blocks, as well as for the connecting auditorium. Here are the details.

With GEWE Enthermal, Schollglas now offers vacuum insulating glass that achieves a thermal insulation performance of 0.3 W/m²K with a total thickness of 8 mm. According to Schollglas, this provides insulation comparable to a 10 cm thick brick wall – with significantly less material thickness.

AGC Glass Europe's Clearsight anti-reflective glass reflects less than one percent of daylight thanks to a special coating. The glass is virtually invisible, providing excellent visibility without annoying reflections. More than 14,000 m² of Clearsight has been used in the observation deck of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper in New York (USA), as well as in the glass floor of the fully glazed exterior elevator.

The Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona now boasts the world’s tallest church tower at 162.91 metres, after Gartner’s installation team mounted a 7.25-metre-tall component for the glass cross. This 17-metre-high structure, made of glass, steel, and ultra-high-performance concrete, features four arms spanning around 13.5 metres. Here are the details.

From 19 September to 17 October of this year, the European Commission gathered stakeholders’ feedback on the next steps of the New European Bauhaus. Announced in 2020, this is a transdisciplinary initiative which aims at supporting several of the European Commission’s political priorities.

The system manufacturer from Bielefeld was honored with the German Sustainability Award 2026 in the “Construction Industry Companies” category. The jury recognized the company's commitment to climate protection, resource conservation, and the circular economy in the construction industry.

Fensterbau Frontale will have a completely new look for its 2026 edition: “The trade fair. Windows. Doors. Facades” will become “Framing what's next.” What's behind this change? Answers can be found in an interview with the trade fair management and marketing team.

The 90 m high Grünblick residential tower in Vienna is a technically sophisticated project with an ingenious facade and customized glass railings and sliding systems from Glas Marte. Here are the details.

With their new office building in the German town of Donauwörth, Obel Architekten have created an ultra-modern working environment that also serves as an innovative living laboratory. Behind the striking louvre-blade facade, state-of-the-art ventilation technology from Schüco is installed. The systems are being tested and evaluated during operation. This project exemplifies how design, comfort and technical innovation can be combined convincingly. Here are the details.

When windows and doors are tested in accordance with the applicable standards, enormous forces act on the building components. The pressures generated during air permeability testing are high. The alternation between pressure and suction would be uncomfortably noticeable for people. See more on how Schösser und Beschläge Velbert in Germany are handling this.

With its curved shape, The Henderson is a new architectural landmark in Hong Kong. Glas Trösch supplied special glass. Here are the details.

The goal of the new Magura Bosch Parts & Services (MBPS) building in Nürtingen was to combine administration, service, and logistics under one roof. The two-story building complex sets high standards for sustainability across approximately 9,000 square meters. In addition to a flat roof used to generate solar power, skylights from Velux Commercial also make an important contribution.