Page 93 - Between light and shade

Shade

need for drip deflectors, in the form of overhan-
ging sills, bevelled cladding, standing seams or
profiled weatherboarding.

However, from the 1950s onwards, we
witnessed the appearance of flexible and water-
tight sealants (in plastic, such as PVC and acrylic,
in elastomers, such as polyurethane, polyester,
polysulphide and silicone, the most widely used
product today). This silicone sealant sticks to the
elements it connects, and permits the creation
of any smooth monolithic shape, thereby “libe-
rating” architecture from the “constraints” of
weatherboarding.

However, this “liberation” is purely visible
as it is accompanied by the heavy constraint of
upkeep and maintenance. In effect, the surface of
a facade made from uniform and coplanar panels
is subject to soiling and damage, which is more
visible the larger, smoother and more reflective
it is. As everything is more visible, dust, rain
streaks, or even silicone marks, there is a need
for more cleaning… 4

What is more, produced by a “heavy” industry,
which is rarely able to guarantee resupply in the
medium or long term, this kind of structure is
fragile, or even transient. Admittedly, cottage
industries, which have recently emerged thanks

4 Paint on a continuous base does not display this weakness
provided that, where it is outside, it is adequately protected
from rain, which still involves the shadow line.
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