Abstract
Innovation in construction is becoming pivotal worldwide as current social and environmental challenges request rapid and far-reaching measures. In this vibrant panorama, it becomes natural to question how the façade industry will contribute to shaping the future of the architecture, engineering and construction sector. This chapter presents a critical analysis of the façade sector through the ‘fil-rouge’ of innovation, by illustrating the main technological advancements in the field of facades to date, analyzing the main barriers to sectoral innovation and discussing new opportunities and research trajectories to rethink the facades of tomorrow. The discourse envisions main pathways to innovation across the domains of ‘product’ and ‘process’, driven by new sustainability paradigms and enabled by digital transformation. The chapter is a compelling introduction to the Rethinking Building Skins book, which sets the basis for a complete immersion into its structure, contents and spirit.