Can Fatjó Double-Skin Façade

Denvelops collaborated with the design firm MOS Studio to develop a customized architectural façade system for the renovation of an existing residential building.

Completed on December 20th, the project combined corporate design, engineering, and fast installation to transform the appearance of the building while minimizing disruption for residents.

This project marked the first collaboration in which the architectural concept was jointly developed by MOS Studio and the Denvelops Technical Office. The result demonstrated how design and engineering can work together to create highly customized façade solutions without compromising construction efficiency.

MOS Studio developed the visual concept of the façade in line with the client’s corporate identity, while the Denvelops Technical Office — formed by architects and engineers — designed the technical solution required for fabrication, installation, and construction approval.

From design to installation, all stages of the project were completed successfully, fulfilling the requirements of designers, engineers, installers, and the client.

A façade designed as a visual identity

MOS Studio explored different compositions, geometries, and color combinations to create a façade capable of expressing the client’s brand identity through architecture.

The final design featured custom aluminum tiles inspired by the shape of a horse’s head, produced in four different colors and arranged in a repeating pattern to generate a natural textured effect across the façade.

Thanks to the flexibility of the Denvelops Hybrid Static Textiles system, the transition from digital design to fabrication was carried out with high precision and without losing any detail from the original concept.

Engineering a “third-skin façade”

One of the main technical challenges was the condition of the existing wall.

The building façade consisted of a traditional double-layer terracotta wall: an inner structural brick layer supporting the building loads, and an outer protective layer designed to provide insulation and weather protection.

With the addition of the new architectural skin, the intervention effectively became a “third-skin façade”.

Between both existing wall layers there was a 10 cm cavity, interrupted only by small terracotta connection columns. These structural points became the only viable locations for the chemical anchors supporting the façade system.

In standard projects, the load-bearing and wind-resistance profiles are fixed approximately every meter. In this case, anchor distances reached up to 3 and 4 meters, requiring the development of reinforced structural profiles and an optimized wind-resistance system.

To reduce stress on the existing wall, additional wind-support lines were incorporated to distribute loads more efficiently across the façade.

Once again, the adaptability of the Denvelops Hybrid Static Textiles system made it possible to develop a custom technical solution for a highly specific construction context.

Fast and efficient installation

Although installation on an old terracotta wall required more precision than usual, the process remained safe, clean, and efficient.

The lightweight nature of the Denvelops façade system — approximately 15 kg/m² — reduced structural loads and simplified on-site operations. In addition, the anchoring system allows thermal expansion and movement caused by temperature variations.

The façade was manufactured in seven modules measuring 10.4 meters in length. For the first time, one module was produced with a width of 2.1 meters, allowing nearly 20 m² of façade to be installed in a single crane operation lasting only 15 minutes.

This larger modular format optimized transportation, reduced crane operations, and accelerated the installation process significantly.

Following Denvelops’ lean construction philosophy, the installation of the 115 m² façade generated almost no material waste.

Fast renovation without generic architecture

Renovating occupied residential buildings always presents challenges. Installation times, noise, and disruption for residents must be minimized while maintaining high architectural quality.

This project demonstrated that fast renovation does not need to rely on generic or repetitive solutions.

The Denvelops Hybrid Static Textiles system made it possible to combine speed, customization, and technical performance in a single façade solution, delivering a distinctive architectural identity with the efficiency required for contemporary renovation projects. 

A full installation video is also available, showcasing the speed of assembly, the lightweight nature of the system, and the overall efficiency of the construction solution developed by Denvelops.