Marble facade projects are one of the most challenging application areas where natural stone moves from the sheltered atmosphere of interior spaces and is exposed to all four seasons of the year. When an architect or building manager contacts us for a facade project, this is the first thing we talk about. In which climate zone, on which direction of the facade, at which floor height, with which connection system will it be applied. While supplying natural stone to facade projects of different scales for three generations, what we have learned is clear: in facades, material selection is a structural decision before being a visual preference.
Classic Marmara is the type we most frequently supply in facade projects. The vein structure of the Saraylar region adds depth to the building when read at the building scale. In office blocks, corporate building facades and cultural centers, the lively surface of Classic Marmara gives identity to the building. Pure White is preferred in residential facades looking for a simpler and more modern line, and in boutique hotel entrances. White Dolomite, on the other hand, comes up in projects where technical durability is a priority. The crystalline structure of Dolomite is tighter than that of calcite marble, and the water absorption rate is lower. This feature creates a decisive difference in regions where the freeze-thaw cycle is intense and on south facades with high UV load.
In facade panel supply, the choice of thickness forms the basis of the entire structural setup. Generally, 3 centimeters of thickness is the starting point of our standard facade applications. In high-rise buildings and in regions with high wind load calculations, we recommend 4 centimeters of thickness. Panel dimensions are planned according to the architectural grid drawing. Standard sizes such as 60x120, 80x80, 100x150 are preferred if they fit the project grid; if there is a special size requirement, cutting is done at our solution partner processing facilities exactly to the architect's drawing. The trend toward large formats is also observed in facades, but here the thickness and mechanical connection capacity become limiting factors. As the panel grows, the number of anchor points, thickness and panel weight are recalculated.
Connection detail is the technical heart of facade supply. We frequently encounter three systems. The mechanical anchor system is connected to the load-bearing substructure with stainless steel anchors that settle into the channel or hole opened from the back surface of the panel. This system is standard in high-rise buildings and large format panels. The adhesive system is based on fixing the panel to ready-made carrier cassettes with structural adhesive and is generally preferred in low-rise buildings and renovation projects. The hybrid system combines the safety of mechanical anchoring with the surface integrity of the adhesive system. Clarifying which system will be selected with the architect during the supply stage is critical for the channel opening work on the back of the panel to be planned from the outset.
