A non-structural exterior wall system that hangs from the building's frame like a curtain, typically made of glass and metal. It provides weather protection and natural light while allowing the structural frame to be independent of the facade.
The term emerged in the 1930s, literally describing how these walls 'hang' from the structure like curtains. The concept developed with steel-frame construction, where walls no longer needed to bear structural loads.
Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building perfected the curtain wall as architectural art - those floor-to-ceiling glass panels create the illusion that the building is wrapped in a shimmering bronze veil. This system freed architects from solid, punched-window facades and enabled the glass boxes that define our modern skylines.
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