What is the purpose of the building envelope?

The purpose of the building envelope is primarily to protect the building from external elements. This includes safeguarding against various weather conditions such as rain, snow, wind, and extreme temperatures. The building envelope encompasses all the external barriers of the building, including walls, roofs, windows, and doors, designed to prevent moisture infiltration, air leakage, and heat loss, thereby maintaining the internal environment's integrity. Ensuring a robust and effective building envelope is crucial for energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and the overall longevity of the structure.

While enhancing aesthetic appearance and facilitating air circulation are important aspects of building design, they do not define the primary function of the building envelope. Similarly, managing internal resources relates to the building's operations rather than its physical protection from outside factors.