Transmission By Hari Kunzru. "On the north side of the border is an outlet mall where, under redtiled roofs with fake adobe facades, piles of discount jeans.. (247)"

A facade is a covering used as a decoratiion of any side of a building facing a public way or space; The author uses this text to describe the environment to help the reader understand the character's point of view. The word can also be used to describe a false front, as in a secret headquarters using a storefront facade, or a conniving friend putting on a friendly facade before betraying you to another. Interestingly, there is also another use of the word, to describe a means of simplifying programs into more easily understood blocks, the easier to use for people who do not have as deep an understanding of the programs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facade

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05745c.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~huston2/dp/facade.html

http://mindprod.com/jgloss/facade.html

http://m-w.com/dictionary/facade**