Glass in architecture has been used in façades and as a construction material for many years. The invention of steel and plate glass in the late nineteenth century made possible an imaginative leap – the transparent steel framed enclosure – which underpinned the development of architecture in the twentieth century. Glass perhaps, is the only material that has seen continuous technological advancement since its first use as a building material. This is evident from the vast range of glasses now available to clad the buildings depending on the usage and budget.
But why use of glass is beneficial as a structural element?
Since glass has the ability to absorb, refract or transmit light, it can be made transparent or translucent to add extraordinary beauty to the building and increase visual connectivity between the building and its surroundings.
Lightness of glass results in the reduction of the structural load. Its transparency allows maximum natural light, resulting in reduced consumption of electricity.
The correct choice of glass can help to reduce the capital outlay, running costs and associated carbon emissions of buildings.
and many more
The benefits of glass can be exploited only when right glass is selected. What are the various types of glass?
The skylines of Indian metros are dotted with highrise buildings clad in glimmering glass, spelling out affluence and style, but there’s much more to glass than just that.
Broadly, architectural glass can be classified into Annealed, Heat Strengthened, Toughened, Laminated, Coated, and Patterned. Each of these can be further classified into sub categories depending on more subtle variations and manufacturing patents.
By using the right glass, architects can improve the efficiency and safety of buildings. Inappropriate products such as poor quality glass or framing material that is used in some buildings, largely due to ignorance and cost, leads to safety concerns in the long run.
You must read this article to know architectural glass types as well as their characteristics in detail and also potential for future development of glass as a structural material. Click Here.
