The Ultimate Guide to the Uses of Architectural Glass

Glass is one of the most beautiful, brilliant, and eye-catching architectural materials. From traditional architectural mirror glass to glass flooring, there are many uses of glass in modern architecture. The use of glass in architecture provides an opportunity for natural and controlled lighting, depending on the design and placement of the glass itself. Understanding the uses of architectural glass in history and in modern design can help when constructing or remodeling a building of your own.

Glass is made with powerful heating tools and objects that help to meld natural materials together, forming glass sheets and pieces in the proper atmosphere and environment. Glass can also be made with the proper combination of natural materials, including silica, or sand. For most glass mixtures, 70% silica (sand), 18% sodium oxide, and 12% calcium carbonate (lime) can be used to create glass. It is also possible to use additions such as material including manganese dioxide in order to remove any potential colorings and impurities that may first appear while creating the glass.

If you are searching for innovative use of glass in architecture, you will find that you have virtually endless options, especially once you begin researching how architectural glass has been used and applied all throughout history. Using architectural glass is not only reserved for high-society art projects, as it is possible to implement a glass counter into any home space to fit your design preferences and personal style.

Other ways to consider utilizing architectural glass in your own home or personal space might include:

• Countertops: Installing a glass counter is possible in your home's kitchen or even in bathrooms you have for yourself and for guests.
  
• Flooring: Installing glass flooring is a bigger project to take on, but can result in uniquely lit and reflective floors that you have never seen or experienced before.
  
• Walls: If you are feeling extra creative, consider implementing an entire glass wall to draw attention to a particular room or space in your home.
  
• Mirrors: Customized architectural mirrors are also available to use as a focal point of a space or to help draw attention to the reflective nature of the mirror itself.
  
• Exterior designs: One of the most common uses of architectural glass includes building structures for the exterior of buildings, both residential homes, and commercial properties alike. Using architectural glass to complete the look and aesthetic of a property can go a long way in terms of curb appeal as well as the overall value of your home or place of business itself.
  
• Standalone art installations: For those who are actively engaged with the commercial art scene, building standalone art installations with the use of architectural glass is extremely popular. The use of glass can attract attention from miles away, and can provide a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere for all of those in its presence. Using architectural glass to build and erect standalone art installations is one of the most popular choices for those who are interested in making a statement as artists or even as architects themselves.
  

The use of glass is not solely to allow natural lighting into a covered and protected space. In fact, glass has many aesthetic advantages as well. Some of the most notable visual and practical benefits of using glass in architecture include:

• Flexibility and creative freedom: Glass can be blown and created into a vast number of shapes and with the use of many colors. Glass can also be pressed and drawn, providing plenty of options when it comes to creating the glass for a project itself.
• Transparent and translucent options: Architects and builders alike have the choice between translucent and transparent glass along with various colors to ensure that the project they are working on is completed in the manner they envision.
• Space: Using glass provides for plenty of space and additional room for building and managing the interior of a space. Glass is thin, sleek, and can fit in just about any structure when properly blown and created for a project on an individual basis.
• Smoothness: Fortunately, finished glass is not only extremely visually appealing but is also easier to clean due to the nature of its smooth surface area. Keeping glass clean is simple once it has been smoothed and primed for the space you intend to use it in.
  

Using glass for any type of architectural project provides plenty of advantages, including the ability to construct a building or structure that is as energy-efficient as possible. The use of glass as a filter for natural light can also protect individuals inside the space from receiving potentially harmful UV rays, as the glass helps to resist and deflect the rays themselves, preventing the glass from absorbing the harmful rays.



Glass, when properly blown, installed, and insulated, will also have a much smaller impact on the overall environment. Managing the climate and maintaining the climate inside of a space is possible with the right type of glass as well as glass that is designed to increase the energy efficiency of an indoor space. Glass is also affordable, as it is readily available in most countries around the world, and it also provides an aesthetic appeal that is not available with many light-creating.

Throughout history, there have been many buildings and structures erected with the use of architectural glass, colored as well as clear. Learning about applications of glass in architecture and famous glass house architecture that contributed to the way we work with and use glass today can help to spark inspiration for any architectural project.

The Crystal Palace

One of the most famous and well-known locations designed and constructed with the purpose of displaying how bright and brilliant glass can be was The Crystal Palace. Constructed in 1850, The Crystal Palace was a glass-lined building that was designed and developed by Joseph Paxton, who ironically is also responsible for cultivating the most popular banana eaten around the world today. The Crystal Palace was a whopping 992,000-square foot building that was lined with glass windows, from left to right as well as from ceiling to floor. The entire structure was built to work with glass, rather than adding in glass and windows later on during construction. The structure, because of how massive it was, was also built in record time, which is why it is still known as a famous glass structure in architectural history. Unfortunately, in 1936, The Crystal Palace caught on fire after an explosion took place in an isolated area of the building. Even with 89 fire trucks, the fire was unable to be tamed, and the entire palace was destroyed.

Learning about the use of glass in modern architecture is a great way to drum up inspiration and brainstorm new design and remodeling projects. From using glass as a centerpiece in a building to implementing glass structures that create the entire shape of a skyscraper, there are virtually endless uses and opportunities to work with glass when it comes to modern architecture today.

With more than 25 years of experience in the architectural glass industry, the TCG Glass team has the tools and the knowledge needed to design and create a one-of-a-kind glass product that will perfectly complement your architecture. From glass flooring to walkways and everything in between, TCG Glass has the architectural glass product for you. For more information or to get started designing the glass installation of your dreams, contact our team today!