D.Y.
PATIL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE LOHEGAON, PUNE
Professional elective
REPORT WRITING
architecture design
with glass
TRUPTI MANOJ WADHAI
ROLL NO- 20018
STUDIO -20
4th YEAR B.ARCH
The Evolution of Glass in Building Design
THE HISTORY OF GLASS IN ARCHITECTURE: A LOOK AT THE EVOLUTION OF GLASS AS
A BUILDING MATERIAL, FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE PRESENT DAY.
Glass has come a long way since the ancient Egyptians first started using
it for decoration and protection from external elements. Over the
centuries, glass has been used for windows, mirrors, skylights, and even
as a structural material in buildings. The evolution of glass in building
design is a fascinating story of innovation, creativity, and a quest for
beauty and functionality.
3500 s bc
Archaeological evidence shows that the first glasses made by man
arose in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia. They were small artifacts,
like amulets and pearls, made with clay molds.
1500 s bc
The first glass vessels appear, also in Egypt and Eastern
Mesopotamia.
650 s bc
In this period, the first manuals on the glass manufacturing
process appear.
100 s bc
Sirios invented the blow pipe, revolutionizing the glass
manufacturing process and making it easier, faster and cheaper.
After that, glass production prospered in the Roman Empire and
spread from Italy to all countries under its rule.
aD 100
The Romans began to use glass for architectural purposes, after
discovering techniques of production of flat and transparent
glass (through the introduction of manganese dioxide). The molten
glass windows, although poor in optical quality, began to appear in
the most important buildings in Rome and in the villages of
Herculaneum and Pompeii. At this time the Romans also invented
the mirror.
7 th cENTURY
Innovations continue to be developed in the Byzantine Empire.
Among them, a cheap technique of production of flat glass,
blown glass and furnace rotation, which results in a circular
glass plate, finer at the tips and thick in the center. The thickest
part was used to make cheaper windows, and the thinnest
ones were reserved for more expensive windows. This technique
was widely used until the 19th century.
8 th cENTURY
With the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the art of glass returns to
the West. Venice receives craftsmen fleeing from Constantinople
and becomes the great European glass-making center. Throughout
Europe, the art of making stained glass windows in churches and
cathedrals has spread. The manufacture of glass becomes a secret
matter, safeguarding its formulas, techniques and new discoveries.
16 th cENTURY
Despite the efforts of the Venetians, the manufacture of glass
extends throughout Europe, mainly in France, England and Germany.
In these countries, various techniques are perfected, enabling the
manufacture of larger flat panels with smoother and more
homogeneous surfaces. The Palace and the Garden of Versailles
are the greatest exponent of these new technologies, in which
glass is used as an essential element of architecture.
18 th cENTURY
With the founding of the British Plate Glass Company in 1773,
England became the world center for the production of window
glass. For the first time in history, window glass is accessible to a
large part of the population.
19 th cENTURY
With the Industrial Revolution, glass gains space in civil construction. The
invention of machines and equipment has accelerated the process of
manufacturing products throughout Europe. Together, iron and glass
become the great novelty of modern architecture. In 1829, the first
glass roof in history was built, the Galerie d'Orleans of the Palais
Royale in Paris. In 1851, the Crystal Palace was built entirely from
these two materials, to house the First Universal Exhibition in London.
20 th cENTURY
With the turn of the century, many evolutions are made in an
attempt to produce the perfect flat glass. In 1950 Float glass
was created by the British Alastair Pilkington. The building of
the Bauhaus, by Walter Gropius, and the Farnsworth House, by
Mies Van der Rohe, are examples of how glass was used as a
main component in some projects of the period
21 th cENTURY
The glass industry has become a global industry. As the patents
of the Pilkinton process expired, the costs to have a glass
factory were drastically reduced and today we can find them
around the world.
importance & applications of glass in building
Glass is a magical material which has so many different properties and uses, that it has
presented Architects with many new possibilities and designs. In their quest for
transparency and safety, Architects often use reinforced, toughened and laminated glasses.
Glass in contemporary architecture
Glass is also a more resistant and dimensionally stable building material, odor-neutral,
hygienic and easy to maintain. That is why it is used in windows, on facades and as
roofs. In buildings, transparent sliding elements, such as in kitchens and bathrooms,
or transparent partitions in large office rooms are made of this material. Glass is also used
in architecture for elevators or balcony railings.
Glass has various uses that makes it a fascinating material, special importance in
architecture.
Advantages of Glas
Can absorb, refract or transmit light. It adds beauty to a building when used in
transparent or translucent applications. Glass transmits up to 80% of available natural
daylight.
The use of natural light can lower electricity bills, brighten the rooms of a building, and
can also boost the mood of the occupants
Resistant to weather and can hold up to the effects of the wind, rain, or the sun
Rust is resistant and does not degrade because of the effects of chemical and
environmental conditions
Recyclable and it does not degrade during the recycling process, and it can be recycled
again and again without loss of quality or purity
Unaffected by noise, air, water. Sealed glass panes transmit very little sound, and hence
can be a good sound insulator
Glass has a smooth, glossy surface so it is dust proof and can be easily cleaned.
.properties of glass and processing
The glass is a mixture of a number of metallic silicates, one of which is usually that of an
alkali metal. It may also be considered as a solidified super-cooled solution of various
metallic silicates having infinite viscosity.
n modern architecture, glass is an essential material as it provides flexibility and aesthetics
to the structure. It is a versatile material to work with in the design perspective. It adds
vibrancy to the building and bridges the interior to the outside.
Properties of Glas
It is transparent, translucent and a good insulator
It absorbs, refract and transmit light
It can take up high polish and become a substitute for costly gems
It has no definite crystalline structure
It has no sharp melting point
It is affected by alkalis, but it is not easily attacked by ordinary chemical reagents
It is an excellent electrical insulator at elevated temperatures
It behaves more as a solid than most solids in the sense that it is elastic. But when
the elastic limit is exceeded, it fractures instead of deforming
It can be worked upon in various ways like blowing, drawing and pressing
It is extremely brittle
It is possible to alter its properties like fusibility, hardness, refractive power, etc
It is possible to weld glass pieces by fusion
It is very sustainable as it is recyclable and natural.
PROCESSING of Glass
1 COLLECTION OF RAW MATERIAL
Depending on glass, raw material is selected, in addition to
cullet and decolourisers. Cullet: to increase fusibility and
prevent loss of alkalies. Decolourisers: to eliminate the colour
of iron compounds
2 PREPARATION OF BATCH
The raw materials are finely powdered in grinding machine.
Uniform mixture, called batch, is produced.
To produce a homogeneous mixture of raw material for
uniform composition.
3 MELTING IN FURNACE
The batch is melted in either pot or tank furnace.
Heating is continued until the evolution of gases stops.To
produce molten glass for fabrication
4 FABRICATION
The molten glass is given suitable form or shape in this stage
by hand or by machine.
To give the desired shape to glass.
BLOWING
A blow pipe of about 12mm dia is used to blow out molten glass
from one end to give it shape.
CASTING
Molten glass is poured in moulds and is allowed to cool down
slowly.
DRAWING
Molten glass is simply pulled out by hand or machine
PRESSING
The molten glass is pressed into moulds either by hand or by
machine,
ROLLING
Molten glass is pressed between heavy iron rollers and flat
glass plate is obtained.
Spinning
The molten glass is spun at high speed by a machine to form
very fine glass fibres.
5 ANNEALING
The process of slow and homogeneous cooling of glass. Glass
is passed through a temperature regulated flue for gradual
cooling. To AVOID THE STATE OF STRAIN.
different types of glass
Types of Float Glass
1. Clear Glass
The molten glass coming out of furnace is allowed to float
on molten tin
It is aesthetic in appearance and its use has opened
unlimited possibilities in architectural design as it is
available in larger sizes and thicknesses
It is cost-effective as compared to corresponding cost of
brick wall, finishing material, paint, maintenance, etc.
2. Tinted glass:
Colouring pigments are added while preparing the batch
for its manufacture
Different quantities of same substance can produce
different colour to glass.
Uses: Artificial stones, window panels, fancy articles,
decorative tiles, etc.
3. Patterned / Textured glass
This glass has one surface either ground or
made opaque by melting powdered glass upon the surface
The several types include figured glass, ground glass,
chipped glass and corrugated glass.
Uses: Where vision is to be blocked but light is needed like
public toilets, office doors, partitions, etc
4. Wired glass:
Steel wire mesh is placed in glass during rolling operation.
The mesh may have hexagonal or square units
If glass breaks, pieces of glass are held by wire in position
It is also fire-resistant
Uses: Roofs, skylight, fire-resisting doors and windows, etc
5. Extra clean glass:
This glass is a high quality glass which is free from
impurities such as iron.
Uses: Making tabletops, in the showroom of jewelry items,
watches, crystal ware items, fine fabrics and art wares item,
etc. for a sparkling display.
Types of High Performance Glass
1. Solar Control Glass
This glass is a hi-tech special oxide coated
glass product that allows sunlight to pass through it
while radiating and reflecting away a large degree
of the sun’s heat
For tropical countries like India, this type of glass
is very suitable as it helps in reducing the amount of
air-conditioning required.
Uses: Skyscrapers as glass facades in modern buildings,
conservatory roofs, air conditioned malls and
showrooms, etc.
2. Low emissivity glass:
This glass has excellent thermal insulation properties. It
allows only visible light to enter the room and thus
gives protection from UV and infrared rays
In cold climates, they help in maintaining the
temperature of interior, and provide energy efficient
solution.
Uses: Glass facades, roofs, skylights, and fenestrations
3. Solar control-Low emissivity glass:
For facades, which are in direct contact of sunlight, only
low E glass cannot be used, as they tend to trap the heat
inside, which leads to overheating of interiors
In such case, solar control low E glass is used,
which blocks solar radiation, as well as provides thermal
insulation.
Uses: Glass facades, roofs, skylights, and fenestrations.
Types of Processed Glass
1. Bullet-proof glass:
The glass is made of several layers of plate glass and
alternate layer consists of vinyl- resin plastic
The thickness of this glass vary from 15mm-75mm or more.
Uses: Windows of buildings that require security, such as
jewellery stores, embassies, as well as military and private
vehicles
2. Sound-proof glass:
This glass is usually thin, but is used to block
sound through it
For areas where high noise is produced, double or
triple glazed untis of glass are used.
Uses: Offices, music recording studios, meditation rooms,
conference hall, interrogation rooms, internet
broadcasting space, etc
3.Toughened / Tempered glass:
It is a strong glass which is heated to a uniform
temperature and rapidly cooled to increase the
strength
It is stronger than other glasses of equivalent
thickness.
Uses: Escalator side panels, handrails, balustrades,
staircase handrails and viewing partitions of sports
complexes, resorts, and airports
4.Insulated glass:
These are prefabricated units made of two or more glass
panes which are separated by cavities filled with dry air
They provide excellent thermal and sound
insulation properties.
Uses: Office buildings, hospitals, hotels, houses, buildings with
high heating or cooling requirements or that need the
temperature and humidity controlled
5.Lacquered glass:
C oloured and opaque in appearance, it is produced by
depositing and then baking a coating of l
acquer to one
side of clear glass
L -
acquer is a solution of film forming materials, natural or
synthetic, usually applied as an ornamental or protective
coating
It brings colour and ambiance to interiors with a durable.
Uses: In interiors in bathrooms and k itchens, offices, hotels,
shops and museums, as -
wall panelling, in furniture and in
wardrobe and cupboard doors .
