Ubiquitous in our lives since the dawn of civilization, glass is certainly not a new material. But, thanks to changing attitudes and a significant boost from technology, it is experiencing a rebirth as a major player on the interior design landscape. Expanding its product range to accommodate the demands of today’s savvy interior glass market, the industry features forward thinking, … Read More
Easy Ways to Make Your Home Greener
Green home design is an umbrella term for the myriad of methods used to create eco-friendly homes that are environmentally responsible, resource efficient and sustainable. From integrating materials like glass that markedly reduce energy costs, to taking advantage of technology that improves air and water quality, green home design can, and is,making a serious contribution to the health and well … Read More
Pros and Cons of a Home Office
Hard to believe, but there was a time not too long ago when a company functioned by hiring a workforce to travel to its workplace. Everything necessary to complete the job was in this permanent work space and consequently, so were you. With the internet and the myriad of devices at our fingertips, the definition of “work environment” has dramatically … Read More
Examples of Green Roof Design
With its green roof garden of large trees for shade, VTN Architects Binh House in the “House for Trees” series in Vietnam, is a study in glass, cement and greenery. Designed to infuse tropical gardens, open spaces and water into a crowded urban area that has lost its connection to nature, Binh House’s plan improves the microclimate by introducing natural … Read More
How Glass Can Enhance and Transform Advertising
Glass and advertising. Two ubiquitous staples in our culture. Both are virtually everywhere we look. One has always served a purpose architecturally. The other is an influential device that both shapes and reflects who we are. But together, combining the force of advertising with the latest high-tech smart glass delivery system, they are the ultimate power couple, impacting consumers on … Read More
Can Concrete Be A Sustainable Choice?
Of course, there is a “but,” and in today’s eco-conscious world, it’s a big one. When you consider the embodied energy—or the total energy consumed by all the processes associated with the production of a building—concrete is at the top of the scale. It also has the lowest recycle value. In short, sustainable concrete construction has a long way to … Read More
Photovoltaic Glass Architecture Exposed into Two Scales
For proof that the future is now, look no further than photovoltaic glass. This cutting-edge technology essentially transforms glass into solar panels that convert light into electricity. Lest there be no misunderstanding, the answer is yes. We are talking about windows that generate their own power. It’s clean, green, and very cool. Photovoltaic glass incorporates transparent semiconductor-based photovoltaic—or solar—cells by … Read More
The Rise of Glass Giants: 20 Different types of glass in a new Seoul
It looks like a simple monolithic tower but the newest, sleekest, addition to the Seoul skyline is actually an exceptional feat of engineering, comprised of 20 different types of glass. The Lotte Tower, a creation of American architectural firm, Kohn, Pederson, Fox (KPF), rises 1821 feet into the clouds—123 stories—making it the tallest building in South Korea and 5th tallest … Read More
Expanding Role of Glass in Construction
The science of glass continues to expand by leaps and bounds, creating the foundation for a unique, new architectural dimension that is revolutionizing construction and building design. More and more daring buildings, featuring soaring glass facades, arching canopies, delicate footbridges, and other load bearing glass elements, have onlookers shaking their heads in amazement, wondering if glass wall construction is really … Read More
Looking Through the Glass
We created windows and wealthy Pompeiians showed off their glass window panes as a symbol of their affluence. We developed the process of staining glass and what began as adornment for church windows evolved into a contemporary artform. A thousand years later, sustainable and eco-friendly glass tiles and mosaics add sparkle and distinction to even the most institutional spaces. Artistic … Read More