Solar power technology continues to evolve – emerging as a premier source of renewable, affordable energy. Rising to the challenge of making us less dependent on environmentally damaging fossil fuel, a growing cadre of architects are redefining the future of design by focusing on solar power integration. The principle of solar energy remains unchanged: Photovoltaic materials capture the sun’s energy, … Read More
High Efficiency Design in Schools
High Efficiency Design in Schools“I believe the children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.” So sang the late Whitney Houston, reminding us so eloquently just how important it is to cherish our greatest resource. As parents we strive to create safe and nurturing home environments for our precious little ones, but home is not … Read More
The Interior Glass Market, 2018
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
There is an exquisite irony to 21st century architecture. Cutting edge design is as much about looking backward as it is about moving forward. Yes, innovative 21st century construction can boast dramatic glass facades, stunning glass bridges and smart glass that is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient. But there is another growing trend that is taking builders back to … 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?
Nobody has ever questioned whether concrete can withstand the test of time. As far back as 3000 BC, the Egyptians made a form of it from gypsum lime mortars. The Romans had their own recipe which included Quicklime, pozzolanic ash and an aggregate made from pumice. The proof is in ancient structures like the Coliseum and Pantheon that still attract … 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