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.Glass is a critical material for any building envelope in the contemporary architecture. This could be because of its lightness of weight, visual porosity, thermal comfort, acoustic insulation, ease of installation and safety, says Abhishek Bij, Associate and Lead Designer at Design Plus Architects. It is the only mainstream material that provides multiple variations in all the mentioned parameters.Rajendra Kumar reminds that energy efficient glass is the only solution for energy conservation. For a building with larger glazed areas in façades and roofs, and entirely glazed façades, the key driver for energy-saving is energy-efficient glass. In hot climate, reliance on air conditioning, is mitigated by the use of advanced solar control glass, allowing the sun’s light into buildings, while blocking much of its heat.Annealed glass or Float Glass is the basic flat glass product that is the first result of the float process. It is also known as soda lime glass. This type of glass is produced without internal stresses imparted by heat treatment, i.e. rapid cooling, or by toughening or heat strengthening. It is common glass that tends to break into large, jagged shards when subjected to a relatively small temperature change or mechanical shock. It is primarily used in making canopies, shop fronts, glass blocks, railing partitions, etc., and often used in double-glazed windows.
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