- Open glass facade construction
- Functionality of open glass facade buildings
- Open glass facade buildings in Pakistan
In recent years open glass façade buildings have emerged all over the world, taking inspiration from the famous New York skyscrapers. Simply put, an open glass façade building is one whose frontal is made of glass, and offers outside views. These buildings offer views of the city, and ensure people can oversee the locality they are situated in. These open glass façade buildings are also great for ventilation purposes, and create a feeling of openness. Therefore, this trend has picked up pace in Pakistan as well. In this blog we will look at what makes these kinds of developments so desirable, and discuss their functionality.
Open Glass Façade: Construction Details
Open glass façade buildings are built in various designs. Each design offers its own set of functionality, and ensures protection of the building structure.
The glass façade architecture in this case is highly important. Here’s how:
Details about the construction
The most common kinds of glass façades are built in the following formations:
Curved Facades
These are made using bent glass which might cloud out the glass or cause cracks during the heating and cooling process. Curved facades are hard to create and expensive. You will not find many buildings with a curved façade in Pakistan.
Curtain Wall
A curtain wall open glass façade is a non-structural outer covering of a wall. It is built from light-weight materials, and creates a smooth outer covering from the ceiling to the floor. This curtain wall façade protects against heat, sunlight, and sound.
Curtain wall glass facades are fairly common in Pakistan, and you’ll see most of the corporate buildings being built using this technique.
Roofs & Skylight
Glass roofs and skylight give a building an uber luxurious look. Such building floor plans look like something out of movies. In Pakistan, glass roofs and/or skylight are more common in individual houses or high-end buildings. Malls in Pakistan, you’ll notice, usually have large glass roofs.
Spandrels
Spandrels are created using opaque glass that prevents visibility from outside. You’ll find spandrels in most curtain wall glass façade buildings. The opaque nature of the glass ensures privacy and security of the people working inside the buildings.
Now that we have looked at the most common types of open glass façade buildings, let’s look at the designs up close and understand the purpose of these designs.
Functionality Of Open Glass Facade
Most people have concerns when they look at open glass façade buildings. These questions typically arise from the fact that to many people, a glass façade seems fragile as compared to a concrete structure with windows. A lot of people also worry that if the quality of construction is low, a glass structure can prove to be dangerous in case of high winds or even rain.
Some of the most common queries are:
What are the principal properties to look for in the inspection of glass to be used for glazing of buildings?
The glass used for glazing has to be of a high quality to withstand wind pressure. In addition to this, for each kind of glass façade design, the glass pieces have to be properly installed. Skilled laborers are required to ensure that the glass is properly harnessed in the structure and there are no gaps of any sort.
Why are skyscrapers built with glass?
Skyscrapers are made from glass because of the high-value appeal they exude. Glass finish is more desirable than concrete and therefore skyscrapers that are commercial buildings have an open glass façade look. Studies have also shown that with open glass façades, there is greater penetration of natural sunlight, which, ultimately, increases employees’ efficiency.
Looking at the main properties of glass, we find that glass reflects 80% of light, if the optimal width of glass sheets are used. Moreover, it doesn’t break easily or rust due to rain. A high-quality glass also does not suffer from discoloration after prolonged exposure to sunlight. A thicker glass also insulates against light, heat, and electricity, making it the best material for construction of the building’s front.
Are Glass Facade House Design Layouts Common?
Most modern houses in Pakistan now have open glass façade designs. In most cases, glasses of high quality are used that are also tinted to maintain privacy of the house. These glass facades add high value to the overall construction of the house.
While open glass facades are fairly common in a tropical country like Pakistan, there are some functional aspects of these that we need to address to be sure that we are making the right decision.
Do Open Glass Façade Buildings Work In Pakistan?
Open glass façade buildings can only be used for a tropical country like Pakistan if they come equipped with a range of other features. These include reflectors, thick drapes, and round-the-clock air conditioning. This is because no matter the thickness of glass, in a country like Pakistan where temperatures can increase up to 50 degrees Celsius, the glass façade can easily heat up, creating the effect of a sunroom.
For people sitting or utilizing the space close to the glass wall, it might become too hot to carry out their work. Moreover, some glass breakage due to overheating has also been reported, which makes it a safety hazard.
For offices, round-the-clock air conditioning can also be difficult and expensive to maintain. Builders and contractors also have to ensure that the laborers they are hiring are skilled enough to harness the glass accurately to avoid any loose ends and damages.
If these concerns are addressed, and there is proper maintenance of the glass curtain walls, there is no potential harm from an open glass façade building.
Check out our dedicated guides on constructing with glass
- Tinting glass windows at home
- Insulating glass sliding doors
- Glass in the construction industry
- Glass in interior design
For any queries, reach out to us at blog@zameen.com. Also, keep checking Pakistan’s largest property blog, Zameen Blog for the latest on property in Pakistan.
