Glass Construction

As one of the few transparent building materials, glass is definitely here to stay. Though in recent years much attention was directed to its sensual properties, today the focus is increasingly turning to its performance. Larger formats, thinner panes, and new processes: in this issue we present the state-of-the-art developments. But that doesn’t mean that the aesthetic qualities of glass are disregarded; instead, they vary corresponding to the application. In one of the projects we present in this issue, the building envelope appears dematerialised; in another the colourful photovoltaic modules produce a kaleidoscope effect; and a forty-year-old city hall’s generously glazed new skin completely transforms the building’s character.