These materials are a glass apart
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In the contemporary world of design, the clarity and elegance of glass have added to the scope for aesthetic improvement as well as sheer functionality.
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Style statement: Today glass is widely used in architecture and interior decoration for aesthetic and functional purposes.
Glass was always considered fragile and brittle, making it an unlikely choice for architectural applications. Until recently, perhaps the only functional application of glass was in mirrors and windows.
But over the years, advances in glass technology have corrected the popular notion. Today glass is widely used in architecture and interior decoration for aesthetic and functional purposes.
Versatile
With today’s technology, the versatility of glass in interior design has assumed new dimensions. Advances in processes have increased both the finishes available, and the integrity of the glass itself. It is available in glazed, laminated, toughened and acoustic versions for various applications like doors and windows, partitions and architectural features like balustrades, structural glazing, atrium ceiling and conservatories. Skylights constitute a major application for glass in commercial and residential buildings.
In the contemporary world of design, the clarity and elegance of glass have added to the scope for aesthetic improvement as well as sheer functionality. The transparency of glass allows a home or office to add light and space to any environment, imparting a feel-good experience to the occupants while providing structures with an ambiguous, floating quality. It opens up the interiors and allows free flow of light. Glass also goes well with other materials like wood and metal.
Touch of style
From partitioning and shower enclosures to mirrors, wall panelling, cladding for pillars, cabinet and wardrobe doors and showcases, light wells, floor panels, stair treads, balustrades and furniture, glass adds a touch of real style to give every area a chic, contemporary and upmarket look. Glass has a wealth of qualities that make it the best choice for flooding an area with colour. Colour-coated glass in various shades can provide a stunning look to walls and surfaces. It can also be used in bathrooms with great effect.
While bevelled glass is today a preferred material for panelling, frosted glass is used in bathrooms. Interior designers maintain that nothing beats the fragile elegance of glass. The range of uses extends to shower enclosures, walls, staircases and even furniture.
Laminated safety glass is made from two pieces of flat glass sandwiched by a resin chemical inter layer using self adhesive double-sided foam tape. It is impact resistant and shatter-proof offering safety. High end versions are also made for noise insulation and UV filtration.
Here to stay
City-based architect and interior designer G. Viswanathan feels that glass is here to stay as an architectural material. “The sheer range of applications points to the increasing acceptance of glass for various purposes. From the design angle, the transparency of glass ensures that it does dominate the space. Unlike other materials, glass blends with other elements and does not demand a share of the space. This is a major advantage, especially for small rooms and other spaces”, he explains.
One room where glass is virtually displacing other materials is the kitchen. In most households, almost 50 per cent of the vessels are of glass. While the advent of microwave ovens have dictated the switch in some cases, housewives swear by the hygienic property of glass and the ease of washing. Resistance to scratches is another major reason.
However, the use of glass has its downside also. “As a fragile material, glass does not stand upto careless handling, especially in households with children. Hence, the use of glass has to be restricted to certain contexts,” says Mr. Viswanathan who has recently designed a house with two rooms on the first floor connected by a transparent glass floor.
Premium range
Saint Gobain Glass India has recently introduced a range of imported premium design glass range for interiors. The new generation glasses come in lacquered, geometric textured, clear patterned, matt finished, translucent, patterned and silvered versions to suit different applications. The company claims that its new range has opened up immense possibilities in interior design. All the versions can be cut, drilled and surface processed for various applications. According to P. Vineeth, the company’s South India representative, the new products have opened up a new market in the small towns where the fascination for glass is catching on fast.
In commercial institutions, glass is slowly replacing wood, particle board and other materials for partitions. The latest trend is the stand- alone glass panels that can be installed without an aluminium frame.
Imported etching tapes that can print corporate logos, designs and images on glass are the latest rage. Glass bricks available in various sizes are also used for partitions.
T. NANDAKUMAR
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