Glass Architecture

There is increasing evidence that daylight is essential for health, well being and productivity. The design of modern office building facilities often uses glass materials to bring daylight into the work environment. As an inexpensive material that offers many superior properties in different applications, glass can create airiness and even provide an increased sense of space via larger glass sizes and in lighter support structures. The recent trend to maximize the use of glass to improve working environments inside office buildings provides a marked improvement to the office environments created decades ago.

Natural light had become something one would experience during holidays or after the end of "9-to-5 Blues," but not during the workday. The arrival of fluorescent lighting and cheap energy made possible the multi-story, deep-plan building in which the ratio of usable floor area to external envelope was taken to its maximum. The energy crises of the 1970s, together with recognition of the damage we are causing to the biosphere have been two of the factors encouraging a return to natural light and ventilation in buildings. Another factor, which is becoming increasingly significant, is our understanding of the response of human beings to working in wholly artificial environments. 

Many factors such as low humidity levels, bacteria and dust particles carried through poorly maintained air-handling systems, toxic emissions from building materials, flicker from fluorescent lamps and daylight deprivation have been determined to be causes of a variety of ailments, such as Legionnaires’ Disease through asthma, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), chronic headaches and rhinitis, as well as non-specific malaise.  Fortunately, the architectural community has begun to respond to the growing concern about “Sick Building Syndrome,”  and there is growing recognition that a direct and rewarding solution may lie in a renewed emphasis on natural light and ventilation.

A recent study indicates that typical people are exposed total daylight levels for only 90 minutes each day, which can contribute to fatigue, insomnia, and SAD.  By carefully designing window specifications for either commercial or residential buildings, architects can contribute to the increased productivity and psychological health of building occupants.  Daylight provides continually changing values, brightness and contrasts to the workplace, allowing the human eye to constantly adjust. This adjustment reduces eye fatigue. The human eye is capable of adjusting to high levels of luminance without producing discomfort.  Since the lack of a physical connection is a major source of occupant dissatisfaction in offices, windows then play important roles as contact with the outside environment to employees. With advanced window technology, combined with efficient electric lighting, we can now design cost-effective, healthy buildings that help minimize these effects; therefore, increase productivity of employees at the workplace.

So, what does the future hold for glass architecture?  Technology will surely play an important role with coatings, films and improved fabrication technology.  For example, a high-performing glass can provide fire resistance, solar control and sound.

A direct correlation between productivity and the presence of daylight and views of the outdoors has not been scientifically proven, but studies do show that people value the variety of daylight, enjoy the presence of sunlight in a building, and want at least a glimpse of the world outside.  Historically, fine buildings have always exploited natural light. The practiced use of sunlight is yet again being seen as a key aspect in designing buildings of high architectural quality.