A Cantifix Glazing Spotlight: Curved Glass
For many people, the concept of curved glass conjures up images of luxurious, affluent buildings such as London’s ‘Walkie Talkie’. Although this strikingly bold design was a pioneering feat in engineering at the time, the reality is that curved glass is actually a lot more accessible today than it is generally perceived to be.
In fact, curved architectural glass is a highly versatile building material that offers almost limitless possibilities for homeowners and architects alike, meaning that it is no longer reserved for use in only high-end buildings and for an ultra-high-net-worth market. Durable, safe, and easy-to-maintain, curved glass provides an exciting range of uses within residential and commercial buildings.?
So, what is curved glass and what are the key benefits when it comes to incorporating this style of glazing into your designs??
What is Curved Glass?
Curved glass is a glazing design that provides architects and designers with the freedom to create curved glazed facades in which corners and edges are enhanced with soft curves. These curves can be anything from simple sloped designs to complex 3D shapes.
In simple terms, architectural curved glass usually refers to glazing that has been stylistically bent in one of two directions:
Generally, the 2D method is a more common and cost-effective way to create curved glass, as it can be achieved from a single flat plane of glass using computer manufacturing equipment to create a one-directional curve.
Meanwhile, 3D bending is an innovative way to stretch the glass into different directions, compress into itself, or a combination of both. This method requires a specialised steel tool, in order to create the desired finished shape of the curved glass; this manufacturing process is a lot more labour intensive and time consuming, but to stunning effect.
The Benefits of Curved Glass
Curved glass enjoys all the usual benefits of traditional glazing solutions - enhanced access to natural light, bringing the outdoors in, and improving wellbeing - along with a variety of other unique benefits to enrich any building design too.?
Firstly, curved glass is an aesthetic winner. Ultimately, the beauty of this glazing solution is that it makes a real visual statement. It looks elegant, striking and innovative, and can make a huge difference to the final appearance of a project. The opportunity to provide flexibility and flow through architectural curved glass offers an unprecedented level of creativity in the design of a build, and architects and homeowners alike are able to explore the concept of fluidity when it comes to designing their dream project.?
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Under an experienced glass specialist, such as Cantifix, curved glass is an extremely adaptable material offering almost infinite possibilities, whilst also still playing an important structural role. There are endless benefits to incorporating curved glass into an architectural building design, whether it be a facade, balustrade, spiral staircase, revolving door, or overhead skylight. The design opportunities are limited only by imagination - in this case, the sky really is the limit!
The second benefit of curved glass is its high strength and durability. Due to the curvature of the bent glass panel, this structural glazing solution is highly load resistant. A well-considered design that incorporates curved glass can actually reduce the use of other building materials required for the build of a project, in order to maintain structural integrity - potentially leading to a reduction in build cost or a simpler, sleeker overall design.
The third benefit of architectural curved glass is that due to its crystal clear transparency , curved glass is a stunning way to flood a building with natural light. Strategically-placed curved glass allows light in, and controls the travel and flow of light throughout a building - which not only benefits those within but also minimises the perceived external building mass. The curve of the glass allows architects to play with the direction of light too, in order to create interesting effects or maximise light infiltration.
Examples of Architectural Curved Glass
In this project, the small living space immerses the client in nature with frameless curved glass walls and a small glass link to the main house. Sleek, modern, curved glass panels contrast with the existing thatched Georgian cottage, while the almost entirely glazed construction of the extension detracts nothing from the aesthetic of the original building. In fact, the older, uneven stonework on the existing house blends seamlessly with the glass extension, creating a bright and airy space that is ideal for entertaining, dining, or simply relaxing in and taking in? the views and connection to nature.
Another of Cantifix’s curved glass projects - Tonkin Liu’s breathtaking ‘Sun Rain Rooms’? won critical acclaim, and was awarded both RIBA and AJ awards in 2017 and a Don’t Move, Improve award in 2018. This extension of a Grade-II listed Georgian family home (doubling up as Tonkin Liu’s office) really is stunning. The most eye-catching feature is the swooping, curving green roof, which cleverly collects rainwater to either fill a water tank or the terrace, whose floor can be raised or lowered to suit the clients' moods. A glass staircase, Sky-Frame sliding doors, curved glass walls and PureGlaze pivot door complete this beautiful space for work, play and quiet reflection.
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Technological advances in glazing have taken curved glass design to new levels of complexity and aesthetics over the last few years, and continues to drive pioneering and exciting new projects. At the same time, curved glass is becoming increasingly accessible to a wider audience, from architects with big commercial projects, to homeowners who are looking to create an incredibly beautiful conservatory for their house.?
If you’re looking to incorporate architectural curved glass into your next project, or would simply like to discuss the opportunities available when it comes to this innovative glazing solution, please get in touch with us today: [email protected]?
Glass Safety Risk Assessor at AITCo Consulting
3 年Charlotte Fox My comments above are not meant to be disrespectful to what you and the business are doing. It's meant to show what the glass industry doesn't tell you.
Glass Safety Risk Assessor at AITCo Consulting
3 年Hi Charlotte. Are you aware that curved glass doesn't have a mandatory impact test certificate as it is only available for flat glass? Flat isn't about the surface texture of the glass pane but the shape of it and that's where BS EN 12600 flat glass impact test comes in. Then we come to the mandatory Construction Products Regs 2013 which basically then lead onto the "Declaration of Performance" certificate which all safety products must have when placed on the market. All safety glass is required by law to have a fully visable and indelible safety mark after installation and it's the information that's on this mark which is crucial. This is not the the same as the "CE" or now "UKCA" mark. they are totally different. I chair the Glass safety / security competency working group and also a Director at the Institute of Construction Mangement. This topic of curved glass has been going on for ages and it's the glass industry that has created issues for the people that design, specify and install it into domestic and commercial properties by not being honest with what the mandatory legal requirements are for glass being sold in the UK and Europe. They wash their hands of it and let people like you take the flack when things go wrong.
Endless possibilities
3 年James Allen MIConstM
Co-Founder at Inventum Group
3 年Looks fantastic!