A Brief History Of Glass In Architecture

Glass is so ubiquitous in modern society that it is easy to take it for granted. Yet, our lives would be drastically different without it. Eye glasses, medical equipment, vials, bottles, needles, light bulbs, micro and telescopes, medical imaging, our many screens and (fibre optic cable run) digital lives, all  of these require glass in some form or another. Then there are the scientific discoveries made with such materials. Simply put, without glass, many modern advancements would not exist, it has been allowing and shaping human progress for centuries.

The story of glass takes us back thousands of years. Before it was a man made creation, natural materials with  glass-like characteristics were used to serve a similar purpose: highly polished obsidian, for example, was used as mirrors. The human discovery of glass in the form we recognise today began in Mesopotamia or Ancient Egypt at around 3500BC – we cannot say which with any certainty. Early glass creations took the form of small objects: either for practical or decorative purposes, such as small drinking vessels and jewelry. It wouldn’t be long though, until the true potential of glass in construction was realised.

The Romans were the first people to really utilise glass within their buildings, although it was primarily used for large spaces, such as public baths or grand villas. They would have looked quite different to the windows we are used to today, being primarily opaque and with a pale green tinge. 

But the real architectural glass revolution happened in the medieval period. When we think of awe-inspiring glass windows, we tend to think of stained glass within cathedrals, and this is exactly when this happened. Huge, multicoloured images were created for gothic structures, such as Notre Dame in Paris, to create a sense of awe among the worshippers and to transform the inner space with ethereal, coloured light. However, for the everyday person, glass was still a highly priced commodity and not something that you would find as standard in homes. 

Once we reach the renaissance era, glass has progressed enough to become fairly common, with the rise of sash windows being designed to celebrate advances in the clarity of the glass being produced. The industrial revolution, and the use of coal, made glass much more affordable and accessible, with the rise in conservatories and greenhouses within the Victorian Era making glass more desirable than ever.

It’s Daylight Robbery!

Tax is a fact of life, but at one point, in the 17th century to be exact, the British government decided to tax the public on the number of windows that a property had. This led to many buildings having their windows blocked up in order to avoid the levy – a peculiar architectural quirk that can still be seen today. It also led to the popular saying of something being “daylight robbery” when it is unfairly priced. 

Once glass became an affordable material, architects were quick to use it as part of their designs. Many of the key artistic (and architectural) movements of the 20th century include glass as a key part of their concepts. From the sinuous curves of nature found in Art Nouveau to the thick symmetrical gold, black and brass frames of the Art Deco movement, glass fenestration design has always been a key part of architecture. 

However, to get to the glass as a construction material as we know it today, we need to look back at the Modernist movement of the 20th century, which truly embraced glass as a defining element. Architects like Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier championed the use of large glass facades, emphasising transparency, lightness, and a connection with the surrounding environment.

It is impossible to talk about the history of glass in architecture without mentioning skyscrapers. Once we learnt to build upwards as much as outwards, we were eager for new, innovative ways to make use of the views, and create buildings that would impress all who gazed upon them. 

The development of float glass, tempered glass, and laminated glass also revolutionised architectural possibilities. Skyscrapers such as the Seagram Building, showcased the structural strength and aesthetic appeal of glass curtain walls. The development of safety glass, specifically tempered and laminated glass, marked a significant turning point, allowing the architects greater freedom with what could (safely) be achieved. Now, all-glass buildings, such as the iconic glass pyramid at the Louvre, or the apple store in New York are a regular feature of many urban landscapes, with each city competing to come up with the newest, best, tallest or shiniest glass building than what came before.

So, we’ve looked at the incredible, all encompassing ways in which glass has influenced design. But what about the average home? The biggest innovation to come to residential glass was the invention of double glazing. While the concept began in the Victorian era, it wasn’t until the mid 20th century that it became a practical -and commercially viable- prospect. The real evolution could only come about once sealing technologies and the use of inert gasses were introduced to create exceptional thermal performance. Today we’ve even moved one step further, with triple glazing now at the pinnacle of truly energy efficient glazing.

Ever since creating the first structural glass building back in 1991, Cantifix have endeavored to always be at the forefront of what glass can do. We like to look at what already exists and see if there is a way to push it further, leading us to usually be the first to achieve certain things with glass, such as the first switchable glass UV corner, or the largest single pane of glass in Europe. We do this both on large scope projects, for some of the country’s most beloved public buildings, but also on a smaller, residential scale, by using our expertise to come up with bespoke glazing solutions to tricky design problems. And we are always learning! Our all-glass Photon-Pod was used by the University of Oxford in their study into the effects of natural light on humans, the results of which informed our development of solstice glass – the first glass to actively harness the positive effects of sunlight.

So much can be said for what the future holds for glazing, but it is a bright one that is taking on the twin challenges of sustainability and wellness at the heart of many modern advances. Glass is getting smarter, with inbuilt technology being developed all the time, making its role in the fabric of a building so much more than merely a view out onto the outside world. 

Interestingly, as architecture takes on the impacts of climate change, we are all looking backwards at ancient ways of cooling or homes, and many centuries old techniques, such as light wells and clerestory windows, are being revived -if a little updated- as alternatives to high energy air conditioning or heating appliances. There are also incredible developments into glass that can harness the power of the sun, hoping one day to be able to generate electricity and truly create a pathway to passive energy buildings.

We are so excited about the future of glass, and are thankful for the opportunity to help to contribute to it. That is where you’ll find Cantifix for decades to come: standing at the forefront of innovation, pushing glass to do more and be more, for the benefit of us all.