I have been wondering lately about the modern concept of the
huge glas wall in homes and buildings? It seems to me with
increasing weather instablity and increased global warming
that glass walls are not the best protection from the the
rapidly changing enviorment. They are very labor intensive
to replace and produce and now transport. I know they have been developing a new translucent cement perhaps that will
be a better choice. Any thoughts?
Glass walls improve lives in residential enviorments....
As far as residential architecture goes, glass walls have done much good to improve the lives of its occupants. Given that the view has elements of a natural garden and excludes stressfull elements, life is abundant and intune with daily changes in nature within the glass walls.
We recently moved into a 1958 modernist apartment complex where all exterior walls are glass, this move has greatly improved our lives.
surprisingly we havent noticed climate problems here in N. Ca.
I have a house designed in...
I have a house designed in 1958 overlooking the Long Island Sound, that features large gazed areas. I recently replaced the old wood framed glass on the front of the house with an aluminum storefront system. This has increased my view (by enlarging pane size and reducing frame size) and energy savings. I could NOT imagine living without the glass!
of course
the best use for large expanses of glass is in passive solar design. you can have it all - beautiful views, modern styling, and a building that heats itself. this would take care of the added energy used to make glass as opposed to other materials as well as justify the relatively poor insulation properties of glass compared to other materials. Naturally this is speaking to areas with a heating season. i can easily envision a future where this type of building is mandatory and every exsisting structure that can be converted will be. we are currently living in buildings that are worse than SUV's re; their potential energy efficiency.
Glazed and confused
Another caveat emptor moment!
I just spent two days learning about the development of near zero net energy homes. The single largest component of these homes is super insulation. The single largest factor in not acheiving a tight house is glazing.
I live in a psssive solar home. I love my windows, but i know that unless glazing is well managed and properly focused that they cause more loss thatn gain. Windows are most certainly the largest point of energy loss in your home.
I'm not saying we should go back to living in dark houses with few windows, but we sure should design homes with the windows in the right places and with thermal drapes to keep the heat at night. No more poorly sited McMansions!
The natural
(but often overlooked) accompaniment to large glass areas is the appropriate amount of exterior shading, usually provided in the form of roof overhangs. PJ's Glass House is conspicuously devoid of this amenity; in that case, the trees on the south side of the house are a critical design element.
Sun rays which are stopped before they reach the glass can't heat either the glass or the interior space and material. Of course, in winter one usually wants all the heat and light one can get. Nature obliges by lowering the angle of the rays, so that they pass under the same overhangs which defeat them in summer.
100 years ago exterior window awnings were common. There are illustrations of early "skyscrapers" (15-story office buildings) with fabric awnings on the windows. . .
The pleasing aesthetic...
The pleasing aesthetic quality of glass as a means of opening the box is difficult to discount. And as a building material, depending on its application, glass can be put to very good use. There are drawbacks to large expanses of glass though, particularly in residential settings, some which are not so easy to cost estimate. We live in a passive solar designed house as well, with many mature plantings, and enjoy the views immensely, but the reflective properties of glass can make it a bit hard on the birds around here, most of which, fortunately for us, are of the smaller variety. Speaking of Johnson, I recall hearing that a turkey would occasionally crash through the Glass House, which I bet could really ruin his and the turkey's day.
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