The Evolution of Glass in Architecture
Glass for windows first originated in Roman Alexandria in the year 100.
Glass has a long and colorful history. The earliest found glass dates back to the Neolithic period and was first used for decorative purposes by the ancient Egyptians. Glass’s role in construction and architecture is comparatively recent but has a fascinating history.
Please keep reading to learn more about the evolution of glass in architecture:
Roman glass
Glass for windows first originated in Roman Alexandria in the year 100. They were simple constructions made from blown glass cylinders pressed together into sheets. While useful for brightening a room, they were not good for looking through.
Stained glass
For most of human history, glass was a luxury item. It was used only in important places and was a status symbol. Most homes in Middle Ages Europe had open windows that were boarded up at night. The church and nobility were the only groups who could afford glazing.
Medieval architects used beautiful stained glass to illuminate vast gothic churches. These windows told biblical stories to a widely illiterate population of the time.
Mass production
Even by the end of the 17th century, glass was still considered a status symbol. England introduced a window tax in 1691 to tax the wealthy for the number of glazed windows they owned.
English businessman George Ravenscroft was the first to manufacture glass on a wider scale, producing lead windows that provided greater clarity than the previous calcium models.
This all changed in 1851 with the Industrial Revolution. Mass production of glass, combined with advances in steel and iron technology, enabled more glass to be installed in more buildings, and not just as windows. Greenhouses and conservatories became increasingly popular, too.
This culminated with the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park and the construction of the Crystal Palace. The palace had most of its walls and ceilings comprised entirely of shaped glass.
Modern glass
The transparency and light of the Crystal Palace inspired other architects to implement the idea of a glass curtain wall in their architecture. Heavily windowed buildings began to appear in modern cities. The 1918 Hallidie Office Building in Chicago was an early example of a glass curtain wall in America. More windows offered better views and sweeping panoramas of the climbing skyscrapers of New York City.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that the technology became available to support building facades made entirely of glass. Newer technologies, like tempering and laminating, helped control a building’s reflectivity and heat absorption in hotter months.
Even today, architectural glass continues to make great strides. The 21st century saw the introduction of E-glass, which makes buildings more energy efficient by preventing heat loss. Smart glass can use tinting to control how much light enters through it.
Windows to the world
Glass has had a long and illuminating history, leading to modern home conveniences often being taken for granted. When choosing glass for modern housing, glass companies have a rich tradition of culture and technological innovation to choose from. Moreover, they’ll know which glass will perfectly fit your glazing needs.
Luxe Residential and Commercial Glass of Las Vegas provides premier glass installation, repair, and replacement in Las Vegas and surrounding communities. Call Luxe Glass at (702) 302-1222.
