Anyone who has ever sketched the design of an atrium on the back of a napkin knows the impact of glass on space. Light … reflection … diffusion. All of it amazing to the senses.
So I believe I’m not alone in saying, ‘the more glass the better’ – in larger and larger spans of curtain walls and entrances, but also in continuing to replace more traditional building materials for stand-alone structures, steps, and floors.
Did you know glass compares with aluminum in terms of density and stiffness? In fact, the strength of hardened glass is equivalent to a typical construction-grade aluminum alloy. With special treatment, glass can even exceed the tensile strength of steel.
For me, however, the more interesting slant on “more glass” is the metalwork specified to keep it in place. The architectural systems Glass & Metal Craft delivers to fulfill the napkin sketch often require custom hardware, which we design and then shape, construct, and finish through our dedicated Cuda Metals Division operating right on our glass fabrication floor.
Just the opposite of more glass, less in more when it comes to metal fixtures and framing. The minimization of metal hardware, in both size and number of fitting and joints, enhances the impact of glass. It’s an area of high interest to me, personally, and for Glass & Metal Craft going forward. We find ourselves on new roads integrating glass and metal fabrication with our architectural systems engineers to look at, for example, new approaches in cable supported systems.
It’s exciting times, and (of course) we want to share the developments. So please remember to check back here for what we learn and design, and stay ahead of the curve with us.
