As time passes, trends, lifestyles, and even the environment undergoes tremendous change; buildings and construction material being no exception to this rule. Cursory observation is sufficient proof for this statement; architecture today is devoid of the conventional cement and steel and replete with glass; a phenomenon less than a decade old.

The emergence of architectural glass as a high-performance building material is the key determinant of this change. Glass is now a protective sheath that protects occupants of a building from heat, noise, fire, and even from dirt and grime through self-cleaning properties. Reflective glass controls solar radiations, low-e glass acts as a thermal insulator, extra clear float glass serves as partitions, and then there is switchable glass, tinted glass, fire safety glass and so on. Apart from façade glazing, all these glass types can be used on doors, windows, curtain walls, balustrade, and even skylights. Glass façade systems offer versatility as well as functionality, while enabling a wide range of design possibilities, including custom printing, shading/fritting, and more.

Let us go through the details of some fantastic structures in glass in the country.

International Convention Centre, Pune

Located in the heart of Pune, the International Convention Centre at Pune serves as Southeast Asia’s largest convention centre. The façade of this building comprises insulated glass and aluminum cladding; the choice of these materials allowing for ease of maintenance. A central portion of the structure is completely glazed, imparting an iconic element to the overall configuration.

i-Think Campus, Thane

i-Think is a proposed IT Park at Thane spread over a 5 acre property with a total built up area of approximately 850,000 sq ft. The design, visualized and manifested by Aedas Architects, comprises structural glazing, skylights, an entrance canopy and a shop front glazing. The building comprises two independent blocks connected by sky terraces located at every two floors which create a feeling of spaciousness and brightness.

i-Think Campus, Kanjurmar, Mumbai

This is also a proposed IT Park comprising 4 blocks spread over an area of 1.8 million sq ft and located at Kanjurmarg, Mumbai. Each building shelters retail outlets at two levels and parking slots over three levels, in addition to office space over ten floors. The façade elements include composite glazing, aluminum cladding, glass enclosures, suspended glazing, entrance canopy, stone cladding and entrance glazing.

Lodha Excellus, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai

This is a proposed corporate office in Mumbai meant for clients based out of the Apollo Mills compound. The façade is made up of structural glazing, terrace awning, aluminum fins, shop front glazing and stone cladding. Vertical structures in stone on two sides of the building add visual appeal.

Inorbit Mall, Hyderabad

This Retail Mall is in the Cyberabad region of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and has a total built up area of 800,000 square feet. The Mall has a unique atrium skylight with a combination of metal roof and laminated glass.

Taj ITPL Hotel, Bangalore

Taj ITPL Hotel is a 250 room hotel located in Whitefield, the IT hub of Bangalore. The facade envelope comprises of a combination of coloured laminated glass, insulated glass and ceramic frit glass. The design incorporates horizontal LED rope lights for the curtain wall in a staggered pattern and vertical cold cathode lights at the suspended glazing area. The canopy comprises glass encased in a steel sub-structure.

Park Hyatt, Hyderabad

The Park Hyatt in Hyderabad includes a rain screen design featuring indigenous Indian granite cladding, extruded terra cotta sunscreens, low-e insulated glass and architectural metal accents. The atrium features a high span skylight with patterned glass for maximum day lighting balanced with sun control.

Sun Court Residential Towers, Noida

Sun Court Residential Towers at Greater Noida comprises of four residential towers, all unique in their features. They include external façade elements such as curtain walls with sunshade devices, vertical sunshades, flying glass buttresses at terrace level, double height lobby, entrance canopy, glass railing and skylight at terrace floor level.

Banyan Park, Mumbai

The façade of Banyan Park at Andheri in Mumbai is infused with glazed window walls and curtain walls strategically placed to take advantage of natural daylighting while minimizing direct sun exposure. The facade design features a rain screen concept that facilitates the ease of rinsing during rainfall to keep the facade clean.