Vision glass is simply any type of glass that you can see through. It is the primary material used in windows and curtain walls designed to allow natural light into a building and provide views to the outside.
Understanding Vision Glass
Based on its definition, vision glass serves the fundamental purpose of transparency. It enables visibility, connecting the interior space with the external environment. This contrasts sharply with other types of glass used in building facades.
Vision glass is explicitly defined as being the opposite of spandrel glass. Unlike vision glass, spandrel glass consists of opaque glass panels that are typically located between areas of vision glass on a building's exterior.
Vision Glass vs. Spandrel Glass
The distinction between these two types of architectural glass is crucial for understanding their function in building design:
- Vision Glass: Transparent or translucent, allowing light and views. Used in windows and areas where seeing through the glass is desired.
- Spandrel Glass: Opaque, blocking light and views. Used to conceal building elements like floor slabs, structural beams, or mechanical systems.
Spandrels are often used to hide the parts of the building's structure that are located between floors or above ceilings, such as:
- Columns and floor slabs
- HVAC systems and vents
- Electrical wiring
- Plumbing
By using spandrel glass in these areas, architects can maintain a continuous, uniform glass look across the facade while discreetly hiding necessary structural and mechanical components. Vision glass, in contrast, is installed where transparency is needed for occupants to see out and for daylight to enter.
Key Characteristics
In summary, vision glass is characterized by:
- Transparency: You can see through it.
- Purpose: Providing views, allowing natural light.
- Contrast: The opposite of opaque spandrel glass.
This clear distinction highlights vision glass's role in creating habitable, naturally lit interior spaces within buildings featuring extensive glass exteriors.
