GLASS VEIL

Type : PROJECT / PRODUCT
Patent : GRANTED
Year : 2016→
Status : R&D
Studio : VS-A.DESIGN
Next Phase : SEEKING INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OR APPLICATION ON SITE

Huge glass walls with no visible supports is every Architect’s a dream.

Since 1947, glass could be theoretically produced at endless lengths, and many Architects and Engineers have found many fantastic solutions to create glass facades of such scale. Today we’re proud to say that there’s a new technical possibility.

Conventional glass facades are rarely able to extract the full structural potential of glass. Conventionally glass is only subjected to bending which is resisted by a support structure (like mullions and cables) and/ or the bending stiffness of the glass itself.

Glass Veil utilizes the tensile resistance of the glass plane itself, to be stretched like a membrane to resist the wind loads. All the (minimal) structure needed to stretch the glass is hidden above the ceiling, and the facade presents a totally obstacle free view from both outside and inside.

This proposal is compatible with pyrolithic coatings, self-cleaning coatings, silk screen printing, safety or other solar protective films.

It can cope with structural movements, temperature differences, strong winds and seismic loads.

Some constraints include; the requirement for stiff and strong boundaries; qualified and experienced contractors; bespoke studies for each project; the application of single monolithic glass (annealed or more frequently heat-strengthened).

Ongoing developments look to introduce the IGU panels, irregular geometries, and changing heights.