Glass has become a very popular raw material when it comes to house construction. Many modern buildings are using glass to replace less versatile materials. This has led to the emergence of glass houses.
Smart glass is a newer type of switchable glass that can become a key part of modern interior design. It can be used to allow more natural light flow on command and is extremely durable.
Smart glass is a versatile construction material that takes glass architecture to a whole new level. Thanks to its properties as a hard glazing material, it has numerous architectural applications in doors, windows, partitions, skylights, etc.
With that in mind, how do you upgrade your glass house design with smart glass?
What is a Glass House?
A glass house is a residential building that uses glass as the primary construction material. The transparent or translucent glass panels can be molded into any shape, making it an important structural and decorative member in many houses, including multi-story buildings.
Using smart glass Malaysia in construction enhances the houses’ interior design, energy usage, and daylighting architecture.
Over the years, research has been carried out on glass to make the most out of its features such as its thermal transmittance, UV transmittance, refractive index, etc.
Here are some of the advantages of using glass for construction:
1. Sustainable
Glass is 100% recyclable and can be easily incorporated into various sustainable interior design projects. This goes a long way in saving natural resources. Glass provides great benefits to the environment which makes it sustainable – helps mitigate climate change.
Another related reason why glass is greatly embraced in construction is its inert nature. This safeguards the health and well-being of the people living in the beautiful glass house design Malaysia.
2. Affordable
As we previously mentioned, glass is recyclable. The recycling process saves on resources and energy. Since the glass doesn’t degrade during the recycling process, it can be recycled multiple times without compromising on quality or purity.
The manufacturing process is cost-effective, and this makes the glass a more affordable alternative compared to other construction materials.
3. Visual Appeal
Glass is aesthetically appealing and can, therefore, make a residential building look more stunning. If you’re looking to upgrade your simple glass house design to add more beauty to it and make it more sophisticated, leverage glass architecture.
4. Versatile
Glass is one of the most versatile construction materials to ever exist. One of the main reasons why architects prefer using glass in construction is that it can be pressed to any shape as desired. They can also add patterns to the glass, creating interesting mosaics on the building façade. Additionally, you can find glass in all colors to fit your preference.
5. Sense of Spaciousness
Glass is used by architects for obvious transparency reasons. It helps create borderless living spaces that sync with its environment. When used in the interiors, glass creates a psychological sense of space. The energy-saving smart glass also allows brightness to pass through it, leaving the occupants feeling connected with the people, objects, or space behind the glass.
Modern Home Design with Smart Glass
Over the years, architects have leveraged this impressively unique construction material to create exquisite residential masterpieces. No material matches the versatility of glass when used as a construction material – its possibilities are limitless.
Let’s look at the numerous applications of smart glass in residential buildings:
1. Smart Glass Windows
The windows can change from clear to frosted with the flick of a switch. This gives the room occupants instant privacy while still allowing different amounts of light to shine in.
When smart glass is used in the place of regular glass, it eliminates the need for traditional privacy solutions such as curtains, shades, and blinds. It is a testament to minimalist design.
2. Smart Glass Skylights
Smart glass skylights have now become a popular choice for internal temperature control installed on the roof. They help enforce a contemporary design feature that brings in lots of light to the ground floor.
Since they usually expose the interior because they’re in hard-to-reach places and can’t be covered, they need to offer a way of regulating the amount of heat that comes in.
3. Smart Glass Partitions
Are you considering installing a glass partition wall to enhance your home’s interior? Smart glass partitions are your best bet for an open floor plan without compromising on privacy.
They not only look elegant but also save on space so you can add them to your layout. They’ll divide rooms without completely shutting the partitioned space off from visibility and flow of light.
4. Smart Glass Doors
Architects use toughened or laminated glass to make smart glass doors. Apart from turning from clear to opaque, these doors are an impressive solution for improving security.
The doors are reinforced with steel frames and can be integrated with other safety smart glass technology solutions for home automation.
Why Choose Smart Glass Over Regular Glass?
Incorporating glass into your architecture will boost your house’s functionality, interior design versatility, and aesthetics. People who wish to live in harmony with the great outdoors can now build smart glass houses with a transparent appeal that gives them spectacular views.
Let’s discuss the main reasons why most people opt for smart glass as opposed to regular glass when designing glass houses:
1. Instant Privacy
With smart glass on your floor-to-ceiling windows, doors, and partitions, you won’t need other privacy solutions such as curtains. This makes it a great alternative especially in places where there’s limited space or risk of too much dust accumulation or water damage.
A good application example is in making a glass box bathroom. Bring modern simplicity into your home by installing smart glass partitions into your master suite bedroom.
The glass changes from clear to opaque and vice versa to suit the occupant’s privacy needs. The transparency levels are altered by passing a voltage through it. When electricity is applied, the liquid crystal molecules get oriented in one direction, causing the glass to become clear.
When the reverse happens, the molecules become misaligned and so the glass becomes opaque, providing the much-needed privacy.
2. Enhanced Security
The smart glass’ ability to control lighting conditions is not only needed to offer privacy. It also provides users with security because it prevents outsiders in the garden lawn from seeing what’s going on in the main living room.
Additionally, the glass is reinforced to make it shatterproof, fireproof, bulletproof, etc. If the glass is resistant to all these external forces, there’s a surety of the occupant’s safety.
3. Energy Efficient
The transparent glass walls bring in lots of light making them ideal for installation in areas that require to be well lit such as study rooms or home libraries. This eliminates the need for artificial lighting.
Again, the breathtaking view of the existing trees provides a connection with the natural beauty, improving concentration.
Smart glass walls act as an insulator and block harmful sun rays, protecting your family and eliminating the need for interior cooling/ heating when it’s too hot/cold outside.
4. Long-Lasting
The strength and durability of this type of glass are unmatched compared to stone, wood, and other construction materials This means that you won’t easily see it cracked, broken, discolored, or degraded gradually by chemicals or activities in the surrounding environment.
Thanks to its chemical composition together with the toughening, smart glass is not easily affected by external forces such as abrasion, rust, fire, radiation, blasting, weather elements, etc.
5. Hygienic
Overall, glass requires a lot less effort to clean and disinfect, compared to curtains, shades, and blinds. Its smooth and glossy surface makes it dust-proof and very easy to clean and, therefore, a more hygienic option. That’s why most hospitals prefer glass because it can be disinfected efficiently.
Another advantage of smart glass over traditional privacy solutions is that it’s waterproof making it easy to maintain.
Summary
Glass is one of the oldest construction materials that make houses glamorous. It can be customized into so many different shapes, styles, widths, and colors to come up with a beautiful design.
Do you need to build a four bedrooms glasshouse as your next residential construction project for your family? Look no further than Chiefway – Malaysia’s top smart glass provider.
Check out our range of products today and revolutionize your home with smart glass!