The idea of using glass in the construction of residential buildings originated at the beginning of the last century, gradually gaining very wide popularity. Over several decades, engineers and builders have developed many different technologies that make it possible to implement almost any design solution that involves the use of translucent materials in construction.
Modern two-story glass house
If the owners of shopping centers, offices and banks, when choosing a house with glass facades, are guided, first of all, by the prestige of such buildings, then the owners of private houses and apartments pay attention to a number of other characteristics. For example, a living space must have the required amount of sunlight, since its lack can cause headaches, fatigue, bad mood, depression, etc. in residents. Translucent facades not only provide the required level of lighting, but also allow significant savings on electricity, which is spent on artificial light in the premises. It is also worth noting that such walls do not create any obstacles to the view of the landscape surrounding the house (due to which you can always keep an eye on children walking in the yard without any inconvenience).
In this video you can look at the features of the construction of modern glass half-timbered houses
Stylish design project for a private house made of concrete and glass
The Beautiful Country House portal always presents the most interesting projects. One of them is a manor designed by famous architects and designers. GP House is decorated in a light, relaxed manner. In this case, different textured accents are used - wood, stone, concrete, glass.
The facade of the mansion is glass, that is, the first and second floors are completely open to sunlight, which creates the lightness of the concrete structure. The side parts of the wall and the roof consist of thermal concrete. On the upper level there is an open terrace, which is fenced with metal railings.
The staircase leading there is closed on three sides by a structure made of natural stone.
The walls of the apartments are concrete, in some segments painted with light paint. The furniture and interior decoration items in the rooms are unusual in shape, and in some places even evoke a feeling of space.
Every design concept should have a twist, and this project is no exception. On the second floor, near the flight of stairs, there is a panoramic opening on the ceiling, through which rays of light penetrate during the day, and at night you can admire the starry sky.
The stone structure has an artificial decorative fireplace on one side, which makes the room more cozy and comfortable.
Along the entire perimeter of the facade windows there is a pond with plants and the addition of stone elements, which gives the feeling of being in nature near the lake.
The bedrooms, children's room, home theater, and bathroom are located upstairs. To give privacy to the space, wooden bars similar to blinds are used on the windows.
The mansion includes such contradictory components as modern functionality and the use of natural materials, glazed facades and unity with nature.
What benefits do glass blocks contain?
This design has a lot of good characteristics, which is why many choose this design for use in their interior:
Special diploma
- MATREX, Business Center in Skolkovo
- Moscow, Skolkovo Innovation Center
- BERNASKONI
The building combines several city functions at once. It simultaneously houses start-up offices, an official residence, a transforming hall, a museum spiral, and a restaurant-observation deck.
Inside the truncated pyramid is a space in the shape of a giant matryoshka doll. There are functional rooms around the nesting doll in the volume of the pyramid.
The shell façade is maximally open to natural light. Light passes into the nesting doll through 61 light lanterns in the dome. Smart glass with controlled transparency regulates the luminous flux. If necessary, the dome illuminates the nesting doll with daylight or becomes opaque during events. With the help of light, the building is visually transformed during the day. During the day it is a pyramid, in the evening it is a glowing nesting doll. The backlight changes the temperature of artificial lighting depending on the time of year.
Transparent panoramic elevator cabins move along the inclined surfaces of the building.
Winter gardens
One of the types of facade glazing. In most cases, single-chamber double-glazed windows in aluminum, PVC or wooden profiles are used. The best option is an aluminum profile with a thermal break. It provides the necessary structural strength.
The outer side of the single-chamber package is made of impact-resistant tempered glass. The inner side is made of anti-vandal glass, which does not form sharp fragments when broken.
Wooden house with glass walls
Currently, glass house projects designed in the Scandinavian style are becoming increasingly popular. The most pleasant feature of such structures is that they fit very beautifully and easily into the surrounding landscape, thereby achieving a unified composition between the home and the garden.
A house made of wood and glass requires very careful design of the interior and proper selection of each piece of furniture (ideally, it should be in harmony with the glass, without standing out too much from the general background). The combination of glass and wood can rightfully be considered very original and unusual, which not every person will decide on. The ideal color scheme for the layout of such a house would be light colors diluted with gray and beige. These colors will promote good rest and relaxation after a hard day at work. In most cases, it is not the external walls that are made of glass, but the internal ones, but if you want to create the illusion of the roof floating in the air, it is recommended to give preference to external glass walls. Such houses, quite suitable for permanent residence (and not just seasonal), blend wonderfully with the surrounding nature.
If you want furniture made according to the latest fashion trends to ideally combine with natural materials, it is recommended to use light shades when decorating the interior of the house. You can add more comfort and warmth through high windows or panoramic windows. If you prefer two-story spacious mansions, then when planning, try to allocate space for the kitchen, dining room and living room on the ground floor. These are the most important rooms, traditionally located in this part of the home.
If desired, the kitchen and dining room can be combined, which will create a larger space that can be carefully zoned, for example, using a screen made of safety glass. This technique will allow you to visually increase the available space without disturbing the functional purpose of each individual room. An essential element of any cozy living room is a good old fireplace, which will warm you up and give the house a special, magical atmosphere. In addition, in the living room you can place a coffee table, the design of which used wood, and leather furniture, which will be in perfect harmony with the surrounding space.
House built of glass and wood
Which is better: a partition with a steel profile or an aluminum one?
Steel is a stronger material than aluminum. In addition, steel profiles weigh more, which, in turn, affects their load-bearing capacity. This is why this material is recommended for most projects.
However, if the glass structure is expected to come into frequent contact with water, it is best to choose aluminum profiles for it. Aluminum, unlike steel, is not afraid of moisture. That is why glass doors and partitions in shower cabins are usually equipped with aluminum profiles.
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Stained glass glazing
This type has recently begun to be used for glazing attics and balconies of private cottages on several floors.
Stained glass glazing involves the installation of a translucent building system, which includes a self-supporting frame made of a profile and elements made of double-glazed windows or triplex. Aluminum and steel are used to make the profile.
The peculiarity of stained glass work is that it is carried out from inside the room. Therefore, there is no need to attract additional high-altitude equipment.
Stained glass glazing is used in places where it is difficult to install simple plastic or wooden window blocks. This applies to bay windows and spans.
Advantages of stained glass glazing:
- strength and durability;
- excellent light transmission;
- ease of repair;
- good thermal insulation and sound insulation properties;
- attractive appearance.
The disadvantages of stained glass glazing include the high cost of installation, the impossibility of creating convex elements and the difficulty of washing the glass from the outside.
Expert advice on choosing plastic windows for a country house:
Glazing with plastic windows with layout
Layouts are a type of decorative design of double-glazed windows. With their help, the window structure is divided into several segments.
Since layouts make the block heavier, increase its cost and contribute to heat loss, decorative strips are used in plastic windows to imitate the layout.
Such products have a presentable appearance and are resistant to deformation.
There are two types of layouts:
- Venetian;
- Viennese
With the help of the Venetian layout, the window takes on a new look. To carry it out, a decorative profile is attached to the outside of the window block.
For greater plausibility, the strips should also be attached from the inside. The main thing in the work is not to overdo it, since all additional elements reduce the flow of light into the room.
The advantages of this type of window decoration:
- ease of installation;
- low cost of materials;
- installation is carried out at any stage of window installation;
- fresh design of the window block.
Since these decorative elements are exposed to weather conditions, their service life is short. In addition, they complicate window maintenance. Dirt accumulates around the slats on the outside of the window and its removal is a rather labor-intensive process.
With the Viennese layout, decorative plastic, metal, and wooden panels are installed outside the glass. They have sealing gaskets. And inside the double-glazed window, a spacer frame is installed, which simulates the division of glass into segments. This technique promotes maximum similarity with the real layout, but has a significant drawback - it increases the heat loss of the glass unit.
Non-standard options
Special glass blocks are used to create wall structures. They are similar in shape to ordinary bricks, and their connection is ensured by an adhesive composition. The stores offer a wide range of blocks of various shades and sizes, making it possible to create an original addition to the room.
Cans and bottles have found their use. Using such free material, many craftsmen create not just partitions, but real works of art.
Glass walls with water are another non-standard method that combines modern technological achievements and new fashion trends. The design can have different shapes and not only fill with water, but the liquid can smoothly move or pour out, like a real waterfall. Lighting devices in the form of iridescent lighting enhance the resulting effect.
Features of operation of a glass partition
In order for the structure to be strong, durable and not require special care, when installing it you must adhere to some rules:
- To ensure that all furniture elements are functionally arranged, the wall modules are installed at right angles.
- Installation can only begin after finishing work has been completely completed.
- It is important to take into account the possible expansion of materials, making a technical gap between panels of 3-5 mm.
- To avoid difficulties with the operation of attachments, the vertical wall must be strictly level.
Isolating a recreation area with a glass partition Source okostroy.ru
Characteristic features of glass houses
Glass as a building material is quickly gaining popularity. More and more often you can see houses in which part of the walls are made of glass. This is explained by some of the features that such a house has.
- Significant savings on lighting. During the daytime, there is practically no need to use lighting fixtures; a sufficient amount of light penetrates through the glass walls. It's as bright inside the house as it is outside.
- Through the glass walls you can freely admire the beautiful landscape and also keep an eye on the children walking in the yard.
- Glass is an environmentally friendly material, so such houses are safe for humans.
- Glass is a non-allergenic material, so it is ideal for people with allergies.
- Glass walls are a poor conductor of heat, so the house will maintain a constant temperature.
- Various types of glass are used for construction. You can make glass inserts in a regular wall.
- Glass has a long service life.
- Glass walls protect well from wind, water, and dust.
- Glass has an attractive appearance. If you wish, you can decorate the walls with an unusual pattern.
- Glass does not burn, so there is no need to stock up on fire protection equipment.
Such a huge number of advantages of glass as a building material cannot but push architects to create real works of art from it.
Small glass house for a comfortable stay in the wild
Ultra-modern private house with walls made of transparent glass, far from civilization
Beautiful and practical design of a private house made of transparent glass with a green lawn on the roof
Original design of a small house built of glass in a distant forest thicket
Glass house for a secluded holiday away from the noisy city in the forest
The glass private house is designed for secluded relaxation in the lap of picturesque nature
Creative guest house design with glass walls
A luxurious house in a classic style with walls made of transparent glass makes it in demand for creative people
A small but very cozy and comfortable glass house in the greenest corner of private land
Cozy glamorous glass guest house with beautiful landscaping around it
Conclusion
The design of a glass wall should be comfortable and safe, functional and beautiful. To do this, choose designs made of high-quality, tempered glass with a reliable type of fastening.
During the design and construction of a private house, everyone wants their future home to be not only functional and reliable, but also attractive in appearance. To realize a luxurious private home, there are many different design ideas and solutions that can make the building unique in appearance. Recently, houses in a modern style with panoramic glass have become very popular.
However, recently glass houses have become the most original idea. Until recently, the crystal palace existed only in the imagination and fairy tales, but now it is a reality that can be realized thanks to high modern technologies. New types of heavy-duty glass have the same technical, physical and operational properties as popular building materials, so a glass house is not only a dream, but also a reality.
List of sources
- furniturelab.ru
- tskmn.ru
- skalice.ru
- icaev.ru
- rusmig.ru
Cylindrical glass house around a tree by Aibek Almasov
A Kazakh architect has designed an unusual 12-meter-high glass house in the middle of the forest.
The walls of the house are made of glass, which allows you to enjoy the panorama of the surrounding nature. And the foresters will look at you with interest, since even the shower cabin is designed completely transparent. Along the edge of the wall there is a minimalist spiral staircase that leads to the roof. It offers views of the green sea from the treetops. For the floor, the architect chose light wood flooring that blends perfectly with the space around it. A mature pine tree should rise in the center of the cylinder, which will act as a natural and main interior decor.
Aibek paid a lot of attention to the environmental friendliness of the house. Its upper part collects and purifies rainwater, and solar panels made of transparent panels are attached to the walls of the house. For now they are at the finalization stage.
Aibek clarifies that the structure is designed to be able to break out of the “concrete boxes” and feel unity with nature. And he compares climbing the steps with the stages of spiritual purification and enlightenment.
The project aroused public interest, but remained on paper, without receiving funds for implementation from investors.
Sliding House by dRMM
Architects from London-based dRMM have designed a barn-style house in Suffolk with movable walls and a roof. The client set a simple goal: “To build a home to grow into old age, grow vegetables, entertain and enjoy the views of East Anglia.” The house was made up of three parts: the main building, a guest wing and a greenhouse.
A mobile wooden element 28 meters long and weighing 50 tons hides a real house underneath, and moves on special rails with the help of a powerful motor. It serves as excellent protection from bad weather. It takes 6 minutes to completely “open” the house. The interior of the structure is completely made of glass.
Separately, it is worth noting the website dedicated to this house. On it you can see the plan of the building, the stages of construction, and examine it from all sides in many photographs and videos. It is especially interesting to read the diary at home.
Glass floor
A transparent floor creates an extraordinary impression through the illusion of no support under your feet. It is difficult to list the scope of application of glass floors - these include translucent ceilings between floors, glazed niches in the floor, staircases, podiums, and observation decks in clubs, concert halls, restaurants, etc.
The design of the floor depends on the functional purpose of the premises. It is clear that the requirements for a residential floor are different from those for an office floor or dance floor. However, in each case the floor must withstand a load of 400 kg/m2 without problems. To prevent the glass floor from being slippery, it is subjected to processing (sandblasting or silk-screen printing).
For the manufacture of glass floor elements, float glass is used, which can be transparent, tinted or with a mirror coating. A design solution could be the use of decorative glass with various patterns.
Options for glazed facades, verandas, terraces
Panoramic or partial glazing
The answer depends on the height of the walls and, in principle, their presence. When the walls are completely covered, a partial method is suitable; when there is a roof and a frame, then panoramic windows will be the ideal choice for creating an attractive, aesthetically rich terrace.
You will need to decide whether wall or roof glazing will be used based on the type of construction. If there is no roof or any kind of canopy, then you cannot do without a roof. In vertical planes it is better to focus on wall design.
Frame and frameless glazing methods
Glass floors and glass ceiling
Recently, designers have increasingly resorted to creating glass floor panels in floor slabs so that light penetrates not only to the top floor, but also to all levels of the building. However, there are many problems associated with installing a glass ceiling. First of all, this is the weight of the structure. Since the glass is transparent, it creates a misconception about its lightness (an adult will barely lift 12mm laminated glass covering 1 m2).
Thus, if you want to install a glass ceiling, you need to be sure that the house will withstand such a load. To install glass ceilings, laminated tempered glass is used.
More often, glass ceilings are made suspended. Depending on the glass used (mirror or frosted), mirrored and frosted ceilings are distinguished. The advantage of frosted glass is its ability to perfectly diffuse light from point or fluorescent sources, which can create magnificent lighting and visual effects and a soft glow.
Elements of glass ceilings are secured using screws or decorative beads and strips. Stained glass artistic ceilings are made by applying photo printing to a special film, which is then glued to the glass.
Installation
Please pay attention to the following installation methods for such structures:
- You can install glass blocks using glue.
- Installation of glass blocks without using mortar.
- You can also install them using cement mortar.
Note! The most difficult method of installing such structures will be installation using mortar. However, this method is the most budget-friendly and is what various masters use.
Advantages of a facade with glass
It is very important for cottage owners that their house stands out from others. At the same time remaining comfortable for living
The glass facade fully meets these and some other requirements:
Daylight
Thanks to the transparency of the walls, they do not retain sunlight, but completely let it into the premises.
There are three types of lighting: vertical, horizontal, combined. In houses built according to the classic “brick and window” scheme: there is only a horizontal window, limited to small sizes.
If the house has panoramic windows, transparent walls or a roof, then this is a combined method, including both horizontal and vertical types of natural lighting.
Energy efficiency
Each building has its own energy passport, which reflects the standard costs of heat and light energy to ensure its functioning. The lower these costs, the better. Recently, trends in architecture have been moving towards “green” houses, with high energy conservation rates. Due to its high light transmittance, the glass facade of the house outperforms other architectural solutions in this indicator.
Beauty and uniqueness
The dazzling shine under the rays of the sun, multi-colored reflections and constantly changing (depending on the viewing angle) pattern put the glass facade of a private house at the highest levels in the attractiveness rating. The variety of shapes, wide choice of colors of panoramic windows, stained glass windows and entrance groups allows you to create a unique design, giving each home a unique luster and uniqueness.
If the owner does not want to deviate from the classic building made of brick and concrete, then a “decorative facade”, where glass elements are mounted for beauty, will be a good compromise option.
Microclimate inside the house
Complete or partial replacement of opaque enclosing structures with transparent bags radically changes the microclimate. The house seems to blend into the surrounding landscape, and through the ventilation hatches there is a constant flow of fresh air.
There is the tallest building in the world that mankind has ever built, as well as the tallest hotel, the tallest residential building... and in general they have the BEST everything there!
To build all these grandiose and fantastic buildings, engineers and scientists had to create new, unique types of concrete and invent the latest technologies for its laying.
So, we bring to your attention the concrete “toys” of Arab sheikhs.
1. The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa skyscraper.
Of course, we should start with the tallest, most important skyscraper in the world. The 828-meter-high Burj Khalifa was immediately nicknamed the new Tower of Babel after its opening. This super-mega-high-rise in one blow broke a lot of high-rise construction records, and at the same time all conceivable limits of human vanity.
A special grade of concrete was developed especially for the Burj Khalifa, which can withstand temperatures up to +50 °C. It was poured only at night, and ice was added to the solution.
The Burj Khalifa was originally planned to be the tallest building in the world. When the skyscraper was still under construction, its design height was kept secret and had the opportunity to increase if necessary. This was done in case a taller building appeared sometime during this time.
The building has 57 elevators. In this case, only the service elevator rises from the first floor to the last. Residents and visitors of the skyscraper have to move between floors with transfers. The elevators installed in the skyscraper are the highest speed in the world, they are capable of reaching speeds of up to 18 m/s.
Among the two dozen achievements included in the Guinness Book of Records are a restaurant on the 112th floor, a nightclub on the 144th and a mosque on the 158th. All of them are the highest in their categories. Tourists are usually invited to visit the observation deck, which is located on the 124th floor. The glass does not allow dust to pass through and repels sunlight, allowing you to maintain optimal temperature in the building. The surface area of all floors is approximately equal to 17 football fields.
However, these sky-high records will soon be broken. In the coming years, right here in Dubai, they plan to build a new skyscraper more than a kilometer high. But more on that later.
Dubai is a city of skyscrapers that can reach the sky. And even higher...
Notice the large shadow of the Burj Khalifa, crossing out almost half the city.
The fact is that there was such a project - a “supergiant sundial”, where specially built skyscrapers were supposed to act as dial marks, to which the shadow arrow would point. And the whole city would act as the dial itself. But who knows, maybe this grandiose project will be implemented.
2. The world's only 7-star hotel - Burj Al Arab
This concrete masterpiece skyscraper is no less famous. It was he who became not only the “calling card” of both the city and the entire country, a symbol of economic prosperity and wasteful luxury of all oil-producing Arab countries, but also the incredible capabilities of concrete as a unique building material. The Burj Al Arab is the only 7-star hotel on Earth.
Its other name, more common, is the Parus Hotel. This is the main skyscraper in Dubai and the most luxurious skyscraper in the world, 321 meters high.
This is where architects, designers and builders have deployed their full potential, using all modern concrete construction technologies. What other material could make such fantasies come true?
To see all the incredible wealth from the inside, you don’t have to sell a kidney and check into one of the hotel’s VIP rooms. There is an option to book a table at any of the 10 local restaurants and take a short tour of the main state rooms along the way. You will definitely be able to gaze at the world's largest atrium, an aquarium with sharks, and a golden sunset in the Persian Gulf through the glass of the panoramic elevator.
3. The pearl of an artificial island - Hotel Atlantis
But even these two successfully implemented super-projects are inferior in their ambition to another Arab idea. In the future, a network of artificial artificial islands (or “palms”) should turn into an eastern Las Vegas beach, where you can relax and spend money around the clock and on a serious scale. And on these islands the next creations of concrete and glass will be built. This is how sites and testing grounds are created for future concrete masterpieces.
Of the three planned islands, only one is functioning so far - the Palm Jumeirah, on the white sands of which rises the gigantic Atlantis Hotel, one of the concrete behemoths of Dubai. It amazes not with its height, but with its size and scope.
The structure of the island, five kilometers long, consists of a “trunk” and 16 “leaves” extending from it, lined with hotels, shops, villas and restaurants. The island is protected from waves from the Persian Gulf by a powerful breakwater in the shape of a crescent. You can get to Palm Jumeirah by monorail, which runs along a bridge built to the island.
The other two islands, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, are still far from being completed. But there is no doubt that the Arabs will successfully bring this project to completion. So far, all that is known is that on the first of them another concrete skyscraper will rise (the tender was won by Nakheel Properties), which will become another record holder in height, surpassing the Khalifa Tower itself. Its height will have to exceed a whole kilometer.
The hotel itself, a six-star beauty made of concrete and glass (Dubais decided that this creation of theirs was too magnificent for the usual five stars, but still does not reach the level of “Sail”), rises in the center of that very artificial island “Palm Jumeirah”.
The hotel opened with great aplomb in September 2008, the opening ceremony was attended by many celebrities, and the fireworks launched into the sky were seven times more powerful than those at the opening of the Beijing Olympics the month before. The Arab sheikhs wanted to outdo the whole world in this too.
4. The tallest residential building in the world - Princess Tower
The Princess Tower is the tallest residential building not only in Dubai, but throughout the world. The 414-meter-high skyscraper consists of 107 ground floors and 100 underground levels. With this building, the creators showed that high-rise buildings made of concrete and glass are also suitable for residential construction.
The skyscraper is located in the fashionable Dubai Marina area on the first line from the sea. The residential premises are mostly 1-3 bedroom apartments and penthouses. There are also swimming pools, gyms, saunas, areas for children, various shops, underground parking, tennis facilities and billiard rooms.
The Dubai Marina area itself, where the Princess Tower residential skyscraper is located, is built along an artificial canal filled with salt water. In fact, this is an “exhibition-collection” of masterpieces made of concrete and glass. Well-to-do citizens live here, whose yachts bob on the waters of the Persian Gulf in the local bay.
On the canal embankment, life is in full swing around the clock, and many restaurants and cafes with open-air verandas are open day and night.
5. The best skyscrapers in the world - Al Bahar Towers ( Abu Dhabi)
This is no longer Dubai. There are buildings that amaze the imagination of the most sophisticated tourists in Abu Dhabi. It was not for nothing that the Al-Bahar Towers, erected in 2012, were recognized as the best skyscrapers in the world built of concrete. These 29-story buildings are a combination of new energy-efficient building technologies, the use of concrete and glass for construction, and at the same time the traditional Arabic architectural style of mashrabiya (finely latticed windows with complex patterns).
The main task of the architects was to keep the rooms cool even in 50-degree heat and not use a huge number of air conditioners. It is for this purpose that the towers were wrapped in a giant shielding façade, which consists of more than a thousand moving elements. They open and close throughout the day depending on the position of the sun.
The lattice screen covers almost the entire surface of the towers. It not only reduces the heat input into the building by 50%, but also provides ventilation and reduces the need for artificial light. Energy efficient technologies in action.
6. Tilted skyscraper – Capital Gate ( “ Capital Gate ” )
The construction of the Capital Gate was not easy for Abu Dhabi. The building's record tilt (18 degrees, which is four times more than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy) and its unique geometric shape required new engineering solutions and unique materials, including new types of concrete. But the city really wanted to have its own “leaning tower” with an eye on the Guinness Book of Records.
Everything in this building is original, from the dense grid of reinforcing steel foundation piles to the façade double-glazed windows with low heat transfer, absolute transparency and no glare. A non-standard solution was a stainless steel “veil” that protects the tower from direct sunlight and absorbs a third of their heat.
7. Concrete miracle in the desert - Ferrari World amusement park in Abu Dhabi
But it's not just skyscrapers that impress in Abu Dhabi. An equally unique building structure that forced architects to show maximum imagination and ingenuity in the use of concrete was the Ferrari World amusement park. This “Disneyland for adults” is clearly visible even from a sky-high airplane height, perhaps even from space.
A huge bright red concrete triangle with sides a kilometer long and a 65-meter logo is located in the sandy desert. To create such a unique ceiling, unique engineering developments and unique types of concrete were required.
Every day here you can see crowds of fans of different ages of the products of the Italian automaker and lovers of thrilling adventures who come to the attractions from the 3D Formula 1 simulator to American racing, where Ferrari-shaped carts fly at a speed of 240 km/h.
8. Yas Marina Circuit
If we’re talking about Formula 1, then we can’t help but mention the real working track of this super championship, built in the UAE. The use of concrete made it possible to create not only the track itself, but also the entire complex of buildings, which became one of the masterpieces of glass and concrete.
This five and a half kilometer long track on Yas Island is the most modern in Formula 1. Which in itself is a miracle of construction thought, because this unique structure was built in the desert. Since 2009, the last stage of the world season has been held here in November. Between races, anyone can race around the track in karts or light race cars.
9. “Precious Skyscraper ” – “ Diamond” Tower
«Almas" or "Diamond" Tower is a completely office building located on the already familiar artificial island of Jumeirah, created specifically for the construction of such concrete masterpieces. The skyscraper is 363 meters high and has 74 floors, which is not much compared to the Burj Khalifa, but still impressive.
It is not for nothing that the skyscraper is called the “Diamond Tower” - the offices of local and foreign companies associated with the gemstone industry, processing and sale of diamonds, pearls and emeralds are located here. In addition, the building has an exchange of precious stones and pearls, a club of precious stones, as well as various areas for negotiations, conference rooms, etc. The appearance once again confirms the truly inexhaustible possibilities of construction from concrete.
10. Vice-champion among hotels - Rose Tower
Another masterpiece of concrete and glass, the Rosa skyscraper, began to bear the proud title of the tallest hotel in the world after the Rosa Rotana hotel opened in April 2008. The building turned out to be higher than the famous Burj Al Arab (Parus Hotel), rising to 333 meters.
"Rose" is a beautiful architectural structure made of concrete and glass 72 floors high. From the 9th to the 60th floor there are modern rooms with excellent views of the city, each with internet, satellite TV, telephone, safe, desk, and a kitchen area where you can make coffee or tea and have a snack.
But in February 2013, “Rose” was forced to cede primacy to the Marriott Hotel, about which - a little lower.
11. The tallest hotel in the world - the Marriott Marcus Dubai skyscraper
The Marriott Marcus Dubai hotel, opened in February 2013, instantly became famous as the tallest hotel in the world and, naturally, it was included in the Guinness Book of Records.
The two glass and concrete hotel towers, 355 meters high, house 1,608 rooms and 14 restaurants and bars. The hotel is intended not only for accommodation, but also for exhibitions and high-class corporate events (the hotel has 7,500 m2 of conference space).
12. Another skyscraper hotel - Jumeirah Emirates Towers
The Jumeirah Emirates Towers skyscraper, or Emirates Tower 2, is the third tallest hotel in the world, behind only the Rose and Marriott.
The hotel consists of 56 floors and contains more than forty luxury rooms. The concrete and glass used in construction create the impression not of airiness and lightness, but of reliability and solidity. The height of the hotel is 309 meters. Construction of the hotel was completed on April 15, 2000.
13. The world's first round skyscraper - Aldar Building (Abu Dhabi)
If Dubai breaks records for the height of buildings made of concrete and glass, then Abu Dhabi breaks records for originality and unusualness. In addition to the falling skyscraper and energy-efficiency towers, the world's first round high-rise building was also built here. It is called the “Lens Building”.
According to the creators, this form symbolizes unity, stability and rationality. The skyscraper, which opened in 2010, houses a construction office. Literally, only the union of concrete and glass made it possible to create such an unusual and original masterpiece.
14. Largest trading
But let's come down from the sky-high heights. Concrete is used not only in the construction of skyscrapers. The largest shopping and entertainment complex in the world, the Dubai Mall, also built of concrete, is located next to the Burj Khalifa tower, only a couple of hundred meters between them. So the center's lifelong sold-out life is guaranteed by just one view of the giant tower: from below, it seems to have no end at all.
This explosive mixture of Disneyland and an oriental bazaar contains a huge number of attractions and shops and is a worthy competitor to its skyscraper neighbor.
15. Millennium Tower - Millennium skyscraper
Another creation made of concrete and glass was built in honor of the advent of the new millennium, which is why it bears such a name. The tower has a height of 285 meters and 60 floors. Construction, as is already clear, began in 2000 and was completed in 2006.
A feature of the skyscraper and at the same time an attraction is that next to the building there is a ten-story tower... for parking cars with 471 parking spaces.
16. “Swirling ” skyscraper – “Ocean Peaks ”
Ocean Peaks (Dubai) is one of the tallest skyscrapers built of concrete and glass. The height of the building is 310 meters, including 83 floors. Its construction was completed in 2010. The building is residential, and in the list of the tallest residential buildings in Dubai it ranks 3rd, second only to Marina and Princess.
The tower has a unique rotating shape, fully demonstrating the possibilities of building with concrete. At the same time, the project actually implemented is the third option proposed by the designers. The first project of this building included only 38 floors, and the second - 50. The result was 83 floors. This is what it means to believe in the material from which a skyscraper will be built.
17. Residential and commercial skyscraper - “HHHR Tower”
This residential and commercial skyscraper, 317 meters high, was also built in Dubai. Its construction began in 2006 and continued until 2009.
There are office premises on 4 floors, and luxury apartments on the rest. The appearance of the building made of concrete and glass once again confirms the unique properties of these materials not only for creating durable, but also aesthetic and modern structures.
18. "Infinity Tower" - skyscraper "Kian Tower"
This residential skyscraper, since June 10, 2013, is the tallest building in the world that is twisted by 90°. It was the use of concrete that made it possible to create such a unique structure.
The height of the skyscraper is 307.3 meters, the depth of the foundation is 27 meters. The building has 73 above-ground and 7 underground floors, 8 elevators, and a five-level underground parking lot.
The walls of the skyscraper from the base to the roof are evenly twisted by exactly 90°, each floor is rotated relative to the previous one by 1.2°, in addition, the premises are protected by movable perforated screens from direct sunlight. All communications of the skyscraper are located in the round “core” of the building and next to it, so they run exactly vertically and are not affected by the shape of the building.
19. Future record holder - Nakhil tower (project)
Now in Dubai, the development of the Nakheel Tower building project, the height of which will be 1400 meters, is in full swing! Just ten years ago this seemed impossible. But now - quite. Everyone has already become convinced of the incredible capabilities of concrete as a unique building material. It seems that nothing is impossible for him. You can build the most fantastic and incredible structures from it.
The super-record holder will be created as part of the construction of a new area of Dubai - Nakheel Harbour, where offices, hotels, residential buildings, shopping centers, parks and other urban infrastructure will be located. And the Nakheel Tower skyscraper will be the main pearl of this area.
The main engineering feature of the Nakheel Tower skyscraper is that the building will have as many as four cores, between which there will be slots in the center and closer to the top. This will distribute the load on the lower floors and the foundation, as well as reduce the wind load on the structure.
Of course, many “green” technologies will be used in the operation of Nakheel Tower. After all, providing water, gas and electricity to this huge skyscraper will be very difficult. Therefore, it is quite reasonable that solar panels, wind turbines and a water purification system will appear here.
20. Arabian Wonder of the World – “Rotating Tower” (object under construction)
This building under construction can rightfully be called another Arab wonder of the world made of concrete and glass. The rotating tower in Dubai will be able to change its shape. Architect David Fisher designed it so that each of the 80 floors of this high-rise will rotate 360 degrees every 90 minutes. The skyscraper will be called Dynamic Tower.
According to the architect's plan, the owner of any apartment in such a skyscraper will have the opportunity to wake up with the rays of the first sun, and in the evening - watch the sunset. The main thing is that the residents of such a house do not feel dizzy.
David Fisher's colleagues call his project a "concrete Rubik's cube." The skyscraper resembles a giant toy snake, each element of which creates the illusion of movement. Just imagine what cities will look like when most of the buildings in them change their shape.
All these super-record-breaking and simply beautiful buildings most clearly demonstrate the truly limitless possibilities of modern construction technologies using concrete.
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“Construction Rules”, No. 46 / 1, July 2014
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Glass half-timbered translucent frame house
Glass half-timbering is a technology for constructing frame houses, widespread in Europe and gradually gaining popularity in Russia. In short, the frame of the building is erected (usually up to 3 floors in height), and all or most of the wall sections in the spaces between the frame elements are made of thick multi-layer double-glazed windows.
What are the benefits of frame glass houses?
The appearance of the building is very attractive. Even if it is a large house with 2-3 floors, it will seem very elegant and light, almost weightless. At the same time, the absence of opaque walls will visually increase absolutely any room in the house. All natural light will be used to the maximum extent, and it will not be difficult to protect yourself from its excess with various curtains and blinds.
As for the constructive advantages of this technology, the shrinkage of half-timbered buildings is minimal or absent altogether. Like any other frame house, such a house will be erected quickly, and due to its relatively low weight (compared to stone buildings), there is no need for a very powerful foundation.
Glass partitions and aluminum doors with double-glazed windows look great in glass half-timbered interiors. The presence of such elements is quite justified; in addition, glass transparent niches in the floor of the upper floor can also look quite organic.
Many people are concerned about the issue of safety, but with glass half-timbered windows everything is in order. Not just glass is used, but multi-layered durable double-glazed windows
For home owners, this means that accidental damage to the walls, for example from a crashing bird, a fallen branch, careless movement or something similar, is unlikely. Of course, if you deliberately try to break the glass with a heavy object or special equipment, then in the end it will work, but no building is immune from this. Fire safety of the house is ensured by the use of laminated veneer lumber (which flares up more slowly and worse than solid wood) and its treatment with special impregnating compounds
The fire safety of the house is ensured by the use of laminated veneer lumber (which flares up more slowly and worse than solid wood) and its treatment with special impregnating compounds.
Disadvantages of glass half-timbered frames
It may seem that a half-timbered glass house is the optimal solution for private construction. In fact, everything is not so perfect; this technology is not without some drawbacks.
First of all, this is a question of heat in such a house. In Europe, where half-timbered wood is quite common, severe frosts are not such a common occurrence. And in Russian -20? C and -30? C, a glass house will require much higher heating costs than an insulated wooden or stone structure. In addition, standard radiators with glass walls will look unaesthetic; accordingly, the main source of heat will have to be underfloor heating or air heating.
The next problem is the building frame. The specifics of manufacturing laminated veneer lumber and its treatment with protective compounds do not completely eliminate the wood’s susceptibility to dampness and pest damage. Accordingly, at intervals of several years, the house will need to be carefully inspected, if necessary, problem areas will need to be repaired and the application of antiseptics and paint coatings will need to be repeated.
In addition, a glass house is not a cheap pleasure, not so much because of the work involved in its construction, but because of the price of construction materials.
What's the result?
A house built using half-timbered technology with glazing over most of the facade is certainly beautiful. But it makes sense to build it only if the plot area is large, because few people will like the fact that neighbors or random passers-by will see everything that happens inside. You should not choose this type of house design for permanent residence in cold climates. Of course, modern developments make it possible to reduce heat loss by sealing double-glazed windows and treating them with low-emission compounds that do not allow thermal radiation to pass out. But all this is not possible indefinitely, so in cold winters you will have to put up with low temperatures or seriously spend money on heating.
Glass partitions in the interior
Sliding interior partition made of corrugated glass Source uutvdome.ru
Using glass walls in the interior of a house Source prosteklo.com.ua
The use of glass walls in the interior of an apartment Source element.dp.ua Hinged glass partitions in the interior Source twist-steklo.ru
Living room interior in dark colors with a glass partition Source novyiprostir.com
Glass partitions in the hallway Source house-biz.com.ua Hinged glass partitions Source dmitrov.tiu.ru
Common myths about panoramic glazing of houses and cottages
Stereotype 1. Panoramic glazing - there is always a large heat loss through the double-glazed window
Today, even large double-glazed windows with multiple opening elements can prevent heat loss at the same level as the walls.
Panoramic structures can serve for a long time, flawlessly performing their assigned functions. But we must understand that this is not the equivalent of a regular non-opening window. This is a separate type of translucent structures that have a completely different operating principle and therefore require competent design. Simple double-glazed windows cannot be used for glazing walls.
Panoramic windows must meet certain requirements for heat and sound insulation properties, safety and resistance to deformation.
When designing panoramic glazing of a house, it is necessary to think through how the room will be ventilated, heated and protected from overheating.
For any climate zone, it is possible to select a double-glazed window that will not only prevent heat loss, but also reduce it using solar energy.
Stereotype 2. Panoramic glazing - always large heat losses through the profile
This is not true. With the right choice of profile, large heat losses can be avoided. When selecting, you need to focus on the dimensions of the structure.
The profile for panoramic glazing of a house can be wooden, aluminum or PVC
Each of them has its own characteristics that must be taken into account when designing a building
The use of PVC structures allows you to make a window in a single frame with an area of up to 8 m2 or even more (if you use a special facade profile). Such glazing elements require connections to compensate for temperature changes.
The basis for choosing a profile material should be a comparative technical and economic analysis of various options, the chosen design and color scheme.
The optimal design for a panoramic window 7.5 m wide and 2 floors high is made of aluminum.
Stereotype 3. Heating costs will increase
If you design the panoramic glazing of your home correctly, heating the room will not be much more expensive.
Many visitors to our portal, who implemented projects with floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding structures of impressive size, “disappearing walls” and other similar solutions, were pleasantly surprised by this fact.
Stereotype 4. Panoramic glazing is unsafe
Panoramic windows, which visually blur the boundaries between the room and the street space, are perceived by many as unreliable and do not protect against the entry of strangers. After all, concrete is definitely stronger than glass, which can even be broken with a brick. Homeowners who dream of sliding glass walls often think this way.
However, such concern is unfounded: our expert claims that special durable glass is used to glaze the walls, which is not destroyed by such exposure.
To enhance protection you can also use:
- triplex;
- film;
- roller shutters;
- alarm system (with stickers indicating that the house is under protection).
Stereotype 5. Panoramic windows mean inevitable condensation and icing
If the panoramic glazing of the house is correctly designed and installed, then condensation will not form on them.
The likelihood of condensation formation occurs due to poor design and installation of structures. Most often, moisture collects on the windows if the glass unit uses an aluminum spacer frame (low temperature on the surface of the glass unit in the area of the spacer frame) and if warm air does not circulate, especially in the area of the lower horizontal structural elements.
You can also prevent the appearance of condensation by installing double-glazed windows at the correct depth. It depends on the installation width of the profile and can be 18, 21 or 25 mm.
Options for glazed facades, verandas, terraces
Panoramic or partial glazing
The answer depends on the height of the walls and, in principle, their presence. When the walls are completely covered, a partial method is suitable; when there is a roof and a frame, then panoramic windows will be the ideal choice for creating an attractive, aesthetically rich terrace.
Kawabanga! Insulation of walls made of expanded clay concrete blocks
You will need to decide whether wall or roof glazing will be used based on the type of construction. If there is no roof or any kind of canopy, then you cannot do without a roof. In vertical planes it is better to focus on wall design.
Frame and frameless glazing methods
Panoramic windows and glass roofs
The use of such architectural forms for glass facades of buildings allows for maximum saturation of the room with sunlight. The visual boundaries between the interior and exterior of the home are blurred. The cottage fits harmoniously into the landscape, becoming an integral part of it.
- Panoramic windows are a glass wall to the height of the floor. They are used both for arranging the external walls of buildings and for balconies and loggias. Typically, they are made in the form of large glass blocks inserted into an aluminum, metal, wood or plastic profile. A panoramic window can consist of one glass or a double-glazed window (up to 6 glasses). There are a number of technical requirements for glass walls:
- Strength. To protect the interior, panoramic windows should not be inferior in strength to ordinary walls made of brick or wood. For this purpose, the glass is reinforced using a special metal mesh. As an alternative to reinforcement, durable film is used. Tempered glass is also used.
- Thermal protection. For this purpose, double-glazed windows consisting of several glasses are used. To save energy, it is better to use a profile with wooden inserts or PVC. Although modern German manufacturers offer facade systems made of aluminum profiles with filler and thermal seams inside.
- Sound protection. For these purposes, double-glazed windows are used, but with different glass thicknesses within the same chamber.
- UV protection. The glass is covered with a film that blocks most of the ultraviolet radiation.
A glass roof is an architectural form where the floor slabs and roofing “pie” are replaced with glass. The roof is subject to even more stringent requirements, since it must withstand significant snow and wind loads:
Strength. The roof glazing system is installed at an angle. This is done to remove snow naturally. For the same purpose, they are made heated by passing a heating element inside the glass. An aluminum or metal profile is used to install roof glazing.
A double-glazed window consists of two types of glass. The first is the outer, hardened base, which takes on the entire load. On the inside there is triplex. This is laminated glass. The layers are connected to each other with special glue or film. This design provides strength and minimizes the formation of sharp fragments.
Thermal protection is provided by a multilayer system. The space between the glasses is filled with inert gas.
UV and glare protection. For these purposes, two types of spraying are used. The first darkens the surface of the roof, and the second does not refract the sun's rays.
Glass roofs are often equipped with windows for ventilation. There are special requirements for tightness.
What is half-timbered wood and a little history
From German, "half-timbered" means a house that is built with a wooden frame base.
It is a structure consisting of vertical and horizontal beams, braces and racks that form a spatial section. Initially, the sections formed by beams filled with wooden blocks were considered an indicator of wealth. At the end of the 20th century, the style received a second life with some additions: it was possible to combine modern technology with primary beauty.
Glass half-timbering assumes the absence of window frames, and the entire space between the supporting elements of the building is occupied by glass surfaces.
