The introduction of glass inside of work environments has come hand in hand with the development of modern buildings with glass facades. Were the first greenhouses glazed, with cast iron structures (also called “glass palaces”), at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, which gave the starting signal for glass to stop being an ornamental and supplementary element, to become a first-class material order, like brick and stone. With the birth of Modern Movement and the teaching of bauhaus school, Already in the XNUMXth century, glass was a fundamental element in the creations of Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Gropius, Van de Velde and many more who spread the criteria of lighting, visual relationship between interior and exterior, ventilation and free space. , in which glass played a leading role.

“Light façade” buildings

It was precisely Mies van der Rohe who, installed in the United States after World War II, began his personal architectural revolution. Mies radically changed the concept of outdoor enclosure of tall buildings retaking his theoretical steel and glass skyscraper Conceived in the twenties and never built. The occasion was found in the Lake Drive Apartments (Chicago) and mainly in the Seagram Building (New York).

The concept of “light facade” that, throughout the following decades until today, has been replacing opaque enclosures. But the aim was not only to give the buildings a light and modern external appearance. The greatest quality of glass facades is that they allow the light interior and visual perspective, and from there arose the need to replace the interior walls also with glass partitions. It did not make sense to create a building with a transparent skin if the interior was partitioned with solid and opaque elements.

Glass characteristics

The glass contributes light, thermal and acoustic insulation, and has great resistance to impact and climate change. Technological advances have made glass an element with multiple designs, colors, textures and formats. In addition to having excellent resistance to thermal changes, it is easily combinable with any other construction material. New manufacturing methods and market prices make glass a durable material, relatively cheap and low maintenance cost. Another reason why glass is so popular is because of its ductility, since polished, curved, reflective or colored panels can be created, greatly enriching the possibilities of visual effects in glass architectural elements. exist various types of glasses (tempered, insulated, laminated, etc.), all of them with thermal and acoustic properties suitable for the design of interior spaces.

Transparency versus privacy

Today few office projects they are reluctant to use glass partitions inside. Not only for its properties and light benefits, terms and acoustics. There is an added component to this extraordinary success: Transparency as a company philosophy. The widespread concept of and cleaner open space from which modern companies draw, advocates open and visually communicated spaces. Far away have been the offices with watertight offices, where it seemed that great conspiracy matters were being hatched. The concept of "transparency" appeals to honesty at work, where there is nothing to hide, which does not mean that spaces with a certain Privacy but in full view. Both qualities/needs are provided by the glass partition.

APPLICATIONS OF GLASS PARTITIONS

Concentration areas and cabins

A few weeks ago we analyzed the new work spaces and among them, we find one especially new: the booths. These small cubicles are used for making calls, small meetings or simply isolated work that requires concentration. In practically 100% of the cases these cabins are glazed, at least in the front. Presumably, a closed cabin without glass can produce a significant feeling of claustrophobia in the user. These booths are usually located near the social areas, in transit or central areas, and almost never in the privileged areas with exterior views, intended for offices or meeting rooms.

Offices and meeting rooms

When planning an office, it is common for the central area to be used for multiple workstations or a social area, reserving the corners and sides of the floor for the offices or meeting rooms. The most appropriate thing is that these spaces are closed with glass partitions, so as not to obscure the central area of ​​the plant and that the light penetrates. light inward. Also, if you enjoy good views from outside It is a "democratic" way for all workers to enjoy them from anywhere in the office, and not just the lucky ones who have an office. 

visual depth

The glass partitions they can occupy large surfaces, depending on the desired effect, and can completely replace a wall of several meters, to acquire maximum prominence, brightness and transparency. Effect "screen" It is achieved by framing the glass with black profiles and eliminating any graphic resource on the glass, as can be seen in the photo above, a meeting room at the Crunchyroll headquarters in San Francisco. As it is a space without windows, a forest landscape on the back wall, through a backlit large format photography. In this way, thanks to the glass partition and the background photography, a great visual depth which considerably expands and illuminates this floor of the building.

curved glass walls

There is no doubt that curved glass partitions They offer a streamlined, modern look to office design. Of course, the curvature of partitions must respond to the global concept of the project, that is, it must be in line with the overall design. This is the case of these company offices Confidential Client, in Dubai, inspired by the undulating desert sand dunes, that are reproduced in the organic forms of the vertical walls, the floor and the ceiling. All the elements evoke the textures, shapes, colors, undulations and soft curvilinear geometries of the dunes to recreate their abstract form in the design.

decorated glass partitions

Although the trend in interior design projects of office is to leave the smooth glass partition, some companies prefer that it be endowed with a certain Privacy to these spaces with diffusing effects, opaque primers, drawings, vinyls or artistic compositions. Although there are hundreds of ways to decorate a glass, here we show you four very effective ways.

Above: to gain privacy in these meeting rooms, a wide frosted border, which is achieved by polishing the glass with emery or other acid substances that opaque the glass, but allowing light to pass through.

Another solution with frosted or acid-treated glass It is provided by this area for work meetings, in which a complete sheet of opaque glass was placed that occupies half of the space, leaving the rest free. In this way, the sensation is of a certain privacy, but without actually closing off the space.

We love this original idea to partially provide privacy in a space. Instead of making a frosted border, a smoke effect, like spray paint, applied at mid height.

And why not take advantage of the glass partitions to make a artistic and colorful composition? This was done in different areas of this office, with this colorful geometric composition, that remind us of the work of Mondrian. Glass partitions are blank canvases that allow hundreds of interventions. But if they do not want to intervene, absolutely nothing happens. There will always be a landscape beyond the glass.

Photos:  OfficeSnapShot