Ever since glass has gained ground as the principal construction material in the world of architecture and design, the sky has been the limit. A combination of undeniable aesthetic appeal and powerful functionality has enabled glass to enjoy a unique sort of supremacy.
The delicate, visual feel of transparency and water that glass exudes, makes it the building material of choice for optimum daylighting. As stated by Le Corbusier, “Architecture is the masterly, correct, and magnificent play of masses brought together in light,” this relationship between architecture and light continues to influence us today.
Daylighting: Finding the Right Balance
One of the prime design concerns of an architectural project is creating an atmosphere conducive to the inhabitants of a space, while maintaining its aesthetic value. A good part of this process involves lending a space the right degree of daylight. After all, as said by the famous architect, Louis Kahn, “A room is not a room without natural light.”
Any architect worth their salt understands the impact of adequate exposure to natural light on the productivity and overall well-being of a space’s inhabitants – residential or commercial. When it comes to sky-rise buildings with as many as 99 floors, the stakes are even higher.
Multi-faceted challenges await architects and interior designers involved in daylight autonomy design solutions out of which managing glare seems to be the trickiest to tackle. An overabundance of natural light can have detrimental effects on the building and its occupants; think sunburn, reduced visibility, and fading. The answer, as always, lies in moderation. An optimum degree of glare or a ‘balance of luminance’ on the 99th floor is key to the occupants’ well-being. Given the reduced sensitivity of the human eye at high luminance, the range of luminance or glare must ideally remain between 150 to 200 cd/m².
Moreover, daylight autonomy metrics can only be improved through dynamic fenestration strategies since the conventional methods of tinting windows or installing overhangs will essentially block out natural light in the process of reducing glare. Designing enlarged windows, on the other hand, will defeat the purpose of optimal glare management.
This calls for a carefully crafted solution that fuses aesthetics with specialised functionality. There is a clear winner in many a designer’s books – smart glass.
Dealing with Glare: The Smart Way
Conventional glare control strategies centred on static glazing methods. However, the on-demand economy has brought with it the emergence of dynamic technologies such as the smart glass, whose opacity levels can be controlled with the switch of a button.
Simply put, smart glass, also known as switchable glass, dynamic glass, or electrochromic glass, is a type of processed glass manufactured using the Suspended Particle Device (SPD) technology. Designed especially for the purpose of building enveloping, smart glass is developed using a thin film laminate of rod-like nano-scale particles suspended in a liquid (polymer base), and subsequently placed between two panes of glass or attached to one layer.
When an electric current is passed through the glass pane(s), the liquid crystals align themselves in a straight line, allowing light to pass through (the glass becomes transparent). On blocking the passage of electric current, the liquid crystals become scattered, thus enhancing opacity levels. In this way, living or working in a sky-rise building, especially the 99th floor is a whole lot easier with smart glass’s anti-glare properties.
Unmatched Comfort on Demand
The variable light transmission properties of smart glass bring a world of unmatchable benefits to the table that makes it an ideal pick for lofty buildings. A prominent advantage is the control over daylighting that it offers. You no longer need to deal with the woes of choosing one for the other (natural light or reduced glare). With smart glass, you can enjoy natural light without compromising on your vision by controlling its opacity levels through a remote. For 99-floor buildings that receive no dearth of natural light, smart glass paves the way towards moderation.
Besides being in control of your space’s ambience, smart glass gives you complete control over your privacy. For times when you must enjoy moments of solitude, simply switch off the electric current and enjoy unprecedented privacy. For times when you’re feeling more outdoorsy, go alfresco by switching the smart glass on and make the most of the sky-high view the 99th floor has to offer.
What’s more, smart glass also tops the charts in terms of environmental sustainability. Its controllable heat-transmission properties regulate the internal temperature such that the need for mechanical heating or cooling and artificial lighting is significantly reduced, naturally leading to lower energy consumption and energy bills.
And most importantly, electrochromic glass is highly durable with no visible loss of efficiency found even following years of field testing. As a result, you can get rid of your worries regarding the maintenance of blinds or curtains. A one-time investment is all it takes to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of your spaces.
So, be it the famous Burj Khalifa, Shanghai tower, sky-rise apartments with 99 floors, hospitals, universities, corporate offices, or any other sky-scraping superstructure capable of making you crane your neck in awe, a switch to smart glass is a one-stop-solution to deal with the many challenges surrounding the maximisation of daylighting. Creating open, comfortable, and welcoming spaces that contribute to productivity, energy conservation, and overall well-being has never been this easy!
Choose AIS Swytchglas For Your 99-Floor Building
To beat the heat and light in style, embrace the revolutionary AIS Swytchglas – the key to managing glare on the 99th floor! Our smart glass takes less than 10 microseconds to activate, blocks up to 50% of the light in its “Off” mode, works between temperatures from 0 degrees to 55 degrees Celsius, can last for a minimum of 20,000 cycles, and is available in a variety of colour tints.
With AIS Swytchglas, you get the freedom to control the amount of heat and light entering into your space, even if it’s the 99th floor of a skyscraper simply by using a remote control.
You can install AIS Swytchglas in doors, partition walls, windows, skylights, facades, and a whole lot of other places. For managing glare, make the smart move today with AIS Glass! Get in touch for a consultation today and discover how our premium suite of solutions can serve your needs.