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The architectural design of light-permeable facades – a summary of recent trends and observations

Publication date: 20.12.2019

Technical Transactions, 2019, Volume 12 Year 2019 (116), pp. 5 - 30

https://doi.org/10.4467/2353737XCT.19.120.11445

Authors

Marcin Brzezicki
Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Science and Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3901-144X Orcid
All publications →

Titles

The architectural design of light-permeable facades – a summary of recent trends and observations

Abstract

Contemporary architectural transparency, understood as the optical property of the construction material, is constantly being redefined and, over the last two decades, new design trends have developed. These trends are the result of: (i) dynamic technological progress; (ii) advancement in the field of materials science; (iii) changes in the attitude of clients and users. Transparency is no longer limited to specific functions (e.g. illumination of the interior) but has become a tool of formal expression itself. This paper defines most recent trends, which are divided into two main types: (i) optical-perceptual – relying on phenomenal effects, (ii) geometrical – that differentiate the large group of spatial transformations developed from what was initially flat planar façade.

Keywords: transparency, architecture theory, façade glazing, glass printing, glass coating

Abstract
Współczesna przezroczystość w architekturze, rozumiana jako właściwość optyczna materiału budowlanego, jest stale redefiniowana. W ciągu ostatnich dwóch dekad pojawiły się nowe nurty w projektowaniu przezroczystych elewacji w architekturze. Nurty te są wynikiem: (i) dynamicznego postępu technologicznego; (ii) osiągnięć w dziedzinie materiałoznawstwa oraz (iii) zmiany w nastawieniu klientów i użytkowników. Przezroczystość nie ogranicza się już do pełnienia konkretnych funkcji (np. doświetlenie wnętrza), ale sama w sobie stała się narzędziem formalnej ekspresji. Niniejszy artykuł definiuje najnowsze nurty, które dzielą się na dwa główne typy: (i) optyczno-wrażeniowe – oparte na zjawiskach optycznych, (ii) geometryczne – wyróżniające dużą grupę przekształceń przestrzennych początkowo płaskiej fasady.

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Information

Information: Technical Transactions, 2019, Volume 12 Year 2019 (116), pp. 5 - 30

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

The architectural design of light-permeable facades – a summary of recent trends and observations

English:

The architectural design of light-permeable facades – a summary of recent trends and observations

Authors

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3901-144X

Marcin Brzezicki
Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Science and Technology
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3901-144X Orcid
All publications →

Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Published at: 20.12.2019

Article status: Open

Licence: CC BY  licence icon

Percentage share of authors:

Marcin Brzezicki (Author) - 100%

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Publication languages:

English