Thin glass as a tool for architectural design

Abstract

Glass with a thickness of less than 2.0 mm can be defined as a thin glass or with a thickness of less than 0.5 mm even as ultra-light. Thin glass requires for curved surfaces in order to gain structural stiffness in static use. The geometry is based on the known theory of developable surfaces. Such Façades may therefore be created from cold bent or curved laminated thin glass layers. In the past semester a seminar with architectural students were held and three projects of this seminar are worth to be presented to the public for demonstration of possibilities for use of thin glass. The definition of a seminar project for students was a connection of a big housing area with the nearby stop of the local tram which is separated by a railway line. Two possibilities for the pedestrian are given to pass the railroad. The first one is a passage underground below the railroad and the second one is a bridge above the railway line. This paper contents a study of architectural design made by students. Two projects which will be presented in this paper focuses on the design of the entrance building of a passage underground and the third project is a design of a pedestrian bridge above the railroad. Beside the architectural design a structural analysis was done to support the design process such as with ranges of possible bending radii for the curved thin glass elements and to guarantee the feasibility of the design