Cutting-edge material

Glass structures are becoming an undeniable part of the UAE?s landscape.

From Dubai to Tokyo and New York to London, a rush of striking new structures is giving glass architecture new life. In the UAE glass structures are an undeniable part of the landscape. The ultra-modern appeal of these glass buildings has taken innovative, dramatic and surprising forms.

The art of glass construction has gained greater prominence owing to changes in production and the development of new building techniques. Innovative systems now allow expanses of glass to be suspended in front of a series of nearly invisible metal trusses and braces. The new glass is not only spectacular to look at and through, it is also safer, stronger and more energy efficient. Glass is now one of the most versatile and cutting-edge building materials available.

Advantage glass

"The obvious benefit of using glass in building design is that you have clear daylight in the building while you also have a view of the world outside," says Arthur Milwood, Technical and Training Manager at Emirates Glass, one of the leading providers of architectural glass in the Middle East.

"Glass buildings protect their residents from the short-term changes in the weather and long-term changes in the climate." The short-term changes are the daily changes in the weather while the long-term changes include climate changes from summer to winter.

"The biggest problem for residents in the Middle East, including the UAE, is the cost of air conditioning. It is one of the highest monthly costs of living in the region and accounts for 30 per cent of the building costs, which is a huge expense," says Milwood. "Perhaps the biggest benefit to residents in the region is that one can minimise the consumption of air conditioning by reducing heat in the building through the use of glass."

Recognising the energy-saving ability of glass, the Dubai Municipality introduced energy-saving regulations for glass architecture in 2003. Architects and property developers have to now comply with these rules. "Though there is a long way to go in the energy saving arena this is a huge step forward in the right direction," says Milwood.

Modern glass technology has eliminated the need to compromise on energy economy. New coatings and insulating glass structures mean that modern glazing applications can be designed to meet even the most stringent thermal insulation requirements (which in glass structures are typically expressed by their ?K-value?). Ideally, glass surfaces and glass walls will allow a suitable amount of warmth in, but keep the hottest sunshine out of the building.

Wide combination

The EmiCool comfort system used by Emirates Glass offers a wide combination of sputtered coatings on various glass substrates creating a large showcase of colours. Milwood explains, " EmiCool is a high performance glass that is designed to reflect solar and conducted heat which comes from warm air and usually tries to enter a building. The EmiCool system functions for all 24 hours a day and manages to safely block harmful rays."

The use of glass in public buildings and office complexes has steadily increased over the past few decades, and the trend looks set to continue. Glass is environmentally friendly and completely recyclable - an increasingly important consideration in modern times.

Another major reason glass is used in design is due to its aesthetic appeal. Glass lends beautiful colour and light to buildings and magnifies the architectural design. Glass creates airiness and provides a sense of space.

"The UAE is now the 11th country in the world to have a full-fledged energy saving council called the Emirates Green Buildings Council which promotes the concept of green buildings. Among their many benefits, green buildings help to cut the consumption of electricity and provide a more sustainable environment to a part of the world that is growing more rapidly," says Milwood.

"Glass is a relatively economical way of cladding a building. The alternative is using concrete or cement. While there is a shortage of cement, pre-cast concrete, though favoured, faces supply problems causing huge delays in construction. Glass is a cost-effective way of designing a building in comparison."