Brighter, bigger, wider: interior design using glass

By Gian-Philip Andreas Dec 15, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Munich - Open plan apartments are generally considered to be the domain of well-heeled bohemians who live in converted lofts, penthouses and futuristically designed villas.

But the trend towards living in spaces with fewer doors and walls is also becoming a more familiar sight in standard apartment buildings and terraced houses. It's no longer unknown for a bathroom to be combined with a bedroom into a single space or for the kitchen to open directly onto the dining room.

'Today, people are thinking more in terms of living in connected spaces rather than in single rooms,' says Munich-based architect Stephan Maria Lang.

Lang believes glass is the simplest method to attain an open living area. He uses glass not only as a window to the outside world but also as a form of furnishing, as a stair, as a floor-window or as a sliding door.

Glass was first used to divide up space in offices and businesses. Only later did it find a wider use in homes.

'It's mostly used to allow light to enter the interior from the building's facade. Sometimes it's used to allow light to pass from room to room,' says Johannes Berschneider, an interior designer. Glass can also play a role in energy-saving such as by using a skylight to allow natural light into a walk-in wardrobe.

Glass partitions are gaining in popularity. 'What people often want today is more flexible use of space,' says Berschneider.

If you want a clear view from the dining table, through the kitchen and into your living room, then glass is the best why to get it. On the other hand a glass partition can instantly give an open plan area a more private atmosphere.

But how can transparent glass generate an intimate and private feeling? 'You can make the surface of glass translucent or matt by sand-blasting it or using acid,' says Jochen Groenegraes from Germany's Bundesverband Flachglas, an umbrella organisation that represents the glass manufacturing and retail sector in the country.

Translucent glass has given architects more scope for design. 'Glass gets really interesting when it's used in an artistic way,' says Lang. That arty look can be achieved by using especially clear Optiwhite glass or reflective glass, which is often used in spa areas to mirror water.

Translucent glass for home use does not need to be exclusively matt or enamelled but can also be printed with photographs and patterns. Varnished glass can be used as a floor covering or as an alternative to tiling on walls.

When using glass on floors and walls safety aspects begin to play a major role.

'You must use safety glass in the home,' advises Groenegraes. Only use laminated safety glass in flooring or as an overhead window.

Laminated glass consists of two layers of glass bonded together by a middle layer of plastic resin to prevent it from shattering. For other uses in the home, tempered glass will usually provide an adequate standard of safety.

If safety is your top consideration then you can rest assured that glass can find a place in the home. But even the experts think glass is not suitable for every application.

'Glass is not a material that a person will feel most comfortable in,' says Berschneider. 'Glass steps always feel smooth and I hate it when a ceramic coffee cup clatters on a glass table surface.'