Glass Façades in the Design Process: Towards an Integrated Approach

The use of glass in architectural applications, especially in façades, has spread recently, in order to meet the current trends of lightness, robustness and energy efficiency. Glass is also suitable to be used in historical contexts, or in general, in the redevelopment of existing buildings or areas. The aim is often to create a transparent, airy and light envelope, providing a futuristic outlook. The research aims to identify the major methodological issues to support the development of glass façades design and construction process. The present work introduces the aspects of integration, identifies some of the current key-challenges and unfolds a scenario for a novel approach to sustainable glass systems, both in new construction and in renovation projects.