Façade Art Glass in Three Contexts: Urban Landscape, Elevation of the Building and Its Interior

Abstract

The aim of this publication is to define the effect of façade art glass on the architectural space. The façade art glass – unlike stained glass – has a pronounced visual presence in three compositional structures of an architectural space: It is seen as part of the urban landscape, the form and façade of the building, as well as its interior. The dissertation describes the characteristics of each of these areas. The wide range of impact of monolithic art glass on the perception of the architectural space is connected not only with the application techniques, but mostly with the specific image structure, which dictates how double-sided layers are made that are seen both with the light shining at them and coming from behind them. This paper lists several strategies used to create double-sided layers. Monolithic art glass is a relatively new phenomenon, and its influence on the surroundings is still being discovered with each new project. An image put on glass becomes an integral part of the building it adorns and is key to a number of important aspects. As an artistic element, it affects how the building’s aesthetic values are seen – determining its’ expression, symbolism, nature and colour scheme – as well as becomes integrated into the façade. As a divider, it plays a part in the modification of the passing light, determining how the interior, and indirectly also the exterior, is seen.