There is a special relationship between glass and buildings. Glass is a magical material which has so many different properties and uses, that it has presented Architects with many new possibilities and designs. In their quest for transparency and safety, Architects often use reinforced, toughened and laminated glasses.
History of Glass Blocks used in Construction
In the early 1800’s, individual glass blocks were used to provide light to cellars and ships’ bowels – at first, cut squares of simple conventional glass, then prism-shaped pressed glass which allowed light to be dispersed. In order to fix this prismatic glass, they were fitted into steel frame structures in the form of intermediate ceilings or skylights which allowed larger surfaces to become translucent.
In 1904, Joachim, a French architect, built the first dome of concrete and glass.