Decorative Glass Has Come of Age
New options and trends in the decorative glass market
By Steve Schiamara National Sales Director for World Glass
Modern architectural design demands flexibility and innovation, and today, these themes have come to define the use of decorative glass. What was once a small niche in the industry has exploded to include dozens of glass manufacturers and distributors, and a multitude of new products. As the national sales director for a company that specializes in full-sheet dichroic, colored and specialty architectural glass, I have seen the tremendous growth in decorative glass first hand.
Decorative glass is now being specified for large commercial and residential installations. The quality of decorative glass has improved dramatically these last few years and it is now produced in larger, more useful sizes. Painted glass can be custom ordered to match any color designers need and has been reformulated to be temperable. Dichroic glass, which was unavailable in full-sheet formats, is now offered in sizes as large as 33 square feet. Colored acid etched glass, custom textured kiln-formed glass and designer glass blocks have also made recent notable market entries. Meanwhile, classic glass choices, including clear textures, and colored stained glass have also been reintroduced, offering a much wider selection of colors, patterns and opacities.
With these sudden developments in decorative glass, it is easy to understand why many people are not yet aware of the variety available. However, companies in the glass industry should at least be aware of this widespread market trend. In a time when the rest of the architectural industry is facing slow downs, the decorative glass market continues to grow rapidly. No matter how you look at it, we are entering a new age of decorative glass.
The New Needs of Consumers
Decorative glass has traditionally been a very small segment of the glass industry due to the unavailability of large sheet formats. This limited the commercial applications and raised its costs. Today, thanks to new technologies and changing design trends, the decorative glass market has grown tremendously. Consumers are insisting on more sophisticated and unique designs for their offices, retail centers and homes, and designers are demanding more choices, flexibility and creative freedom.
Designers are also calling for customization to ensure their work is unique. Most have specific ideas when laying out a project, and may spend weeks if not months looking for the right product. Today’s customers expect companies offering decorative glass to be extremely flexible and prepared to take custom and special orders, whether it be a special color, texture or sheet size.
New Options in Painted Glass
Architectural painted glass features some of the most exciting changes in the decorative glass market. A handful of companies are now offering large format painted glass on high-performance sheets designed for commercial use. Some are using a heat resistant bonded, making the glass popular for full wall applications, backsplashes and a mired of home décor ideas. The most exciting advancement is the color itself. State-of-the-art computerized mixing systems allow for literally infinite color variations and even color matching. Designers, notorious for specific demands when it comes to color, can now order exactly what they need.
Of course, the biggest news in decorative glass is temperable painted glass. After years of research, manufacturers have perfected a glass that can be processed after sizing. For contractors this means painted glass can be cut to exact specifications, and even be drilled if needed, and still be temperable. Tempering is the most affordable way to produce safety glass and can be done locally or by the manufacturer. Tempering opens up painted glass to a variety of applications that were not options previously. Colorful glass doors, dividing walls, glass accents, shelving, balustrades and large scale commercial installations are now possible using painted glass.
Dichroic Sheet Glass and Glass Blocks
Recently well know artists Lyle London and Richard Altman who were interested in purchasing 20 full-size sheets of dichroic glass. Commissioned by the Renown Health Center in Reno, they were in the process of creating a large scale art installation. With the dichroic glass, they created two dramatic sculptures, suspended in air and made to resemble DNA. The dramatic “Double and Triple Helix” caught the attention of the local press and the national art community.
Large format dichroic glass has also intrigued many contemporary designers. The appeal of dichroic glass is in the color reflected in its surface which changes with the angle of view, making the color appear as two completely distinct hues. The cost of full-sheet dichroic architectural glass is also significantly less than the dichroics used in art glass and dichroic films, opening up opportunities for use in large-scale commercial installations.
Glass blocks are perhaps my favorite new application for dichroics. Glass blocks have been popular since the 1920s because of their strength, affordability and ease of installation. Historically, they have been used as storm windows and as exterior design elements. Painted and dichroic glass blocks offer the added benefit of a higher level of privacy while transmitting light, making them popular components in dividing walls, shower enclosures, office windows and dozens of other types of décor.
Decorative Glass in the Years to Come
With a slow down in new construction and a shifting focus toward renovation, the decorative glass market is positioned for years of growth. Decorative glass lends itself to sophisticated design, yet is surprisingly affordable. As designers continue searching for flexible and creative outlets, more will discover decorative glass. The industry will see a surge of requests for custom colors and textures and one-of-a-kind products created for specific installations. Painted glass, temperable glass and dichroic glass will become commonplace in office building, retail stores, hospitality venues and healthcare centers. This market has infinite room for expansion, with the addition of new manufacturers, distributors and innovative new products and through the realization of new applications. One thing is certain; we are entering a new age of decorative glass.
World Glass is the largest single source of decorative and architectural glass offering products from manufacturers in the United States, Europe and Asia. With extensive distribution throughout North America, World Glass serves the commercial glass market and provides a complete selection of architectural glass to its business customers. Their product lines feature clear textured, colored and large format dichroic glass, as well as glass blocks, acid etched glass, painted glass, Micro Glass™ and post-temperable painted glass. Supported by unmatched customer service and glass expertise, customers can order mixed sheets, full cases, containers or place special orders.
World Glass is a Daniels Group Company, glass importer and distributor since 1972.
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