GLASS HOUSES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 17

GLASS HOUSES

STONES MAY BE THROWN , "People who live iv glass houses may now throw stones," says an American exchange. At last impunity is assured them, and the ancient proverb collapses, another victim of the industrial ago. This becomes apparent from the fact that not only are glass houses now perfectly practicable, as we aro told by the Industrial Bulletin of Arthur D. Little, Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.), but their solidity is such that tho stonethrowing occupants may consider themselves quite safe from retaliation. Today we havo solid glass bricks, tiles, and hollow wall-blocks. We read: — I

"American architects and engineers havo recently shown increasing interest in a well-known material, which has appeared in a new form. "Structural glass, which has been familiar in the form of small sidewalk lights and roof lights, is now available in standard structural shapes: bricks, hollow tile, flat tile, etc. In those forms glass is being considered for use in the construction of outer and inner walls, partitions, floors, and roof lights in. steel an.d concrete frame buildings. "Several industrial projects in the United States are reported as being planned with glass walls. "One of the most notable of these, for a Mid-Western city, will be of continuous beam construction with walls entirely of glass and wide overhanging cornices to eliminate any danger of glare. Panels of glass brick have been used in the tower of a New York city apartment-building. "In Europe, several extensive projects, including an aeroplane hangar and a railroad station, have been carried out in structural glass. "Aside from the fact that glass is now available in structural shapes, tho more intensive interest shown, by tho construction industry may be traced to the increasing importance placed ivpon lighting by architects and investment builders. The translucenco of the glass walls brightens otherwise poorlylightod areas and proportionately increase the usefulness of the building and its appeal to tenants. "A great glass building should.present a striking effect when illuminated from within at night. "Units have been developed in a variety of shapes and sizes, making glass applicable to many types of construction. Tile is offered for use in the construction of light section walls, partitions, floors, roof lights, and windows; hollow block for hollow walls and partitions; and solid brick for walls of solid glass. Ventilating units are framed in metal. In addition to the more customary forms, glass offers a structural innovation in a vacuum block. Sufficient vacuum is said to be obtained within the block to accomplish some heat and sound insulation and to eliminate condensation problems. "So far as is known, no Americanmanufacturer is now making structural shapes of glass. "All of this material is imported from Europe, but is said to be readily availablo through agents in this country. Clear glass is the standard material, bat colours and wired units may bo obtained when the quantity warrants."