In the world of architecture, materials are not merely structural choice, they serve as tools for storytelling. Among them, glass stands out as a silent yet powerful medium of connection, transparency, and visual clarity. It blurs the boundary between interior and exterior, allowing a building to breathe, connect with its surroundings, and reflect its context. In today’s modern design landscape, glass has evolved far beyond its role as a simple transparent surface. It now plays a pivotal role in defining architectural identity, enhancing sustainability, and improving human comfort.
These ideas were at the heart of a recent webinar hosted by Saint-Gobain’s Glass Academy,featuring Architect Akilan R., founder of Le Arch. The session explored the thoughtful use of glass in various large-scale projects and unpacked the numerous strategic considerations behind selecting the right type of glazing. Architect Akilan’s portfolio spans from hotels and homes to commercial buildings and institutional spaces. He is also the founder of Our Conflex, a digital initiative that brings architectural education to a wider audience.
Ar. Akilan began by reframing the way we think about glass: not as a static element, but as a dynamic one. He described glazing as a gesture of openness, a medium that welcomes the outside in and makes architecture more experiential. Especially in hospitality spaces, event halls, and experience centres, glass helps set the tone for how users engage with the built form. Its transparency, reflectivity, and thermal performance all contribute to how a space feels, functions, and performs.
Design That Responds to Site and Context
One of the most compelling aspects of Ar.Akilan’s projects is how each responds to the site orientation, urban context, and client budget. In cities where high heat and humidity are constant, fully glazed buildings can easily become energy-intensive unless designed mindfully. This is where smart decisions around glass facade design come in. Designers must think in terms of material, geometry, shading, and overall facade composition to optimize both light and heat.
In busier urban environments, such as sites located on high-traffic roads or junctions, glass can also become a tool for visual identity. A well-composed glass facade can lend a structure a modern appeal while controlling views, glare, and internal climate. Equally important is affordability. Clients are often price-sensitive, and design solutions must balance performance with cost-effectiveness.
A Closer Look at Architectural Glass Types
Project LTM Banquetes and Suites | Panoramic views and daylight, delivered through glass facade
Ar. Akilan emphasized that the selection of glass should not be an afterthought, but an integral part of the design process. Each type of glass offers unique benefits, and when used correctly, can elevate both aesthetics and functionality. Here are the key glass types discussed by Ar. Akilan, with real-world examples from his projects.
Tempered Glass
Also known as toughened glass, this is remarkably stronger than ordinary glass. It breaks into small, blunt fragments instead of sharp shards, making it much safer. Due to its durability, it is widely used in facades, doors, shower enclosures, and glass partitions.
Laminated Glass
Made of two or more layers of glass bonded by a PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayer, laminated glass holds together when shattered, reducing risk of injury or intrusion. It is ideal for skylights, railings, balustrades, and safety-sensitive zones.
Tinted Glass
With colour tintslike blue, bronze, green or grey, tinted glass helps reduce glare and solar heat gain. It enhances visual comfort and lowers cooling loads, making it especially effective in sunny climates and on west-facing elevations.
Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) / Double-Glazed Units (DGUs)
These units are made of two or more panes of glass separated by an air or gas-filled cavity, providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. Widely used in energy-efficient buildings, Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) help maintain indoor temperature and significantly reduce external noise.
In Le Arch’s project LTM Banquetes and Suites, a combination of SGG SunBan and ET725 thermal insulation glass was used. This choice not only offered stunning panoramic views of the temple tank in front of the site but also helped keep the interiors naturally cool. To improve affordability, the glass facade was thoughtfully divided into smaller panels, a decision that reduced material and installation costs while retaining visual impact.
Project LTM Banquetes and Suites | High-performance glass facade designed for thermal comfort and visual continuity
Reflective Glass
Reflective glass is treated with a thin metallic coating that reflects a substantial portion of sunlight. This makes it highly effective in reducing glare, enhancing privacy, and cutting down solar heat gain, all of which are critical in commercial facades and west-facing elevations where sunlight exposure is intense.
Project Hotel Le Royal Palace | Seamless gold reflective glass facade bringing monolithic design and dynamic reflections to life
In the Hotel Le Royal Palace project, SGG Midas Gold, a 6 mm thick reflective glass, was chosen for the facade. This selection not only aligned with the interior’s golden-hued theme but also helped bring the monolithic design vision to life.
The reflective surface added depth and visual drama by responding dynamically to changes in natural light and its surrounding context.
By eliminating horizontal mullions and using continuous vertical glazing, the facade appeared uninterrupted and seamless, creating a striking and premium look suited to both the modern design and the architectural identity of the site.
Low-E (Low Emissivity) Glass
This type of glass comes with a special microscopic coating that blocks infrared and ultraviolet rays without sacrificing visible light. It dramatically improves energy efficiency. Ar. Akilan’s project for the Rajasthani Marble and Tile Experience Centre used Saint Gobain’s Forest Green glass, which cuts radiation while allowing natural daylight to flood the interiors.
Its UV protection helps prevent fading of materials inside, and the CNC-cut perforated metal panels add a bold geometric layer to the glass facade.
Project Rajasthani Marble | Smart glass meets bold geometry for a cooler, brighter, and striking facade
Solar Control Glass
A variation of reflective glass, solar control glass is designed to allow optimal daylight while deflecting up to 70% of incoming heat. In the Quality Arcade project, the Sunban range was used to deliver a clean, modern look.
Vertical glass panels were combined with projecting volumes and a split facade using both glass and paint, giving the building depth and dynamic texture. The bronze tint helped reflect warm tones and created a rhythmic play of light throughout the day.
Project Solverminds Technology Pvt. Ltd. | Facade design with passive solar strategy for thermal comfort and load efficiency
In another ongoing project, a multi-storey office for Solverminds Technology Pvt. Ltd. – the team used SGG Antelio Plus series glass. The zigzag placement of the glass panels helped reduce heat gain through passive solar design, cutting the radiation.
In tall buildings, glass solutions helps reduce structural dead load, which not only saves cost but also supports sustainable architecture practices. This approach also aligns with IGBC and LEED certification goals.
Integrating Glass with Other Materials
Another key insight from the session was how glass can be paired with contrasting materials to elevate a facade. At the Rajasthani Marble Experience Centre, stainless steel CNC panels were paired with forest green glass.
This combination was not only functional, cutting harsh western sunlight and resisting corrosion in a coastal town, but also visually striking. The reflective green glass with matte perforated panels created a refined visual language for the space.
This thoughtful combination of materiality is what sets modern design apart. As Akilan pointed out, architecture is about more than function or aesthetics in isolation. The magic lies in finding the harmony between performance, cost, context, and beauty.
Conclusion
The conversation with architect Akilan underscores a key shift in how we see glass in architecture, not just as a neutral material, but as a design enabler. When used thoughtfully, glass facades can optimize energy performance, improve thermal comfort, and shape unforgettable architectural experiences.
Whether it’s the reflective shimmer of a showroom or the panoramic calm of a banquet hall, glass has proven to be a powerful, adaptable material that meets the demands of modern buildings. With evolving sustainable technologies and material innovations, the future of glass in architecture looks transparent and bright.
Leveraging glass to Tackle large-scale design challenges | Ar. Akilan (New seaoson’s 1st talk)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGiCRoSGMXI