“Whereas in the past glass was only viewed as a ‘window’ filler, it is now considered an important and flexible building material that dramatically increases design options and functionality.”
The main award for design excellence at the 2002 BDAA awards was shared between Peter Fryer of Peter Fryer Building Design and Ross Beaver, of Sunjoule Design, who work made creative and extensive use of glass, both internally and externally (see BPN, May/June).
Fryer’s design features an indoor/outdoor living area which is segregated by bi-fold glazed doors to maximise living space. As the house block is relatively small, it was important that the design made extensive use of natural light to create an illusion of space. The front door of the house was made entirely of glass and glass louvres were used between the kitchen and light well for ventilation and to direct airflow, demonstrating the product’s versatility and wide range of applications.
“Glass plays a practical and decorative role in the design,” says Fryer. “Its extensive use not only allows the incorporation of natural light, but also captures views, which creates an indoor/outdoor atmosphere and allows winter sunlight to spill into the living areas. The use of insulated glass increases the house’s energy efficiency - an important consideration in modern housing design.”
Source: Building Products News.
