New Glass Design Approaches Developed During an Experimental Student Workshop

Abstract

During two semesters the ILEK (Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design) held an explorative student workshop focusing on new glass design possibilities. Students from the faculties of Civil Engineering and Architecture first gained insight into the theoretical foundations of glass and different fabrication techniques, and then applied these techniques to realize a design theme of their choosing. The range of themes was intentionally left open and the scope of the techniques employed was correspondingly broad. For example, flexible glass-hybrids, pure glass-glass joints and three dimensionally deformed glass panes were created, the haptic variation of fused glass shards was studied, and pre-deformed glass stripes fused together to generate woven glass. The objects evolved were not intended for direct incorporation into architectural applications, but rather as a stimulus for new glass design ideas beyond the aspect of transparency. This paper presents a detailed description of the various objects and the techniques employed.