Optical Transparency vs. Institutional Transparency: The Discussion on the Origins of Architectural Honesty in Glass Application

Abstract

Transparency has become a new division of architectural theory and practice and has created a new kind of aesthetic sensibility, o a wealth of possibilities for visual expression The growing importance of the visual aspects in architecture is obvious, especially with respect to façades. Transparency is no longer limited to specific functional purposes (e.g. illumination of the building’s interior), but becomes a tool of formal expression itself. This raises questions regarding the theoretical/ideal/institutional background for the application of architectural glass and impacts the perception of architecture by observers. The paper presents a general outline of ideological/institutional inspiration for architectural practice in the perspective of new types of architectural transparency.