Unusual Places for Glass?

Sep 18th, 2009 | By Editor | Category: Off the Press and on My Mind

From Point A to Point B, it took about 24 hours of travel, including 15 hours cooped up on an airplane, but at about 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning I arrived in Sydney. After talking to so many people about my trip and the country’s zealous use of glass, I was practically expecting an all-glass jet way. While there was no glass jet way, I kept my eyes wide open during the cab ride from the airport to the hotel, certain that pretty soon I would be faced with all sorts of exciting glass (i.e., decorative glass).

More than decorative glass, the first thing I noticed was just the massive use of glass itself. One of the most popular applications, from what I could tell, is the use of glass in handrails and balustrades on condo and apartment balconies. Just walking down a street and looking up you’d see them all around, building after building. As someone explained to me, Australians love sitting outside, and the glass can provide a nearly unobstructed view of the surroundings (in this particular case, it was a beach view).

Considering the definition that the Glass Association of North America has given decorative glass (“glass that is designed to produce distinct artistic, textural, dimensional and tactile elements that extend the physical, functional, and visual properties beyond traditional flat glass”) you could say that an all glass balustrade might just add a bit of flare to an otherwise dull porch.

Another way to add flare might be with a glass canopy or elevator. Check out this picture on the left. I snapped it after I arrived in the Sydney harbor via ferry (just to provide a bit of geography, from where I stood to take this shot the famous opera house was ahead of me to the left).

And as far as other decorative products, such as cast and kiln-formed glass? I was told that the excitement there has come and gone. Now companies are exploring other decorative possibilities (such as printing onto glass; more on that in a future blog).

But I did find a bit of cast glass in a spot where you might not necessarily expect to find it. Walking down the street I passed a bus stop that was constructed almost entirely of cast glass. So that got me thinking about all of the different places where decorative glass can be used. What are some of the most unusual places for decorative glass products? Share your comments in the space below. Got a picture? Email it to me at erogers@glass.com.

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LeeAnn Gannett, Sans Soucie Art Glass September 29th, 2009 4:52 pm :
Interesting to read that glass handrails and balustrades are popular in Sydney .. we’ve noticed an increase in interest and inquiries for custom carved designs on those items various parts of the country. There’s a stunning one planned for a gorgeous penthouse in Miami, Florida due to start fabrication on in October.

A decorative handrail we did that came to mind, was for Courtyard 6 Theatres in Palm Springs years ago. http://www.sanssoucie.com/?s=piece&gt=c&id=2881&gid=289. As far as unusual uses for decorative glass, a couple particular pieces came to mind. This first one may not be “too” unusual, but it’s certainly unique. It’s an outdoor screen installed at a private residence in Indian Wells. The screen or outdoor partition was constructed of metal framing with 24 small etched and carved bronze glass inserts and open areas. The design is a geometric pattern with vertical and horizontal wavy bands. (See “Nepal” inside dividers in our online Gallery, or click on http://www.sanssoucie.com/?s=piece&gt=c&id=3809&gid= ).

Another that’s unusual, was a 3 panel, irregular edged, carved and painted kitchen and dining room partition. The colors and the carving on this piece was just beautiful, with purple hibiscus and soft pink bromiliad blooms surrounded by multiple turquoise and green hummingbirds. This couple owned vineyards up in Northern California and so the architecture of their Northern Calif. home was full of warm, rich color and dark woods. For their desert home, they wanted something completely different, so they chose very cool colors and a more contemporary decor. (See “Hibiscus Divider” in our online Gallery, or click on http://www.sanssoucie.com/?s=piece&gt=c&id=2390&gid=289 ).