5 use cases for mesh laminated glass in design and architecture
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Mesh and fabric glass laminates unlock many practical and aesthetic possibilities. Let's explore a few.
If you're an architect or interior designer, you've probably worked with many types of glass in your time.
That might include
decorative glass products, such as coloured panels and digitally printed glass. And more functional varieties, such as structural, fire-resistant and soundproofing glass.
You've been there, done that and got the T-shirt. Whether it's a sleek structural facade or a deftly placed mirror, glass has powerful practical and aesthetic potential – and you've got the portfolio to prove it.
But have you explored
every
possibility?
Glass is a very versatile material and the glass industry is full of very forward-thinking folk. New glass products are being developed all the time – and some of these innovations are, dare we say it, underused in architecture and design.
For instance, have you heard of mesh and fabric interlayer glass?
These products are hardly brand new. However, they still have revolutionary potential – and boast a heap of use cases, some of which may surprise you.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at these use cases. But let's start by covering the basics.
What are fabric and mesh laminates?
Chances are, you've heard of laminated glass. This ultra-strong form of safety glass is used in everything from car windows to bus stops to balconies.
Its ubiquitousness is a testament to its usefulness. But your options for glass laminates go well beyond "transparent and functional". The product can be dressed up with all sorts of practical and decorative interlayers, including metal meshes and textiles.
So, in theory, mesh and fabric laminates are as simple as you're probably thinking. Like all forms of laminated glass, they're made of multiple glass sheets sandwiched together with adhesive film. The difference with our decorative varieties is that they also include swathes of fabric or metal between the glass sheets.
For you, this means getting the best of both worlds. Metal and fabric laminates are eye-catching and beautiful and boast all the usual benefits of laminated glass. In other words, they're hard to break – and when they do, the glass stays in its frame instead of shattering into small, sharp pieces.
As for what they
look
like – well, that's up to you. Here at ToughGlaze, we provide a catalogue of ready-to-use meshes and textiles that are hand-picked to suit a wide variety of projects.
But we can also create bespoke designs using almost any material of your choice. Our state-of-the-art glass processing equipment allows us to create very large sheets of laminated glass – so the only serious limitation is the width of the interlayer material.
Five applications for fabric and mesh laminated glass
1. Decorative partitions
Not to toot our own horn – but you have to admit that our mesh and fabric laminates look
great.
Our laminated textiles give you the freedom to play with splashes of colour and interesting translucencies. And our metal meshes are packed with textural potential. They can be matte, metallic or sun-catchingly sparkly – and they can look fine and delicate or be unabashedly brutalist in their material honesty.
You get the picture. Use them for internal partitions, wall cladding, roofs or balustrades and they'll unlock new ways to bring your ideas to life.
2. Structural and external applications
Most forms of laminated glass use PVB interlayers. It's this PVB film that gives laminated glass its impressive shatter resistance.
But while PVB is strong and clear, it's not always the best choice for structural or external applications. That's why we also offer fabric and mesh laminates with specialised interlayers that are designed to resist moisture and withstand high loads.
Want to build a balcony with decorative laminated glass? Or add a metallic sheen to a structural glass canopy? Thanks to our industry-leading manufacturing capabilities, we can make it happen.
3. Birdstrike prevention
Birdstrikes are a serious problem for architects who work with glass. In the US alone, up to one billion birds are killed each year from collisions with transparent buildings.
This raises obvious ecological concerns – but there are practical implications too. Architects, by and large, want to design buildings that require minimal maintenance and upkeep. Dealing with mass bird fatalities is hardly in keeping with this ideal.
Decorative glass interlayers provide a robust solution to this problem. They allow architects to design birdstrike mitigation into their buildings while preserving – or enhancing – their aesthetic value.
To the general public, that mesh glass facade looks like a neat design feature. To birds, it looks like a solid wall rather than a shortcut – and for that reason, it can be a literal lifesaver.
4. Privacy windows and screens
Here's an underrated feature of metal mesh laminates: with the right combination of mesh and finish, they can act as one-way privacy glass screens.
Imagine, again, that you're working with a large glass facade. You install laminated glass that incorporates a fine matte mesh with a shiny metallic finish on the outward-facing side.
Passersby see the shiny side from a distance. To them, it looks like a metal megalith that glitters beautifully in the sun.
But the people inside the building enjoy an entirely different view. They don't see the luminous exterior finish – and the ultra-fine mesh provides a clear view of the streets below. From the inside, it simply looks like normal glass with a slight grey tint.
5. Mixed-purpose applications
We've mentioned that our fabric and mesh laminates can be combined with specialised interlayers for structural exterior applications.
But this is just the start. You can, in fact, combine them with almost any ToughGlaze product to meet a wide range of functional and decorative demands.
On the decorative side, there's glass printing, LED edge lighting and sandblasting, which allows for textured logos and patterns. You can also throw in other decorative interlayers, including coloured films and other textiles and meshes.
Or why not combine your decorative laminate with our acoustic glass technology and build a modern-looking, soundproofed glass boardroom? Or install it in an insulated glass unit to create handsome, high-performance decorative windows?
The possibilities, as they say, are almost endless.
Are you interested in using fabric or
mesh laminated glass in your next project? ToughGlaze is one of the UK's most trusted and capable glass processing firms. Don't hesitate to
get in touch with our experts to discuss your requirements.
