The ‘glass house’ design is trending in the commercial office interiors segment
with the appeal of this style attributed to the open expansive feel and clean
minimalist look.
From a layout perspective, the glass house design offers the best of
both worlds, giving the sense of an open office while still providing adequate
partitioning and sound control. Clever design techniques and installation methods
can lend a sense of spaciousness even to compact spaces. As for the aesthetics,
the smooth transparency of glass allows for the creation of an elegant,
modernist appearance.
The rise of black aluminium
framing
Black aluminium framing is taking over from the conventional butt-jointed
look, which has been popular for glass partitioning in offices. The frameless butt-jointed
look is achieved by joining separate panes of glass with a transparent silicone
sealant.
However, butt joints are going out of style and getting replaced by black
aluminium framing, suggesting that contemporary tastes are moving away from a
frameless quality towards a more structured look.
Glass partitions with black aluminium framing are reminiscent of traditional
Japanese architecture, specifically Shoji screens, which are used to partition
large open spaces in Japanese homes and feature a symmetrical appearance that
is at once both modern and timeless.
Case Study: Beulah International
Beulah International, a property development firm based in central
Melbourne, recently completed a renovation of its office space. Construction
project overseers Kovstruct used the Platinum 90 partitioning suite from Criterion Industries to create the clean, modern and open office look desired by the
company, with meeting rooms and workspaces clearly delineated but not sealed
off from the rest of the office.
The black-framed theme of the glass partitions continues throughout the
design of the entire office, echoed in details such as black wire-framed
lampshades; a shelf-grid partition containing pot-plants; and coffee tables
constructed of glass and black iron, intended to resemble a rectangular prism.
The overall effect is one of order, modernity and well-organised space.
