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SEE-THROUGH
QUALITIES
The history of glass dates back as far as
4000BC with the first glass window being
documented as having appeared in England
in 1160. Glass has seen many advances in
technology over the years from the advent
of rolled glass in 1870, to wired glass in
1898, laminated glass in 1903 to toughened
glass in 1930. The twentieth century has
seen glass evolve further with the invention
of Low-Emissivity glass in 1983 while in
2001 Pilkington announced their launch of
the world’s first ‘self-cleaning’ glass.
The various uses of glass have also widened
dramatically. Glass has gone from being
used for the small vessels, spear heads
and decorative features of the Egyptians
to the huge architectural structures we
see worldwide today. The ever-increasing
sophistication of glass has given architects
and designers alike new and seemingly
endless possibilities.
“OuR COnCePT HAS been COnCeIved FOR glASS, buT
WITHIn A PROjeCT We CAn MIx glASS WITH OTHeR
MATeRIAlS And THe COMbInATIOn IS beAuTIFul”
without creating a visual barrier. You can see through it and create different environments
whilst maintaining an open and airy space. A 5m long table entirely in glass almost
disappears, but physically and materially it is there, light and strong at the same time.”
However, glass is not really the first material that springs to mind when you consider
interior furniture such as benches, tables and kitchens. Many people tend to focus on the
possible disadvantages of glass and the perception we have of glass as a delicate material. “I
don’t think there are disadvantages,” remarks Reghizzi “Maybe people have the prejudice of
perceiving glass as fragile because they think of wine glasses, where the glass is of course
much thinner. The glass we use is tempered and stratified with a thickness of 15+15mm (or
more in the case of architecture).”
In 2005, the Simplicity range developed further with the introduction of a bath and
wellness collection which incorporated a series of sinks and a completely transparent bathtub.
The range was then extended in 2006 to include furniture for the living area such as sofas,
chaise longues, beds and sliding panels to aid the division of space. Convincing consumers
that glass furniture is both comfortable and, above all, safe can’t be an easy job though?
“Some people may feel wary at the beginning, but they are also very attracted. Walking on
a glass floor or lying on a bed with a glass structure provokes a mixture of emotions. People
don’t need to be afraid to sit on a glass bench or walk on a glass staircase,” says Reghizzi.
“For all the projects we undertake we do a feasibility study with an engineer to determine
the thickness that the glass must have, whether a double lamination is required and to ➔
Santambrogio.indd 84 26/8/08 12:22:30
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