With the development of future architectural design, glass curtain walls have gradually become a beautiful landscape in the city. Although many people think that glass curtain walls are only suitable for large commercial complexes or office buildings, in fact, small buildings below 30,000 square meters can also use glass curtain walls, which not only improve the appearance of the building, but also enhance the lighting, energy saving and modern sense of the building. So, what are the common glass curtain wall styles for small buildings? Which type is most suitable for your project? Zhongdong Curtain Wall will answer you in detail.
1. What is a glass curtain wall?
A glass curtain wall is a non-load-bearing exterior wall system composed of glass panels and metal frames. Its main function is to isolate the indoor and outdoor environments while providing visual transparency and modern beauty. Compared with traditional exterior wall structures, glass curtain walls are lighter, more energy-saving and beautiful, and are widely used in office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, apartments and even modern villa buildings.
2. Main styles of glass curtain walls
1. Exposed frame glass curtain wall
Features:
The glass edge of the exposed frame curtain wall is wrapped by an aluminum alloy frame, and the structure is clearly visible. The frame is the main structural element connecting the glass units. From the appearance, the metal lines form the grid of the curtain wall.
Applicable buildings:
Small office buildings
Educational buildings (such as schools, training centers)
Community commercial buildings
Advantages:
Relatively low cost
Mature construction technology
Easy to maintain and replace glass
If your small construction project wants to use glass curtain walls to enhance the appearance while controlling costs, the exposed frame glass curtain wall is a practical and cost-effective choice.
2. Hidden frame glass curtain wall
Features:
The hidden frame glass curtain wall hides the metal frame behind the glass plate, and almost no structural parts can be seen from the outside, making the entire wall look like a whole piece of glass, with an extremely simple and modern visual effect.
Applicable buildings:
High-end office buildings
Small hotels, clubs
Medical institutions and technology company headquarters
Advantages:
High-end visual effects
Good sealing
Suitable for architectural designs that pursue a modern feel
Disadvantages:
The cost is slightly higher than the exposed frame
More stringent construction requirementsHidden frame glass curtain wall is very suitable for small high-end building projects that pursue a minimalist appearance. It is one of the popular curtain wall styles in
modern building design in recent years.
3. Semi-hidden frame glass curtain wall
Features:
Semi-hidden frame glass curtain wall usually only has a horizontal frame or a vertical frame visible, and the structure in the other direction is hidden, taking into account the characteristics of both exposed and hidden frames.
Applicable buildings:
Small commercial centers
Education and training buildings
Public service stations (such as government halls, exhibition halls)
Advantages:
Balance between cost and beauty
Flexible adjustment of appearance style according to design
Easier to achieve personalized design
Semi-hidden frame glass curtain wall is a curtain wall solution that combines practicality and beauty, especially suitable for small building projects that need to find a balance between aesthetics and budget.
4. Point-supported glass curtain wall
Features:
This curtain wall uses stainless steel claws or glass clamps to fix the glass panels. There is basically no metal frame between the glass. It is an extremely transparent structural method.
Applicable buildings:
Exhibition halls, exhibition halls
Small high-end stores
Landscape buildings (such as entrance halls)
Advantages:
The most transparent
Strong sense of modernity, suitable for iconic design
Disadvantages:
High cost
High technical requirements
Complicated installation and maintenance
If your small construction project needs to create an entrance or exhibition space with great visual impact, the point-supported glass curtain wall will be the best choice.
