You mentioned that today’s exhibits are driven less by formal design and more by functionality. Can and should glass be, at the same time, a design element, an energy source, a smart climate controller and a recyclable building material?
Jutta Albus: Yes – and I believe that, in future, glass will need to integrate these functions even more closely. Design quality remains a fundamental aspect of architecture, but it is increasingly complemented by requirements for energy efficiency, climate adaptation and circularity. Decarbonisation, energy optimisation and resource conservation have become key drivers of innovation in the construction sector. This development is clearly reflected in glass and facade engineering. At the same time, the exhibition demonstrates that design innovation has by no means lost its importance. Atelier Barrois’s sculptural work featuring composed prismatic glass elements, or Sedak’s double-curved glazing both illustrate the remarkable design and technological potential of glass. Alongside these developments, low-carbon manufacturing processes, high-performance coatings, adaptive facade systems, solar glass and recyclable structures are becoming increasingly important.
There seems to be an increasing divergence between the concepts of recycling and reuse. The former is booming, whilst the latter remains a niche topic for the time being – is this because it is so difficult to meet the quality requirements, particularly in Germany?
Jutta Albus: I see this not so much as a contradiction but rather as two complementary strategies within the circular economy. The greatest environmental benefit comes from the reuse of building components. If window and facade elements can be successfully reused in a new context, the embodied carbon and energy already invested are preserved, significantly reducing and CO₂ emissions over the building’s life cycle. Yet this is precisely where the real challenge of recycling lies: it is not the material glass itself that is the problem, but the complex composite systems in which it is used today.
One of the exhibits demonstrates how such challenges could be adressed in the future. A reversibly designed pavilion structure showcases the reuse of curved, self-supporting laminated glass. In the long term, we will need both strategies: the highest possible level of reuse for complete building components and – where this is no longer feasible – efficient recycling processes. The foundations for both must be laid at the design stage. Buildings must be designed consistently in accordance with the principles of 'Design for Disassembly' and material separation.
Speaking of niche topics, are large-scale applications on the horizon for thin glass?
Jutta Albus: That depends on how one defines ‘large-scale application’. Looking at the market as a whole, thin glass remains a specialist product. However, within specific fields of application, it has become well established in recent years. One important area of application is triple-glazing. The use of thin glass can reduce the weight of the glazing units by up to 45 per cent, reducing the load on frames and fittings. This is particularly advantageous for the energy-efficient refurbishment of existing buildings. With panel sizes of up to 1.50 × 2.20 m, a wide range of applications can already be realised. Manufacturing and processing technologies have also advanced considerably. Thin glass with thicknesses between 0.5 and 2 mm can now be produced and processed reliably to a consistently high quality standard. It is also increasingly being used in laminated safety glass to comply with the weight restrictions of modern facade systems.
A curved thin-glass-polycarbonate composite element and an adaptive thin-glass facade presented at this year’s exhibition demonstrate the potential of these lightweight panes. In photovoltaics, thin glass serves as a cover pane for PV modules, expanding the range of building-integrated solar applications. I believe that, whilst thin glass will not replace traditional float glass, it will gain in importance wherever weight, material efficiency and multifunctionality are key design parameters.
No trade fair is complete without AI and digital technologies. Where do you see applications for these, and what is there to see – or hear – in this regard as part of the special exhibition?
Jutta Albus: Complex geometries, high-precision manufacturing processes and high-performance facade systems can hardly be realised without digital planning, simulation and fabrication methods. This is not only about the glazing itself, but also about supporting structures, fixing systems and their seamless integration. Artificial intelligence does not replace planning expertise, rather, it expands it by creating new opportunities for analysis, simulation and decision-making. It supports the optimisation of material usage, manufacturing processes and energy performance, as well as the development of new products. A PV module with customisable film on display at the special exhibition demonstrates how the efficiency of a photovoltaic facade can be improved without compromising design freedom.
Other exhibits focus on intelligent control systems, sensor-based technologies and high-performance glazing, the development of which is supported by AI-driven analysis and optimisation methods. These developments will also be explored at the accompanying architecture forum, with a focus on how digital tools and AI are transforming the planning process – from the analysis of existing structures through to the design and development of resource-efficient and circular facade concepts.
