Transparency at the touch of a button – smart glass solutions for modern interiors

Be it for more privacy at the office, discretion during conferences or an aesthetic styling element in architecture – switchable glass transforms transparent surfaces into opaque walls at the touch of a button.

Modern architectural interiors thrive on glass: open, light-flooded, transparent. However, confidential conversations, medical treatments or personal retreats require discretion. Switchable glass caters for both – in one single component controlled by electrical impulses rather than provided by blinds or curtains.

PDLC is short for Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal – liquid crystals suspended in plastics. The heart of this technology is a thin film between two glass sheets with microscopically small liquid crystal droplets embedded in them.

The decisive factor: there is no mechanical element to this glass – this switching process is based solely on an electric field. At the touch of a button you send a signal to a control unit which then applies alternating current to transparent electrodes.

Without current (“off” state): the liquid-crystal molecules are randomly oriented. Light is scattered into many directions – the glass surface appears milky and opaque.

With current: the electric field sorts the molecules. The refraction index of the droplets aligns with the surrounding polymer. Light passes through nearly unhindered – the surface becomes transparent.

This switching takes place within seconds. Film, electrodes and controller together invisibly, without any moving parts.

Offices and conference rooms: transparency for teamwork, privacy for strategy discussions – the switch happens in seconds without any louvres that interfere with the video call.

Clinics and doctors’ surgeries: glazed fronts provide oversight and daylight. For treatments the same area can ensure privacy in a matter of seconds – with escape routes remaining visible and safety standards complied with.

Hotels and wellness areas: PDLC glass stages the changeover from open-plan areas to retreats. Bathrooms with glass walls appear accessible and airy by day but private and protected by night.

Showrooms and lab visits: targeted unveiling at times, temporary visual protection at others, without sealing off rooms permanently – ideal for presentations and publicly accessible areas subject to security requirements.

The combination of functional utility and minimalist design seamlessly blends with contemporary architectural concepts.

SPD (Suspended Particle Device): gradually dimmable and very fast in reaction. Optimal for glare protection and blackout as required in lounges or for car glass.

Electrochromic glass: generates a homogeneous tint but reacts more slowly. Primarily used on façades for smart daylight control, room comfort and energy efficiency.

Thermo- and photochromic glass: operate passively without power supply, react to heat or UV radiation. Cannot be controlled manually – suitable for simple standard applications.

Smart glass delivers what modern architecture calls for: transparency as a standard, privacy on demand. One single component connects openness with personal discretion – bright, accessible and yet ready for those moments where privacy is more important than transparency.

See how nature and glass can also enter into dialogue by visiting Haus Mischke-Götzinger in Berlin.