With the innovative bending technique developed by Glape, traditional flat glass is reimagined into custom three-dimensional structures. This transformative process unlocks the full potential of glass, folding flat sheets into complex shapes that offer superior geometric stiffness and significantly enhance bending capacity. By folding the glass, material thickness can be drastically reduced, leading to lighter, more efficient designs that lower CO2 emissions and energy consumption.
Folded plates open up exciting design opportunities, such as cantilevered glass steps that use far less material than traditional multi-laminate options. This innovation allows for the creation of weightless, elegant staircases that appear to float, redefining what’s possible in architectural design. The transparent glass steps were developed by a consortium consisting of Glape, H.B. Fuller, SK Scheidel, Yachtglass, Glas-Lippold, Finiglas, Hölscher and Eckersley O’Callaghan in collaboration with the Glass Competence Center of the Technical University of Darmstadt. Larger applications are in the planning stage. They are fuelling anticipation of what the future of glass technology will bring – by combining sustainability and exceptional design.
