Achieving The Multiple Objectives of Distinguishing, Separation and Insulation

Triangular glass blocks are used for this sales gallery to achieve the multiple objectives of distinguishing, separation and insulation.

The glass facade mirrors the characteristics of the light throughout the day

Two sides of the door leading to the semi-sheltered enclosed gardens that is effectively insulated from its busy surroundings

This project is a sales gallery for a condominium project in Bangkok. Due to its proximity to a competi-tor’s sales gallery, one of the main requirements from the client was that the building should ‘disconnect’ itself from the competitor. Leaving a generous gap was not an option for functional reasons, so the design team decided to angle the building’s orientation away from the main road in order to distinguish itself.

The main seating area in the sales gallery

Views of the main seating area

This solution also provides not only a visual break to the dense urban fabric, but also provides an opportunity for greenery for the passersby in a form of a ‘pocket park’. This also enforces the selling point of the condominium development, which features a large green space. A simple box was a then placed facing incoming traffic to create a focal point and to balance out the whole architectural composition.

To make it stand out, the box uniquely features a façade made of about 20,000 glass blocks with a secret garden hidden inside. The facade changes its look perpetually following the position of sunlight as well as the shifting shadow of the trees. At night, the glass blocks are illuminated, turning them into a giant glass lantern.

Aerial view highlights the considered orientation of the sales gallery within its busy surroundings

The glass blocks used are rectangular as opposed to a more conventional square-shaped type. They have also extended edges or wings to cover most of the grouting, reducing the width to 2mm instead of the usual 10mm. This special detail reduces the visual perception of joints, thus creating a continuous all- glass effect to the walls.

The repetition of the glass blocks’ horizontal mortar joints helps to reduce light transmission from the higher summer sun. The rectangular shape also helps to cut down the light transmission by double as compared to a square shape. Additionally, the glass blocks also have a high degree of thermal resistance (R-Value) that helps to reduce heat transmission into the building.

One design challenge the team faced was to create a peaceful environment for visitors to enjoy the garden, despite the heavy traffic in front. To effectively cut down the noise pollution and to block off un-pleasant views of the surroundings, an 8-metre-tall wall enclosing the garden was introduced. To reduce the uncomfortable feeling of being surrounded by massive solid walls, glass blocks were chosen as the building material as natural light can still filter through it. Natural ventila-tion is encouraged by the stack effect caused by lifting the base of the glass block enclosure up to allow movement of cool air to get inside and hot air to rise out through the opening on top. In addition, a water misting system is installed to control the temperature inside the courtyard on sunny days.

Project Information

Project Name: The Glass Fortress

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Principal Use: Sales Gallery

Architect: Firm Archismith Co., Ltd.

Project Team: Jirawit Yamkleeb, Sukonthip Sangiamvongse, Takol Pattanopas, Thanaphon Phumipanchaphak

Built Area: 457sqm

Landscape Designer: Landscape Studio by Arsomsilp

Interior Designer: Six.Seven.S

Structural Engineer: 2-R Engineering

Mechanical Engineer: V.Group Engineer

Main Contractor: T.T.S. Engineering (2004)