Interior glass walls for houses

how to replace internal walls |

(Image credit: Henriette von Stockhausen / Richard Parr / Ham Interiors)

Replacing internal walls with glass partition walls has many advantages: they open up a layout but keep areas defined, they afford beautiful views from one room to another, they let the light flow throughout and are architecturally striking, too.

'When it comes to interior design layouts, I love dividing larger spaces using glazed partitions as it allows the light to flow freely while separating various areas for different usage and privacy without closing them off completely,' says Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors.

Glass partition walls – why choose a glazed partition?

Broken-plan living room ideas and kitchens are the new, post-pandemic, practical alternative to open-concept layouts.

‘While open-plan living rooms and kitchens looks great, it throws up a few problems such as noise and a lack of coziness and warmth,’ says Mike Stiff, director of Stiff + Trevillion architects, which uses glazing in many projects.

‘Glass partition walls allows light to flow, while keeping homes warm and providing quiet zones.’ The approach also succeeds when opening up a home, as a glass wall can replace a solid partition – often a neat idea for an entrance hall.

‘Glazed partitions are really successful where a completely open-plan kitchen or living space is not required, but a visual connection to an adjacent room, the outside or to a window is beneficial,’ says architect Phil Coffey.

(Image credit: De Rosee Sa)

How to create zones with glass partition walls

Some decorators and architects consider internal windows to be just as important as those facing the outside.

'I’m a big fan of glass divisions as they create a divide without losing light,' says interior decorator and architect Natalia Miyar. 'Something I look at early in the design process is zoning different areas, this is an important stage as it will determine the lifestyle of the space which is fundamental to good design. '

This is where a carefully considered glass window or partition comes into play. 'We have moved away from the idea that we need to live in a series of boxes with walls, but we still need to define areas for different purposes,' says Natalia. 'A glass wall can be a feature as well as a tool for separating these different zones.'

(Image credit: Richard Parr)

What is the best glass for a partition?

Selecting the right glass for the partition – whether it’s clear or frosted, ribbed or textured–needs careful consideration, believes Max de Rosee of De Rosee Sa architecture and design studio .

'We prefer ribbed glass if we want to provide privacy and enjoy the slightly retro quality it has, but we are now starting to experiment with cast and stained glass on recent projects,' he explains. 'We typically tend to avoid frosted glass as we find it looks too corporate.' Interior designer Sara Cosgrove says that she’s seeing the use of fluted glass transfer more and more from the hospitality sector into residential schemes.

'It’s a fantastic way to maximize light while adding texture to a room that needs a glazed element.' Mirrored glass is another alternative, creating an illusion of additional space through the reflective glass panels. 'These can be used to form separate living areas with a bit more privacy, perfect for creating a snug home office or study,' says Clara Ewart, head of design at Kitesgrove .

(Image credit: Henriette von Stockhausen )

Where should I include a glass partition wall?

In hard-working rooms of the house such as kitchens and utility spaces, think about the furniture layout first before considering the glazing, recommends Tom Cox of Hám Interiors .

'Semi-glazed walls work particularly well in kitchens as you can design a run of cupboards below the glazed portion, maximizing the layout and maintaining a light and airy feel.'

They are also handy at keeping cooking smells and the general hubbub of the kitchen contained in one room, something that suffers in an open-plan layout.

(Image credit: Ham Interiors)

How do you include a glass partition wall in an old house?

Glass partitions in old houses come in different forms, explains architect Richard Parr.

There are two main approaches: the first is to ask what the architect of the house would have done and be true to the era of the original building, considering sizes of glass panels, ironmongery and detail to ensure the materials are authentic. His practice has also inserted glazed partitions where the intention is to be very obvious that the glazing is contemporary.

'In this case, we celebrate that and use all the sophistication of today to achieve this. Avoiding or hiding frames, using glass and silicon structurally, maximizing the sheet size of the glass are examples.'

Arabella is a freelance journalist writing for national newspapers, magazines and websites including Homes & Gardens, Country Life, The Telegraph and The Times. For many years she has specialized in writing about property and interiors, but she began her career in the early 2000s working on the newly launched Country Life website, covering anything from competitions to find the nation’s prettiest vicarage to the plight of rural post offices.

Magnificent Designs That Proudly Embrace Glass Walls Inside And Out

By Simona Ganea | Published on Mar 3, 2021

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Open and airy interiors are the trend right now. Most modern and contemporary homes feature open floor plans where the living room, kitchen and dining area are all combined into a single big space but that’s not the only way you can make your home look more open and airy. Glass wall dividers are great at keeping the spaces separate but still allowing them to be linked together. Glass walls and partitions are also very versatile and can be adapted and customized to fit in a variety of different settings. Let’s have a look at a few examples.

A modern loft apartment with an office behind a glass wall

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This is the stylish interior of an apartment located in Moscow. It’s been beautifully furnished and decorated by studio Cartelle Design and it has some really cool and inspiring features that we can’t wait to share with you. One of them is the glass wall which divides the home office from the living area. This is an office for two and although it is technically a separate room it also feels a lot like a part of the social area. This is a great way to create a dedicated office space without isolating it from the rest of the apartment.

A studio apartment with a glass bedroom wall

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We love the modern-industrial design of this studio apartment. The exposed concrete adds a lot of character to the design and is beautifully softened and toned down by the wood, the clean white walls and the layered textured introduced by the furniture and the decorations. What also stands out is the wall which separated the bedroom from the rest of the apartment. It’s made of glass with curtains which can be used for added privacy.

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This lovely apartment in Paris was designed by Maxine Jensens Architecture and although it’s not very big it does feel very spacious and airy. There are multiple reasons for that, one being the fact that it has big windows which open it up to the exterior and that let lots of natural sunlight inside. It also has skylights which bring even more light in from above. Last, but not least, the interior spaces are organized through a series of glass dividers. The bedroom for instance is almost completely encased in glass.

A spacious apartment with smart glass partitions

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In case you’re wondering, there are multiple different types of glass which can be used to create interior partitions and space dividers. One of them is smart glass which has the unique ability of becoming matte and that means it offers the privacy that is needed for a space such as the bedroom for example. It was used here by studio 33bY Architecture to create a sliding wall divider between the bedroom suite and the rest of this spacious apartment from Ukraine.

Swedish apartment with a bedroom encased in glass

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As you’ve probably noticed, using glass wall partitions to separate the bedroom from the rest of the spaces is quite common, especially in the case of small apartments. It’s a design strategy which allows the floor space to be used more efficiently and which also keeps these spaces interconnected but at the same time makes it clear where the physical boundaries between them are. This Swedish flat is a very good representation of that.

A gorgeous villa with curved glass walls

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It’s not just the interior room dividers that help to make this villa look gorgeous and to fill it with light and beauty but also the exterior walls as well. a first glimpse at it reveals these massive glass walls which curve smoothly around the corners and which crate a transparent envelope around the interior spaces. The roof and the floor extend beyond that, giving this feeling of being both indoor and outdoor. This magnificent villa was designed by studio 123DV.

A stylish apartment with sliding and pivoting doors

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Just because lots of modern apartments feature interior glass walls and partitions doesn’t mean they’re all alike. In each case we’re looking at a unique adaptation of this interior design strategy. This apartment from Amsterdam was designed by studio Denoldervleugels and part of its charm is the integration of the glass room dividers but also the matching pivot door and sliding door which are seamlessly incorporated into these partitions.

Futuristic clubhouse with a transparent interior

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This riverside clubhouse from Vancheng, China was a project completed by studio TAO (Trace Architecture Office). It’s a big, futuristic-looking building with a sculptural shape and an eye-catching geometry. Its design is very pure and minimalistic and glass is a very important part of it. The interior is exposed to the beautiful surroundings through full-height windows and huge glass walls and the interior is just as open and airy thanks to the glass partitions.

A contemporary house with a flexible layout

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The Mariana House is located in Mexico and was designed and built by studio LABarq. It’s a really beautiful building with big brick exterior walls perforated by large windows and openings. The interior is inviting, spacious and really flexible thanks to the way in which the different areas are connected to one another. They feature sliding doors and pivoting glass partitions which can be opened up to create custom setups for various types of activities. The glass partitions also help to bring these interior spaces closer to the beautiful natural surroundings.

A London townhouse with a perforated design

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This London townhouse is five storeys high but quite narrow so studio Andy Martin Architecture had to be clever when redesigning it. They wanted to fill the interior spaces with light and to give them a breezy and airy feel. They achieved that by incorporating various perforated surfaces into the new interior design. For example, they used glass pavement lights on the ground floor which let natural light get down into the basement, they introduced a perforated steel wall through the center which adds a sense of transparency and they also relied on glass partitions between some of the spaces to create a sense of openness.

An organic residence design which curves around the landscape

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Villa K is located in Alkmaar, in Holland and was designed by studio Architectencsk. It has a very distinctive and impressive design that has a very organic feel to it. The building curves smoothly and seamlessly around the beautiful landscape, allowing panoramic views to be enjoyed from all the rooms. What makes this experience special is the glazed facade which is also curved and forms this beautiful hallway that connects all the different interior spaces. Glass walls and partitions were also used in other forms throughout this magnificent residence.

Exterior glass walls for space zoning indoors and outdoors

Modern construction knows no stops in the construction of housing using new technologies. Mankind longs to completely discard the isolation in space, but for some reason it tries to maintain some kind of privacy.

Impressive stained glass systems, floor-to-ceiling windows or glass exterior wall are modern interior design features. Today it is very relevant and also fashionable, since such structures fill the entire room with daylight, bringing lightness and comfort to it.

Replacement of bricks and concrete
Divide the territory into zones
Structural strength

Photo 1. The space in the office is separated by a glass wall. Glass and fittings with increased sound insulation were used.

Glass blocks are already quite actively used in construction, as they are characterized by sound insulation, thermal insulation, strength, such structures are not subject to combustion processes, and are also not afraid of precipitation and moisture. Their durability does not depend on care, they are absolutely unpretentious. Not so long ago, no one could have imagined that soon design projects and other design developments would make exterior glass walls such a frequent component of new buildings, as well as interior solutions.

Replacement of bricks and concrete

Glass partitions or walls - glass structures are called, which can be intended for different purposes, and are also divided into external and internal. It is worth noting that the glass outer wall is able to replace a full-fledged wall, and will also help to correctly delimit the space as it is more convenient for its owners. For example, such partitions are able to separate the veranda of a summer restaurant or kitchen from the outside world . External glass walls are applicable when two pavilions in a huge exhibition or shopping center need to be separated.

Photo 2. A unique solution for separating the bedroom from the hallway. Glass wall, consisting of blocks and sliding partitions made of frosted glass, covering the area with an office.

Divide the territory into zones

Glass partitions for internal purposes are applicable when you need to competently approach the issue of delimiting the area on the territory of the office or inside the building. When using them from one large office, you can make several separate study rooms, while the space will save its transparency.

Photo 3. The glass wall serves as a supporting function for the stairs. Multilayer triplex was used as a canvas, glass steps made of thick glass with anti-slip surface treatment.

Structural strength

The fragility of external glass walls is out of the question, as these are time-tested reliable structures made of tempered and specially processed glass with modern equipment. Design developments in the field of glass structures have divided products into different types and purposes in their production:

tempered glass is applicable for glazing large areas;
textured glass is used to maneuver the degree of transparency;
glass with different types of tinting, allows you to achieve any desired shade;
frosted glass surfaces can be used to print any design or company logo.

Do not forget that quite often designers combine exterior glass walls with other materials of different types of rigidity and weight, which allows creating very original design solutions. 9Ol000 Shower cabins

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Glass walls in the interior - 20 examples with photo

The article discusses various options for glass walls and interior partitions in modern interiors. We do not discuss the technical construction issues of partition walls here, but provide an overview of various projects in terms of design and appearance to demonstrate the possibilities of materials from a decorative point of view.

The basis for the glass walls can be a normal sheet of quartz glass, decorative glass with artistic processing or glass blocks - all of these options we will illustrate with specific examples with a brief description.

Read also related article: Glass partitions in interiors

Contents

1. Glass walls in the apartment instead of ordinary partitions
2. Long studio with one window divided by a glass wall
3. Bedroom area separated by glass wall
4. Glass partition between hallway and kitchen
5. Children's room behind glass
6. All-glass partition in studio
7. Bed and study behind glass
8. Dressing room in the bedroom behind a stained glass wall
9. Pivot-sliding screen made of sandblasted glass
10. Combined partition with glass part
11. Irregular combined partition wall between kitchen and bedroom
12. Partition between bedroom and living room with glass inserts
13. Glass wall in a small bedroom
14. Part of a glass wall in the partition next to the panoramic window
15. Bathroom separated by a glass wall in Taiwan studio
16. Exterior walls in a glass house
17. External walls made of glass blocks
18. Internal glass block partition
19. Glass wall made of decorative glass blocks
20. Curved glass block wall

1. Glass walls in the apartment instead of ordinary partitions

Black tinted glass instead of walls in the design of the corridor

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The main color of the interior of this apartment is black, in order to preserve the color unity and commonality of the space, the designer used transparent partitions instead of solid partitions. Moreover, the glass is tinted in a dark color to create an even more gloomy atmosphere, as it was originally intended.

The uniqueness of glass as a finishing material lies in the fact that it can be subjected to various methods of decorative processing: tinting, matting, applying drawings by engraving or photo printing - this is not a complete list.

See related articles:

Decorative glass processing
Glass and mirror machining methods