The art of mixing sand, soda and lime to make glass can be dated to about 3 500 years ago –and it was the Romans who were the first to make window glass panes. They were of uneven thickness and not transparent like modern-day glass, but it allowed an element of light through it. Today, we find ourselves surrounded by glass – a material so subtle and advanced that it’s become inconspicuously invisible to the eye. Who doesn’t appreciate glass as a barrier between you and a high-powered weapon or the 163rd floor at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai?

Like the Romans, Phoenix Fenestration & Glass constantly pushes the boundaries by embracing the technology available to them, and then applying purpose and intent to achieve the result they seek. This is not a thought process, it is a mindset that runs through our veins, a maniacal focus to meet and exceed client expectations – consistently.

Glass has become an advanced building material in architecture and, over the years, Phoenix Fenestration & Glass clients in the architectural, military and security industry demand more and more in so far as performance, building regulations, and dealing with energy efficiency in buildings goes. As these demands have become progressively tighter, research and development in the field of high-performance glass has led to characteristics and sizes never seen before. Being able to offer the absolute latest in aesthetics, safety, design, energy efficiency, functionality and construction is not just important to Phoenix Fenestration & Glass – it is vital.

While Phoenix Glass manufactures and processes normal/performance annealed glass, toughened safety glass and multi-laminates, their focus in this feature was to highlight the possibilities that exist when aesthetics and performance need to make a bold statement.

Glass can achieve a broad range of applications only by lamination. Interlayers bond individual panes to form laminates, which then serve as a load-bearing component. In this instance, we needed an exceptionally well-designed element with structural and optical features that would create a wow factor when clients enter our reception area. “What is unimaginable with a single pane of glass is made possible by lamination.” And in this instance, Phoenix Fenestration & Glass laminated the glass stair treads with different coloured Vanceva PVB Interlayers. The result is nothing short of astounding, and has become a focal point when clients visit their offices.

While it was its transparency that laid the foundation for the appeal of glass millennia ago, this material continues to fascinate with its versatile applications. It is true that many of the advances made in glass technology and manufacturing may still be out of reach for many projects, but there is no doubt that the future holds exciting applications for the built environment, and Phoenix Glass will continue to be at the forefront of cutting-edge glass technology.