How insulated glass changed architecture
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- Опубликовано: 2 фев 2022
- No pane, no gain.
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Today, it’s easy to take big glass windows and doors for granted, whether they show up in commercial buildings or in our homes. But this use of glass is, at its core, a technological breakthrough that changed how we live and how our buildings work.
As Thomas Leslie explains, insulated glass shaped the look of the 20th century. Big but poorly insulated glass windows went out of fashion as electricity allowed for the production of artificial light. Builders needed a new way to install windows that let in natural light, but also controlled heat.
Insulated glass was that solution. As the above video shows, the invention of a branded glass, Thermopane, and its immediate competitors, led to the landscape we recognize today.
Further Reading:
In this paper about the development of insulated glass, Thomas Leslie explores the history of the enclosure. www.jstor.org/stable/26632385...
Flickr groups can be a great tool for finding old ads. The “Vintage Advertising” group includes some great examples of old Thermopane ads:
www.flickr.com/search/?group_...
You can also find ads for Twindow:
www.flickr.com/search/?group_...
The video in this film, American Look, is a 1958 look at the cutting edge of design. It’s still a gorgeous film and includes some great predictions (as well as some interesting incorrect ones).
www.filmpreservation.org/pres...
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Thanks for watching! Other Thermopane experiments happened before it was adopted for residential use - Thermopane maker, Libbey-Owens-Ford made canopies for P-47 fighter planes in 1943 and 1944. -Phil
Please read my comment. PTSD isn't funny. Not trying to be overly dramatic. But, I feel like I should point it out.
@@andrewweaver2517 You know you're really good at something when you do it even though you're not trying.
No pane no gain
70th like 😭
Why do this channel make everything about race????
Bob is an absolute legend, truly deserving of the protagonist role.
Do you want a mustache?
I have a bob
Bob sucks joe is way better
N O T T R A U M A T I Z E D
Ur mom is better deserving of it
Bob really really wanted to sit outside and watch his family.
Bob has seen some shit...
@@oskrm lol a toast to you sir that is a good way to put it.
Bob *is* sitting outside.... the kids are seated inside playing in front of the television. Bob is clearly in a patio chair looking inside.
@@rugbybeef BOB wanted to be one step away from walkout on them at all times lol
He fought the war to have this right.
I live in a 120 year old apartment (in Budapest) and its have the samewhat original windows and these are huge. But the difference is that in every place I have two windows in front of each other, and its have 10 cm of air between them. Its insulates pretty well, but its not practical for houses with thinner walls (mine have 40 cm thick walls to the outside).
Nice! And what about the insulation of your bojler?
@@emb3rke valószínűleg már el lett adva :)
This is the norm in nordic countries as well tho i assume the outer glass at least is still insulated since ive never seen them fog up
e
I live in similar conditions in Vienna, and the insulation is really bad.
This is even more interesting when you consider that this change happened duing the Cold War, and created a really huge difference between the American and Soviet Architecture
Sorrry but Russia Cam back stronger than Russia to defeat USA wahahah
@@hermeslein6614 what?
@@hermeslein6614 when
@@hermeslein6614 wut
@@hermeslein6614 where?
Phil always picks the most fascinating topics, we often wonder about, but don't check!
He also have a personal chanel that i love
And the editing and script is always so dynamic!! Makes learning content like this so much more engaging lol
Perfect way to put it! Loving these.
Loved the inclusions of the front pages in these newspapers, reminding us that this glass thing was never front page news, and reminding Bob that what he saw in Belgium lurks in the heart of every evil man.
Bob no longer feels happy reading the front page of the newspaper. He skips straight to the cartoons.
I feel like this is a reference but I don't know to what
Please make more content like this. I am now knowledgeable of glass and it’s function in Bob’s life.
im from finland, insulated glass is a must here!! especially for that scandinavian, flooded with natural light kind of vibe. most houses also double doors here, sometimes with a mudroom inbetween them. we take our insulation seriously!
Yeap, I'm Swedish (but I live in Norway right now) and this is true for both Sweden and Norway too. It's an absolute MUST.
insulated, double, triple or even quadruple-pane glass is a very northern European thin indeed. Double glass is common these days even in warmer places, but probably the most common in Ireland, UK, Germany, eastern Europe and nordic countries today (in new buildings) is triple-pane.
@@rkan2 you're right. most houses in Ireland have double glazing apart from very old period buildings. My brother is doing a new build here and the spec is all triple glaze.
As you must. I love hearing from everyday people from other parts of the world, thanks for sharing
Who asked
But instulated glass windows was still relatively unknown to American homeowners until the late 1970's, when the effects of two energy crises forced state regulators to require insulated glass windows in many new homes. I had my home's windows replaced with insulated windows in 2010 and the result in lower electric and gas bills was huge.
I’ve actually REMOVED several windows in my house - even the best windows are a heat sink! LEDs are much cheaper to illuminate interiors than windows, and the light is available 24/7. (And yes, I’ve replaced all the other windows with double or triple-glazed low-E windows.)
Gotta say I loved the Celsius temperature being shown there. Otherwise I'd have just kept watching the video and ignoring that piece of information. Please, keep doing this, Vox
Yeah please do that with every imperial measurement
Yes, that was much appreciated
As an architecture student graduate, this relates a lot
As an orphan and twice widowed metropolitan bird, this relates even more.
As a bob who did unspeakable things during the WW2, this relates even more.
As me, this relates nothing.
@@CB0408 good boy CB!
We are studying this in my Heating, Cooling, and water textbook
"Bob" is Olan Soule. He was an actor in a number of different TV shows. For me, most notably in several episodes of Dragnet.
Awesome, thanks for mentioning! 👍
I think he was the music director on Andy Griffith, as well
Now please show this video to the UK where, even in rich areas like Kensington, Hampstead, etc… (and even though it’s an historically humid/wet country) you can easily find most of the apartments with one-layered-sliding windows which have the subsequent effect of producing terrible isolation from the cold in winter (you can literally feel the breeze of the wind passing through and shaking the blinds) and from the heat in summer (which makes sun-exposed rooms practically unusable).
And how funny that here in the UK the majority of people just go on with this, paying a shitloads of money for winter heating (which gets dispersed easily as the windows do no isolate properly) and which creates a vicious cycle of higher bills and less comfort. Not very environmentally friendly…
It’s not really about how rich an area is tbh. A lot of it has to do with the council and how much they are willing to let you change the window glass especially if it’s listed buildings. My friend was only allowed to switch to double-glazed and even that couldn’t salvage just how poorly insulated these buildings are.
Not to mention, the actual part that is causing leakages is the frame itself.
@@baii8544 I understand perfectly. Thanks for explaining.
What totally confuses me is the fact that the UK, considering its typical weather conditions, should be expected to be a masterclass in window isolation.
Instead, for some reason, it’s the opposite.
Ha, and let's not mention the tendency of Victorian terraces to leak and grow mould.
@@bydavidecantelmo The problem is the UK since after WW1 was always playing catch up to the US, and so were behind on many technological innovations, I mean cars were not universally common until the 60s whereas they had been already in the US in the 30s . (The opposite to the 19th century when it was often the reverse.) A lot of this has to do with the combination of the UK losing its markets and becoming uncompetitive with an industry dominated by trade unions devoted to old, job-saving, technologies and skills and an fiscal and trade policy that was much harsher on businesses discouraging investment. It's noticeable that double-glazing only became a 'thing' in the UK during the Thatcher era, just like personal computers and colour televisons, the more trade friendly and business friendly environment let the UK start to catch up on the USA after decades of lagging.
And also, for many years the replacement windows looked shiny and plastic, looking out of place on older houses.
I'd love to see more of these videos about architectural invention!
"Some quip about Bob to get more attention."
It would have been great to have some more details on the Solar Heat Gain of these modern units and how this can be tuned for different climates. Also, there are a lot of different gases being used between the layers other than dry air; Argon, Krypton, Xenon. There are even DGUs with vacuum (no gass) that offer the best insulation.
So much technical depth to explore here beyond just the architectural impacts.
For anyone interested, my family has been working with Pittsburgh Plate Glass for over 100 years. And with window glass for 50 years more!
can you get me a job
@Zaydan Naufal which glass castle are you referring?
In the UK it is known as double glazing and it was a late development and seen as something of a luxury until the 80s and especially 90s when it was something fashionable, although there was an undercurrent of older people claiming it made people 'soft'. As a kid in the 90s hearing adults complain about double glazing salesman who were cold calling to try to sell it as an improvement to the houses that people owned was a very common experience.
Architecture is amazing it’s one of the best ways to visualize history imo-by walking into a space that was created back then you can really get a sense of those who once occupied it and the perspectives they had. From Ancient Rome to bob’s living room! Great video keep the archi content coming!
The bob running joke was the best part of the video, keep having jokes like this please!
For residential use at least, the “dry air” was replaced with argon as it works a little better.
The Bob joke was so well done. Nice one, Vox
Unfortunately many new office buildings in countries with hot climate have also adopted the same insulated glass facade. This has caused the air-conditioning energy bill in such buildings to skyrocket. Consequences of aping the western architecture without thinking.
@Zaydan Naufal Buildings with insulated glass facade heat up due to the greenhouse effect. Such buildings let in and trap sunlight and heat up the interior. This strategy is good for buildings in cold/temperate regions as it can reduce heating requirements. But in regions with hot climate, this method causes the building interiors to become uncomfortably warm, thus pushing up the air conditioning energy requirement.
@Zaydan Naufal true
@Zaydan Naufal There are many techniques which people have figured out like natural ventilation, vertical gardens, using screens and other solar shading techniques to diffuse sunlight but not impede airflow, radiative cooling etc. but I can't elaborate on them in a RUclips comment. Also, RUclips doesn't allow me to share links.
But you could check out a biennial competition that was organized by US DoE called Solar Decathlon till the pandemic hit. There were teams from countries like Thailand, India, Malaysia, Costa Rica etc. who participated and had innovative ideas for passive cooling techniques. But I don't think these techniques work for skyscrapers. Skyscrapers are anyway energy hogs.
In the hot countries I've been to, they have tinted glass which serves a dual purpose, privacy (during the day) & sun insulation. But they also usual add a layer of sheer curtains for added insulation (in addition to the heavier night curtains). & believe me, it makes a difference, lol.
@Zaydan Naufal cross ventilation is a must imo. My house in India gets very cool in the summers thanks to the constant breeze that blows around the house
The real hero in this story is our boy bob.
I am not sure if this is new that Vox is trying but i am really digging this quirky intro, dark humour, character integration and the music. It really adds to the storytelling and hook me even more.
This is great content. I love learning about the science behind these inventions! 👍
Phil's interest in buildings has generated some of the best architecture content on the internet. Keep it up!
Honestly, the old skyscrapers looks much better to me
And they were much better insulated. So much energy wasted in heating and cooling modern glass towers.
I used to live in one and sometimes walking down the street I'd be blinded by the sun reflecting off the windows of the giant towers.
yes they do. Especially the neo classical ones
Today I watched a video on glass panes and loved it. Thank you Vox!
I'm just glad, Bob recovered. . .
okay I love the direction you guys are going ! linoleum, thermogllass, both everyday things! also, as a foreigner, i LOVE the old american articles and ads :D
I gotta say Bob did steal the show 😂😂. Great piece!!
Haven’t watched the video yet, but i already know it’s gonna be great!
This is one of the many millions of technology that we take it for granted. Love the doc!
For those wanting the names of the buildings in the thumbnail, they are the Metropolitan Tower in Chicago and the Pirelli Tower in Milan
Those floor to ceiling glass walls scare me in a highrise. In the upper floors, I will look out of them, but because it's all glass, I keep thinking it will break and I will fall out, LOL. Sometimes I freak myself out thinking kids will run around the house, not completely stop, and ram into the glass wall and it breaking. And yes, I know they are strong, but it still weirds me out.
Think of it as no building or company wants giant lawsuits from people falling out of their glass walls. Cheaper to make it safe and prevent deaths.
I find this SOO interestinf, id love more videos about architecture like this one
Love this video! Thanks Vox team for the informative and another brilliantly edited documentary :)
Great video Vox!!!! Who knew learning about glass could be so fun
Great research! I would love to see more architecture related videos.
this dude should've gone into architecture, this is all we talk about in some classes
I work at a glass shop and we make insulated glass units all the time. This was a great video.
Props to the person/people who sifted through old newspapers, whether original or digital, to find the articles needed for this video. That must take dedication.
Seventy third comment:
This is the kind of video that I like! Really well researched, explained and great visuals! Great job guys! 👍 ✌
Never new a video about insulated glass would be so fascinating
I’ve worked as a glazier over the past 10 years, this is the first time I’ve learned about brick walls behind the spandrel, now a days it’s rock wool, metal studs and drywall behind with a fire stop between the curtain wall and floor slab to prevent fires traveling from floor to floor.
Those are things i didn't knew i need to know.. Now i want more of it
I adore the intro - so catchy and the perfect retro jazzy drums!
There is a novel by the Polish writer Żeromski in which a father, exiled in Russia, convinces his son to go to Poland because there people live in houses of glass. I think this is one of the most beautiful idealistic metaphors of socialism as social openness, sharing and solidarity. Meanwhile, the glass skyscrapers of the States are workplaces where everyone multiplies the wealth of a few or even one person.
What's the name of that novel, and is it available in English, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish?
@@tessiepinkman The Coming Spring (translated to English in 2007).
This has got to be the best Vox vid I’ve ever seen. Shoutout Bob, what a guy
Air conditioning manufacturers love sealed insulated glass boxes built in hot climate areas.
@Zaydan Naufal Shading elements and natural ventilation. If too dry, add a water element (pond, fountain, spray). That would be enough for keeping the inside significantly cooler than the outside. On top of all that, you can have AC, but as a last resort, so you'll waste the least amount of energy on that. Just going with sealed glazing is lazy and wasteful.
Thanks for the bonus clip in the credits!
Here in normal residential building windows in the tropics, Insulated glass is unheard for most people, people mistaken it for tempered glass.....
insolation works against hot and cold so you're air conditioning will work better with insolated glass in hot climates.
@@lordmike9384 Air conditioning is all but unknown in average residential homes in the tropics. People tend to rely more on natural air circulation and shade to keep cool for a variety of reasons, ranging from how inefficient A/C is in tropical temperatures, to cost, to power grid limitations.
Glass is not suited for facading in hot regions, at all, regardless of insulated or not. Shading and ventilation are indispensable.
@@SpencerN.C. there's plenty of tropical cities that have sky scrapers with glass walls. miami, jakarta, rio, lagos, dubai, singapore, the list goes on and on. and cities that don't have air conditioned high rises someday will.
@ you've never heard of shades and curtains?
I was surprised that my 1969 mid century modern home was all single pane, most have been built on the cheap. Swapped that out, big difference.
A point completely untouched in the video was how important float glass was to making douple pane work. Large plate glass has to be custom ground and polished before float. Find a house built before 1950, like the one I lived in until recently and the glass will have the ripples of drawn glass unless repaired/replaced.
And this is what makes people insist old windows slowly flow downwards 🤦♀️
Me sitting outside my insulated glass door, staring at my kid playing inside and thinking of Bob only😀😀
Love how they took a humorous approach very fun to watch
I used to live in an older early 50s home when I was a kid and the front bedroom still had 1 single pane window and no insulation in the exterior walls it was freezing in that room but we replaced the window and insulated the walls it made a huge world of difference.
Fun fact, Pittsburgh Plate Glass dropped most of the letters to PPG when they moved to being a mostly coatings based company in the late 70s
Excellent editing, entertaining and informative 👏🏻
I grew up with single pane windows in our old house (in the nineties). Every autumn my dad would fit storm windows inside, frames with thin plastic. They were mostly transparent, but it was kind of like looking through a fishbowl, and the windows would still frost. Every year we'd learn about heat transfer and how much of an insulation factor air gives you.
You must have been poor. The video clearly stated double pane windows have been around since the 60s.
e
@Allan Reford . Not 30+ years later.
@@MrSupernova111 the UK STILL doesn't have them 😂
@@MrSupernova111 Yeah, I think our house was built around 1950. It was an old farmhouse or something. It was great.
Well done Phil! Keep it up!
Awesome mini documentary, loved it! Also I loved the music in it, does anyone know what it is?
I feel at work still, I need a change of topic ;)
I agree that generally in buildings we look at R value, but for glass panes (and windows) we look at 1/R=U, and the lower the better.
And fire resistant fasades is so much more complex now ;)
This is definitely the crux of the design revolution that houses, but particularly skyscrapers underwent. It's almost more impactful to skyscraper design compared to the steel beam construction method. I appreciate your coverage of Leslie's research and picking up on an oft-overlooked reason why our buildings look the way that they do.
Fantastic video
Subject. I loved it! Give me more please!
This is f’n great! Love the tone and humor.
Love this new mix of humor and knowledge!
Poor Bob! The horrors of war leave scars just as invisible as his Twindow sliding door.
Editing is soo soo good.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
I love watching these great Vox videos!
The editing was on point!
Thanks for including C° !
The not traumatized stamp really got me haha
Just loved watching this. Thanks Vox!
A bit like how the Ancient Greeks created a style that became the blueprint for architects in the West to work towards for centuries, it seems from the 60s onwards a "futuristic" style has become the dominant form all architecture caters too.
Funny, all that blabbering making fun of these eras as being unadvanced (somehow they still think that) and evil can we even say? and yet they depend on them for everything.
Just found this video and wow. I used to work manufacturing windows for a pretty decent sized company and no one ever really explained how like windows changed the game, Learning this kinda makes me a lil more proud if the work I was doing then!
Lovely video! Thank you!
Vox videos are so passively chaotic and its fkin amazing oml 👏🧡
Another great video, Phil!
that ending line at 6:26 was amazing haha
We just bought a 1920s mostly updated bungalow. Most of the windows have not been replaced and now I know why they get frost and condensation on them.
Simms building featured. Awesome! I love that building.
I'm sitting watching this in my house in New Zealand built in the mid 2000s which only has single panned windows. Here in NZ we made the 1950s modernist transition like America but we're cheap. We didn't make double glazing a requirement in new homes until 2008.
The music is really nice too!
Short and brilliant!
This company always manages to find the og's of the topic. Very nc
Interesting video! Engineers and architects are now re-evaluating the efficiency of all-glass buildings, as smaller insulated windows and more substantial, insulated walls allow for better heat insulation and energy efficiency. Large reflective glass buildings are also a deadly problem for birds, which is getting more attention as we become more environmentally minded. There's also the simple ennuie that many have for the generic design that many glass towers suffer from.
Yeah, PPG! (Their building in Pittsburgh is an iconic all dark glass castle-ish looking skyscraper downtown. It's a distinct part of the city's skyline.) Nice to know more of the context behind their industry!
I'm from the same town as the owners of PPG and they definitely have a taste for grand architecture, look up the Bryn Athyn historic district, it's all their work.
A fun fact. I have two patio doors which are known as 'Wisconsin Doors' as they were primarily installed in the upper Midwest and particularly the state of Wisconsin. A normal patio door is 6' but WI Doors are 6'6" so requiring a custom door when replacing. I don't know why that was a thing but maybe because of Milwaukee being where double pane glass was invented?
Wow buildings become so shiny
As a glass artist. I am obsessed!
YESSS, GIVE US MORE ARCHITECTURE VIDEOS PLEASE
These are super interesting!
Cool video but I was thinking about Bob's PTSD the whole time
I would love to see the process of creating the videos on your channel!
Where did you get the Simms Building Photos? I love the building, but have never seen the top view presented looking out over the Valley!
I worked in a window factory for a couple years! It was actually a fun and interesting job, but dang glass is heavy and dangerous! Filled our windows with argon.
I'm glad Bob can have his peace now
This is not the usual Vox content I'm getting, I was not prepared for that level of chaotic energy, I am so loving this xD
Never thought I say this but I think windows are pretty interesting now.
Thank you Vox