Surface visual stimulation by spatial addition. Case‐studies of layered glass facades

Transparency is no longer limited to specific functions (e.g. illumination of the interior) but has become a tool of formal expression itself. Apart from the standard understanding of transparency as the use of light‐permeable materials in facade design, one can find other innovative and creative interpretations. Usually, technical solutions have priority over aesthetic considerations in many situations many purely formal trends find their origin in technology and design decisions that are governed by rational issues. The impression of depth was initially created as a by‐product of double facades, however, also other innovative techniques are used to enrich the spatial depth of the facade, multiply the observed plans and to achieve the picturesque effects of blur, stratification or movement. Elements of artificial or authentic space stratification are present in almost every analyzed case‐study, providing important insights for the formulation of formal, architectural trends. The presented paper describes and provides a simplified typology of the most recent and distinct trends regarding the introduction of the spatial depth into the facade. Many pre‐existing techniques (meaning existing before the year 2000) are still used, but new techniques also appear. The presented research indicates that the depth of the facade is what stimulates architects to search for new ways of utilizing light‐transmitting materials. Pane superposition could be one of the ways to achieve this.