If you are designing a new tall building or repurposing an existing one – such as by turning a former office block into residential use – the question of what materials to use on the inside is an important question.
While many modern buildings are still built using brick or brick-effect cladding, the dominance of steel and glass has become increasingly apparent in major cities, especially in the plethora of 21st century skyscrapers rising up in London, Manchester, and, at a slightly less frantic pace, in other large cities.
This design feature is clear even though there are so many architectural variations. London has its Shard, Gherkin and Walkie Talkie, but in each case the dominance of steel and glass is clear – and that means each of these buildings gets lots of natural light.
Manchester is similar in this regard, even though a common lament of critics is that, unlike London and some overseas cities, its new skyscrapers are mostly uniform and lack variety.
The Tallest And Glassiest
It remains to be seen if critics will be assuaged by the latest proposal in Manchester – last month Salboys submitted a planning application for what would be the tallest residential building in Europe at 241 metres (791 ft) in height.
The tower would be 40 metres higher than the current tallest building in Manchester and 27 metres taller than the highest planned skyscraper, The Lighthouse. It will also dwarf Salboys’ Viadux building next door and, just along from that, the Beetham Tower, which was the tallest in Manchester from 2005-2018.
Clusters of tall buildings can look visually impressive from the outside, but there are some potential problems for those inside, whether working there in the day or living in it permanently. The danger of skyscrapers is that they can cast a large shadow over their surrounding area, making neighbouring buildings a gloomy place to live or work.
Why Glass Epitomises Modern Skyscrapers
This was an unavoidable issue in the early days of skyscraper construction, such as in New York, when windows were smaller and more masonry was involved. But in a building with lots of glass, there is every opportunity to allow in lots of light not just for the benefit of those inside, but those on the other side of the windows.
Indeed, this is one of the reasons for glass to be so prominent a feature of most modern skyscrapers around the world once the construction and engineering technology was in place to make it possible, the other benefit being that it is lighter and can allow for swifter construction.
Using internal glass doors is a great way of achieving the goal of avoiding excess shadows, which is why it makes complete sense to fit these and other fixtures that allow the light to shine right through.
It might be said in jest that this is especially needed in a city like Manchester with its’ wet and gloomy climate, although it might equally be pointed out that the summer evenings are lighter and longer than down in London.
In the case of the proposed new Salboys proposal, the skyscraper will stand to the south east of Viadux and the Beetham Tower, so the greatest benefits of direct sunlight will come in the mornings.
An extra benefit of longer daylight hours in Britain is that in taller buildings, there will be a chance to catch more sunlight when the sun is low, as it won’t be blocked out by surrounding buildings.
The benefits of natural light can be enjoyed at great length in midsummer when it barely goes fully dark at all unless it is cloudy, but there are also benefits in winter, when some people will suffer lowered mood from a lack of light, which can include the often emotionally and mentally debilitating seasonally affective disorder. Maximising the light will help.
How To Bring Extra Light To Your Office
This is a plus point that is applicable in residential and commercial skyscrapers alike, which means if you are planning the design of the interior of such a building you need to consider where best to put glass doors and other internal glass fittings to make the most of the light.
Should you be seeking to modify the internal furnishings of a building, such as when you have just acquired a new office space, you may be fortunate enough to have the budget to use glass everywhere, giving the whole working area a sense of light and spaciousness and making it possible to find colleagues when you need them.
However, if you are working within limitations, it makes sense to focus on the places where the greatest amount of light can filter through when glass is installed, ensuring that you make the most of the natural illumination that is available.
