Living With Walls of Glass in NYC Apartments

APRIL 6, 2012

Most of us love light, bright apartments with huge windows. Floor-to-ceiling windows--which have grown in popularity--and other large windows open NYC condos at Riverhouse at battery park city up apartment spaces, reduce the need for artificial light, and save energy.

Too much light can also mean too much heat and too little privacy--but innovative systems and materials can help in today’s windowed world. Low energy ("Low e") glass provides more shade from the sun and saves energy. The modern 20th century development of the glass “curtain wall” makes use of the unique properties of glass not only for aesthetic purposes but to control light, heat, moisture and more.

Here's how some New York apartment buildings use floor-to-ceiling windows and glass walls:
- Battery Park City's energy-efficient Riverhouse (shown) uses a double glass curtain wall on its west facade to control sunlight and temperatures.
- Astor Place uses aquamarine-tinted, highly reflective exterior glass with privacy in mind.
- The exterior glass curtain wall at The Centria is a specially-created tinted glass that changes color depending on outside light.
- Jean Nouvel's 40 Mercer Street has 12 stories of topaz-tinted triple-glazed windows.
- Richard Meier's iconic 165 Charles Street uses a computer-controlled layered shading system.

And of course, don't forget more traditional window treatments like curtains, blinds and shades.

ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER

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Living With Walls of Glass in NYC Apartments

APRIL 6, 2012

ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER

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