The use of glass curtain walls in new condo developments have been gaining in popularity and will likely make their imprint as the design style of this era. In [Living in glass houses, shunning stone [Real Deal]](http://www.therealdeal.net/issues/FEBRUARY_2006/1138384955.php) explores this phenomenon in New York.

The housing boom’s rising prices helped developers afford to build in the 25% increase in cost to the sales prices. Glass curtainwalls add more light to a unit, of primary importance in high density urban areas. Glass facades also seem to infer luxury and value, which has been the mantra of new development for the past 5 years.

Honestly, until Richard Meier started the trend with his [173/176 Charles development](http://www.richardmeier.com/PROJECTS/Perry.html), I always viewed glass walls as an artificial skin to cover over a dated brick facade and therefore assumed them to be less expensive than brick. However, developers have consistently stated that [it is more expensive [NYT]](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/garden/13TURF.html?ei=5070&en=adb1fdfca25f78cd&ex=1141794000&pagewanted=all&position=) to build a curtainwall so I’ll defer to their expertise. Admittedly, after going in some of the raw units in the Meier building that were sold, it seems like the ONLY construction cost associated with the project was the glass curtainwall. The units in this building were simply concrete slabs with a minimal bathroom and kitchen – enough to qualify for the Certificate of Occupancy.

In fact, quite often these buildings are construction alongside historic districts or where the housing is much older and the contrast to local residents can stir ill will. In David Lombino’s article [Showdown Today Over Construction Of 32-Unit Glass Building in Village [NYSun]](http://www.nysun.com/article/28610), housing activists fighting a proposed development would rather keep the parking lot on the site. _…it is hard to see how the proposed design relates to the neighborhood’s traditional characteristics, which he said favored “quaint” designs built from more solid materials like brick and stone._

I can see it now – 20 years from now, you’ll be able to point to one of these new Manhattan buildings and guess their rough age of construction, just like you can guess those:

* _white brick wedding cake_ buildings of the 1960s

* _yellow set back vertical rectangles with balconies I called “plaza” buildings because of their set backs_ of the 1970s

* bland generic brick with partial glass facades of the 1980s

* distinctive brick facades of the 1990s

* glass curtain wall buildings of the new millenium.


2 Comments

  1. Environmental Friendly March 7, 2006 at 7:48 am

    These glass buildings may not be the best places when it comes to air conditioning. They become greenhouses in the summer trapping heat, and in the winter they become so cold. Appearances can be truly deceptive!!!

  2. Robert Schwartz March 7, 2006 at 11:53 am

    “housing activists fighting a proposed development would rather keep the parking lot on the site.”

    “Housing activists” who prefer parking lots to housing. do you have to know anything more to know that these people are not serious.

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