September 20, 2025
Glass in Facade Systems
In this video, Francesco Carlucci outlines the primary glass facade systems for buildings. The video distinguishes between traditional windows, set within opaque walls, and larger curtain walls. Curtain walls are categorized into three types: stick systems (built on-site from a metal grid), unitized systems (prefabricated modules assembled on-site), and structural glass facades (which use point fixings to create a seamless, all-glass appearance by hiding the load-bearing structure). Each system offers different advantages in cost, aesthetics, installation speed, and performance, allowing designers to choose the best solution for a project's specific architectural and technical needs. The video was produced by the Open GLASSroom project. Special thanks to Francesco Carlucci for contributing to the Open GLASSroom OER collection. The creation of these resources has been (partially) funded by the ERASMUS+ grant program of the European Union under grant no. 2022-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000089750. Neither the European Commission nor the project's national funding agency DAAD are responsible for the content or liable for any losses or damage resulting of the use of these resources.