Uploaded on 2014-10-22 by ThatianaP

I'm not against the use of glass in architecture, but here in Sao Paulo this system is causing a big problem if we think about the thermal confort, the high temperatures in the buildings. The "glass skins" are installed without any concern about the natural ventilation. In most cases, the facades are completely sealed. There is not even a solution to create shades on the facades. Big construction companies defend that the glass is a "noble" material and that it brings the ideia of a "modern and high-tech" architecture. This material is used to prove the "high quality" and how expensive the building is. I've already seen buildings where the glass is used to cover up concrete walls and structure elements. It can't be good, right? Even efficiency certifications are just marketing strategy. Efficient glasses reduce the amount of heat that infiltrates the building, but they don't eliminate (in a tropical country with high temperatures in most part of the year) the intense use of energy for air conditioning. The big problem is: most of high efficient glasses are not made in Brazil. So, it would be really good if we could find another material to replace it. Maybe it could be the start of a sustainable way of thinking. ![Olimpiadas Avenue, Sao Paulo][1] ![Olimpiadas Avenue, Sao Paulo][2] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1413980699641994.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14139806644498066.jpg