DC: It’s partly about image and partly about construction efficiency. Glass curtain walls offer a straightforward and cost-effective way to build. This approach is also linked to modernism’s rejection of 19th-century architecture. In the 20th century, modernist architects sought to create a new, radical form of architecture that didn’t resemble historical styles.

This was a revolutionary period—especially after the First and Second World Wars—and architects saw themselves as agents of change. Buildings were increasingly industrialised, moving away from being entirely hand-built to incorporating materials like glass and steel, which became easier to work with. It wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was also about function. Glass allowed more light into buildings, which wasn’t inherently a bad thing.

Of course, glass-heavy buildings need compensation. You either manage the heat mechanically or through layering techniques, which can work in certain climates. In places like Sweden, for example, letting light in is just as important as keeping heat out. But in more extreme climates, like here, we need to find the right balance. Embedding mass and materiality, rather than relying on glass, makes much more sense in such environments.

David Chipperfield Architects