ALTHOUGH the glass facade looks striking, glare remains a major problem.

As most glass curtain walls cannot be opened, ventilation is another issue that needs special attention.

Glass is also poor in terms of heat preservation, leading to higher costs in the operation of air-conditioners.

Some apartment and office buildings with glass curtain walls have inferior fire-proofing. Some countries such as Japan and Germany have forbidden the use of large areas of glass walls because this form of construction becomes a pathway for fire to spread rapidly.

In case of fire, glass walls collapse before people can be completely evacuated from the building.

A fire in the 62-storey First Interstate Bank Building in the US on May 4, 1988, spread at astonishing speed from the 12th floor upward.

(Star News)