Wood+and+Glass


 * Notes from the oral presentation:**
 * Wood:**
 * Wood **is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many plants, and it is used as a building material. Wood is strong in both compression and tension. It is also very durable, resists weathering and is easy to transport. Wood is classified either as softwood or hardwood. The wood from conifers (e.g. pine) is called softwood, and the wood from dicotyledons (usually broad-leaved trees, for example oak) is called hardwood. These names are a bit misleading, as hardwoods are not necessarily hard, and softwoods are not necessarily soft. The well-known balsa (a hardwood) is actually softer than any commercial softwood. Conversely, some softwoods are harder than many hardwoods. Wood is recyclable and renewable and that makes it the leading choice in green architecture. It is ecologically friendly and it stores carbon, minimizing the effects of humans on the climate change.

Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, made of about 75% silica (SiO2) plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives. The use of glass in buildings is a transparent feature to allow light to enter into rooms and floors, illuminating enclosed spaces and framing an exterior view through a window. It is also a material for internal partitions and external cladding.
 * Glass:**




 * Conclusions:**

Glass production has changed substantially over the past 4,000 years. From small batch operations that produced small sizes of glass on a limited basis, today’s float technology is characterized by continuous production and the capability of producing a wide range of glass thicknesses, sizes, and colors. Fabricated glass products further expand the use of glass for a variety of purposes, including safety, security, sound control, and energy efficiency. Glass is a dynamic and important part of residential and commercial building design. Its increased use in windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls and double glass facades illustrates the importance of glass in today’s construction environment as a medium for natural lighting and energy conservation.