Glass Protected Timber Façades – New Sustainable Façade Typology

It is increasingly common in the architecture/building industry that glass is placed in the front of the proper façade and serves as a protective layer for the wall behind. This type of external glazing is also used as an envelope for timber façades. External protection by glass slows down timber decomposition and weathering as it screens out potentially dangerous climatic factors like rain, moisture, and frost. Timber-behind-glass is becoming one of the most promising typologies in façade design from a sustainability perspective. The presented paper discusses this new emerging architectural trend. The combination of timber and glass is expected to produce both very durable (long service-life) and simultaneously environmentally friendly façade as timber locks CO₂ into its substance.