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Glass can lead to the creation of extremely trendy aesthetic designs both in interior as well as exterior spaces.

Since glass is 100% recyclable with minimal energy input, it satisfies most ecological parameters, besides providing an aesthetic touch to any space, says Sapna Kulshrestha.

The hottest trend in hotels these days is glass; it seems to be the material of choice for both designers and hoteliers alike.

Says Kishore Pradhan, landscape designer: “Glass creates a sense of space and brings an external environment within the building, which is why glazing the building facades now constitutes a significant part of contemporary hotel design.”

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The most commonly used glass for external cladding is laminated glass. It is composed of two or more layers of glass with one or more layers of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) sandwiched between. Ideal for curtain wall glazing, atrium skylights, glass floors and roofs, it is also an excellent barrier to noise and ultraviolet light.

For example, at The Orchid Ecotel, Mumbai, architect DM Upasani has designed a hotel atrium skylight consisting of a laminated glass cavity dome that cuts off the heat load yet provides natural light to the space below.

Likewise, extremely strong tempered glass derives its strength from compressed surfaces and is used in both exteriors and interiors such as spandrels for walls, glass railings and handrails, where strength is important.

Another type of tempered glass is heat strengthened glass which has been strengthened thermally to provide the necessary resistance to heat building up; it is often used in complex glass combinations like double-glazing.

On the other hand, insulating glass or the double/triple glazing is a prefabricated unit made of two or more glass panes, separated by a cavity with edges hermetically sealed together. It is often used for hotel room windows and curtain walls as it is ideal for buildings with exceptionally high heating and cooling requirements.

Says Akshay Gavai, chief environmental officer, The Orchid Mumbai: “The triple glazed window not only blocks the heat of the sun from entering the room but helps in conserving air-conditioning energy too.”

Newer versions of external glass in a number of shades are offering enormous flexibility in the designing of hotel buildings. An attractive glass that has opened up new dimensions is the ceramic printed glass also known as silk-screened glass for its appearance. When assembled into double-glazed and laminated units, it combines aesthetics with solar control.

With sustainability being a big concern for hoteliers, there are novel forms of eco-smart glass now available. Reflective glass with metallic coating on one side significantly increases the amount of reflection, thus allowing daylight transmission inside the building yet reducing the heat gain and glare.

The latest dual-action self-cleaning glass with titanium oxide coating ensures break-down of organic material, keeping itself clean on its own and considerably reducing the maintenance costs for a hotel.

Glass also has the uncanny characteristic of making the simplest designs look breathtaking in the form of ornamentation, furniture, light fixtures, dividers, partitions and wall panels.

This is evident in The Park Hotel, Kolkata, where the bath is separated from the room by a curved glass black lacquered partition, or A.Z.U.R – the transition lounge at Goa Marriott Resort, where, says Elton Hurtis, director F&B: “The combination of unique features like frosted crinkled glass with LED lighting successfully creates varied ambiences.”

Some of the popular varieties for interiors are clear glass with crystal like quality, tinted glass that gives coloured light; patterned, figured or rolled glass that’s translucent with a decorative pattern emanating diffused light; and etched, frosted or sandblasted glass.

Glass blocks and stained glass are widely used in interiors as dividers and wall panels. Other trendy options include tiny glass tile mosaics for walls and floors, as finely exemplified in the glass mosaic peacock motifs embellishing the walls of the Mayur Mahal suite at Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur.

Says Nidhi Verma, manager PR and communications, The Claridges Surajkund: “The spectacular brightly colored blown glass mural by Rashmi Uday Singh in our Art Lounge has become the focal point of the entire lobby.”