Frameless view
The use of DuPont SentryGlas raises both the safety and viewing pleasure of visitors to the Aer bar and lounge at the Four Seasons Worli in Mumbai, India.
The structural interlayer, which is used in minimally framed panels of laminated glass to form a rail around the lounge, provides greater strength, stiffness and post-breakage safety than traditional safety interlayers, while its natural clarity enables breath-takings view of Mumbai and its surroundings.
Perched 34 stories up in the air, the Aer bar and lounge is becoming a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It's the city's highest rooftop bar, commanding spectacular views of the sea and the cityscape below. “You feel as though you have been transported to a different place. All you can see is the sea and the lights of Mumbai spread out like a blanket beneath you,” said Aer bar manager Aditya Ramani.
One of the keys to experiencing the open-air feeling and breathtaking views that the Aer bar offers, is the designer's choice of safety glazing in the balustrade surrounding the lounge. Located at the edge of the rooftop, the glazing creates an almost invisible protective layer between guests and the wow-factor they experience gazing out and onto the city below.
As well as ensuring the safety of the hotel’s guest, the design team wanted to create an unimposing and highly transparent glass wall that virtually disappears from view. For this effect, they chose a frameless design, relying on the strength of the glass itself, to carry wind and impact loads.
Laminated safety glass made with SentryGlas structural interlayer fit the need perfectly. China Southern Glass laminated the glass balustrade panels, each measuring 1.7m by 2.3m. The panels are line-supported at their foot. Each laminate consists of two 12-mm glass panes, laminated together using a 3-mm interlayer of SentryGlas.
The glass was installed by Permasteelisa, a multinational specialist in advanced architectural glazing. SentryGlas safety interlayer contributes to strength and clarity.
Among the advantages of using a SentryGlas interlayer in minimally framed balustrade laminates is the material's higher stiffness and toughness compared with traditional safety interlayers. Even if a glass panel gets broken, the stiff SentryGlas interlayer helps keep the self-supported panel in place until it can be replaced.
Traditional interlayers are floppy and can cause a glass balustrade to fall over after breaking, which can create a dangerous gap in rooftop protection and a possible hazard below. SentryGlas is also exceptionally clear, which helps keep the view more natural and open. And, unlike traditional interlayers, SentryGlas is more resistant to moisture instrusion at the edges, which helped the Aer bar design avoid any need for metal capping or edge-protecting of the laminates. The panels span clear from edge to edge, and across the top as well, for a perfectly engineered view.
