International Day Of Happiness:

“Sunlight never knows how great it is until it hits the side of a building or shines inside a room.”- Louis Kahn. 

International Day of Happiness
In celebration of the International Day Of Happiness, we consider how access to light is vital for human happiness. The right architectural glass design can enhance a space, creating a key source of joy for flourishing health. 

Light in architecture has evolved over the centuries, from its prime position in spaces of spiritual or religious significance to contemporary masterpieces. Today, buildings like the Guggenheim Museum, New York and Basque Health Department HQ, Bilbao in Spain, stand as a testament to what light and glass can accomplish in modern architecture. 

Benefits of natural
We appreciate the natural landscape via our glass curtain walling and gazing out of our frameless windows. We crave natural light because it provides us with Vitamin-D and supports melatonin production in our system. “According to Future Workplace’s survey, over 1,600 employees ranked access to natural light and views of the outdoors as their number one desire for a workplace environment.” We now understand the importance of caring for our mental health, and building designs need to reflect this change in our priorities.  

Architect Magazine has even declared, “Scientific studies have also connected quality of light to human health and wellbeing; that is, lighting needs to meet both the visual and non-visual needs of occupants.” In an age where humans are required to spend much of our time indoors for our work, designing workspaces that let in natural light should be a priority. The pandemic revealed a need for outdoor spaces, and time spent stuck in our homes has only increased our desire to be in the natural world.  

Buildings designed with glass in mind
We can rectify this by designing buildings with glass at the heart of their structure. A gateway to the natural world and a source of natural light, glass panels and windows embrace an era of mental health support. The National Center for Biotechnology Information asserted that natural and artificial light, particularly first thing in the morning, “can significantly improve health outcomes such as depression, agitation, sleep, circadian rest-activity, and seasonal affective disorder.” 

Developments in frameless glass and innovations from Sky-Frame mean that modern designs need not sacrifice aesthetic splendour for structural integrity. Skylight installation also supports light reaching hard to reach corners of buildings and lets the natural world filter into our habitats. 

Gray and Dick have installed stunning glass panelling into many designs, including St Enoch Underground in Glasgow and the Glenkinchie Distillery in Scotland. We know first hand the influence glass and light can have on a building and the people inside. 

A happier world is a brighter world. Our most famous structures often rely on glass and light to stimulate visitors, such as the Louvre in Paris or The Shard in London. Louis Kahn, the renowned American architect, once said, “architecture appears for the first time when sunlight hits a wall”, and we feel happiness when light shines through a window. 

Our services 
At Gray & Dick, we’re passionate about the future of glass. We are the market leaders in the design, supply and installation of high-end structural glazing. With more than 40 years' experience, we partner with the best brands to deliver a long-lasting product that will transform commercial properties.

Contact
To find out more about structural glazing from Gray & Dick, call us on 0141 952 9619 or send us a message via our website contact page.