Study on Landscape Application of Glass Materials

Yuqing WEN，Linghua LEl，linxian WU，Shan HE，Yang LlU，Yujing LElDepartment of Life Sciences，Huaihua University，Huaihua 418008，China

Study on Landscape Application of Glass Materials

Yuqing WEN，Linghua LEl*，linxian WU，Shan HE，Yang LlU，Yujing LEl
Department of Life Sciences，Huaihua University，Huaihua 418008，China

Landscape architecture engineering materials change rapidly.Glass is a kind of isotropic amorphous homogeneous non-crystal materials which are of diverse types，complex composition，plasticity，mirror property，abrasion resistance，durability and texture.Therefore，more attention should be paid on the application of landscape materials.

Landscape architecture；Engineering material；Glass；Landscape application

A round 3700 BC ancient Egyptians produced glass，and then about 1000 BC China manufactured colorless glass，while until 1873 Belgian developed plate glass. The advancement of science and technology，the rapid development of modernization and the revolution of construction and sightseeing materials have changed our living environment. As a kind of amorphous solid material，glass provides landscape architecture designers with inspiration and imagination.The study of the characteristics and types of glass is of great realistic significance to the application of glass in landscape.

The Definition of Glass

Glass is made from raw materials including silica sand，sodium carbonate，limestone，a little Al2O3and MgO，which are then melted and shaped with right amount of supplementary materials before cooling into a transparent amorphous solid material with coefficient of thermal expansion and property of solid mechanics.

Composition of Glasses

The chemical composition of glass is complicated，which plays a significant role in mechanics，thermology，and optics.Glass is made up of SiO2，Na2O，CaO，Al2O3，and MgO.（Table 1-Table 2）.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Glass

The silicon oxide and boric oxide in glass can improve its transmittance，while ferric oxide lower its transmittance.Light transmittance is the most basic feature of glass.Glass reflects lights into different colors，while being fragile is the main shortcoming of glass.Glass is also chemically stable，and can tolerate acids except hydrofluoric acid.During the production process，there are impurities in glass，which affects the performance of glass.In reality，the ideal pure glass is extremely little.The allowance of impurities in glass determines its usage. The shortcomings of glass lower the quality of glass and affect its decoration effects.Therefore，glasses for decoration and other special functions are very strict to the management of the drawbacks of glasses.

The classification of Glass

Different classification standards result in various types of glass.In terms of its composition，glass can beclassified as sodium glass，potassium glass，lead glass，aluminum and magnesium glass，boron silicon glass，silica glass，non-ferrous glass，photochromic glass，optical glass，sulfuric compound glass，halide glass and microcrystal glass，etc.［1］With regard to the usage of glass，glass can be defined as heavy metal oxide glass，optical functional glass，electrical functional glass，magnetic functional glass，mechanical functional glass，biological functional glass，chemical functional glass，thermal functional glass，organic glass and metal glass［2］.As for the requirement of materials in each functional zone in the gardening，glass can be divided as decoration glass，construction glass and ground glass，as in Table 3.

Table 1 Main Role of Oxides in Glass

Table 2 Main Role of Sub-raw Material in Glass

Visual Features of Glass

Transmittance

Glasses enable people to see what is beyond，which not only shortens the spatial distance，but also enriches the types and layers of sightseeing［1］.

Colorfulness

Color is the perfect sightseeing quality of glass.Through special manufacture technology，colorful glass products are made.Glasses not only reflect various kinds of sightseeing，but also can deliver glass emotions through lights.The colorful glass leaves infinite creative space to designers.

Table 3 The Classification of Glass in Landscape Engineering

Plasticity

Glass can be processed into square，triangle，round，oval and polygon shapes through procedures such as melting，shaping，blowing and modeling.Two different kinds of glass combine together can produce sur-prising views.Shape and color are two natural features that interact with each other.

Transparency

The sleek and transparent glass reflects the surrounding views，showing a sense of spatial sightseeing and interacting with the actual scenery［4］.

Tolerance

The Mohs’s scale of hardness ranges between 5 and 7，which shows same tolerance to granite and marble. The glass is widely applied in the construction and decoration.

Resistance

Glass is resistant to water，acid，alkaline，chemical agents and gas，except for hydrogen fluoride so that glass can be used sustainably.

Texture

Texture refers to the material surface and the form element of texture. Through various processing，glass is either sleek or rough，either soft or hard.Glass shows features such as wood，rock and shell.Through decoration，glass shows different textures.

Application of Glass for Scenery

Scenery application of glass

Glass was invented in Tigris and Euphrates areas between 2500 BC and 2300 BC，which is more than 5000 years away from now.According to the marbles in the tomb for noble families at the end of Spring-Autumn Period and the early of Warring States Period，glass products appeared in China around 5 BC.Glass is one of the earliest man-made materials.

In the ancient，glass can only be used by the upper class.It was not until the invention of blow-moulded glass that ordinary people can have the chance to use glass.Glass is primarily used in construction，then for window and lightening.A large amount of glass appeared in the royal gardening.In the 19th century and early 20th century，iron frame and glass together formed a series of greenhouse construction，blurring the border of nature and art［5］. After 1950s，the colorful glass has become one of the popular construction style in the world［6］.In the end of 20thcentury，glass features improved［7］，and the glass wall added color to the scenery world.

The long history of glass and the mature glass technology laid solid foundation for the marble development，which enriches the visual art，emotional art and gardening art.

Application of glass in modern landscape

Glass landscape construction

With the development of modern construction technology，glass is often used at the top of corridor.As the construction materials，glass adds beauty to the corridor，and thus improving the spatial sense.

Glass facility Glass can be used to make wall，bridge，guard board，stool，steps，flower bed，pond，light box.The wall made of glass can isolate the space and protect more valuable products.People can enjoy the views under the bridge，which was made of transparent or semitransparent glass. Safe glass such as reinforced glass or wired glass can be used to make guard board，even the fixed stool.

The transparency of glass not only can form a scenery belt but also can cover up the lights under the glass.We can see the water plants in the water tank or flower bed made of glass.

Glass floor If glass is used to build the stage，attention should be paid on avoiding slipping and draining water. Because glass cannot absorb water，reasonable gradient for draining water should be noted in making glass floor on the premise of safety，mostly between 0.3%and 1%.The water-draining gradient is related to precipitation intensity.

Two or three layers of reinforced glass were often used to make glass floor，and a layer of iron sand on the glass surface added beauty.The position of emery on the glass and the diverse colors of emery make the gardening landscape more mysterious.

Collection and Transportation of Glass

Glass is fragile and easy to break，so the box in which glass is put should be set upward and there should be some supporting plates to avoid the box from falling down.When the glass is unloaded，one should prevent the glass from being cut.Glass should be preserved within the room according to species，specification，and grades. Pressing and colliding should be avoided.Enough space is left in order to do research easily.

Discussions

Modern glass art displays its peculiar art charm in modern public art，and glass often comes into our view in the form associating with spring，sculpture，lightening appliance，buildings and garden plants.The lamps and lanterns for lightening are more like artworks，revealing the mysterious，elegant and splendid features of glass vividly.

Glass is of high intensity，hardness，nice extension，and plasticity. For this reason，glass is suitable for scenery decoration.It can be carved，decorated，and recycled.Glass is making great contribution to modern landscape architecture.

Reference

［1］WANG FC（王福川）.New Building Materials（新型建筑材料）［M］.Beijing:China Building Book Shop（北京:中國建筑工業(yè)出版社），2003.

［2］DU YA（杜怡安）.Application of glasses in the modern gardening landscape（玻璃在現(xiàn)代園林景觀中的應(yīng)用）［J］. Changsha:Hunan Agricultural University（長沙:湖南農(nóng)業(yè)大學），2010.

［3］HUANG XL（黃杏玲），WANG Y（王宇），HUANG L（黃彬）.Significance of glass buildings （玻 璃 的 建 筑 表 達 ）［J］. Huazhong Architecture （華中建筑），2003（5）:75-76.

［4］Micllael Wigginton.Glassin Aichiteeture［M］.London:Phaidon，1996，59.

［5］Mrs.Merrifield.‘The Harmony of Colors’，in The Crystal Palaee Exibition Illustration Catalogue ［M］.New York: Dover Publications，1970，l.

［6］LIU XJ（劉先覺）.Language of construction arts（建筑藝術(shù)的語言）［M］.Jiangsu Education Publishing，Ltd（江蘇教育出版社），1998，144-206.

［7］WANG J（王靜）.Modern spatial and material expression in Japan （日本現(xiàn)代空間與材料表現(xiàn)）［M］.Nanjing:Southeast University Press（南京:東南大學出版社），2005，23.

Responsible editor:Nana FAN

Responsible proofreader:Xiaoyan WU

玻璃材料的景觀應(yīng)用研究

文雨晴，雷凌華*，吳林鮮，何珊，劉洋，雷雨菁
（湖南懷化學院生命科學系，湖南懷化418008）

風景園林工程材料日新月異，新型材料層出不窮。玻璃是一種具有各向同性的無定型勻質(zhì)非晶體材料，種類多，成分復(fù)雜，具有優(yōu)異的透視性、色彩多樣性、可塑性、鏡射性、耐磨性、耐久性、質(zhì)感性等景觀特性，在風景園林應(yīng)用前景廣闊，應(yīng)大力加以開發(fā)利用。

風景園林；工程材料；玻璃；景觀應(yīng)用

湖南省科技廳科技計劃項目（2011NK3046）。

文雨晴（1994-），女，湖南益陽人，本科生，園林專業(yè)。*通訊作者，雷凌華（1972-），男，湖南衡陽人，博士，副教授，主要從事風景園林的教學與規(guī)劃設(shè)計，E-mail：linghualei@126.com。

2015-01-02

2015-03-05

Supported by the Scientific and Technological Planning Program of Hunan Scientific and Technological Bureau（2011NK3046）.

.E-mail:linghualei@126.com

January 2，2015Accepted:March 5，2015