Mesh, fabric and more: harnessing hybrid laminated glass designs

Interior design is all about juxtaposition. Find out how different laminated glass effects can be combined in jaw-dropping style.



Laminated glass serves many functions. As a type of safety glass, it provides high levels of protection against manual and environmental impacts. It helps make buildings more energy efficient and reduces the amount of noise that can enter or exit.

But like all kinds of glass, and many kinds of building materials, laminated glass has always been about more than pure functionality. It also unlocks a wide range of aesthetic possibilities for architects, designers and specifiers.

Whether it's coloured, printed or textured, laminated glass is a versatile product. What's more, these individual kinds of laminated glass can be combined to make striking and inventive textures and looks.

You can see this clearly when considering mesh- and fabric-laminated glass. These are types of laminated glass with a textured interlayer.

The interlayer itself can create a certain effect. Steel, for instance, lends itself to an industrial setting, while silk communicates a subtle elegance.

But depending on context, these textures can create whole new effects. Woven metals, for instance, can be soft or hard, rugged or sophisticated, depending on how they're applied.

In this article, we explore the main laminated glass designs and look at the myriad ways they can be combined. We hope these hybrid laminated glass designs inspire you in your next building project.

What are the different kinds of laminated glass designs?

There are many kinds of decorative laminated glass. At ToughGlaze, we offer nine main types:

• Switch glass
• Sandblasted glass
• Mesh-laminated glass
• Fabric-laminated glass
• Coloured glass
• Edge-lit LED glass
• Screen-printed glass
• Digitally printed glass
• Mirrored glass
  
  

Each has its own distinctive look and can be combined with other kinds of glass to create unique effects. Let's look at them one by one.

Switch glass

Switch glass, also known as "smart glass", is an advanced glass product that can be changed from transparent to translucent to opaque and back again. This is achieved with a few clicks on a smart controller such as a phone.

Sandblasted glass

Sandblasted glass is a textured kind of privacy glass made by blasting glass with gritty sand. The sand can either cover the glass entirely or add stencil-style logos, text and images.

Mesh- and fabric-laminated glass

Mesh-laminated glass and fabric-laminated glass both consist of a textured interlayer sandwiched between two panes of glass. Mesh-laminated glass offers woven metal textures such as copper, brass, aluminium and steel, while fabric-laminated glass can include silk, linen, cotton or printed designs.

Coloured glass

Coloured glass works similarly to mesh and fabric laminates. However, instead of a textured interlayer, the interlayer is coloured. At ToughGlaze, four coloured layers are chosen from the Vanceva colour chart. The results can be incredibly diverse.

Edge-lit LED glass

Decorative LED glass can create lightbox or technicolour effects. It can be digitally printed with photorealistic images lit by embedded LEDs.

Screen-printed and digitally printed glass

At ToughGlaze, we can print onto glass using traditional screen printing or digital printing. Both use advanced ceramic inks that are fused directly into the glass, making the design almost indestructible.

Digital printing can create photorealistic images with impressive colour depth. Screen printing, on the other hand, excels at crisp, simple, low-colour designs.

Mirror glass

Finally, there's mirror glass. As the name suggests, this is a kind of reflective laminated glass that's as tough as it is elegant.

Hybrid laminated glass designs: five examples

Many of our varieties of decorative laminated glass can be combined to make striking visual effects. Here are five impressive examples.

1. Office partition: switch glass + digitally printed glass

Office partitions are there to provide a barrier between workspaces while maintaining an open-plan feel.

Privacy can be enhanced with switch glass. This allows building users to change the transparency of the glass to suit the privacy level required.

However, the glass doesn't have to be plain. It can also be printed, whether through screen printing methods or digital printing.



This enables office designers to combine functionality (privacy) with company branding. The result is an impressive feature that can make a good impression on staff and visitors alike.

2. Residential skylight: switch glass + coloured glass

Skylights are beloved for the way they flood a room with light from above. But at times, building users want the ability to obscure or block the view.

Switch glass makes this possible. The skylight can be dimmed or made opaque as you see fit – and all with a smart controller like a smartphone or Alexa-style system.

On top of this, a smart skylight can be made decorative with coloured interlayers. This could be a simple, single hue or a multi-coloured effect.

In a domestic setting, this can help you realise a specific aesthetic vision, while in commercial spaces, it can cement your brand colours.

3. Shopfront: coloured glass + sandblasted glass

Shopfronts are meant to catch the eye. A great way to achieve this is by combining laminated coloured glass with a sandblasted logo or other design. The result is a secure, durable facade that shows off your brand identity and gives your business curb appeal.

4. Balcony: LED glass + mesh-laminated glass

Balconies are aesthetically diverse structural features. Sometimes, people go for sleek transparent products with invisible or near-invisible fixings. At other times, people want the balcony to provide a more definite texture.

This can be achieved with mesh-laminated glass. You can choose from a range of woven metallic textures, with popular choices including copper, brass, bronze, aluminium and stainless steel. Each has its own vibe and can match the overall look of a property.

Combined with LED edge lighting, this can create a shimmering, glittering or bold effect – perfect for hotels and restaurants.

5. Wall cladding: fabric-laminated glass + mirrored glass

Interior wall cladding involves applying materials directly onto interior walls (or ceilings) to enhance aesthetics and insulation.

Mirrored glass wall cladding can help increase the sense of space in a room. Meanwhile, you can add visual interest in the form of a translucent fabric interlayer with a distinctive pattern.

Are you looking for decorative laminated glass for a design project? Get in touch with ToughGlaze today for a quick, competitive quote or explore our extensive range of products online.