SmartGlass in Saudi Arabia

Factors impacting hotel architecture in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a new-found passion for hotel architecture with grand, vanguard developments springing up across the Kingdom. These developments are Saudi Arabia’s way of making a brave statement of intent - a mark of the Kingdoms strength, prosperity and confidence.

Whether renovation or new build, the demand is for luxury, high-end, modern hotel architecture; with the luxury segment still in its early life, architects are able to work from a somewhat blank canvas and create striking designs.
“In the past, hotel architecture in Saudi Arabia was typically modularised and bland, and consequently, many are now looking outdated and require major upgrading and modernisation,” explained Aedas Director, Charles Collett.

Good hotel architecture facilitates the day-to-day requirements of hotel guests, and in Saudi Arabia, architects need to be aware of the country’s conservative culture. The role of the hotel must be carefully considered as with the absence of bars and clubs, hotels are an important hub for nationals and business travellers alike, and architecture needs to allow for this.

The most challenging cultural factor to incorporate into Saudi hotel architecture is segregation. According to Frantzen, “The architectural planning of a hotel in Saudi Arabia must address segregation for public areas such as restaurants and health facilities”. Logistically, this can be space consuming and as a rule requires public amenities like gymnasiums, spas and swimming pool areas to be duplicated – all issues that impact heavily on the bottom line. “Swing rooms” are often employed to overcome the segregation issue in certain parts of hotel developments. A swing room works by opening and closing an area to different sexes at set times.

SmartGlass International is the leading worldwide manufacturer of electronic switchable glass supplying to the healthcare, hospitality and commercial sectors.
LC SmartGlass offers instant privacy on demand at the flick of a switch. Using a minute electrical current, users can immediately switch the LC SmartGlass from clear to private (opaque) and vice versa.
LC SmartGlass panels are bespoke manufactured using a lamination process which encapsulates a PDLC film between 2 or more glass sheets. When the electrical supply is switched on, the liquid crystal molecules align and incident light passes through and the LC SmartGlass panel instantly clears. When the power is switched off the liquid crystal molecules are randomly oriented scattering light and the LC SmartGlass becomes opaque (private). Advantages of using LC SmartGlass include instant and precise privacy control, efficient use of space in the built environment and exceptional optical qualities that reduce glare and eye strain.

LC SmartGlass offers the ideal solution to the design challenges architects face surrounding segregation. LC SmartGlass can be used as a partition screen to separate recreational areas such as restaurants and leisure facilities. LC SmartGlass combines the functionality of an opaque wall with the style and lighting of clear glass. With glass being inherently thin, designers are turning ever more toward it to save space and inject style. This use of glass ties in with the current trend of hotels pursuing clean, minimalist interior styles.

For more information on SmartGlass International visit www.smartglassinternational.com.

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C2S Systems are part of the WTS Broadcast group specializing in the

International broadcast TV and media sectors. C2S systems approached

SmartGlass International following the success of the ITV Daybreak studio

project which was carried out in August 2010.

This studio project is a joint venture between global news network, The

Associated Press and WTS Broadcast. The Associated Press is the world’s

largest global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every

corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. In fact, on any given

day, more than half the world’s population sees news from the AP.

Founded in 1846, the AP today is one of the largest and most trusted

sources of independent newsgathering. The AP considers itself to be the

backbone of the world’s information system, serving thousands of daily

newspaper, radio, television, and online customers with coverage in text,

photos, graphics, audio and video.

SmartGlass International’s SPD SmartGlass was specified for this state of

the art television studio project to create a solar control glazing system that

would combat the negative effects of direct sunlight including glare and

heat.

 

Project

Glass facades and particularly television studio backdrops are significantly

complex to design as lighting and temperature are often affected by solar

glare and heat passing through windows.

C2S Systems were faced with a design issue – how would they achieve

flawless lighting and an ideal room temperature while still showcasing the

London skyline as the backdrop to all five of the studios?

The design brief centres on the glass in the studios having the ability to

instantly switch to maximize daylight when it’s really needed and to provide

controllable solar shading during peak light conditions, a feature which is

both valuable and unique. This feature is especially useful for application in

a television studio as it allows for maximum daylight to enter without

compromising recording quality and controls room temperature which is also

critical in this particular environment.

SmartGlass @ Top Gear Live Shows!

Top Gear Live 2010

For the 2010 show, Top Gear producers wanted to create the

ultimate car to star in the finale of the live show. After much

debate regarding model, materials, specifications etc. they

decided on an almost impossible concept.

"A car will come out and become invisible” Richard Hammond.

The producers were faced with a problem. How would they

design a car which could change state instantly and give this

magnificent illusion? What type of materials would allow them

to create this?

It was decided that a switchable glass would be used to make

up the bodywork of the car which could switch on and off

simultaneously giving the effect of changing visible/invisible

states.

The interior of the car was visible when in its clear state

showing the famous “Stig” and his female sidekick; when the

glass switched to its “invisible” state the passengers could not

be seen.

SmartGlass International was approached to quote this project

at the early design stages and to investigate whether the

concept would be viable.

SmartGlass International is the leading worldwide manufacturer

of electronically switchable glass and provides the perfect

solution to this design problem. SmartGlass can be used in

almost every glazing application as it is available in a number

of different shapes and can also be curved making it suitable

for a range of different applications specializing in the

hospitality, healthcare and commercial sectors.

LC SmartGlass

LC SmartGlass is one of the trademarked electrochromatic

glass products available from SmartGlass International.

LC SmartGlass panels are bespoke manufactured using a

lamination process which encapsulates a PDLC film between 2

or more glass sheets. When a minute electrical current is

activated, users can immediately switch the LC SmartGlass

from clear to private (opaque) and vice versa precisely meeting

the proposed design brief.

In this case, polycarbonate replaced traditional glass to make

up the panels. The panel sizes were much smaller for this

application than usual and required much more detailed wiring

so that each individual panel would switch at the exact same

time on the car. Another design problem would be the

convertible roof feature which would be manufactured entirely

of SmartGlass.

This was a challenge for the SmartGlass team, but through

careful testing of the materials they found the ideal solution.

The panels would be aligned and connected in such a way to

allow the roof to lift up without the connection being lost so that

the panels would switch simultaneously during this particular

action scene of the show where the roof rises up to release a

passenger from the car. A similar system is used when fitting

SmartGlass panels into a folding door system.

SmartGlass International is thrilled to work on such a

remarkable and exciting project.

Top Gear Live is a live arena show of the award winning TV

program Top Gear. The live show features breath-taking stunts,

remarkable special effects and epic driving sequences. The live

show is home to an array of pyrotechnics, a bombardment of

noise and a spectacle of motoring.

A collection of the finest cars from all over the globe grace the

arena floor. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James

May host the live show with their cheeky approach to motoring

and humour whilst some of the world’s best precision drivers

perform awe-inspiring stunts live in the arena.

"This show is like nothing we have done before. It will have

some very very special, special effects,” Jeremy Clarkson.

Ever since it made its live debut on the World Stage in 2008

Top Gear Live has been seen by over 1,000,000 fans and is

continuing to push the boundaries of car theatre.

SmartGlass International @ Kentish Town Sports Centre

In October 2006, the London Borough of Camden’s Executive

agreed £23m funding to refurbish and renovate the Kentish Town

Sports Centre. Previously known as the St Pancras Public Baths,

the grade II listed building located in North London was originally

built in 1898 to provide the community with public baths, swimming

baths and a wash house.

The proposed development would create a modern sports facility

consisting of two swimming pools, a learner pool, a gym,

ten self contained flats and four town houses.
A key element of the two year project was the preservation of

several heritage features including the restoration of the
building’s Victorian roof.

Wates Construction, an organisation with

considerable experience in refurbishing heritage

and civic buildings, was selected as the Principal

Contractor for the project.

SmartGlass International was approached by

Wates to supply switchable privacy glass to a

viewing gallery overlooking the 25 metre Grafton

Pool at Kentish Town Sports Centre. A total of

eleven LC SmartGlass panels make up the glass

partition screen separating the pool and viewing

area.

LC SmartGlass was specified for this project to

deliver privacy on demand for swimming sessions

where the occupants did not wish to be viewed;

this is particularly pertinent within Muslim

communities where a level of discretion is

required.

LC SmartGlass panels are bespoke manufactured

using a lamination process which encapsulates a

PDLC film between 2 or more glass sheets.

When the electrical supply is switched on, the

liquid crystal molecules align and incident light

passes through and the LC SmartGlass panel

instantly clears. When the power is switched off

the liquid crystal molecules are randomly oriented

scattering light and the LC SmartGlass becomes

opaque (private).

Sanitation and hygiene standards are top of the

agenda for public leisure spaces such as KTSC.

LC SmartGlass is an easy clean, low maintenance

surface that can be disinfected regularly, adhering

entirely with leisure centre sanitation regulations.

Welcome to the SmartGlass International Blog!

The SmartGlass International blog will discuss past and current SmartGlass projects as they happen.