Influence of structural glass on working environment quality and healthcare benefits

Abstract

Structural glass is a material which transparency allows abundant daylight, productivity gains as well as many health benefits. Many medically focused healthcare stages related to environment conditions are influenced by the direct amount of daylight provided by the design of the façade structure. Structural glass usage in the facades is mostly analysed within the context of sustainability regarding energy consumption and increasing green building leverage, but certain studies show that human working life quality is also affected by it. This includes increasing serotonin level as well as lowering stress and depression levels. In order to achieve healthcare benefits, many forms of using structural glass are being suggested in the literature regarding specific design approaches towards its transparency and translucency levels without neglecting the stress state and strength of the glass panels. The paper presents brief literature review of the topic and possible design approaches regarding human productivity and healthcare in its working environment.