For architects, specifying glazing is no longer just about daylight and insulation—it’s about adaptability. Smart glass offers dynamic control of transparency, privacy, and energy performance, giving architects a tool to design multi-functional spaces without compromising aesthetics. Below, we address the most searched questions about smart glass, tailored for design professionals seeking to understand how it works, where it’s applied, and how to evaluate it for their next project.
How Does Smart Glass Work?
Smart glass technologies—Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) , Suspended Particle Device (SPD) , and electrochromic glass—each operate differently, but all allow glazing to change its state with electricity.
PDLC provides instant privacy by scattering light and “frosting” glass while SPD enables shading by aligning particles to block glare while maintaining views.
For architects, the key difference is response time, integration into insulated glass units (IGUs), and long-term durability. Unlike blinds or films, these technologies are fully embedded, allowing for seamless design integration.
Where Can Smart Glass Be Applied?
Smart glass is versatile across building typologies. In corporate offices, it creates flexible meeting rooms and partitions. In healthcare, it replaces curtains with hygienic privacy solutions. In hospitality, it enhances guest comfort by balancing daylight with privacy. For residential projects, smart glass brings flexibility to bathrooms, skylights, and exterior windows. Smart glass provides a multifunctional surface for retail, maximizing impact in storefronts with dynamic displays. Beyond architecture, it’s also specified in automotive, aviation, and marine projects, demonstrating its durability across high-performance environments.
What Are the Costs and ROI Considerations?
Initial costs of smart glass are higher than traditional glazing, but the return on investment comes from energy performance and operational savings. By reducing reliance on HVAC and artificial lighting, buildings can lower energy loads and operational costs. Importantly, smart glass can contribute to LEED certification credits, supporting sustainability narratives that resonate with developers and institutional clients. When evaluating ROI, architects should also consider occupant comfort and the value of flexible, future-ready design.
What Benefits Does Smart Glass Deliver in Architecture?
For architects, the advantages extend beyond privacy. Smart glass contributes to daylighting strategies, space optimization, glare reduction, UV blocking, supports thermal control and creates a clean, modern aesthetic without bulky shading systems. It improves user well-being and productivity, while providing a memorable experience in hospitality environments. Smart glass aligns with a broader trend toward human-centric design, where glazing performs multiple roles—visual comfort, energy efficiency, and adaptability—within a single material system.
How Does Smart Glass Compare to Alternatives?
Architects often compare smart glass vs. smart film. Smart film can retrofit existing windows with adhesive application, while laminated smart glass is specified in new IGUs for long-term durability. Compared to blinds or curtains, smart glass offers reduced maintenance, higher energy performance, and a sleeker design language. For specifications where sustainability, space optimization, and modern aesthetics are priorities, smart glass provides advantages that traditional shading cannot match.
How Is Smart Glass Specified and Installed?
Smart glass can be sourced directly from Gauzy and with Gauzy’s certified partner networks, ensuring quality control. It can be retrofitted with adhesive films or integrated into new construction with IGUs. Specifications should consider control systems (manual vs. automated), wiring integration, and compatibility with building management systems (BMS). Durability and warranty terms vary, but high-quality systems are engineered for long lifespans, with warranties covering performance and clarity.
What Is the Future of Smart Glass in Design?
Integration with IoT systems, smart home controls, and building automation is already underway, making smart glass part of holistic “smart building” strategies. Looking forward, adoption in EV sunroofs, augmented reality displays, and iconic architectural projects signals its evolution from specialty material to mainstream design solution. For architects, this means specification opportunities will expand, especially in projects prioritizing sustainability, flexibility, and innovation.
Smart glass is no longer a niche innovation—it is a design tool that merges aesthetics with performance. For architects, it represents a way to meet client expectations for adaptability, wellness, and sustainability while simplifying specifications. As costs fall and adoption grows, smart glass is poised to become a standard part of architectural glazing packages.
Ready to specify smart glass? Explore Gauzy’s architectural solutions and download specification resources.
