In ancient times, windows would be covered with animal skins or fabrics to keep the elements at bay. It was only from the 12th century onwards that glass was used in windows.
Large expanses of glazing have only been possible, however, in the industrial age, during which time the technological development of glass has been closely linked with architecture.
New materials, such as steel and reinforced concrete, and modern methods of construction, namely skeleton construction, have allowed the possibility of large areas of glazing. The classic window as simply an opening in a wall was displaced by the glass as a wall element in itself: the glass façade became the epitome of modern architecture.
Read the full story: www.architonic.com/ntsht/the-windows-of-the-world-new-full-height-glazing-systems/7000460