Home From one-of-a-kind artworks to landmark architecture, the design world thrives on unique pieces. Glazing is no different. We at Walker love our full surface etch and bird friendly patterns, but it’s the custom patterned etched glass that really shows off an architect’s imagination. In sweeping statement pieces, award-winning buildings, and exquisitely refined fenestration, architects have made their visions a reality with the help of Walker Textures® custom etched glass patterns. What did these successful projects have in common? The architects started with visionary designs, and they ..read more

Home What words come to mind when you think of glass? Hard, flat … cold? This article will overturn your assumptions about glass in interior design. In the right hands, glass can become a creative material. Good quality value-added glass launches a mind-bending array of possibilities, bringing all sorts of benefits to an architectural design. What are value-added glass compositions? What exactly are we talking about when we mention value-added acid etched glass and mirror? We’re looking at specialty compositions designed specifically for the space they’re going into. They’ll often inclu ..read more

Home Bird friendly glazing is becoming more popular, but does it really work? In an effort to answer this question, some building owners have monitored their AviProtek® windows for signs of bird strikes. We at Walker reached out to ask for the results, and these conscientious observers were kind enough to share the information with us. Here are their stories. You can find more results in our reference document on The Effectiveness of AviProtek® Glass. With dozens of product options available, there’s an AviProtek® for every bird safe project. Discover the options Request samples The ..read more

Home They say there are two sides to every story. That’s certainly true of The Hub at Prairie Shores, a dynamic new community space by Gensler in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighbourhood. Whether you’re looking at the building’s custom acid-etched glass façade, its effect on the local community, or its pioneering role for bird-friendly Chicago architecture, each aspect of this project tells multiple stories. Heck, even the Walker Textures® acid-etched glass panels were turned on their heads! We sat down with project architect Sean McGuire to discuss the building’s design concept, its connection ..read more

Home When it comes to mirror, there’s one question that comes up again and again: “How to install it properly?” Unlike monolithic glass, mirror comes with a silvered backing that can complicate installation and handling. We sat down with glass & mirror fabricators and installers, Frederick Robert of Vitrerie Longueuil and Marc-André Deveaux of Vitrerie L.M. , to learn their tricks for a smooth and long-lasting mirror installation. Here are their insights, along with best practices from the National Glass Association and Walker’s own product guidelines. Mistake #1: Wet mirrors If mirror ..read more

Home We at Walker are delighted to introduce a new twist in our interior decor offering: Velour acid-etched mirror. This new finish complements the existing Walker Textures® mirror offering and continues our 80-year tradition of manufacturing high-quality mirrors for interior design. The silky-smooth Velour finish is more matte than Satin mirror, and a little more glossy than Opaque mirror. It’s available on four popular substrates: clear, bronze, grey, and Starphire Ultra-Clear®, a low-iron option from Vitro Architectural Glass.   The four flavours of Velour mirror. Left to right: l ..read more

Home Daylighting is a foundational consideration in human-centred architectural design, right up there with structural integrity and material selection. However, natural light in interiors is not as well understood as it should be, especially when you consider that modern humans spend more than 90% of their lives indoors.1 We talked to daylighting expert Lisa Heschong, author of Visual Delight in Architecture, about the importance of great daylighting in architecture, what it looks like, and how to achieve it. Read on for the conversation, including seven of her rules for great daylighting ..read more

Home “Two-faced” … not something most of us would want to be called. But when we’re talking about glass in architecture, being two-faced is actually pretty trendy! Adding a second etched surface can take buildings from standard to spectacular, and give architects an additional tool to realize their visions. Beyond that, the extra level of opacity can maximize privacy and daylighting where it matters most. In this article, we’ll look at some projects that show off what double-sided acid-etched glass can do. We’ll also give you a handy checklist of best practices to remember for architecture ..read more

Home Lately, we’ve been getting questions about tinted glass in bird-safe windows and other glazing applications. For instance, are tinted windows better for birds? If not, what can make tinted glass safe for birds? Do etched markers work as well on tinted glass as they do on clear? Is AviProtek® bird-friendly glass available on a tinted base? (Spoiler – it is.) In this article, we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of using tinted glass, especially in bird-friendly projects. Our thanks to Guernsey architects, Gensler architects, the Shashi Hotel, and Daniel Klem, Jr., Ph.D., D.Sc ..read more

Home Our thanks to Flad Architects, Henry Downing Architects, and the University of Saskatchewan for their generous help in writing this article. State-of-the-art science with a Gothic twist When Flad Architects took on the University of Saskatchewan’s Collaborative Science Research Building (CSRB) in 2018, they knew they were in for a challenge. This project was designed to meet the institution’s strict Sustainability Strategy and aim for Green Globes certification, as well as contributing to community life on campus and supporting the needs of multiple science faculties. To meet its goal ..read more