Great architects, both past and present, have continuously pushed the boundaries in respect to structure, space, techniques and materials. From the ‘beton brute’ (bare concrete) of Le Corbusier, to Mies van der Rohe, renowned for pioneering the extensive use of glass in buildings. From Shigeru Ban with his work with recycled cardboard and wooden innovations, to Norman Foster with his impressive high-tech steel tension structures. We are now facing an exciting new era, in which digital manufacturing and parametric design can be executed in a diversity of materials. The development of sustainable materials stimulates the creation of buildings with a “material passport”, and encourages the appetite for new renewable and biobased material sources.

Running under the motto “Future – Glass – Performance”, Hall 11 will again put a special focus on spectacular exhibits, innovative products and forward-looking solutions which we can expect to be relevant for the next 3 to 5 years. This year, too, the special show will be held under the patronage of Stefan Behling, Senior Executive Partner at Foster & Partners in London, and will be organized by the IBK 2 team from the University of Stuttgart. The focus will be above all on free-form, ultra-thin and solid glass. The special show will offer inspiration to architects and planners seeking new application options, but it will also showcase the full range of new applications of further developments in glass products.

“Glass technology live” will feature a high-calibre industrial symposium as part of the gtl exhibition space, with a variety of talks on highly topical subjects. glass technology live will be free of charge for all trade fair visitors. Numerous international representatives in architecture, industry and science will present their use of glass in various projects. The special show and trade symposium will put a clear focus on the future of the glass industry. The programme of the gtl symposium will be dedicated to a different focal topic on each of the trade fair days. Content will be presented by different partners: the Colloquium of the Research Association of the German Glass Industry (HVG) and the Technical Glass Society of Germany (DGG) on glass melting and moulding (Tuesday), the German Machinery & Plant Manufacturers’ Association (VDMA) on glass processing and finishing technologies, Recycling and on Glass Industry 4.0 (Wednesday), the University of Stuttgart on architecture and digital planning processes (Thursday), and the German Federal Flat Glass Manufacturers’ Association on glass in windows and on facades (Friday).

You can follow the fair’s highlights through the channel glasstec live