Expert Journal

Glass, architecture, and engineering: a detailed breakdown

Technical articles on glass structures: codes, calculations, real numbers, business models. No filler — only what's useful.

39
articles
18
years of experience
5
categories
Glass facade — types of glass
Materials and Technology

Tempered glass, laminated glass, and multifunctional IGUs: how they differ and where cutting costs is risky

Three different products — one salesperson pitches them as interchangeable. We break down the specs, code requirements, and the real limits of acceptable cost savings.

Investment and Business

Where to invest RUB 30 million: how to evaluate a real-sector project

How to compare investing in manufacturing, building a country business, and secured financing. Questions on rights, budget, capital return, and exit.

Investment and Business

Investing in glamping and country retreats: what to check before committing

An investor checklist: site, utilities, seasonality, management, budget, and launch scenarios. How to evaluate a glamping venture, a wedding venue, and a park hotel.

Investment and Business

Liquid real estate for investment: what to check before closing

Property purchase, equity participation, or secured financing: how to tell these formats apart and what to ask about price, documents, and exit.

Design · Terraces

Estimating a glass terrace: how to compare proposals

A client checklist for a premium terrace: glazed area, roof, doors, base, installation, and scope boundaries. How to compare contractor estimates.

Technology

Mirrored terrace: privacy, light, and choosing the glass

How to choose mirrored glazing for a terrace, house, or winter garden. Daytime and evening scenarios, samples, light transmission, and the design brief.

Design · Winter Gardens

Glass for an orangery: what to discuss before ordering

A turnkey orangery: light for plants, climate, maintenance, and contract scope. Why a mirrored façade shouldn't be your only selection criterion.

Winter garden at night
Thermal Engineering

Heat loss in a glass extension at −25°C: load calculation and myths

A real-world calculation for the Moscow climate. Why a "cold orangery" doesn't save money, and what a comfortable winter garden actually costs to run.

Glass banquet hall
Investment and Business

Renting out glass spaces in the Moscow Region: 35,000–80,000 RUB per day

Rental figures, payback math, legal setup. How an extension becomes an income-generating asset.

Aluminum profile of a winter garden
Materials and Technology

Aluminum profiles for a winter garden: Tatprof TP-50 vs. Schüco AWS 90

Heat loss, allowable spans, cost estimate — concrete numbers for two popular systems.

Glass roof of a winter garden
Codes and Safety

Winter garden roofs: laminated glass only — an SP 20.13330 requirement

Why tempered glass is prohibited on the roof and what happens when the code is violated.

Winter garden in the snow
Codes and Safety

A winter garden in Moscow isn't Sochi: snow load of 240 kg/m² and frame calculation

Snow zone IV, wind pressure 0.38 kPa — how this translates into member sizes and structural design.

Orangery with plants
Design and Concept

Orangery vs. winter garden: operating mode, microclimate, and plants

Two different spaces with different requirements. Which one to choose depends on who comes first: people or plants.

Glass extension to a house
Law and Permits

Terrace, veranda, winter garden: architectural differences and legal status

Three different structures with three different legal statuses. What needs to be permitted in 2026.

Glamping pavilion in the forest
Investment and Business

A glass pavilion in a glamping resort: 14,000–32,000 RUB per night, payback

A full financial model, site requirements, and the technical specifics of a glamping module.

Wooden house with an extension
Design and Construction

A winter garden attached to a wooden house: log settlement and floating connections

Settlement of 5–10 cm over 3–4 years destroys rigid joints. How a floating junction is properly designed.

Cross-section of an insulated glass unit
Materials and Technology

How to read an IGU formula: 4i-16Ar-4-14Ar-4i, Ug, low-E

A full breakdown of each element of the formula: what matters and what's just marketing language.

Winter garden — architecture in the evening
Architecture and Design

Winter garden architecture: proportions, style, integration with the house, and common mistakes

How a glass extension becomes an organic part of the house — and where designers most often get it wrong.

Penthouse with a winter garden
Urban projects

Winter garden on a penthouse roof: slab load calculation and approvals

Slab load, amplified wind loads at height, approval with Moscow State Construction Supervision.

Turnkey glass house
Prices and estimates

Turnkey glass house in Moscow 2026: breaking down the RUB 3.5–14 million price

Detailed estimate by line item: foundation, profile, glass, engineering, finishes. What cannot be value-engineered.

Waterfront spa complex
Investment and Business

Turnkey spa complex for a park hotel: payback and SanPiN requirements

Financial model, rates of RUB 7,000–8,000/hr, payback in 7–24 months, SanPiN 2.1.2.3150-13 requirements.

Mobile sauna by the water
Products and lines

Crystal mobile sauna vs. permanent bathhouse: prices, timelines, transportation

Comparison across 8 key parameters. What to choose for glamping, for a private plot, or for business.

Glass security post
Commercial projects

Glass security post: GOST 30826-2014, SM classes, standard sizes

Protection classes SM1–SM5, thermal and engineering requirements. On-site assembly in 4–7 days.

Modular glass office
Commercial projects

Modular glass office on a cottage plot: taxes and permits in 2026

Legal status, tax deductions for sole proprietors and LLCs, layouts, and pricing from RUB 850,000.

Glass restaurant
Investment and Business

Glass pavilion for a restaurant or event venue: business model and profitability

Average check up 25–40% thanks to the glazing. Financial model, acoustics, seasonal adaptation.

Glass house with a sea view
Regional projects

Glass in the south: UV protection and the “it'll be too hot” myths — Sochi and Krasnodar

Solar control glass SNR 25% — heat flow calculation, real-world comparison with a brick house.

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