Materials

Magical Materials: Luminous Kalwall Lets the Sunshine In

Translucent, pliable material lights up your home and adds privacy, too

My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there. Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having been featured on television...

My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay... More »

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In the 1970s a new building material gained traction in the marketplace. This material had all of the advantages of a skylight while being superior to skylights in energy efficiency and structure. It's no wonder that many architects started specifying Kalwall where the only option had been a glass or plastic product.

Kalwall, which was actually developed in the '50s, is a fiberglass-reinforced translucent sandwich panel. Though initially used for commercial and institutional buildings, Kalwall has become increasing popular for homes. This is especially true for an entire, luminous ceiling or where light is desired but privacy must be maintained.

by Silva Studios Architecture

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by Silva Studios Architecture

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Even though Kalwall can be a more costly roofing alternative, its superior thermal performance, structural integrity and ability to be curved can make it the ideal material for your project.

Here, Kalwall was bent to form a vaulted entry canopy, which extends beyond the wall of the house.

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by Silva Studios Architecture

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The canopy continues inside to provide that wonderfully luminous glow in this foyer.

More photos of Kalwall in homes

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by Quezada Architecture

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The Kalwall ceiling at this home provides a luminous kitchen space that has to be wonderful to work in. The black painted structure, echoed in the color of the counters, provides a monochromatic Mondrian-like quality to the ceiling.

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by Quezada Architecture

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The Kalwall ceiling continues into more than just the kitchen of this home. This sitting area is bathed in a luminous light from above.

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by Feinmann, Inc.

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Kalwall can also be used in lieu of glass when light as well as privacy is the goal. While Kalwall can be quite opaque during the day, Kalwall can turn a building into a glowing lantern at night.

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by Feinmann, Inc.

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The light filtering through the Kalwall becomes luminescent at the interior, complementing the distinctly Japanese aura of the spaces.

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by Feinmann, Inc.

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Interior walls made of Kalwall share light while maintaining privacy.

More: Translucent Surfaces: A Canvas for Light and Shadow

Glass Block Grows Up

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Comments

Denise Vilim says:

Thanks for the introduction and info. Kalwall might be the right choice of material for a privacy fence around our patio.

4 months ago · Like

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel says:

Ditto. I'll have to look into the insulation aspects. LOVE entire ceilings of Kallwall, as you showed us. I dream of the ideal painting studio.

4 months ago · Like

heypam says:

Great info!

4 months ago · Like

marmarmish says:

What a fabulous building material! Offers such possibilities.
Especially love the way it was incorporated into the kitchen ceiling in the 4th pic.

4 months ago · Like

Laurel Ennis says:

I wonder how many people have plummeted to their deaths off that window seat with the tilting out window?

4 months ago · Like

Michael Hahn says:

Hmmm very nice, but glassfiber ay.... is it sustainably produced? And what is the lifetime of this material? Are the ingredients polyester and glassfiber? I am thinking of the environment before, during and after. Enlighten me, thanks :)

4 months ago · Like

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