The water-filled glass project

At the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, the Pylon of Permanence showcased Water-Filled Glass (WFG) technology, offering a viable solution for reducing emissions while enhancing thermal performance.

Although glass is celebrated for its transparency and aesthetic versatility, it has a significant environmental impact. Its embodied and operational carbon footprint is greater than that of concrete, steel and brick. This project demonstrates how glass can evolve from a passive surface into an active energy system.

The system incorporates a thin layer of circulating water within the glass panels. This water absorbs solar radiation, redistributes heat and stabilises indoor temperatures through continuous thermal exchange. Drawing inspiration from aerospace thermal regulation, WFG transforms façades into dynamic climate control systems that reduce reliance on conventional heating and cooling.

This concept was developed by Dr. Mátyás Gutai during his research at the University of Tokyo under the supervision of Professors Kazuhiko Namba and Kengo Kuma. Since then, a multidisciplinary team including Hydro Building Systems has advanced the technology and explored applications for new constructions and retrofitting existing buildings.

If adopted globally, WFG could cut annual carbon emissions by more than 500 million tonnes. Retrofitting existing structures with WFG as a secondary skin offers a practical solution, reducing energy demand without necessitating disruptive renovations. In this way, the technology responds to the urgent need for climate resilience and sustainable design.

Located at the Arsenale in Venice, the installation features towering WFG panels that visibly demonstrate fluid-driven thermal regulation. Visitors can observe how radiant heat interacts with the water-filled system, while an accompanying video explains the scientific principles involved and illustrates the connection to natural climate processes.

By making glass an active participant in energy management, the installation challenges architects, engineers, and policymakers to reconsider the role of materials in creating a low-carbon future.

Source: Arch Daily