Capillary slabs sealed inside the IGU cavity diffuse incoming daylight without blocking vision entirely. Silhouettes and shadows remain visible through the glass — a luminous quality no other glazing system produces. Two variants tune the degree of solar control to the project.
OKALUX fully diffuses light and blocks vision. KAPILUX does not. The absence of the glass fiber tissue layer means silhouettes and shadows remain visible through the glass — a shadowy partial vision that creates depth and life impossible with opaque diffusers.
Standard OKALUX includes a glass fiber tissue bonded to the capillary slab. That tissue fully diffuses light and eliminates all vision. KAPILUX omits the tissue. Hollow capillary tubes scatter daylight uniformly while leaving the path through the glass partially open. The result: a luminous surface you can faintly see through.
Objects and people on the opposite side of a KAPILUX panel read as ghostly silhouettes — recognizable but not detailed. This creates a sense of occupation and movement without exposing the interior. Architects use this quality in facades, partitions, and spiritual spaces where transparency would feel exposed but opacity would feel dead.
The capillary slab sits inside the hermetically sealed IGU cavity. No exterior shading device, no moving parts. Maintenance-free for the building life. The two variants — T (transparent tubes) and W (white tubes) — differ only in the capillary tube finish, which adjusts the solar heat gain coefficient without changing the panel envelope.
KAPILUX T uses clear transparent capillary tubes. KAPILUX W uses white-colored tubes. The white finish increases solar reflection inside the capillary, reducing SHGC from 0.44 (T) to 0.37 (W). Both variants scatter daylight uniformly and preserve partial vision. Choose W for south and west elevations with high solar load; choose T where maximum daylight transmission is the priority.
KAPILUX T and KAPILUX W share the same capillary-slab IGU construction and the same maximum dimensions. The only difference is the capillary tube finish — transparent or white — which shifts the SHGC and the quality of light without changing the framing envelope.
SHGC and U-values are reference figures from OKALUX published data. Project-specific values vary with build-up.
Both KAPILUX variants share the same IGU construction and framing envelope. SHGC is the only performance variable that changes between T and W.
KAPILUX is specified where the architect wants a luminous surface that reads as inhabited — visible without being exposed. Spiritual spaces, wellness interiors, and any facade where depth and mystery matter more than full transparency or full opacity.
Chapels, churches, and civic halls use KAPILUX to achieve the quality of light historically associated with alabaster and thin-stone windows — luminous, diffuse, and alive without glare. The partial-vision effect creates a sense of the world beyond without revealing it.
Hotel rooms, spa facilities, and wellness centers use KAPILUX to balance privacy and connection to the landscape. Combined with vision glass, KAPILUX panels define zones of opacity within an otherwise transparent facade — guests see the landscape through clear glass while KAPILUX panels maintain thermal and visual privacy in other zones.
Four verified KAPILUX installations across civic, cultural, spiritual, and hospitality typologies. Imagery courtesy of OKALUX and project architects.
Marquee KAPILUX T installation on the Atlantic coast. The glowing white volume reads as a lantern at dusk, its luminosity derived entirely from KAPILUX capillary panels. Steven Holl Architects + Solange Fabião.
Church interior with KAPILUX altar window. The capillary panels create a glowing, diffuse source of sacred light — the quality historically associated with alabaster — without exposing the exterior. Photographer: Werner Hennig.
Organic hotel among apple orchards in Bavaria. KAPILUX W panels glow warmly at dusk, giving guests privacy while connecting the interior to the orchard landscape. Deppisch Architekten.
Austrian regional bank with KAPILUX T partial-vision daylight diffusion in office and administration spaces.
The capillary slab is sealed inside the hermetically sealed insulating glass cavity. No exterior shading devices, no moving parts, no access required for the building life. The only structural difference from OKALUX is the absence of the glass fiber tissue · that one omission is what preserves partial vision while still diffusing daylight.
At 1⅛″ to 1 7⁄16″ overall thickness, KAPILUX fits the same curtainwall and storefront framing systems as standard double-pane insulating glass. No custom extrusions required. Consult R. Suare for project-specific framing coordination.
KAPILUX WS (diagonal-axis capillaries optimized for overhead/roof glazing) is available through Glas Trösch but is outside 3SG's current US territory scope — contact R. Suare to discuss.
Brochure, technical data, and per-variant tender specifications for KAPILUX T, W, and WS.
We'll send samples, variant-specific spec sheets, and a project-matched SHGC and Ug recommendation within two business days. For design-phase support, schedule a lunch and learn or send your daylight study for review.
