Articles with a low-elastic modulus layer and retained strength

One or more aspects of the disclosure pertain to an article including a film disposed on a glass substrate, which may be strengthened, where the interface between the film and the glass substrate is modified, such that the article has an improved average flexural strength, and the film retains key functional properties for its application. Some key functional properties of the film include optical, electrical and/or mechanical properties. The bridging of a crack from one of the film or the glass substrate into the other of the film or the glass substrate can be suppressed by inserting a nanoporous crack mitigating layer between the glass substrate and the film.