Glass is an incredible material and surrounds us everyday. There are some amazing structures around the world that are made from glass owing to recent technological advances that have improved the rigidity of this material. Glass can now be incorporated into many ornate and intricate designs are here are some examples of unique uses of this material:
No trip to France would be complete without a visit to the world famous Louvre in Paris. The 70 foot high glass pyramid is an iconic image forming the entrance to this impressive museum. A great example of melding modernity with classical architecture.
London’s very own ‘Gherkin’ is another impressive glass structure and is one of the most recognised buildings in the capital. It is the second tallest building in London and stands at 180 metres tall. For emergency glaziers Leicester visit http://www.nandu.co.uk/glazing/replacement-glazing/
The Skywalk at the Grand Canyon is not one for the faint hearted. It features a transparent cantilever bridge that enables you to step over the edge of the canyon and see down right between your feet. Thankfully it has been designed with 4 layers of glass and is able to withstand high wind conditions.
Another glass walkway can be found on the Tianmen Mountain in China. A 4000 ft drop with nothing in between but a 3 ft wide walkway which is 2.5 inches thick and totally see-through! You have to be brave to step out onto this walkway which sits 4,700 feet above sea level.
One you may not have heard of is the Dancing House in Prague. Completed in 1996, it was a controversial opening as the glass stands out in stark contrast to the surrounding classic gothic skyline. Another modern design dominating a city skyline is The Shard in London. It stands at more than 300 metres and is the tallest building in Europe. It holds an incredible 11,000 panes of glass over 56,000 square metres.
A beautiful example of architectural magnificence is the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing. Cleverly surrounded by an artificial lake, the water reflects the elliptical glass structure. The reflection makes the building look like an oval and so the buildings has become nicknamed ‘The Bird’s Egg’.
The glass buildings are beautiful and show the true marriage between technology and aesthetic design. The glass walkways are a brave idea and an innovative way to experience nature’s wonders. You really need to put your faith in that glass though!
