The use of glass in architecture has become very popular in recent years and is synonymous with the “corporate look.” Glass is durable, versatile and not very susceptible to weathering, making it an excellent building material. While it’s not uncommon to see high-rise offices completely coated in shiny glass, these 7 buildings have broken architectural boundaries and demonstrate just how far it can go.
Selgas Cano Architecture Office
This iconic glass capsule building is housed among the Spanish forest. The walls and ceilings are made entirely of glass, allowing workers to experience nature and remain in-tune with their surroundings throughout each of the four seasons.
Sears Tower Glass Balconies
The Sears Tower (aka Willis Tower) is both terrifying and breath taking. The building stands at a height of 1,353 feet above Chicago and overlooks the entire city. Taking a step on these balconies certainly isn’t for everybody; however, one can’t argue with the beauty and technical prowess of the design.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City is a block-style building that’s built among a Roman-esque backdrop. The building is completely covered in frosted glass and is illuminated from each inside corner.
National Grand Theatre of China
This massive dome has a seating capacity of 5,452 and is located near Tiananmen Square in Beijing. It is considered one of the greatest architectural works in China’s history and was designed by Paul Andreu. One of the most impressive elements is that it was constructed within a large artificial lake, which reflects the entire building.
The Louvre Pyramid
The Louvre Pyramid is one of the most recognizable glass structures in the world and stands at the entrance of the Louvre Museum. The building is 70 feet high and is constructed out of 673 glass sections. To enter visitors must descend below-ground before being taken back up to the main building. The structure is often praised for seamlessly combining both modern and classical architecture.
Kanagawa Institute of Technology
This building is one of the greatest pieces of glasswork ever created. Situated in Japan and used by some of the world’s greatest minds; this establishment is a far cry from a typical office space. The simplistic, whimsical interior structure would blend perfectly in a fairy-tale and is the perfect catalyst for new ideas.
Basque Health Department Headquarters
To many, the Basque Health Department Headquarters is an eyesore, but to architects it demonstrates creativity at its best. Designed by Coll-Barreu, the building is certainly one of a kind. The angular glass panels make it one of the most progressive buildings in the world, even in its surroundings of Bilbao Spain, which is often considered an experimental hotspot.
Glass is without a doubt one of the most versatile materials in the world. From architectural standards, its use is still in its infancy, but with the recent construction of such magnificent buildings and the formation of glass specific architects – such as Cantifix– it’ll certainly be interesting to see how far this simple material can go in the future.
