5 Creative Architecturally Glazed Buildings

By Author: HJ Clark
Total Articles: 65
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• Willis Tower Glass Balconies – Since opening in 1973, the Willis tower has been undergone various renovation projects. One such project was the addition of an observation deck called the ‘Skydeck’, starting in 2009 when glass balconies were installed, making the building into a popular tourist attraction. The glass balcony is on the 103rd floor of the tower and which extends 4 feet from the side of the building. It can sustain a massive 4.5 metric tonnes in weight, making it a lot safer than it looks. The Willis Tower is not the first building to use structural glazing as a platform, but it is the highest, which is why it makes this list.

• National Centre of Performing Arts – The National Grand theatre in China is truly a visually stunning building made completely of titanium and structural glazing, making it highly bespoke and distinctive in its design. The theatre spans over an area of 12,000 m² and is surrounded by an artificial lake. The total cost of the building project was over £27 million (or 3.2 billion Yen), which caused quite a stir among the community as ...
... many believed it would be impossible to ever recuperate a return on the investment, however since opening it has been announced that the theatre is not for profit. Despite the negativity surrounding this, we believe the building itself is an architectural phenomenon which is why it makes this list.

• The Louvre Pyramid – If you want to experience the Louvre Pyramid then you have to travel to Paris to enjoy the structure in all its glory. The structure is made up of glass and metal and is accompanied by three similar, yet smaller pyramids in the courtyard of the Louvre Palace. The pyramid is made up of glass segments which stretch up to 70 feet in the air, with square base sides each stretching 35 metres in size. Since it has been created there have been many other museums which have tried to duplicate its features, but due to its originality, appeal and popularity, we feel it deserves a place on this list.

• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – The Nelson-Atkins museum of art is known for its neoclassical architecture as well as its distinctive artefacts, including large shuttlecocks around the building. What we wanted to concentrate on is the five new Bloch buildings which are coated in frosted glass and illuminated in light from corner to corner. The buildings are museums for contemporary, photography and African exhibitions, which in combination with their visual appeal, makes the buildings an increasingly popular tourist attraction.

• Basque Health Department Headquarters – The Basque Health Department Headquarters is one of many architectural spectacles situated in the city of Bilbao, Spain. The building is located on the edge of two of the busiest streets in Bilbao and is unique for its glass cover which is positioned in irregular places. The folds on the exterior of the building generate multiple reflections which continually change depending on your viewpoint, the hour of the day and the season. The building is also double skinned which has sustainable benefits as it reduces dependency on air conditioning; it insulates more heat, reduces noise and emits natural light.

OAG are specialists in structural glazing, with a variety of solutions that include glass floors, glass roofs and glass barriers.