Glass offices are a common sight across cities the world over, thanks to their modern look, stylish appearance, and security benefits.
It isn’t just offices that can’t get enough of glass staircases, partition walls, and balustrades though, as many types of buildings are being designed as glass structures.
Here are just a few of the most iconic glass constructions from across the globe.
Louvre Pyramid, Paris
Architect Ieoh Ming Pei designed the famous Louvre Pyramid as the new entrance to the gallery in the ‘80s.
The four-sided, 21.6-metre structure has become one of the country’s most famous landmarks since it opened in 1989. This is partly due to the fact that it is made entirely out of glass panes and metal rods.
The Dancing House, Prague
For a building that really captures your imagination, visit The Dancing House in Prague.
It was designed by Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry and is meant to reflect Czech society at the time, encompassing both the totalitarian groups and the more liberal ones that wanted democracy.
The structure, which opened in 1996, was based on the famous dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, with the rock building representing Fred and the curved glass one symbolising Ginger.
It was created using 99 curved facade elements that were custom-made.
The National Centre For The Performing Arts, Beijing
A truly beautiful piece of architecture, the National Centre for The Performing Arts in Beijing, China stands out as one of the greatest glass structures in the world.
The elegant building, which was designed by Paul Andreu, is remembered for its elliptical shape.
It is surrounded by an artificial lake that reflects the building to show the yin-yang motif.
Interesting facts about the building include that it is connected to the shore of the lake by a 60-metre see-through tunnel and the middle of the theatre shell curtain was created with 1,200 pieces of ultra-white glass.
The Shard, London
The Shard in London has only been around for just over ten years, but it has already established itself as one of the greatest pieces of glass architecture in the world.
It stands at 310 metres high on the south bank of the Thames, and is noteworthy thanks to its 11,000 panes of glass.
The building was designed to taper towards the top, adding a very tall, slim pyramid to the London skyline. Its glass was also chosen to match the sky, while internal blinds automatically alter depending on light conditions so it is not too bright for those inside.
The tallest structure in the English capital, which has 95 stories, reportedly cost £435 million and took three years to make.
There is a viewing platform on the 72nd that provides unrivalled vista of London, while restaurants, a hotel and lots of offices can also be found in the building.
The Domes, Singapore
The Domes in Singapore is certainly a building that is worth seeing in your lifetime. It was designed by Wilkinson Eyre in the Gardens by the Bay area of the city.
It stands up thanks to steel arches, which suspend glass lattice shells. As well as thermal glazing, it has a draught system. This means different climates can be created within the two buildings – one with dry conditions named the Flower Dome, and the other with a tropical climate called the Cloud Forest. This also has a 35-metre tall mountain and an indoor waterfall.
Gardens by the Bay prides itself as being a “showpiece of horticulture and garden artistry”, helping to inform visitors about sustainability and nature while also creating design pieces that attract people from all over the world.
Reichstag Dome, Berlin
Away from the exotic climate of Singapore is the Reichstag Dome in Berlin.
Norman Forster designed the dome structure to sit on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building, which was home to Germany’s parliament and the country’s most important government building.
The glass structure, which was completed by 1999, is thought to symbolise the reunification of Germany, which occurred eight years earlier. It offers a 360-degree view of the city, making it a popular tourist destination.
In the centre of the dome, there is a light deflecting cone, which diffuses the daylight so it is not too bright inside. It also helps to provide ventilation for the plenary hall.
Ahead of its time, it boasts a computer program that controls a steel frame and aluminium louvres that shield mirrors to avoid too much exposure from the sun.
