Modern architecture tends to captivate the eye in amazing ways. Towering skyscrapers with imposing glass facades and window walls come to mind when we envision modern building design.  However, using glass a primary building material, structural support or to simply enhance architectural appeal is nothing new. Glass has allured human beings since ancient Mesopotamia.

Its physical properties make it immensely diverse. Glass can be used as a structural component providing stability and added strength to a building or its purpose can be purely aesthetic in nature. Many modern designers consider its use in architecture the best way to showcase its versatility and timeless appeal. Innovative structural glass design can bring exquisite beauty into any space. Each structural glass building is a work of art, unique in its own way.

So where do you find the world’s most beautiful glass buildings? Here are a few of our favorites:

• The Botanical Garden of Curitiba, Brazil: A geometrical greenhouse found in Curitiba, Brazil, Abraaro Assad designed this stunning glass building. He found inspiration from a similar piece in London. Gorgeous gardens surround the building, which offers a French style rarely found in Latin America.

• Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision: One of the most breathtaking structural glass buildings found worldwide, Willem Jan Neutelings and Michiel Riedijk designed the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. The building is cube-shaped and covered all over by colorful glass panels.

• Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision: One of the most breathtaking structural glass buildings found worldwide, Willem Jan Neutelings and Michiel Riedijk designed the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. The building is cube-shaped and covered all over by colorful glass panels.

• Sports and Leisure Center in Saint-Cloud, France: KOZ Architects designed another colorful, cube-shaped glass building – the Sports and Leisure Center in Saint-Cloud, France. The building was created for the youth in the area. Stunning on the outside and practical on the inside, the space can be used for a variety of sports, as the building hosts numerous different facilities.

• Guggenheim Museum Bilbao: The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is located in Bilbao, Spain and was created by architect Frank Gehry. Made with titanium, glass and limestone, the innovative structural design was intended to catch as much light as possible.

• The Glass Home: Even the furniture is made of glass inside The Glass Home designed by Carlo Santambrogio. It was crafted with six-millimeter glass panels of a blue tint. Suffice to say, you won’t want to throw rocks around this masterpiece.

• The Aldar Headquarters: Located in a city known for extravagance, The Aldar Headquarters stands out as a circle shaped, glass office building. Created by MZ Architects, the design uses a steel diagrid to keep the circular shape intact.

• The Sage: A true masterpiece, The Sage is home to music and arts in Gateshead, England. Created by architects Foster and Partners, the building is curved and uses glass and steel as the main materials.

• Louvre Pyramid: One of, if not, the most famous glass buildings in the world, the Louvre Pyramid is a modern architecture marvel. Created by I. M. Pei and Partners to be the main entrance to the world famous museum, the pyramid is made completely out of glass and held together by steel beams and a few cables.

Structural Glass Buildings Catch Your Eye?

If you have an interest in innovative structural design and glass buildings, you may want to incorporate structural glass in your next project. Here at B.E. Structural, we specialize in helping businesses build with glass. As the structural engineers you can count on, we want to make your dream building a reality. Please get in touch. Your stunning glass building awaits you!