Glass in Structures

One of the most fascinating and sophisticated applications of glass in contemporary architecture is its use as a load-bearing material. Pioneered by Peter Rice and Hugh Dutton for structural glazing of facades, glass as a structural material is now commonly used throughout buildings.Glass Roofs, Glass Facades, Other Glass Walls, Glass Floors, Glass Beams and, as the utmost point of experiment, Glass Columns are the subjects of the main chapters of the book. The introduction deals with questions of material properties and the central issue of security, while the final part, "Beyond Glass," develops an integrative approach to architecture based on the experience of building with glass structures.