Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world
From towering skyscrapers to modern museums, glass buildings have become an iconic part of contemporary architecture. The use of glass not only creates stunning aesthetics but also allows natural light to flood in, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 best glass buildings in the world, from the United States to Europe and Asia.
Each building on this list showcases the unique and innovative ways in which architects have utilized glass to create breathtaking designs. So whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply appreciate beautiful design, read on to discover some of the most impressive glass buildings on the planet.
National Center for the Performing Arts Beijing, China
First on the list of Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world is the National Center for the Performing Arts Beijing, China. This place, designed by French architect – Paul Andreu, is a curved arched building, with a total surface area of up to 149,500 m2, emerging like a giant pearl located in the center of the lake. The super-curved ellipse with a titanium case has a maximum length of 213 meters, a short length of 144 m, a height of 46 m. Divided in two by a 100 m wide glass panel at the bottom.
During the day, light passes through the glass roof into the building. At night, the movements inside can be seen from the outside. The building has three performance halls – a 2,416-seat theatre, a 2,017-seat concert hall and a 1040 theater – as well as art exhibition and gallery spaces open to visitors.
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Fred & Ginger
Dancing House, also known as “Fred and Ginger”, is the nickname for the office building of a large company on the banks of the river Rašín in Prague. It was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunić, in collaboration with famous American-Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996. In addition to the mixed architectural style of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance, it is easy to see the liberal in design, not following any principles. The house was impressed by its unique shape, which is curved blocks, clad in aluminum alloys, inspired by a dancing couple.
The top floor of the dancing building is a French-style restaurant, with very nice views of the whole city. There is also a cotton hat here, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere. All these special lines soften the rigidity of the cylinders, the image of a neighborhood that always follows rigid principles, creating an impressive sense of movement. Therefore, it is named in the Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world.
30 St Mary Axe
Next in the Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world is the 30 St Mary Ax Building. At 30 St Mary Ax downtown, the Swiss insurance company headquarters is a striking, impressive building. This is one of the buildings built according to British ecological criteria. The building is the main transaction office in the Baltic of the financial leasing company. In 1992, this place was attacked and destroyed by the IRA organization, difficult to restore.
In 2000, with the approval of the authorities, the new construction began to be carried out. The Swiss tower project has been approved, but the London government requires the construction to respect the cultural identity and be in harmony with the works here. 30 St Mary Ax is a 40-storey building, striking in shape and architecture. It is recognized as one of the distinctive skyscrapers in London’s financial districts. Its form is very unique, like a rocket about to fly into space, hence the nickname “Gherkin”.
Louvre Pyramid
When it comes to Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world, it is impossible to ignore the Louvre Pyramid. As one of the most famous museums in the world and a classic symbol of the city of lights Paris, the Louvre annually welcomes over 7 million European tourists to visit. In addition to the valuable collections here, the museum itself is also a cultural and historical destination and has been the subject of intense controversy in the press.
Although people often call it the Louvre electric pyramid, there are actually 5 pyramids in total, in addition to the main pyramid built right at the Napoleon courtyard 21.64m high, each side measures 35.24m, scaled down from the famous Egyptian pyramid of Kheops. Small pyramids 4.92m high are located on three sides surrounding the large pyramid and a small pyramid hanging upside down, with a top located in the heart of the Carrousel de Louvre shopping center. All are with “diamond glass” and surrounded by water tank system. The glass pyramid design allows sunlight to enter the space below.
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W Barcelona
The Spanish city is known not only for its medieval architecture but also for its unique modern architecture. It is also located a unique architectural work in the Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world. The W Barcelona Hotel, located on the shores of Barcelona, is a prime example of advancement in modern architecture. The building was designed by Ricardo Bofill and completed in 2009, this 5-star hotel is completely covered by glass that transmits natural light. Glass house design helps to get light from all sides, making living space always bright and having a good effect on people’s health. The advantage of this design is very good bearing capacity, so you can rest assured and use it for indoor architecture.
This hotel is designed based on the model of a sail, so it is also known as Hotel Vela (meaning sail hotel), it also gives guests a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea. Hai from behind that beautiful glass wall. Not only creating a cool living space, the hotel made of tempered glass is also a way to show off the beautiful interior and decoration of this hotel to everyone.
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision
It is impossible to ignore the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision in the Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the word. 30km east of Amsterdam, the city of Hilversum is known as the largest media center in the Netherlands. From here, news and information from television to radio, internet to newspapers are conveyed to the whole country and the world. In addition to channels, radio and television stations, and broadcasting stations, Hilversum is also proud of the building – Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. The largest museum of audiovisual products in this tulip country is housed in this building.
The Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, a private institution, was established in 1997 after the merger of three audiovisual archives with the radio museum. The institute is an active member of international bodies such as the International Federation of Archives – Television and the Union of Broadcasters of Europe. Considered as one of the modern architectural works with high aesthetics and unique ideas, this center is also known as the “collective memory of the Netherlands”, storing and publishing 70% of the heritage. Dutch audiovisual production with approximately 700,000 hours of television, music, radio shows and films. It is currently the largest audiovisual archive in Europe, a one-of-a-kind repository of research information for students, students, academics, and journalists.
Basque Health Department Headquarters
The uniqueness and beauty of Basque Health Department Headquarters is indisputable in the Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world. The beauty of this building is like an art gallery or museum, not an office building. But in fact the Basque is a health care center for the people here and it is also one of the iconic buildings in Spain. This building was designed by Arquitectos Coll – Barreu. Its façade is entirely of polyhedral glass that allows natural light to enter the interior and makes the interior brighter and reflected all the way up to the sky. It is also one of the famous tourist attractions in the city of Bilbao.
Basque Health Department Headquarters is one of the iconic buildings in Spain designed by Coll – Barreu Arquitectos. The polygonal glass facade allows natural light to enter and brighten the interior. This bumpy structure is used as office space, meeting rooms and three employee parking areas. Surely the beauty of this building will make you think of a museum or art gallery, not an ordinary office building. This design is one of the iconic buildings in Spain and was designed by Sb architect – Barreu Arquitectos. Its multi-faceted glass facade allows natural light to enter the interior, helping to brighten the interior.
Kanagawa Institute of Technology
Next in the Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world is Kanagawa Institute of Technology. This academy is located on the campus of Kanagawa Institute of Technology, it is one of the most unique constructions in Japan. The design of the building gives us the feeling of living with nature, not a building.
Located on the grounds of Kanagawa Institute of Technology, it is one of the most unique constructions available. The building, designed by Junya Ishigami Associates, is essentially a single room with an area of about 2000 square meters, consisting of glass panels and white steel columns that can change shape and size.
Farnsworth House
This building was designed by the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, it is the oldest built building in this top 10 list. The building is located along the Fox River near the city of Plano, the building gives us a feeling of being closer to nature. The building was also designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and is now a museum.
Farnsworth House was completed in 1951 for Dr. Edith Farnsworth as a country retreat. This house is the oldest built on the list. Located along the Fox River near the city of Plano, the main feature of the building is its transparency that brings occupants closer to nature. And Farnsworth House is also on Top10theworld.com’s Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world list.
Curitiba Botanical Gardens
Last on the list of Top 10 Best Glass Buildings in the world is Curitiba Botanical Gardens. Inspired by the Crystal Palace, London, in the mid-19th century, the botanical garden was opened in 1991. Located in the heart of Curitiba, it is one of the main tourist attractions of the city. A greenhouse is a garden with a lot of plants. Following the new construction art movement, it covers more than 450 m2 area, the greenhouse is luxuriously built entirely of glass and metal, it is surrounded by impressive waterfalls and fountains.
Famous for its central greenhouse and displays of extremely rare indigenous plants. This is a beautiful work typical of metal structure made by architect Abraaso Assad – an ancient architecture from the middle of the 19th century. This botanical garden is the unofficial symbol of Southern Brazil – with its original plants and unique architecture, in 2007 was voted one of the “Seven Wonders of Brazil”.
In conclusion, the world is home to a plethora of breathtaking glass buildings that have redefined the boundaries of architecture. From the shimmering Burj Khalifa to the sleek Apple Park, each structure on this list has left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape. Whether you’re drawn to the grandeur of skyscrapers or the elegant simplicity of museums, there’s no denying the mesmerizing beauty of glass buildings.
With their innovative designs and striking aesthetics, these structures continue to inspire and captivate people around the world. So the next time you find yourself in one of these cities, be sure to add these glass buildings to your must-see list.
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