Load-bearing glass columns

Glass is the oldest man-made material and it can look back on a history spanning over 7 millenia. However it wasn't until the Middle Ages that glass started to influence buildings. The need to allow daylight to penetrate to the interior of buildings, while protecting it from the outside weather conditions, resulted in stained glass windows. The ongoing search to maximize the transparency of the façades resulted in larger glass windows. At the same time designers explored the load-bearing capacity of glass. Nowadays all structural members can be created out of glass and therefore it is possible to design and build a structure entirely out of glass. The concept of vertically stacking horizontal sheets of glass is used in all kinds of sculptures and works of art. This principle could also be used for creating load-bearing glass columns. If using waterjet-abrasive cutting methods the architectural possibilities of this concept are virtually endless, resulting in columns which are breathtaking in their simplicity of construction method and their appearance. This concept might also be an ideal way to make use of the high (theoretical) compressive strength of glass.

Autorentext

An 'explorer' that is what I am. From a young age I'm interested in science and engineering. For me it was a self-evident step to study Architecture Building and Planning with a Master in Structural Design. I love to be challenged and explore innovative methods of construction. This led me to my graduation project about load-bearing glass columns.