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Monday, September 23, 2013

The top 5 most incredible glass floors

Though we’ve long been familiar with the use of glass in our homes, offices and public spaces, we’re normally used to seeing it used vertically as windows or as glass doors.

Seeing glass placed horizontally and used as a floor, no matter how strong we know it to be, is still something a of a mystery to most people. And creates a surface that seems to float in mid air, working against all of the laws of physics.

This technique has now been used to create some fantastic tourist attractions and private homes. Here are five of the best glass floors from around the world.


Glass floors provide a great viewpoint on the city below


1. The Grand Canyon Skywalk
Number one on the list has got to be the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona.

The attraction was commissioned and is managed by the Hualapai Indian tribe, who have lived in the area for generations.

The skywalk is around 1,450m above sea level, with the direct vertical drop below the walk ranging from 150m to 240m.


The walkway above the Grand Canyon is one of the most impressive in the world

Visitors walk out onto the glass floor to look directly down into the canyon, gaining a fantastic view of this unique site as well as of the surrounding landscape.

2. The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
Opened in Portsmouth in 2005, the Spinnaker Tower rises for 170m above the city’s harbour, giving visitors a spectacular view of the surrounding area.

Its glass floor is the largest in Europe measuring 7.70m2, and at 100m up, is only for those who have a good head for heights.

3. The Sears Tower, Chicago
When this enormous skyscraper opened back in 1973 it was the tallest building in the world, a title which it held onto for almost 25 years.

Measuring 442m in total (108 floors) the tower dwarfs everything else in the nearby skyline.

Visitors to the tower can experience what it’s like to be almost half a kilometre up, by travelling to its 103rd floor viewing platform, where retractable glass balconies provide a view 412m straight down onto the city below.

Only opened in 2009, the balconies are made completely from glass and allow visitors to feel the sway of the building whilst giving them an unobstructed viewing experience.

4. Salvador Dali’s Glass floor
As one of the foremost artists of the 20th century you’d expect Salvador Dali to have a few quirky design features in his home and studio, and one of his most famous was a custom made glass floor.

Used as an aid for foreshortening perspective and creating weird and wonderful patterns, the glass floor was responsible for many of the most famous images associated with the Spaniard.

5. Tianmen Mountain, China
Echoing the Skywalk of the Grand Canyon, this gravity defying walkway in China’s north western Hunan province has got visitors clinging on for dear life.

With a 4000ft drop on one side and a sheer cliff face on the other, this mountain pass is definitely not for the faint hearted.

For the length of the walk the glass is just 2.5 inches think and 3ft wide and gives those brave enough to traverse it a clear view of the valley below.

There’s no doubt that glass can be used in inventive and exciting ways to add character and thrills to our best loved attractions.

So why not take inspiration from the Grand Canyon, Dali or the Spinnaker Tower and create your very own glass floor, giving any visitors to your home a surprise that they’ll remember.


Picture credits: Wikipedia 1 & 2


Author Bio

The Top 5 Most Incredible Glass floor was produced by Cantafix – The market leaders in specialised glazing and skyframes.


1 comments:

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