What architects can learn from the world's longest glass bridge
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The world's longest glass bridge is 632 metres long and 150 metres high. Find out what it can teach architects about the potential of glass.
You probably know the world's highest mountain. You might know the world's longest river. You might even know the world's tallest building. But how about the world's longest glass bridge?
Not ringing any bells? We don't blame you. This marvel of engineering is hardly a household name – but in our opinion, it should be.
Located in Vietnam's Moc Chau Island resort, the glass-bottomed Bach Long Glass Bridge stretches 632 metres (2,073 feet). This colossal construction hangs suspended 150 metres (492 feet) over a lush valley.
The bridge is known as the "white dragon". When you see a picture of it swooping across the valley, connecting two peaks, it's easy to see why.
And just like a dragon, the Bach Long Glass Bridge isn't for the faint of heart. Visitors get to cross the valley with nothing but breathtaking views at their feet.
"Standing on the bridge," an official source says, "visitors can admire the majesty of the northwest mountains and forests, [and] feel the nature full of sunshine and wind floating in the magical air."
With its astonishing size, impressive load-bearing capacity and stunning mountainous location, the world's longest glass bridge has plenty to teach architects across the world. Here are five lessons from the white dragon.
1. Glass has astonishing load-bearing potential
The load-bearing potential of glass is nothing new. Glass balconies – check. Glass stairways – check. Glass walkways – well, you get the idea.
But remarkable as they are, these installations pale in comparison to the Bach Long Glass Bridge. Depending on who you ask, it can carry between 450 and 500 people at a time.
This is possible thanks to the incredible sturdiness and load-bearing potential of structural glass. The bridge is made of three layers of toughened glass. Each layer is about one-and-a-half inches thick. It's held up by two 30 metre-high towers and Korean load-bearing cables.
We say "toughened glass" – but we don't just mean the kind of toughened glass you might install in a window, door or kitchen splashback. This is toughened glass manufactured at the World Glass Complex in Sriperumbudur, India, reinforced and laminated for extra strength.
Each unit boasts several layers of SentryGate Plus (SGP) vinyl. These are the materials typically used in areas vulnerable to hurricanes and cyclones.
The beauty of laminated glass is the way it breaks. Essentially, a laminated glass unit can break but not shatter. When the upper pane finally gives way, it stays in its unit until it's repaired.
This miracle material is coated with an anti-slip ceramic-printing treatment. Together, they create a bridge that can be used by hundreds of people at a time. And as well as keeping them safe, it really looks the part.
The lesson for architects is clear. If more than 400 people can walk from one mountain to another on a glass bridge, there's no reason to eschew glass walkways for your projects. The sky, as they say, is the limit.
2. Glass blends in
To say the Bach Long Glass Bridge catches the eye would be an understatement. But the keen-eyed among you will notice that while it grabs attention, it doesn't hog the scene.
In fact, the bridge draws attention to the lush beauty of the valley and the surrounding mountains. It works with the landscape, not against it.
Glass's ability to blend in makes it ideal for applications in areas of natural beauty – or areas of manmade beauty that need to be conserved.
A skilled architect can design a glass structure that complements and enhances the scene without crowding it out. And she could do worse than look to the Bach Long Glass Bridge for inspiration.
3.Glass can thrill the senses
The world is full of jaw-dropping glass buildings. But a structure like the Bach Long Glass Bridge can reinvigorate our sense of what glass can do. With its 150-metre drop and astounding surroundings, it's as thrilling as a theme park ride.
It doesn't matter what project you're working on – a skyscraper, a train station or a feature within an existing building. Glass can help create designs that engage occupants and visitors without compromising safety or functionality.
4. Glass can attract visitors
Large-scale architectural projects are never just about the architecture. They're also about raising the profile of an area – and in the case of the Bach Long Glass Bridge, about driving tourism back to Vietnam after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bridge, you see, isn't the only attraction in the area. There are villas, zip-lines, hotels and even a glass-bottomed infinity pool.
At six o'clock each evening, the bridge sparkles with thousands of colourful lights. And at the end of the bridge is Chim Than Cave – a naturally occurring cave filled with huge stalactites.
None of that would make the headlines, however, if it weren't for the glass bridge at the heart of the island resort.
It's all testament to the power and versatility of glass as a structural material. The lesson is clear: if you want to bring tourists to an area, a little glass can go a long way.
5. Glass structures can be built to withstand extreme conditions
The Moc Chau region is vulnerable to heavy rainfall and flooding. Despite this, the Bach Long Glass Bridge stands strong.
This is only possible thanks to the architectural potential of toughened and laminated glass. These are materials regularly used in areas prone to cyclones, hurricanes and other extreme weather events.
As the world's climate changes, architects will look for ways to future-proof their buildings. The Bach Long Glass Bridge teaches us that safety glass will be indispensable to the task.
Are you looking for high-quality glass for architecture? As a trusted UK glass processor, ToughGlaze has supplied leading architects for more than 30 years. Get in touch with our experts today to discuss your project or request a quote.
