Glass




 * "The use of glass in architecture in Caracas"**

Glass was first used in the Roman imperial times. Glass is usually used in buildings as transparent windows, internal glazed partitions and as architectural features. Glass is often used as a structural material in beams and columns. Glass is used also in the form of fins for wind reinforcement. However, glass is rather fragile and it tends to shatter upon localized impact, this limits its use in columns and beams.

In Caracas many buildings have used glass in their structures. For example, the tallest buildings in Caracas: “Parque Central” was constructed with glass and concrete. Glass was used for the windows which cover almost the entire structure and concrete was used for walls and of course to provide stability. Another building is “Centro Lido” which was made mainly of glass and aluminium. Some other buildings such as “Torre Banesco”, “Centro Parque Canaima” and “Parque Cristal” have used glass in almost the entire structure. Well, even though these buildings are very appealing and look very elegant, the use of glass in that scale seems to be rather strange in a tropical country like ours. Venezuela has a very warm climate and glass not only reflects light but it also transmits infrared radiation. This in combination with pavement and narrow streets increases the temperature in the city and affects its inhabitants and its vegetation, as is the case of "Parque Cristal" which is burning the flora of "Parque del Este".

Reading: Glass