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Zhangjiajie Wants to Top Glass Bottomed Bridge

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Zhangjiajie Wants to Top Glass Bottomed Bridge

Zhangjiajie Wants to Top Glass Bottomed Bridge

The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge opened to much fanfare in August. Too much fanfare, in fact. Officials at the park had to close the glass bottomed bridge for about a month to rethink their strategy for moving tens of thousands of visitors across the 1,300-foot span, which is perched about 1,000 feet off the ground.

The number of daily visitors has been capped at 8,000 – about one-tenth of the number of guests that showed up daily when the bridge first opened. In addition, parking and park maintenance has gotten a little facelift.

Buoyed by the popularity of the attraction, the park will now construct a “disappearing” glass bridge that’s designed to blend in with the park’s natural surroundings. The new bridge – a product of the Paris architectural firm, Martin Duplantier Architectes, will cost a cool $4.2 million to build.

The new structure isn’t an all-glass affair. It will be situated between two sandstone cliffs, and will feature mirrored stainless steel walls. The floor will be a reflective black stone combined with glass for the ultimate overhead view of the canyon. Additional hospitality structures (a guest house and café) will be included as part of the package.

The company’s design was selected recently following an architectural competition held in 2015. The new glass bridge is part of a larger plan to improve the tourist experience at the park. The firm did not indicate when construction on the bridge will begin, or how long it will take to complete.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Martin Duplantier Architectes

Chattanooga Votes To Replace Glass Bridge with Stainless Steel

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Chattanooga Votes To Replace Glass Bridge with Stainless Steel

Chattanooga Votes To Replace Glass Bridge with Stainless Steel

The Chattanooga City Council voted earlier this month to replace the glass panels in the Holmberg bridge with slip-resistant stainless steel panels. The push to remodel the pedestrian walkway, which was opened in 2005, is in response to the City’s annual $10,000-$20,000 expenditures to replace cracked and broken glass along the surface of the bridge.

The bridge consists of 86 glass panels, but they won’t all be replaced right away. Instead, initial replacement contract will cover just twelve sections. Additional stainless steel replacements will be added as needed, and as the City budget permits.

City engineers say that the glass panels are simply prone to breakage. According to the Public Works Department, the City has replaced 51 glass panels since 2009. The City has been looking for alternatives to the current glass materials since 2013, hoping to find another transparent material that was more robust. The City settled on a stainless steel solution after consulting with materials specialists from around the country.

The bridge was named to honor Ruth and William Holmberg, former publishers of the Chattanooga Times newspaper. The Holmbergs were ardent supporters of the arts, and the bridge draws people to the Bluff View Arts District, and provides pedestrian access over Riverview Parkway.

Although the panels consist of multiple layers of laminated glass, the City found that the middle layer of the panel consistently broke. Engineers believe that vandalism, changes in the weather, and unusual wear-and-tear from skateboarders and cyclists is responsible for the ongoing breakage issues. The City anticipates that the entire walking surface of the bridge could be overhauled in 1-2 years.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Larry Miller , via Flickr.com

Iconic Glass Structures – Old Port Footbridge

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Iconic Glass Structures – Old Port Footbridge

Iconic Glass Structures – Old Port Footbridge

Normally, we think of buildings when we look at iconic glass structures. Today, we go a little off the beaten path, and with good reason. The Old Port Footbridge in Bremerhaven, Bremen Germany connects the Klimahaus and the Columbus Center in one of the oldest sections of this northern port city. The bridge, which is made primarily of glass, traverses the River Weser.

Because of its strategic location, Bremerhaven has long played an important role in both Germany’s military and maritime trade history. Although much of the surrounding city was destroyed during World War II, the port was largely spared because of its strategic value to Allied forces. In 2016, Bremerhaven is a key player in container shipping, and in fact, it is the 16th-largest container port in the world, and the fourth-largest in Europe, handling millions of containers from all over the world.

The area also pays homage to its maritime history. The city hosts several museum ships from various points in history. The oldest example dates back to the late 14th century and was excavated from the city in 1962. The city also hosts museum ships from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, as well as a World War II vintage U-boat. The city also hosts the Lloyd-Werft shipyard, which specializes in building and refurbishing ultra-large cruise ships.

The Old Port Footbridge connects the Columbus Center (a massive shopping mall) with the Klimahaus exhibition center, which was opened in 2009, the same year the bridge was put into service. The bridge itself can be swung to a 90° angle to permit maritime traffic to pass. This doesn’t regularly occur, but since the area hosts several museum ships, some of which still operate, the bridge needs to be able to move to allow the ships to pass. The middle section of the bridge is designed to be mobile.

The bridge consists of 336 individually crafted glass panels, which are specially designed and placed to minimize heat gain inside the tunnel. In addition, operable windows at the top of the bridge provide additional ventilation.
A cement sidewalk is found in the center of the path. Both sides of the path are surrounded by glass flooring, which is safe to walk on. The glass floor is laminated with a special slip-resistant screen printing, and is lit from below at night.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specialized glass coating that bonds permanently to glass surfaces. GlassPrimer also makes a glass surface molecular activator that is designed to work with UV-inkjet glass printing processes. For more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store

Photo Credit: Herr Olsen , via Flickr.com

New Glass Bridge Closes Due To Popular Demand

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New Glass Bridge Closes Due To Popular Demand

New Glass Bridge Closes Due To Popular Demand

If you’re planning to visit China’s newly opened Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the Grand Canyon that surrounds it, here’s a quick travel tip: “Don’t.”

The company that operates the bridge shut the attraction down earlier today because it is “too popular.” The Zhangjiajie Bridge, which just opened on August 20, has proven to be too hard for visitors to resist. The bridge is designed to accommodate about 8,000 guests per day, but record crowds, estimated at 10 times the bridge’s daily maximum, have traveled to the Zhangjiajie National Park to see, and presumably cross, the bridge.

No word on when glass bridge will reopen

Company officials closed the bridge effective immediately, but rest assured that the closure isn’t permanent. Officials want to strategize and more properly prepare for the enormous number of visitors. Aside from the obvious long lines and the disappointment, visitors have been greeted with mounds of trash, no place to park and few amenities, including bottled water. Interest in the bridge has also spawned renewed interest in the rest of the park.

Officials made clear that there is nothing wrong with the bridge, and the attraction was closed to better allow them to manage the large number of visitors. They stress that there are no structural safety concerns with the bridge, but rather, they want to take a second shot at the logistics of moving such a large number of visitors through the park.

The bridge is the longest, highest glass bridge in the world, stretching about 1,400 feet across and rising about 1,000 feet in the air. Visitors might recognize the spectacular Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and National Park because it served as the inspiration for some of the visuals in the movie “Avatar.”

Park officials had initially suggested that the glass bridge be closed on September 5, but the company that manages the attraction opted for an immediate shutdown to begin making improvements. Planned improvements include parking lot expansion, changes to the ticket-booking system and improvements to the company’s customer service approach.

The company has not yet said when it plans to reopen the glass bridge, but is working diligently to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a specially engineered coating that bonds permanently to glass and other impervious surfaces. If you would like more information about Glassprimer™ glass paint, please see the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

China’s latest glass walkway

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China's latest glass walkway

China’s latest glass walkway

The newest glass walkway in China is at the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area. The walkway, known as the Coiling Dragon Cliff skywalk, is 110 meters long and 5 feet wide. The skywalk is part of a larger mountain road that takes visitors through 99 turns as it scales a sheer face of the Tianmen Mountain.

One of three glass walkways in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park


The glass walkway is part of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province. Tianmen Mountain is home to two other glass bridge/walkway attractions. The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, the longest glass bottomed bridge in the world was scheduled to open earlier this summer, but has not yet been completed. The first glass walkway in the park opened in 2011.

The Coiling Dragon Cliff skywalk is 4,600 feet above sea level, and 1,000 feet above Tongtian Avenue, the road that carries tourists to the top of the mountain. The skywalk has been open to thrill-seeking visitors for just two weeks but is already receiving rave reviews from thrill-seekers.

In the last year, several “glass” attractions have opened around the world, including the skywalks in the Zhangjiajie National Forest, a single story glass slide and observation decks on the 69th and 70th floors of a skyscraper in Los Angeles, and a glass-bottomed walkway over the Thames River in London. Tourists can also find glass skywalks and observation decks in Chicago at the Willis Tower and the former Hancock Observatory.

The emergence of glass walkways, bridges and observation decks as tourist attractions speaks to the strength and versatility of glass. Today, designers are taking every opportunity to incorporate glass into unique interiors and exteriors. Specialized glass coatings like Glassprimer™ glass paint make it possible to incorporate glass and add virtually any color to an interior design plan. Whether you’re looking for form, function or a bit of both, consider Glassprimer™ glass paint for your next interior design.

If you’re looking for additional glass inspiration, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Jacques Beaulieu, via FreeImages.com

China’s latest glass walkway attraction

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China's latest glass walkway attraction

China’s latest glass walkway attraction

It seems that China can’t get enough of glass bridges and walkways. The latest glass walkway attraction opened in Shanghai at the Jinmao Tower last week. If heights make your knees weak, then you’ll definitely want to pass on this one. The glass walkway is just 60 meters long, but oh, what a difference 60 meters can make when it’s suspended more than 1,100 feet in the air.

And has no handrails.

At all.

None.

Glass walkway sits on Shanghai’s third tallest building

The glass walkway accommodates a mere 15 people at a time and is staffed by two attendants. Visitors are allowed to spend 30 minutes on the walkway, and although there are no handrails between you and the rest of the world, you’ll be wearing a harness that connects you to an overhead rail. You can move freely on the walkway, and the whole heart-stopping mess will only set you back about USD$60. That includes access to the observation deck, as well as the cost to access the platform.

The Jinmao Tower is an 88-story affair, and already hits the record books as the third-tallest building in Shanghai. It’s also the 18th tallest building in the world. For what it’s worth, the glass walkway isn’t at the very top of the building, but it is the highest rail-free walkway in the world. The building has other observation decks, but those are not open to the general public. The Jinmao Tower walkway is less than five feet wide, so visitors will get an up-close and personal experience with the ledge, whether they want to or not!

The Jinmao Tower was constructed in 1999, and was the first super skyscraper in the city. Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) of Chicago, the Jinmao Tower makes heavy use of glass, and is characteristically geometric. The building is wind, monsoon and earthquake resistant, and features a swimming pool on the 57th floor. The pool is more than just entertainment. It helps damper the natural motion of the building. Jinmao Tower was dedicated on August 28, 1998 (8/28/98), an auspicious date in China, but was not fully operational until 1999.

The building features shops, restaurants, office space and hotel space. Like many SOM buildings, the Jinmao Tower is column-free to increase available floor space. The building has been scaled at least twice by freehand climbers. Both climbers were arrested. One, a Chinese national was jailed for about two weeks. The other, famed urban climber Alain Robert, was arrested, jailed for 5 days, then expelled from the country. (If you’re planning to visit China, don’t scale the Jinmao Tower. The building has an elevator that will take you from the basement all the way to the top in just 45 seconds.)

If you’re looking for a little lofty glass inspiration, please check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: mifl68, via Flickr.com

Glass safety takes center stage

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Glass safety takes center stage

Glass safety takes center stage

Glass is a beautiful architectural and decorating surface. Because ordinary glass shatters into razor-sharp shards, glass safety is a primary concern. Some dramatic demonstrations of glass safety made the news last week, as China’s Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon bridge, perched more than 1,000 feet above the ground, is prepared for its grand opening.

Glass safety on display

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge
Volunteers lined the 1,400 meter-long Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bottom bridge, which is nearing its Grand Opening. As the somewhat nervous spectators looked on, one of the bridge’s glass panels was smashed with a sledgehammer, mostly to no avail. The top panel of the glass was cracked, but after more than a dozen other blows rained down on the bridge’s surface, the bottom two glass layers of the bridge stayed quite intact. In addition to suffering abuse by the sledgehammer, the bridge operators drove a 15-ton truck across the span, and allowed 25 brave tourists to jump on the cracked glass panel, all with no ill results. The structure is rated to hold 800 tourists at a time. The bridge held the demonstration to prove the safety of the structure, which will open to tourists in July.

University of North Dakota Ralph Engelstad Arena
Over the summer, the University of North Dakota will enhance the safety of the glass and boards at the university’s Ralph Engelstad Arena. The arena will install new safety glass around the ice surface, and will also take steps to increase the safety of the rink’s dasher boards. The new glass panels are actually made from acrylic and will flex when a player comes in contact with them. The flex is important in preventing serious physical injuries to players. In addition to adding flexible glass, the arena will add a new dasher board system, which will also flex when players make contact with it. A soft, rubberized cap on top of the dashers will also reduce the possibility of serious injury resulting from player contact. More than 90% of NHL arenas employ the same glass safety systems.

Liverpool University
Romag, a UK glass manufacturer has completed the installation of 3 interior pedestrian bridges for Liverpool University’s Materials Innovation Factory, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. Romag is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of laminated architectural glass, and delivered the walkways fully glazed, which reduced the complexity of the installation process.

Glassprimer™ glass paint is a great addition to interior glass designs, and works on all types of glass, as well as acrylic and Plexiglas;™. If you’re looking for inspiration for a glass project, please view the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Sarah Williams, via FreeImages.com

The latest glass bridge in China

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The latest glass bridge in China

Cliff-hanging walkways, Zhangjiajie, China

In yesterday’s post, we looked at the Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge and it’s new glass platform. Today, we’ll look at the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge in Hunan Province in China. The bridge is still under construction, but it’s nearing its anticipated opening in July 2016. The bridge is 1,312 feet long and is perched a mere 984 feet above the ground. When it is opened, the bridge will lay claim to being the longest, highest glass bridge in the world.

Long span joins Zhangjiajie Glass Skyway

Construction delays have pushed back the opening of the bridge; originally, builders expected the span to open in 2015, but weather and other delays pushed back the grand opening until July. In addition to swings, the bridge will also host the longest bungee jump in the world.

The bridge was designed by Haim Dotan, an Israeli architect, and can accommodate 800 people at one time. Operators have also suggested that the bridge might provide a unique backdrop for fashion shows and other events. Admission to the bridge will set you back about USD$20, on top of the USD$18 it will cost to get you into the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, home to the soon-to-be-famous span.

To get the full effect of China’s glass bridge infatuation, you’ll also need to plan a trip to the nearby Zhangjiajie Tianmenshan Glass Skywalk, which is shorter, higher and narrower than the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Bridge. The Zhangjiajie Tianmenshan Glass Skywalk is about 5 miles away and about 1,000 meters in the air. (That’s about 3,300 feet.) It’s just 60 meters in length and a scant 1.5 meters across. It’s part of the Tianmen Mountain and is not part of the nearby Zhangjiajie National Park. If you decide to make that trip, as long as you’re on the mountain, check out the Tianmen Temple, the Cliff-Hanging Walkways and the Tianmen Cave.

We look forward to the grand opening of the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. Until that time, if you need some glass-based lofty inspirations, check out the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: FT, via Flickr.com