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Article from issue 3/2000 »Glass Construction«

Glass Bridge in the Basilica of Aquileia, Italy

documentation p. 364 - 366
Architect Di Blasi Associati | Structural Engineer Favero & Milan Ingegneria |

Drafts
Cross sections through glass walkway 1:10
Horizontal sections through glass walkway 1:10
Part plan/Cross section/Part elevation of glass walkway 1:50
Plan of former northern church with glass walkways 1:750

The important mosaics in the basilica attract 300,000 visitors a year and therefore required some form of protection. A steel construction was designed that allowed a system of transparent walkways to be suspended from the new roof structure. These permit an unimpeded view of the mosaics, while at the same time protecting them against wear and tear. The walking surface consists of sheets of laminated glass (three 12 mm layers, with a 6mm top layer that can be replaced at regular intervals). The dead and live loading is borne by a slender stainless-steel structure. Vertical sheets of glass at all corners ofthe walkways solve the problem of horizontal bracing.