New Structures for Transparent Roofs

Abstract

Transparency of glazed roofs does not depend on glass as material, which enables an admission of daylight to the interior, but it depends on the share of the glazed part of the canopy and their structural part. Spaces of glazed atria and courtyards of historical buildings are covered with very difficult shape of glazed canopies, which are supported by various types of load-bearing structures. In contemporary architecture glazed atria are used for the reason of saving energy and lighting up the inner spaces. New types of structures and using glass in load-bearing function in glass canopies are important thanks to their structural subtlety, where the structure covers slight part of glazed canopy. The result of clever ideas and modern technology are lightweight structures of bold forms and spans. In this context transparency became a new expression element of architecture.