Bespoke glass structures
Structural Glass Links & Zoo Enclosures
Create stunning, durable, and functional spaces. Our structural glass projects redefine architectural possibilities, offering unparalleled elegance and strength. From floating glass corridors to zoo habitat walls, our designs deliver elegance, visibility, and structural integrity.
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL GLASS STRUCTURES
Architectural Glass Solutions
Frameless Structural Glass Links with Glass Beam Supports
In contemporary architecture, transparency and lightness are highly valued. Frameless structural glass links—walkways, bridges, and corridors made entirely of glass—offer the ultimate expression of minimalism and elegance. When supported by structural glass beams, these systems combine aesthetic purity with impressive engineering performance, creating suspended links that appear almost invisible.
Exceptional Durability
Engineered to withstand the toughest conditions, our structural glass links ensure long-lasting performance and safety.
Versatile Applications
Our glass solutions are adaptable to a wide range of architectural needs.
Energy Efficiency
Designed to optimize natural light while minimizing energy consumption.
TEMPLEMORE SWIMMING BATHS, BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – STRUCTURAL GLASS LINK WITH VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL STRUCTURAL LAMINATED GLASS BEAMS
Heron Brothers has secured “Overall Award’ for their stunning restoration of Templemore Baths, Belfast at the 2023 CEF Excellence Awareds.
Templemore Baths was selected by the panel of judges as this year’s outstanding project given the meticulous repair carried out on the building first opened in 1893 as well as the amalgamation with a modern extension.
Belfast City Council provided £12 million towards the project, with £5 million of funding provided by the National Lottert Heritage Fund.
Expert Glass Design, Manufacturing & Installation Services
GLENCADAM DISTILLERY, BRECHIN, SCOTLAND – HEATED VIEWING PANEL / LARGE ACCESS DOOR.
A robust yet elegant feature that allows visitors to view part of the distillation process safely, while preserving the clean, industrial character of the interior.
Precision Installation
- Horizontal & vertical structural glass support beams.
- Frameless glass appearance allowing historical features to remain visible.
- Stainless steel beam shoes & glass fixings.
- Installed with our own specialist lifting equipment & experienced installers.
Custom Design Consultation
All glass structures are different. Work with our experts to design bespoke glass solutions tailored to your architectural vision.
Guarantee
Every structural glass product we install is supported by a comprehensive 10 year warranty .
Design Considerations
Edge and Joint Detailing
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Frameless edges often polished and sealed with minimal silicone or mechanical fittings.
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Structural connections transfer load to glass beams via spider fittings, bolted glass nodes, or laminated attachments.
Applications
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Corporate Offices: Transparent links between buildings or across atriums.
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Museums and Galleries: Floating walkways that do not obstruct exhibits.
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Luxury Residential Developments: Skybridges or internal links with minimal visual impact.
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Hotels and Commercial Spaces: Connecting public areas while preserving openness and light.
Glass Links & Bridges
Offer uninterrupted visual flow between buildings — overhead corridors, skybridges, folding walkways, or internal glass link passages. Our frameless structural glass systems use glass beams, spider fittings, and bonded nodes to deliver both transparency and strength.
Zoo & Habitat Enclosures
Combine safety and clarity using anti-reflective and low-iron laminated glass (e.g. Pilkington OptiView™), providing immersive experiences for visitors while preserving animal welfare. Ideal for viewing walls, underwater panels, and seamless cage enclosures.
| FEATURE | BENEFIT |
| Frameless / minimalist design | Glass appears uninterrupted, preserving architectural lines and sightlines. |
| Structural glass beams & supports | Transfers loads safely using engineered glass elements. |
| Anti-reflective / low-iron glass options | Maximizes clarity, reduces glare, improves visual experience. |
| Custom geometry & shapes | From straight runs to curved arcs, sinuous links, or polygonal enclosures. |
| Full engineering & installation | We handle design, manufacture, transportation and on-site installation. |
| Long-term warranty & support | Every installation is backed by a 10 year warranty. |
Structural Glass Zoo Enclosures & Habitats
Structural Glass Zoo Enclosures: Transparency & Safety with Pilkington OptiView
Modern zoos are increasingly focused on enhancing visitor experience while prioritizing the welfare of the animals. Structural glass enclosures have become a key architectural solution, offering uninterrupted views, natural light, and robust safety performance. When paired with Pilkington OptiView™ anti-reflective glass, these enclosures deliver unmatched clarity and realism, allowing visitors to feel immersed in the animal environment without compromising security.
PRIVATE ZOO / VIVARIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC
Applications
Structural glass enclosures with anti-reflective glass can be used in a wide range of zoo environments, including:
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Large mammal habitats such as lions, tigers, and bears.
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Aquarium walkways and underwater viewing panels.
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Bird aviaries where transparency enhances flight visibility.
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Interactive educational enclosures for small mammals or reptiles.
CHESTER ZOO SNOW LEOPARD HABITAT
At the Snow Leopard habitat, a series of high-performance structural glass panels were installed using Pilkington OptiView™ anti-reflective glass. The installation required meticulous engineering to meet both structural loading and animal safety standards, ensuring the glass could withstand high impact forces while providing an uninterrupted viewing experience for visitors. The OptiView coating reduces surface reflection to less than 1%, virtually eliminating glare and allowing natural colors and textures within the habitat to be seen with remarkable fidelity. The result is a seamless visual barrier that enhances visitor engagement, preserves animal welfare through reduced stress-inducing reflections, and exemplifies the synergy between advanced glass technology and zoological design.
Thank you all for your efforts in getting these in – Very easy to deal with and very accommodating, hopefully work together again soon!
Thanks for the great installation, it’s looking fantastic as you can see from the attached.
Why Anti-Reflective Glass in Zoo Enclosures?
Pilkington OptiView is a high-performance anti-reflective glass that significantly reduces reflections and glare, creating a near-invisible barrier. This is particularly valuable in zoo enclosures because:
Enhanced Visitor Experience
- Visitors can observe animals without reflections obstructing their view.
- The enclosure becomes “invisible,” allowing photography and educational programs with minimal visual interference.
Improved Animal Interaction
- Animals do not see their own reflection in the glass, reducing stress and unnatural behaviors.
Daylighting Benefits
- Anti-reflective coatings allow more natural light into the habitat, supporting plant growth and natural animal activity patterns.
Durability
- Pilkington OptiView retains its anti-reflective properties over time, even under frequent cleaning and exposure to environmental conditions.
Pilkington OptiView anti-reflective glass
Pilkington OptiView™ is a range of glass with an anti-reflective coating(s) to reduce visible light reflectance and to allow more light to pass through.
The Pilkington OptiView™ Range includes the following products:
- Pilkington OptiView™ Ultra – a monolithic glass with an anti-reflective coating on one surface, typically incorporated in bespoke laminated constructions.
- Pilkington OptiView™ Ultra DC – a dual-coated, anti-reflective product giving a light reflectance of only 1%, when compared to standard clear float glass that gives 8% reflectance.
- Pilkington OptiView™ Ultra Protect – a laminated, anti-reflective glass with coatings on surface 1 and 4 giving a light reflectance of only 1% with safety/security properties.
Applications include: Shopfronts, showrooms, Façades, windows, viewing areas, Retail, merchandise displays, Museum and exhibition displays, Digital signage, touch panels, Stadia, corporate boxes, and of course Zoos!
Some of our Most Notable Structural Glass Projects
CITADELLA, GOZO, MALTA
Drive on glass floors & Walk on glass floors. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
LIDL, DUBLIN
Drive on glass floors & Walk on glass floors. Viking Archaelogical Site.
CRYSTAL WALKWAY, QATAR
180 Walk on glass floor crystal display boxes & crystal clocks.
Ready to get started?
At Structural Glass Design, we specialise in creating bespoke glass solutions for both residential and commercial projects. Send us your dimensions, photos or sketches, and we’ll guide you through options, finishes and lead times.
Phone
For enquiries, call us at 0333 577 7177
What Our Clients Say
It looks amazing, it’s just inside our front door so every customer sees it on entering. It’s a real talking point.
Thank you for all your considerable help with this project, you have been first class and I will gladly forward your details & company on whenever I am asked.
Just wanted to thank you for all your help and being part of the house build. It has been an incredible journey and made many friends along the way. The end result is “Glasshouse”, something everyone involved with should be very proud of.
I was meticulous in choosing the right product for our home and having lived in the house just over a month I’ve not been disappointed.
I would highly recommend Structural glass design. Many thanks for all your help with my walk on rooflights.
Thank you all for your efforts in getting these in – Very easy to deal with and very accommodating, hopefully work together again soon!
Thanks for the great installation, it's looking fantastic as you can see from the attached.
OUR MULTI-LAMINATED RANGE of STRUCTURAL GLASS FLOORS & ROOFLIGHTS
Explore the armourglass range of structural glass
armourglass SKY
armourglass SKY
armourglass DISPLAY
armourglass DRIVE
Architectural glass
Contact us today to explore bespoke structural glass solutions tailored to your project requirements.