Glass structures can be beautiful, but only if the glass is tastefully and sparingly used. The glass buildings that have sprung up in New York City, many of which have been designed by hot shot architect Frank Gehry, are neither. Case in point: the Sail Building along the West Side Highway, across the street from Chelsea Piers. An atrocious combination of curved and tinted glass, this eyesore rejects Frank Lloyd Wright’s wise ethic: architecture should reflect and be integrated within its surrounding environment. Similar to a big ego, the Sail Building has little to do with its brick surroundings. Nor does it have anything to do with the Hudson. West Siders know, the beauty of the Hudson is in its urban feel, a feel entirely lost on the Gehry.
I admit, glass has its benefits. A July 7, 2009 article in the Science Times outlined some of them: when laminated with other polymers, glass can be stronger and safer than many metals. Aesthetically speaking, structures like the Apple stores are famous for using glass appropriately. The glass compliments and enhances the look and feel of their sleek and shiny products. In another example, L'Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, is exquisite. Imprinted with patterns typical of the Middle East, the structure is as magical and classic as it is modern.
