How the technological advancement of glazing changes cities’ identity: the example of Dubai

Glazing technological advancements changed the language used in architecture all over the world, and they defined the development of some cities. The present contribution wants to analyze how the technical advancement of glass façades can change the skyline of cities through the example of Dubai. The first part of the paper studies the scenario and the state of the art of architectural glass, by considering how its use as an architectural element changes buildings’ aesthetics. The second part focuses on the development of Dubai from the 1990s through the analysis of iconic buildings such as the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa. Conclusions then comment on how technological advancements of glazing changed the way buildings are designed, and how that influences cities’ heterogeneity.