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Alberto Campo Baeza’s Glass Box of Air

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Only one architect would think to build with air, every architect’s dream.

Within a stone “box” that is open to the skies of Spain over Zamora, is a confection of glass by the inimitable magician of space and light, Alberto Campo Baeza.

Set on the site of a former convent, next to the cathedral in Zamora, is a glass box within a secret garden of stone.

The high wall of stone around the perimeter, and lining the floor of the “box” is the same pinkish stone as was used to build the old Zamora cathedral itself.

The pink stone walls follow the site boundary to enclose the space, yet simultaneously open it up to the sky.

The stone box is made ​​from the past – memory.

Within it, the glass box, is made ​​with the future – imagination.

The glass seems to fuse with heaven, as if the building is concocted of air.

The unearthly quality of the structure is created by using two layers of glass.

Of these two glass layers, the outer skin is made of a single piece.

The glass is connected with only structural silicone, without much else.

Built for the Castilla León Junta, on Calle Obispo Manso in Zamora…

…this has to be the most ethereal building in the world.