While glass is becoming more popular in construction, its brittle nature limits applications as load-bearing columns, which must be robust, fireproof, and provide warning before failure. Despite high compressive strength, challenges with manufacturing, spontaneous failure, and fireproofing persist.

This research aims to design transparent tubular glass columns meeting these criteria. Three designs were developed: two Multi-Layered with Air (MLA) and one Single-Layered with Water (SLW).

Six 300 mm samples (three annealed and three heat-strengthened) were produced to test lamination process with regard to bubble formation and possible breakage by internal stresses. Compression tests assessed interlayer behaviour, post-failure performance, differences between annealed and heat-strengthened samples, and capacities of connections and tubes. Annealed samples first cracked at 95–160 kN sustaining up to 700–750 kN (carrying 4–5x more post-crack load). Heat-strengthened samples cracked at 120–160 kN and bore 390–490 kN (managing 3x more), showing the potential of glass columns with proper engineering.