Glass Blocks: A Brief History

Glass blocks, also known as glass bricks are an element of architecture that has been used for the last hundred years, since the early 1900s. The thick blocks of glass are used to make windows in buildings as well as basements, and places like showers, wash rooms and locker rooms because of the way they let light in but still provide an element of privacy. The blocks diffuse light nicely as well, and are often used in office buildings where light is needed but direct sunlight through regular glass would be undesirable.

Glass blocks are fabricated for both window and floor applications. Floors made of glass block are typically made as one solid piece, or fabricated to be hollow with thicker side walls than a standard window block. Floor blocks are cast into a grid work made of reinforced concrete or set inside a metal frame. This allows multiple grids to be connected to span openings in roofs and basements. Important to note: glass blocks made for window or wall applications should never be used for a floor installation.

There are specialist glass blocks which are manufactured for a variety of applications, such as vandal and bullet resistance. These blocks are typically made of solid glass or have side walls that are very thick, much like pavement blocks. Another application is for fire resistance. When being manufactured, the hollow glass bricks start as two halves. In some that are used for fire resistance, a piece of fire resistant material is placed between the two halves before joining them into a solid block. An innovative solution to thermal insulation properties is the introduction of argon gas into the hollow center of the glass blocks without sacrificing any of the light gained and distributed by the blocks.

Some famous architecture around the world that has made extravagant use of glass blocks include the Maison de Verre (House of Glass) in Paris, France; the Crown Fountain in Chicago, Illinois which is comprised of multiple glass block towers; the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan that features a glass block floor, and the Hermes store by Renzo Piano in Tokyo, Japan.

In the last twenty-five years or so, architects have discovered that graceful curves, radiuses and waves can be created using the glass blocks or bricks, allowing light to travel down stairwells and around corners. Another recent trend is constructing corporate boardrooms with glass block, giving the illusion of transparency while remaining private and sound insulated as would be expected in such a corporate setting.

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