Flashing back to the neon-drenched sidewalks of the 80s, the glass block has seen a resurgence in popularity as of late but the trend hasn’t returned off nostalgia alone. Its recent rise can be attributed to a variety of factors, including cost, performance, and modern aesthetic trends.
In a recent report by Hannah Holland of The Washington Post, glass blocks are found to be cheaper per square foot compared to a traditional glass wall, even accounting for labour and installation. In contrast to glass bricks, blocks have an air pocket in the centre, and thereby don’t incur the costs of being full-glass.
Beauty in Simplicity: While their sight might hearken back to nostalgia-soaked sights of the 1980s or the brutalist designs of the late Soviet Union, recent applications of its feature-set turn the almighty glass block into a tasteful and elegant feature of modern homes. It introduces architectural curiosity while injecting a form of light that evolves throughout the day, complimenting a variety of home palettes and adding a refined touch to your living space.
More than Meets the Eye: Grace and simplicity, however, aren’t its only selling points. The glass block is also highly practical; offering both heat retention and light diffusion, which contributed to its global historical prevalence. The blocks are also translucent, allowing plenty of light through, but preserving your privacy; the value of which can’t be understated in this day and age. In addition, glass blocks offer both fire-separation properties as well as structural resilience. Its blocky nature means that unlike traditional glass walls, they offer superior shock resistance, damage containment, and impact durability.
With the rise of modern trends such as pixel art, perhaps it comes as no surprise that this cubic pastime is shaping back into our lives.
Primary source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/06/24/glass-blocks-back-in-style/
