Remember glass bricks? You seldom see them in newly constructed West Palm Beach residential settings, but in past eras, their unique properties made them popular with architects and interior designers. They were most prominent in structures built in the 1930s or ‘40s—as well as in later incarnations in the 80s by designers who sought to recapture their distinctive retro look.
New Uses for a Neglected Architectural Material
Originally, glass bricks (the square ones are also called “blocks”) were favored for office building interiors where they were prized for their unique utility. When deployed in partitions or walls, you could see something through them, but couldn’t make out exactly what or who. They created a sort of public/private compromise that businesses found appropriate: there was transparency, but not too much. Glass block walls and partitions also added economic value: allowing light to pass through made the most of sunlight for exterior walls or windows; the same for indoor lighting.
The glass brick is now mounting a return to prominence. Last spring, the decoist design web magazine announced their rebirth as a popular structural element. “Glass Blocks Are Back! How To Incorporate This Trend in Your Home” announced their comeback in the interior design world, where it “is being welcomed with open arms.” Although most of the examples decoist pictured had been used sparingly, they did illustrate how well they serve open-plan designs—promoting an appropriate balance between privacy and the impression of openness.
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Anyone who doubted that architects would welcome (with or without the ‘open arms’) the re-emergence of the see-through material has a new reason to fall into line. Last Wednesday, facebook’s ‘Zillow Gone Wild’ entry publicized the listing of a Newport Beach residence that uses it just about everywhere, inside and out. From the massive two-story curvilinear back-of-house wall to the bright-as-noontime master bath’s integration of skylit mirror and glass blocks, the $4.6 million single-family residence represents a bold gamble that the nearly century-old building material is perfectly appropriate throughout what the listing calls an “Exquisite gated executive’s home”—one that rightfully belongs in the “modern construction” category. Imaginative architecture isn’t always a plus when a quick sale is the main goal, but that’s when expertise in reaching the right buyer is invaluable. I hope you’ll think of calling me at (561) 316-6800, for your next West Palm Beach residential project!
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