Glass blocks are obtained from two glass plates by pressing. This extraordinary material first appeared in the USA. Glass blocks of the 30s were not very similar to modern ones, as they were a metal frame, the voids of which were filled with glass. It had its own "secret" - a sealed cavity between the plates or a "prism" helped scatter light. Due to this, glass blocks were widely used in basements instead of windows. During the day, enough light came into the room through them so that energy could be saved.
The technology of manufacturing glass with a “prism” was patented by James Penquick, the owner of Luxfer Prism Company, which was the first to establish the production of this unique material. Glass blocks became popular only closer to the middle of the last century. In the USA, a real boom began on them, which has reached Europe. In England, around the same time, they patented the production of glass using a similar technology, but the original building, the Maison de Verre in Paris, was a sensation. Literally, it is a house made of glass. For its construction, only glass blocks were used, and there is almost no decor inside. This house has become a living monument of bold constructivism. Closer to the 70s, glass blocks began to appear in the interior of Soviet state institutions. The material was so loved by domestic consumers that everywhere began to decorate schools, swimming pools, shops, hospitals and ordinary apartments.
Everyone remembers these fragments with roughly processed edges of green, “bottle” color, which let through a lot of light, but did not allow us to consider what was happening on the other side. After the collapse of the Union, they forgot about the material for a long time. It is really associated with Soviet standards and evokes nostalgia, but now glass blocks have opened on a completely different side, as a progressive and most importantly aesthetically attractive decoration option. Let's talk in an article about which rooms can be decorated with this material and how to do it right.
About glass blocks - classification
Glass blocks - a modern building material, which has a sealed cavity between two glass plates. It is not inferior to stone in strength and is often used in those rooms where it is impossible to install a window opening, but it is necessary to open access for natural lighting. Glass blocks are not afraid of water or household chemicals, so they often decorate bathrooms.Also, the material has high heat and sound insulation (the second characteristic is even higher than that of brick), which makes it even more popular. There are several classifications of glass blocks.
Depending on the shape of the fragments, they are divided into the following types:
Corner
Brick.
Square (the most common option).
Half.
Hexagonal.
According to the type of staining, the material is divided into two types:
In the first case, the pigment is added to the glass itself. The color is a little faded, but very persistent.
In the second embodiment, the glass surface is painted from the inside before the fragments are connected to each other.
Depending on the color, the material is classified into several types:
Colored. Fragments are pigmented.
Matt Transparency is below average, while the silhouettes on the other side of the glass block are indistinguishable.
Colorless. Their transparency can reach 80-90%. Fragments transmit a large amount of light. This type is divided into several subgroups: with herbariums, butterflies and starfish inside; smooth, with a raised surface (wave, drop) and scattering.
For the intended purpose, glass blocks can be:
Interior
They are used exclusively for decorating houses inside when erecting partitions or installing inserts.
Decorative
Decorate home decoration with original installations from fragments. Usually they have different sizes, beautiful internal content (dried flowers, original compositions) or form a complex pattern, which is assembled using a mosaic method.
Industrial
Their use is solely due to light transmission. They are used in various non-residential facilities.
Also, the material is classified depending on the country of origin. The leaders in the manufacture of high-quality glass blocks are Italy and Germany. Budget options are produced in Poland and the Czech Republic.The last Russian factory manufacturing glass blocks closed several years ago, which caused a dissonance between increased demand and diminishing supply and forced to start purchasing materials in other countries.
Advantages of Interior Design
Glass blocks have a lot of advantages, among the advantages of the material note:
Fire safety and frost resistance.
High light transmittance.
Heavy duty.
High soundproof characteristics.
Easy care and no need for additional decoration.
Unfortunately, glass blocks have a number of not so significant drawbacks. You cannot drive a nail or drill a hole into such a “wall”. It will not be possible to cut fragments during installation, and in cases where the window is made only of glass blocks, the room cannot be ventilated without using a door. Does not withstand high pressure material.
Glass block walls can participate in the zoning of rooms deprived of light. Also, this material is popular for decorating home greenhouses and winter gardens, as it provides a favorable environment for growing plants.
Stylistic Compatibility
As for compatibility with different styles, glass blocks can be attributed to universal materials with some reservations. Too tightly stuck in the soul of a domestic man an association with breech "bottle" walls. Blocks organically flow into the following areas:
Minimalism, constructivism and its later version are high-tech.
Art Deco. Only monophonic glass blocks that do not have pictures or fragments of flowers, butterflies in the prism will fit its luxurious interiors.
Loft and modern. For the first, a wall of rectangular glass blocks that will replace traditional brickwork is suitable. In Art Nouveau, fragments with “wave” or “drop” surfaces look good, emphasizing the features of the concept of direction.
A group of classical styles with the prefixes “neo” (baroque, classicism, rococo). Such interiors are largely subject to traditional rules, but at the same time they allow the use of modern materials, which include glass blocks.
East directions. If the fragments will have bright shades (mainly blue or purple), then the mosaic styling method will organically pour into the intricate interiors of the countries of the East.
If you choose the right shape, color and type of surface, then the glass block can be integrated into almost any style.
Glass blocks and interior
Glass blocks are used to decorate any room, due to their versatility and insensitivity to the atmosphere. According to their characteristics, they are much like tiles, but ceramic tiles are traditionally tied to the kitchen and bathroom, but in the living room, bedroom or hallway, the original design will help to create exactly the glass blocks.
Kitchen
In kitchens, aprons are laid out from glass blocks or they generally replace the tiles on the walls. In small and poorly lit rooms, the material can partially fill the window opening, leaving a small space under the usual opening glass for ventilation. The mosaic combination of several bright colors will look original. In spacious kitchens, a full-fledged partition is laid out from the glass blocks, which will divide the room into the culinary and dining areas.
Living room
In the living room of the glass blocks most often perform decorative partitions. With their help, the room is divided into several zones for a relaxing and active holiday. The option is relevant when combining a bedroom, a dining room or a study with a lounge. If we are talking about a private house, then “panoramic windows” from the ceiling to the floor on the accent wall, made entirely of glass blocks, will look great.In strict interiors, it is recommended not to experiment with color combinations, but to try combinations of textures of different fragments of the same shade. Glass walls with backlit look spectacular. If you decorate the room with transparent fragments with a relief surface, then they can be painted in any color with the help of turned lamps, and the light will unusually sparkle on the broken edges, creating bizarre patterns.
Bedroom
Glass blocks in the bedroom are used to produce soft, relaxing light. Behind them, you can place special lamps or make a partition from this material from the neighboring living room, where households will "sit" in the evenings. Thanks to the high sound insulation, noisy companies will not interfere with falling asleep at all. Glass blocks decorate the accent wall at the head of the bed. In this case, it is advisable to use modules painted in calm colors.
The use of single transparent fragments as inserts on partitions looks originally.
Bathrooms
Glass blocks in the bathroom never stopped being used, as if they were created for such a "wet" room. With this material, the shower room is beautifully fenced off from the rest of the room. Like a room with a lack of natural light, the bathroom is effectively decorated with glass blocks instead of window openings. The material transmits more light and at the same time reliably masks what is happening inside from prying looks from the street.
Windows in rooms for various purposes
Glass blocks are considered an original replacement for traditional windows. Unfortunately, this material is fundamental, so in most cases the room will have to be ventilated in other ways. Much less often, glass blocks are placed inside a special frame frame, which is fixed with loops. The design must be strong and reliable, so its installation can take a lot of time. Such a window will open if necessary.
To exclude the use of curtains, you should choose fragments with a relief surface that will distort the reflection and mask the interior for those who are outside. The best option is the combination of ordinary windows with glass in the same room. In the bathroom, such openings are simply irreplaceable.
Original solutions in a modern interior
The material is universal. You need to look at it from a creative point of view, that is, perceive it as a set of "bricks", which in the manner of "Tetris" can be laid in different ways. Of the glass blocks, not only partitions or inserts are performed. This unique material will create a chic bar counter in the kitchen or in the living room. It can be colored or imitate a “block of ice” if the element of colorless fragments is provided with the correct illumination. Glass blocks are also used to design stairs instead of traditional balusters with railings.
Not only walls are made of material, but also the floor, and sometimes even part of the ceiling. In the second case, the region will have natural light, but in the first it is better to attend to the installation of a special lighting system. Translucent flooring will add perspective to a room with low ceilings. Little tables are made of glass blocks with the original filling, where "legs" are made of material, and the tabletop is fixed on top. Fragments can be laid like bricks and create a magnificent open bookcase with stylish glass shelves between the supporting "columns".
Features of the installation of glass blocks
For the installation of a glass block wall, a minimum set of tools and tools will be required. There are three ways to stack fragments:
Wireframe. In this case, each module is placed inside a special "skeleton", which is pre-installed in the selected location. Fixation is carried out using rubber inserts.
To the solution.The process is much like laying a brick, but the glass blocks need only to be “slightly adjusted” with a rubber mallet, and each three rows should be given at least a day to “grab” them.
On the glue. To mount the wall in this way you need a reinforcing mesh made of galvanized steel or "stainless steel". Adhesive is usually sold complete with glass blocks. Dilute it in accordance with the instructions, which is also attached.
Glue is better to choose white, the seams from it will look more aesthetically pleasing. Remove the protective film from fragments only after complete installation. Thus, the surface of the glass block will be protected from accidental scratches and damage. To increase the ductility in the adhesive, adding ordinary PVA is not recommended.
Glass has always been used in interior decoration. It gives the room a touch of airiness and lightness. Although just a couple of decades ago they tried to avoid the use of glass blocks in design because of too persistent associations with the typical “state-owned” interior of the Soviet era, now there is a triumphant return of this material. A huge selection of color palette and content (up to tiny boats and miniature fruit compositions) reveals the high creative potential of the material. Therefore, glass blocks are increasingly featured in the projects of venerable designers and are used in the stylish interiors of luxury apartments.
Glass blocks are obtained from two glass plates by pressing. This extraordinary material first appeared in the USA. Glass blocks of the 30s were not very similar to modern ones, as they were a metal frame, the voids of which were filled with glass. It had its own "secret" - a sealed cavity between the plates or a "prism" helped scatter light. Due to this, glass blocks were widely used in basements instead of windows. During the day, enough light came into the room through them so that energy could be saved.
Content
A bit of history
The technology of manufacturing glass with a “prism” was patented by James Penquick, the owner of Luxfer Prism Company, which was the first to establish the production of this unique material. Glass blocks became popular only closer to the middle of the last century. In the USA, a real boom began on them, which has reached Europe. In England, around the same time, they patented the production of glass using a similar technology, but the original building, the Maison de Verre in Paris, was a sensation. Literally, it is a house made of glass. For its construction, only glass blocks were used, and there is almost no decor inside. This house has become a living monument of bold constructivism. Closer to the 70s, glass blocks began to appear in the interior of Soviet state institutions. The material was so loved by domestic consumers that everywhere began to decorate schools, swimming pools, shops, hospitals and ordinary apartments.
Everyone remembers these fragments with roughly processed edges of green, “bottle” color, which let through a lot of light, but did not allow us to consider what was happening on the other side. After the collapse of the Union, they forgot about the material for a long time. It is really associated with Soviet standards and evokes nostalgia, but now glass blocks have opened on a completely different side, as a progressive and most importantly aesthetically attractive decoration option. Let's talk in an article about which rooms can be decorated with this material and how to do it right.
About glass blocks - classification
Glass blocks - a modern building material, which has a sealed cavity between two glass plates. It is not inferior to stone in strength and is often used in those rooms where it is impossible to install a window opening, but it is necessary to open access for natural lighting. Glass blocks are not afraid of water or household chemicals, so they often decorate bathrooms.Also, the material has high heat and sound insulation (the second characteristic is even higher than that of brick), which makes it even more popular. There are several classifications of glass blocks.
Depending on the shape of the fragments, they are divided into the following types:
According to the type of staining, the material is divided into two types:
Depending on the color, the material is classified into several types:
For the intended purpose, glass blocks can be:
Also, the material is classified depending on the country of origin. The leaders in the manufacture of high-quality glass blocks are Italy and Germany. Budget options are produced in Poland and the Czech Republic.The last Russian factory manufacturing glass blocks closed several years ago, which caused a dissonance between increased demand and diminishing supply and forced to start purchasing materials in other countries.
Advantages of Interior Design
Glass blocks have a lot of advantages, among the advantages of the material note:
Unfortunately, glass blocks have a number of not so significant drawbacks. You cannot drive a nail or drill a hole into such a “wall”. It will not be possible to cut fragments during installation, and in cases where the window is made only of glass blocks, the room cannot be ventilated without using a door. Does not withstand high pressure material.
Stylistic Compatibility
As for compatibility with different styles, glass blocks can be attributed to universal materials with some reservations. Too tightly stuck in the soul of a domestic man an association with breech "bottle" walls. Blocks organically flow into the following areas:
Glass blocks and interior
Glass blocks are used to decorate any room, due to their versatility and insensitivity to the atmosphere. According to their characteristics, they are much like tiles, but ceramic tiles are traditionally tied to the kitchen and bathroom, but in the living room, bedroom or hallway, the original design will help to create exactly the glass blocks.
Kitchen
In kitchens, aprons are laid out from glass blocks or they generally replace the tiles on the walls. In small and poorly lit rooms, the material can partially fill the window opening, leaving a small space under the usual opening glass for ventilation. The mosaic combination of several bright colors will look original. In spacious kitchens, a full-fledged partition is laid out from the glass blocks, which will divide the room into the culinary and dining areas.
Living room
In the living room of the glass blocks most often perform decorative partitions. With their help, the room is divided into several zones for a relaxing and active holiday. The option is relevant when combining a bedroom, a dining room or a study with a lounge. If we are talking about a private house, then “panoramic windows” from the ceiling to the floor on the accent wall, made entirely of glass blocks, will look great.In strict interiors, it is recommended not to experiment with color combinations, but to try combinations of textures of different fragments of the same shade. Glass walls with backlit look spectacular. If you decorate the room with transparent fragments with a relief surface, then they can be painted in any color with the help of turned lamps, and the light will unusually sparkle on the broken edges, creating bizarre patterns.
Bedroom
Glass blocks in the bedroom are used to produce soft, relaxing light. Behind them, you can place special lamps or make a partition from this material from the neighboring living room, where households will "sit" in the evenings. Thanks to the high sound insulation, noisy companies will not interfere with falling asleep at all. Glass blocks decorate the accent wall at the head of the bed. In this case, it is advisable to use modules painted in calm colors.
The use of single transparent fragments as inserts on partitions looks originally.
Bathrooms
Glass blocks in the bathroom never stopped being used, as if they were created for such a "wet" room. With this material, the shower room is beautifully fenced off from the rest of the room. Like a room with a lack of natural light, the bathroom is effectively decorated with glass blocks instead of window openings. The material transmits more light and at the same time reliably masks what is happening inside from prying looks from the street.
Windows in rooms for various purposes
Glass blocks are considered an original replacement for traditional windows. Unfortunately, this material is fundamental, so in most cases the room will have to be ventilated in other ways. Much less often, glass blocks are placed inside a special frame frame, which is fixed with loops. The design must be strong and reliable, so its installation can take a lot of time. Such a window will open if necessary.
To exclude the use of curtains, you should choose fragments with a relief surface that will distort the reflection and mask the interior for those who are outside. The best option is the combination of ordinary windows with glass in the same room. In the bathroom, such openings are simply irreplaceable.
Original solutions in a modern interior
The material is universal. You need to look at it from a creative point of view, that is, perceive it as a set of "bricks", which in the manner of "Tetris" can be laid in different ways. Of the glass blocks, not only partitions or inserts are performed. This unique material will create a chic bar counter in the kitchen or in the living room. It can be colored or imitate a “block of ice” if the element of colorless fragments is provided with the correct illumination. Glass blocks are also used to design stairs instead of traditional balusters with railings.
Not only walls are made of material, but also the floor, and sometimes even part of the ceiling. In the second case, the region will have natural light, but in the first it is better to attend to the installation of a special lighting system. Translucent flooring will add perspective to a room with low ceilings. Little tables are made of glass blocks with the original filling, where "legs" are made of material, and the tabletop is fixed on top. Fragments can be laid like bricks and create a magnificent open bookcase with stylish glass shelves between the supporting "columns".
Features of the installation of glass blocks
For the installation of a glass block wall, a minimum set of tools and tools will be required. There are three ways to stack fragments:
Glue is better to choose white, the seams from it will look more aesthetically pleasing. Remove the protective film from fragments only after complete installation. Thus, the surface of the glass block will be protected from accidental scratches and damage. To increase the ductility in the adhesive, adding ordinary PVA is not recommended.
Glass has always been used in interior decoration. It gives the room a touch of airiness and lightness. Although just a couple of decades ago they tried to avoid the use of glass blocks in design because of too persistent associations with the typical “state-owned” interior of the Soviet era, now there is a triumphant return of this material. A huge selection of color palette and content (up to tiny boats and miniature fruit compositions) reveals the high creative potential of the material. Therefore, glass blocks are increasingly featured in the projects of venerable designers and are used in the stylish interiors of luxury apartments.