Glass Blocks and Bricks Handmade by Murano Glassblowers

Glass blocks and bricks are enjoying a fresh wave of popularity.

The associations with the dated style of the '70s and '80s are becoming a thing of the past.

Glass bricks are now a luxury item, made by Murano glassblowers; Chanel even clad the façade of one of its boutiques with them.

Thanks to ongoing research, the manufacturing technology has improved: the hollow core of each block is now filled with argon, which greatly enhances its thermal insulation.

Just look at these stunning glass bricks from the Italian company S.Anselmo.

These bricks can be used not only in interiors but also on facades. Their main advantage is aesthetic: the ability to diffuse light and convey a sense of exclusivity.

They can serve as accents on a facade, fill openings the way windows do but with greater privacy, or form the entire exterior finish.

The surface of glass bricks has a slightly mottled texture from the glass-molding process, but it can be polished on request to enhance their transparency.

The most common construction method is to lay the blocks in a Portland cement-based mortar with reinforcing steel bars embedded in the joints. If you want to achieve maximum transparency, you can use a clear silicone-based polymer.

Take a look at our selection of ideas for using glass blocks in both commercial and residential buildings.