Posted August 4, 201410 yr I couldn't find any threads specifically devoted to this important subject. La mort aux blocs de verre! (Death to glass blocks!) Bob Borson I would be happy if glass blocks were never used again. I have always hated them, everywhere, every time, every circumstance, forever and ever in perpetuity. Person I don’t know: “Howdy, sure is nice weather we’re having ain’t it?” Me: “Glass blocks are terrible and should never be used again” I blame architect Pierre Charreau and Maison de Verre by for starting this fascination with glass block. Maison de Verre (House of Glass) was built in 1932 and was constructed in the early modern style. (I wrote a post of the working man’s rules of modernism here). Maison de Verre stressed honesty of materials, adoption of the machine aesthetic, express the structure of the building, and rejection of ornamentation. This is actually a really great house and a case study of early modernism. This project warrants attention now for many reasons, most notably could be that it is a urban adaptive re-use and renovation of an existing building. The patron owner had wanted to tear the entire building down but the tenant on the top floor refused to sell so Maison de Verre had to be built underneath the top floor. This is a great project and if glass blocks had never been used again, I would probably still like them. The French invented glass blocks in the early 1900′s and sometime around the 1930′s developments in machine production made a project like Maison de Verre possible. Maybe if you’re French you know how to design with them, otherwise I challenge anyone to show me a project where the use of glass blocks actually improved the architecture where no other building material could have worked with far better results. So why would someone want to use glass block? It is typically used for creating some sort of visual screen (like glaucoma) between spaces to provide privacy while allowing light to pass through. That description sounds like a window to me, so let’s look at some visual examples of the variety of uses for glass block..... http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/la-mort-aux-blocs-de-verre-death-to-glass-blocks/
August 4, 201410 yr I like the light that comes thru my basement glass block windows & shines on the floors & walls. It's especially nice when the sun is shining through the trees on breezy days.
August 4, 201410 yr ^ Yeah, as an architectural feature, I'd agree, but for your average residence with a basement or wherever security may be an issue, they make a lot of sense.
August 4, 201410 yr ^ Yeah, as an architectural feature, I'd agree, but for your average residence with a basement or wherever security may be an issue, they make a lot of sense. Until there's an emergency. You're trapped in the basement by fire, angry gangmemebers or vicious dogs.... and the glass block seals your doom.
August 4, 201410 yr I always keep my bills current with the bikers and, living between 2 good size cemeteries, come the zombie apocalypse, I'm gonna be pretty much toast anyway.
August 4, 201410 yr Has Houston Hobby Airport been renovated? It was the world capital of glass block in the 90s.
August 4, 201410 yr ^ Yeah, as an architectural feature, I'd agree, but for your average residence with a basement or wherever security may be an issue, they make a lot of sense. Until there's an emergency. You're trapped in the basement by fire, angry gangmemebers or vicious dogs.... and the glass block seals your doom. Ha. That's what your basement door or cellarway is for! I tend to agree that glass block (with venting) is perfect for basement windows, provided that they are not on the facade of your house. No one notices them if they're on the sides or back, but they look awful on the front of your house.
August 4, 201410 yr I have a wall between the dining room and the den that is probably 60% glass block (the whole center is GB, and is framed with regular drywall....which, incidentally, when we bought the house, had beige fabric wallpaper on it. It was like living inside a carpeted womb. So luxurious) Anyway, we've re-done most of the house, but we elected to keep the glass block. One, because it lets in the light from the dining room, which has a picture window in it, and B) I didn't want to be bothered with knocking it out, only to replace it with a more traditional opaque wall. Also, III) I didn't want to take the wall out completely because I hate open floor plans. I like my rooms to have walls. I don't want to be a part of whatever nonsense is going on in the other room. If I'm in the den while everyone else is in the dining room, its because I don't like you.
August 4, 201410 yr ^ I want to see a picture of this. Make sure that you tell the wife it's for the weirdos on the internet. Is it a contemporary house? The only glass block we have is an interior wind in our shower by what ever DIY'er remodeled the bathroom in the 50s or 60s
August 4, 201410 yr This made me think of that house in Cleveland Heights http://www.spotproperty.com/2424-stratford-rd-cleveland-heights-oh-44118-831283263
August 4, 201410 yr This made me think of that house in Cleveland Heights http://www.spotproperty.com/2424-stratford-rd-cleveland-heights-oh-44118-831283263 Ouch. This house looks like an urban transformer station, sans electricity.
August 5, 201410 yr ^ I want to see a picture of this. Make sure that you tell the wife it's for the weirdos on the internet. Is it a contemporary house? The only glass block we have is an interior wind in our shower by what ever DIY'er remodeled the bathroom in the 50s or 60s Definintely not a modern aesthetic when we bought it. Although depending on when it was installed they may have tried for something 'modern-ish'. As we've redecorated each room we've had to extract multiple layers of questionable wallpaper choices. I won't get into the metallic floral print wallpaper in the master bath we uncovered. OY!
August 5, 201410 yr ^ I want to see a picture of this. Make sure that you tell the wife it's for the weirdos on the internet. Is it a contemporary house? The only glass block we have is an interior wind in our shower by what ever DIY'er remodeled the bathroom in the 50s or 60s Definintely not a modern aesthetic when we bought it. Although depending on when it was installed they may have tried for something 'modern-ish'. As we've redecorated each room we've had to extract multiple layers of questionable wallpaper choices. I won't get into the metallic floral print wallpaper in the master bath we uncovered. OY! Interesting. Here's the question: was the glass block chosen in conjunction with the wallpaper? Or was the glass block like an insidious gateway drug, that spurned the homeowners to make increasingly bad choices?
August 5, 201410 yr ^ I want to see a picture of this. Make sure that you tell the wife it's for the weirdos on the internet. Is it a contemporary house? The only glass block we have is an interior wind in our shower by what ever DIY'er remodeled the bathroom in the 50s or 60s Definintely not a modern aesthetic when we bought it. Although depending on when it was installed they may have tried for something 'modern-ish'. As we've redecorated each room we've had to extract multiple layers of questionable wallpaper choices. I won't get into the metallic floral print wallpaper in the master bath we uncovered. OY! Interesting. Here's the question: was the glass block chosen in conjunction with the wallpaper? Or was the glass block like an insidious gateway drug, that spurned the homeowners to make increasingly bad choices? Pure speculation on my part, but I think the wallpaper spurred the glass block. At some point, one of the owners put on a very modest extension to the house, building out the kitchen and the den by about 3 feet. My research through wallpaper excavation indicates that the metallic wallpaper was the first of three, leading me to believe it was the original design choice when the house was built in 1973. So, I'm guessing that the owners around 1980-81, while sipping some Bartles & James, and listening to the Styx Mr. Roboto album, decided to make some renovations, resulting in the above referenced decor.
August 5, 201410 yr So, I'm guessing that the owners around 1980-81, while sipping some Bartles & James, and listening to the Styx Mr. Roboto album, decided to make some renovations, resulting in the above referenced decor. This paints the picture quite vividly!!!
August 10, 201410 yr http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/08/09/feeney-hero-doesnt-roll-over/13824207/
August 11, 201410 yr well, I guess glass block is terrible if it's part of something like this. This hideous entrance is part of what was probably at one time a beautiful Italianate building in the East Village (The only way to determine the style is to look at the top, since the window ornamentation--or whatever it's called--was replaced by a plain looking strip of stone...or cement). I'm sure the landlord thought this would make it look sort of cool and modern-- http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
August 11, 201410 yr http://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/08/09/feeney-hero-doesnt-roll-over/13824207/ Is Republican opposing candidate Chris Monzel going to one up him by snapping his own pic in front of some cheesy wood paneling?
August 11, 201410 yr The Mad Hatter (music venue in Covington, KY) always had the largest display of glass block and the largest display of broken glass block.
August 11, 201410 yr A few people here might remember the strobe lights behind the glass blocks at the Super Saver Cinemas 8 in Forest Fair Mall, which according to urban legend caused seizures, and according to part 2 of the same urban legend, caused the mall to quickly remove about 75% of the glass blocks and strobes. I can sort-of verify that account, but my memory is pretty foggy, since I only remember seeing Home Alone there right when the theater opened in its original incarnation.
August 11, 201410 yr A few people here might remember the strobe lights behind the glass blocks at the Super Saver Cinemas 8 in Forest Fair Mall, which according to urban legend caused seizures, and according to part 2 of the same urban legend, caused the mall to quickly remove about 75% of the glass blocks and strobes. I can sort-of verify that account, but my memory is pretty foggy, since I only remember seeing Home Alone there right when the theater opened in its original incarnation. Seems to me that was around a pretty long time. Like after the mall had pretty much died (aside from the theater and arcade). Can't say for sure, though. But I do remember what you're talking about, vividly. I went there many times. Probably saw Home Alone there, haha.
September 3, 201410 yr the timeless Toilet Paper Behind Glass Blocks-- http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
September 3, 201410 yr So hard to tell if that's toilet paper or paper towels. It might be some of both. That just goes to show you the power of glass block.
September 4, 201410 yr A few people here might remember the strobe lights behind the glass blocks at the Super Saver Cinemas 8 in Forest Fair Mall, which according to urban legend caused seizures, and according to part 2 of the same urban legend, caused the mall to quickly remove about 75% of the glass blocks and strobes. I can sort-of verify that account, but my memory is pretty foggy, since I only remember seeing Home Alone there right when the theater opened in its original incarnation. Seems to me that was around a pretty long time. Like after the mall had pretty much died (aside from the theater and arcade). Can't say for sure, though. But I do remember what you're talking about, vividly. I went there many times. Probably saw Home Alone there, haha. Does anyone have a graph showing how the Mall was fine, earning substantial revenues....only to dip dramatically once the glass block was installed?
October 1, 201410 yr A bar in Madison, WI, which has named itself after its copious application of glass block: http://www.thecrystalcornerbar.com
October 1, 201410 yr This made me think of that house in Cleveland Heights http://www.spotproperty.com/2424-stratford-rd-cleveland-heights-oh-44118-831283263 Ouch. This house looks like an urban transformer station, sans electricity. The house has a sign out front that says coming soon for sale. I swear - this house has changed hands like 3 times over the past 5 years.
October 1, 201410 yr I love the crowd of people rushing to get inside of a seedy-looking, poorly-lit corner bar. Maybe it's a decent bar, but come on.
October 1, 201410 yr I love the crowd of people rushing to get inside of a seedy-looking, poorly-lit corner bar. Maybe it's a decent bar, but come on. It's actually lit with neon lights at night, and it looks really cool in person.
October 1, 201410 yr www.youtube.com/embed/HeWUXV89w0g “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
October 1, 201410 yr I just noticed that one of Cincinnati's most prized architectural landmarks proudly displays some beloved glass blocks.
October 2, 201410 yr I have a glass block window in my shower but it's an exterior wall unlike the hideous partitions above. While it adds some privacy it has a much more important purpose. The CTA el train is literally right outside the window. To avoid a potentially hazardous situation (or embarrassing) there's some structure, durability, and privacy to the glass wall. It really has good sound proofing quality.
October 2, 201410 yr I love the crowd of people rushing to get inside of a seedy-looking, poorly-lit corner bar. Maybe it's a decent bar, but come on. It's actually lit with neon lights at night, and it looks really cool in person. I stand corrected. However, I still prefer to be able to see into a bar from the street. Thanks for the pic. They REALLY should be using that one on their website instead of the daytime shot, but that's the least of that website's issues...
October 10, 201410 yr I was doing some Uber driving last night and dropped a carload of goths off at The Dock for goth night. Could see the front "lobby" from the parking lot -- a vintage curved neon back-lit glass block wall greets patrons. I mean, nothing says "Goth" like glass block.
October 10, 201410 yr The Dock is so.....just....all around terrible. The glass block is just the beginning. There isn't a curved glass block wall but there is some glass block throughout the main bar area. We found pictures from when it opened in the early 80s and it literally looks identical now to when it opened back then. Dirtiness and all. That place is such a pile. The gays of Cincinnati deserve a better place to go dance now that Adonis is closed. Especially when nearby cities have places like Axis, The Connection, Play (gay bar in Louisville, not the crappy brofest that is or used to be Downtown), Masque, even in its less fun, basically-straight-bar state, etc. Now I'm getting off topic. But The Dock sucks.
October 10, 201410 yr The Dock is so.....just....all around terrible. The glass block is just the beginning. There isn't a curved glass block wall but there is some glass block throughout the main bar area. We found pictures from when it opened in the early 80s and it literally looks identical now to when it opened back then. Dirtiness and all. That place is such a pile. The gays of Cincinnati deserve a better place to go dance now that Adonis is closed. Especially when nearby cities have places like Axis, The Connection, Play (gay bar in Louisville, not the crappy brofest that is or used to be Downtown), Masque, even in its less fun, basically-straight-bar state, etc. Now I'm getting off topic. But The Dock sucks. My favorite part is the drag show under cheap 80s DJ lights. Love the plastic dixie cups too. It's such a classy place.
October 10, 201410 yr I liked how for about two years their sound system was broken and any and all bass was just a series of crackles. And how the Dimon family think they run this city which is comical. And how the DJ there, Doug Strong, thinks he's talented and is a complete d-bag to anyone who tries to talk to him or request anything without first buying him a drink. And how they have a sand volleyball court that is more reminiscent of a litter box. And how their parking lot looks like the surface of the moon. Or the bathrooms that have to be plastered with, "no drugs or sexual activities permitted!" all over them. And how the doors leak when it rains. Or the smoking area that they open the garage door to that just lets all the smoke in (GENIUS!!!). Or their 6 dollar cover when none of the other gay bars, all nicer, charge anything. Or the fact that their main clientele is 18 year olds and 55+ men trying to pick up said 18 year olds. I could keep going...
October 11, 201410 yr This made me think of that house in Cleveland Heights http://www.spotproperty.com/2424-stratford-rd-cleveland-heights-oh-44118-831283263 Ouch. This house looks like an urban transformer station, sans electricity. On the market, it's open tomorrow. 2424 Stratford Road, Cleveland Heights http://www.howardhanna.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MlsNumber=3658513&PRM_MlsName=NorthernOH
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