Masonry Magazine August 1998 Page. 16
Trends
Decorative glass has been experiencing explosive growth in the world of construction and design. Windows and elaborate entryways entice the eye with an ever-widening variety of art glass from traditional leaded to modern machine-grooved panels. Improved variety of colors, increased interior uses of decorative glass and growing demand for a combination of daylight and privacy are positive market factors for all forms of decorative glass, including once-staid glass block.
Glass block, once more of a construction commodity than a design element, has mirrored the general trend to more decorative patterns, textures, finished edges and unusual colors. New specialty performance block has also emerged, adding functional enhancements to the wider choice of aesthetics.
Escape from the basement
What once was primarily a practical and secure solution for basement windows, glass block has climbed the stairs and made itself at home in virtually every room of the house. Today, block windows and decorative accents of glass block are found in all elevations of commercial buildings and residences.
Used on building exteriors, few materials combine privacy, daylight, security and designer interest as effectively as glass block.
For entryways, particularly in urban areas, architects often specify glass block with stronger patterns and obscure textures. Sidelights and even transoms of glass block dress up front doors, admitting light yet maintaining privacy and adding a sense of security. Matching block transoms are topping off complementary window openings in the same elevation.
Last year, Bob Villa's syndicated TV show, *Home Again*, featured a tour through a spectacular Santa Barbara, California home, overlooking the Pacific. The west-facing side of the single-story home featured a panoramic ocean view through a wall