Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades

Glass brick facades have emerged as a captivating architectural trend, blending the enduring elegance of glass with the robust strength of bricks. Glass bricks can as well be more thermally resistant than conventional glazing. 

These facades add a pixelated effect that plays with light and shadow,  perfectly transmitting light, while maintaining privacy. The way glass bricks facades soften and blend the views of the outside can increase calmness and focus. From sleek commercial buildings to avant-garde residential projects, glass brick facades continue to push the boundaries of architectural innovation, captivating both designers and observers alike.

Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 2 of 16Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 3 of 16Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 4 of 16Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 5 of 16Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - More Images+ 11

Helse Heuvels Park / YATTA Architectuur

"The architectural design consists of a continuous wall of glass bricks – illuminating the park by night as it is connected to street lightning."

Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 2 of 16
© Alexandra Bertels
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 6 of 16
© Alexandra Bertels
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 7 of 16
© Alexandra Bertels

Qaammat Pavilion / Konstantin Arkitekter

"One of the more distinctive features of the structure is its glass ‘shell’, its play of transparencies, scale, and weight, resulting in a feeling of surreality. The Qaammat pavilion can simultaneously alter the viewer’s perspective, merge, and even vanish into the surrounding topography."

Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 8 of 16
© Julien Lanoo
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 9 of 16
© Julien Lanoo
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 10 of 16
© Julien Lanoo

The Glass Fortress / Archismith Architects

"The facade changes its look perpetually following the condition of sunlight and the shifting shadow of trees. At night, the glass blocks are illuminated turning them into a giant glass lantern. The glass blocks used for the project are rectangular as opposed to those conventional square-shaped type."

Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 3 of 16
© Spaceshift Studio
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 4 of 16
© Spaceshift Studio
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 11 of 16
© Spaceshift Studio

Coco House / Duy Le Architects

"The design utilizes glass brick to imitate wave patterns, which visualize the Western water region of Vietnam as well as emphasize the aesthetic curve of the façade. The glass bricks not only guarantee privacy for the open space within the house but also provide enough natural lighting."

Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 13 of 16
© Trieu Chien
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 5 of 16
© Trieu Chien
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 12 of 16
© Trieu Chien

HARMAY Beijing Flagship Store / AIM Architecture

"The Beijing location has big glass brick façade, an industrial statement where the absence of seeing makes the exterior statement more powerful, with only the seduction of shadows and movement."

Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 14 of 16
© Dirk Weiblen
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 15 of 16
© Dirk Weiblen
Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades  - Image 16 of 16
© Dirk Weiblen

This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Building Envelope, proudly presented by Vitrocsa the original minimalist windows since 1992.

Vitrocsa designed the original minimalist window systems, a unique range of solutions, dedicated to the frameless window boasting the narrowest sightline barriers in the world: Manufactured in line with the renowned Swiss Made tradition for 30 years, Vitrocsa’s systems “are the product of unrivaled expertise and a constant quest for innovation, enabling us to meet the most ambitious architectural visions.”

Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and architecture projects. We invite you to learn more about our ArchDaily Topics. And, as always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.

Image gallery

See allShow less
About this author
Cite: Clara Ott. "Beyond Transparency: 5 Buildings Highlighting Glass Brick Facades " 15 Mar 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1014577/beyond-transparency-5-buildings-highlighting-glass-brick-facades> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.