Glass Blocks by Seves
Glass blocks are elements of design that provide a series of technical characteristics often found in other building materials. They provide important solutions for two fundamental construction needs: energy saving and security. Besides the possibility to moderate light, which depends on the design, color and finishing of the glass block as well as how the wall or structure is created, glass blocks can also provide significant levels of thermal and acoustic insulation, impact resistance, and resistance to fire.
Given these high performance features, glass blocks can also be utilized in critical contexts such as railway stations, seismic zones, or in any project requiring specific technical characteristics. The most important characteristic in a security material like the glass block is its capacity, be it a single element or a component in a wall, to resist mechanic strain, thermal shock and provide an effective barrier in case of fire giving inhabitants time to run to safety.
As for energy saving, specific glass blocks can guarantee thermal insulation levels superior to those of conventional walls of equal thickness, therefore contributing to the conservation of the environment and the overall comfort of the interior space.
The internal air chamber of the glass block provides elevated levels of acoustic insulation which permit the use of these blocks in loud and noisy environments. Seves dedicates a complete line of high-performance glass blocks, called "Technology", to these technical characteristics. It also employs a group of technicians dedicated to the research and improvement of these features, who collaborate one-on-one with design professionals to find the best solutions for their specific project needs. During construction of the Hannover station designed by Hansjörg Göritz, the same glass blocks were needed for both vertical and horizontal structures thus leading to the creation of a customized glass block, a certified "paver" with increased resistance to impact thanks to modifications to the internal structure.
Seves was the first glass block manufacturer in the world to obtain ISO 9001 certification, and has since established its own quality criteria to which it abides, even more demanding and restrictive than the norms. As a result, Seves's production line is in first class with respect to the European standards EN1051.
Seves's presence in over 100 countries has forced it to adapt its production to the regulations and standards of each country to obtain the proper quality certification for both the product and the manufacturing process. With this extensive experience Seves continues to move forward, beyond the existent, towards satisfying new requests and accepting new challenges
Glass Design
Absolute transparency, light reflections, and shapes that break across the waves of glass and seem to move with the light. These are just some of the magical effects that can be achieved with provocative glass designs.
Advanced technology and expertise permit Seves to customize this particular detail of the glass block during the molding phase, by pressing designs and patterns into the molten glass to change its surface thickness.
The design can be embossed on the inside or outside of the block, for an external surface that is perfectly smooth or molded in relief; similar to the glass blocks designed for Renzo Piano's Maison d'Hermès in Tokyo or Rafael Moneo's library for the Jesuit University of Deusto, in Bilbao. Seves takes design customization even further with the possibility to choose a different glass design for both the front and back of the glass block.
This unique effect was first realized for the new parish complex by Studio Sartogo, Santo Volto di Gesù in Rome. The block was made with a smooth glass design on one side and a sculpted design on the other, to diffuse light and maintain the privacy and intimacy required by a religious institution.
From stimulating symbols and styles to logos and shapes, the glass designs are endless like the endless light effects and reflections they produce.
Dimension
Traditionally, glass blocks were only available in the 19 x 19 cm standard dimension, and sometimes in the 24 x 24 cm and 30 x 30 dimensions, with a varying thickness between 8 and 10 cm.
Seves has since exceeded this concept of "standard dimensions" and developed "customized dimensions", by modifying the traditional production process widely considered to be uncompromising.
Now the design professional has the opportunity to create their own glass block and change its chemistry, physics, and size, without altering their expressive language or the context of the application.
This cutting edge concept gave way to the sizable glass blocks created with Renzo Piano for the Maison d'Hermès in Tokyo, now the "pearl" of the Ginza line in Seves's Design collection.
These glass blocks were designed for applications characterized by large, continuous surfaces, to obtain a spectacular and harmonious result in line with the project philosophy.
Form
A constructive element for walls and structures of diverse geometries, the glass block has always been identified as a truly simple and essential form: a parallelepiped differing in predefined dimension modules.
Seves's experience and productive know-how, the fruits of specialized research and development activities, permit it to go beyond production limits previously considered insurmountable.
Thanks to a team of specialized technicians, Seves can now create glass block solutions based on relative modifications to the production line and the former mold, which plays a crucial role in the shaping of the glass block.
Such was the case for the special glass block created by Studio Moneo-Brock, for the Thermal Spa of Tiberio. For the first time, a section of the classic parallelepiped glass block was altered to make a trapezoid with a 5° inclination, to facilitate the natural cascade of water.
Or the Doric glass block, the first of its kind to be embossed on one side with channeled parallel lines in relief, similar to the motif characterized by Doric columns.
These experiences give a glimpse of the many new possibilities for glass block customization, where the form can be modified not only in shape but also in its three-dimensionality and glass mass.
Colour
As an essential factor in the language of architecture, color entered the world of glass blocks in the 1990's thanks to Seves, the first to manufacture colored glass blocks.
Seves offers a palette of pastel tones obtained by adding pigment crystals called frits to the glass paste before it enters the "feeder", or bright and vivid colors from the new "Mendini Collection", a testament of colorful creativity made possible by a "handmade" process that yields infinite shades.
Seves continues to develop new color solutions and effects, like painting the edges or applying satin finishing to the front of the glass block, to create colorful and stimulating environments
Joint Size
Although not always considered an important detail, the joint plays a crucial role in the personality and identity of an architectural project.
The joint can be reduced to a thread to emphasize the lightness and transparency of a glass structure, or exaggerated to become part of the design, like a driving force or a generating element. It is possible to obtain a minimal style using "hidden" joints within a curtain wall, or stress the constructive honesty of the application by emphasizing the structural grid as part of the design. Design professionals can play with the depth of the joint. Glass blocks with a flush joint will produce a full, complimentary and clean effect; whereas a partially retreated joint gives the opposite effect, a dynamic and complete interpretation of the wall, accentuating each individually embossed block. There are joints with technological values where the discontinuities between the glass blocks generate canals (as seen with the trapezoidal block), and provide a space in which to house the architectural auxiliaries.
Each constructive material, such as aluminum, wood, plastic, and traditional cement mortar, require careful selection and are important contributors to the glass block structure. Seves can guarantee the regular size of a joint with mortar, thanks to a study of spacers created ad hoc to obtain a linear and curved installation, in prefabricated or traditional mounting methods, with varying glass block formats.
The minimum limit for a joint (2-5 mm depending on the format) is the threshold at which technical error can be avoided; any joint size under the limit would allow contact between the glass blocks and cause tension damages.
A vital component of the glass block wall, as much as the glass blocks themselves, the joint can be customized in favor of flexibility and variety, to fit any project
Finishing
The finishing is the last phase in the production process and is the real skin of the glass block.
Satin finishing, successfully tested in many applications within the glass industry, moderates and diffuses the passage of light with varying intensities according to the glass block characteristics (color, design, and whether the finishing is on one or both sides). The resulting effect is of refined elegance, giving the glass block a smooth and silky appearance.
With the use of special masks it is possible to design symbols, logos, and images, in negative or positive contrasts, with the satin finishing on one or two sides of the glass block. Like the glass block designed by Daniel Tai for the "Buddha Lecture Room" of the new religious library in Taichung, Taiwan, capable of softening direct sunlight while reflecting a magical myriad of small Buddhas in prayer.
Different optical effects and surprises can be achieved by simply changing the finishing on the glass block. Painted metallic edges can hide the gap between glass blocks, increasing the brilliancy and transparency of the glass block wall or structure, thanks to the mirroring effect of the paint.
Whether painting the bands or applying a finishing to the glass block, these additional processes can be completed with small investments
