Breeze blocks — additionally known as decorative concrete blocks, show display screen blocks, and picture voltaic blocks — have expert an incredible revival over the last few years. Many are made by regional operations, along with these in enterprise making breeze blocks as a result of the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties. I adopted up each one in all them, and we now have acknowledged 31 breeze block sellers all through most of the U.S. — along with some who will work with you to ship.
Uncover concrete breeze block in extra than 76+ patterns from 32 companies all through the U.S. using my full guidelines, updated January 2022. Phrase, whereas my listings are organized by state, confirm with quite a few producers regarding provide regionally and even nationwide. >>
The place to buy breeze block in Southern California:
- All by means of Southern Calif.: Orco Block manufactures 9 designs of breeze blocks — AND it’s possible you’ll as effectively order these blocks in numerous concrete-colors — like white breeze blocks — and finishes (e.g. sandblasted or with sides scale back very flat after the blocks are molded). Orco sells their show display screen blocks direct to most of the people out of their Oceanside location, or contact them for a vendor elsewhere all by means of the state and previous. Positive: I visited Oceanside in Aug. 2019 — that’s {a photograph} from their yard — they normally instructed me that they ship nationwide! Designs (sizes won’t be on their site, contact Orco for particulars) are:
- Rectangular double X
- Rectangular two Sq.-within-squares
- Rectangular double Cloverleaf
- Rectangular Starfire (curvy diamond)
- Sq. La Fiesta
- Sq. Cloverleaf
- Sq. Cordova curvy (diamond)
- Sq. Pinwheel
- Sq. square-within-a-square
- San Diego area — RCP Block has 6 retail areas in SoCal. Sells one design (sizes approx.):
- Sq. Diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
- So Cal — Angelus Block sells into Southern California space, from the Central California Coast and Southern San Joaquin Valley to the Low Deserts and San Diego. Thanks, Mark, for this tip. Designs embrace (sizes approx.):
- Rectangular double X — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular Pompeian — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular curvy diamond — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular double Cloverleaf — 4 x 8 x 16
- And check out this funky “Neptune” 8 x 8 unit!
- Riverside — Tesselle has 7 designs, accessible in 7 colors, each of the blocks are 8″ x 8″ x 2.6″.
Breeze blocks in mid-California starting north of LA north to Alaska and west to Wyoming:
- Basalite makes one design solely and offers it though a group of retailers inside the west starting north of Los Angeles and proceed with quite a few areas up California, Oregon, Washington, and over to Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and as far east as Jackson, Wyoming and as far north as Anchorage, Alaska! See the retail areas for this breeze block inside the western U.S. proper right here. Phrase, that’s the thriller agency that after offered Cloverleaf breeze block to Home Depot out west — nonetheless not. Sells solely:
Show block in Arizona:
- Superlite – A producer that distributes to retailers in numerous states, their Shapes catalog internet web page 54 reveals three designs as of May 2019 (sizes approx.):
- Rectangular Wagon Wheel — 8 x 16 x 16
- Rectangular double X — 8 x 16 x 16
- 12″ Sq. Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
- Phrase: A reader says Preach Developing Present in Phoenix on Hatcher carries one design.
- Our Block Co. in Phoenix opened in 2018, and divulges varied designs on their site. Some are fashionable interpretations, one is traditional. Due to Mark for this tip!
- Personalized made to order in quite a few sizes — 4 x 12 x 12… 4 x 16 x 16… and even little 4×4 blocks!
- Avion
- Codex
- Cross
- Eclipse
- Horizon
- Origami
- Phoenix (the traditional design)
- Cement Tile Retailer — has a showroom in Tampa (and Scottsdale, Florida) — and loads of patterns. The blocks confirmed on their site are 7.5″ sq..
- Moreover see Biggest Block itemizing, beneath.
Breeze block in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Texas:
- Biggest Block has areas inside the states above. They’ve two designs, each in a particular measurement:
- Cloverleaf — 8 x 12 x 12
- Sq.-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
Show blocks in Colorado:
- Eagle Block Agency at current reveals 7 designs of show display screen block aka breeze block, and likewise confirm their picture voltaic sq.. Designs are now on their site!
- Their lineup comprises one rectangular unit that when combined with one different creates a sort of Chinese language language Jade Tile kind
- For Colorado, moreover see Biggest Block itemizing above.
Breeze block in Florida:
- Based in Oakland Park, Atlantic Coast Precast: I’m counting on the very least 14 designs they normally say they’ll work with you on personalized orders to your specs or using a sample block.
- Orlando: A1 Block Corp. — family-owned since 1952, they producer and promote 10 designs of breeze block along with one I’ve certainly not written about and should: Perk/Turf block. Sizes approx.:
- Rectangular double X — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular small diamond in coronary heart– 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular double Y — 4 x 8 x 16
- Sq. Bow-and-Arrow — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. curvy diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. square-in-a-square — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. Maze — 4 x 16 x 16
- Sq. Circle-in-a-square — 4 x 16 x 16 — phrase, this circle-in-square breeze block design is attributed by Alison King of Stylish Phoenix to Phoenix architect Ralph Haver.
- Sq. Perk/Turf block — 4 x 16 x 16
- St. Petersburg: Carroll’s Developing Provides — The company says it makes just a few of its breeze blocks and likewise brings in numerous designs from completely different producers (Appears to be like as if I see A1 Blocks of their lineup) to advertise retail — they’ve 12 selections whole (sizes approx.):
- Rectangular double X — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular double Y — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular curvy diamond (Starlight) — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular Double Rectangle — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular Hidden Circle (curvy V) — 4 x 8 x 16
- 8″ Sq. Maze — 4 x 8 x 8
- 12″ Sq. curvy diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
- 12″ Sq. square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
- 16″ Sq. Maze — 4 x 16 x 16
- 16″ Sq. Cloverleaf/Snowflake — 4 x 16 x 16
- 16″ Circle-in-Sq. (Sq. Peg) — 4 x 16 x 16
- 16″ Bow and Arrow — 4 x 16 x 16
- Venice: White Cement Specialities — One design — in two sizes — which they instructed me they title a “snowflake” nonetheless actually is Cloverleaf.
- Lakeland: Cement Merchandise USA — sells their snowflake design in two sizes, 12 x 12 and eight x 16.
- Cement Tile Retailer — has a showroom in Tampa (and Scottsdale, Florida) — and loads of patterns. The blocks confirmed on their site are 7.5″ sq..
- And, see Biggest Block itemizing above.
The place to buy breeze blocks in New York:
The place to buy breeze block in Pennsylvania:
- Fizzano Brothers — 3 decorative designs and two open picture voltaic sizes that they every manufacture and promote retail — three areas spherical Philadelphia. The company moreover tells me they repeatedly ship commonplace concrete block to Lowes inside the mid-Atlantic space, roughly NYC to Baltimore. They’ve had some purchasers inside that geography order show display screen block and have it put onto the Lowe’s truck to keep away from losing on transport; title the company to debate in case you’re on this selection. Due to Frannie for this tip! Sizes approx.:
- Sq. Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
- Rectangular “Double Show” (like my brothers’) — 8 x 8 x 16
- Picture voltaic — 8 x 8 x 12
- Picture voltaic — 8 x 8 x 16
The place to buy breeze blocks in Kentucky:
- A.C. Krebs — 6 designs + two picture voltaic show display screen blocks (thanks, Jordan!)
Breeze block in Michigan:
- Grand Rapids [check with company for further distribution in Michigan, the Midwest and Canada]: Michigan Licensed Concrete Merchandise (since 1946) now offers one design. I’m calling their square-in-square design distinctive as a result of finest method the sides are rounded. Due to reader Anna for this tip!
Show blocks in Alabama:
- Villa Lagoon Tile now reveals 21 breeze block designs in stock and 47 by means of explicit order (quite a few the ‘explicit order’ blocks look like similar design as in-stock–nonetheless in quite a few finishes. In truth, my eyes had been glazing over!) In accordance with the company, their blocks are completely completely different than typical concrete breeze blocks. They’re saying, “These hand-made blocks use finer sand combination and hydraulic presses, pretty than the course cast merchandise of the earlier. This makes these blocks thinner, smoother….” The tiles look to be 7.5″ sq. — I didn’t endure every to confirm, though.
Breeze block in Hawaii:
- Kapolei: Tile Co. Inc.— 9 selections whole (sizes approx.):
- Sq. square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. curvy diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. Circle-edged-in-quarter-circles — 4 x 12 x 12
- Rectangular V — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular V — 4 x 6 x 16
- Rectangular curvy diamond — 4 x 8 x 16
- Rectangular curvy diamond — 4 x 6 x 16
- Rectangular double Y — 4 x 8 x 16
Breeze blocks in Georgia:
- See Biggest Block itemizing above.
Breeze block in Arkansas:
- ABC-Central Block and Brick — Show blocks won’t be confirmed on their site, nonetheless they do promote on the very least two designs launched in from one different producer. For my huge substitute, I known as and was instructed: Should you’re obtainable out there, it’s advisable that you simply simply title the first location — the ABC Product Showroom in Little Rock — and focus on to a salesman about what’s accessible and strategies to order. Thanks, Russel, for this tip.
Breeze blocks in New York:
Show block in Pennsylvania:
- Fizzano Brothers — 3 decorative designs and two open picture voltaic sizes that they every manufacture and promote retail — three areas spherical Philadelphia. The company moreover tells me they repeatedly ship commonplace concrete block to Lowes inside the mid-Atlantic space, roughly NYC to Baltimore. They’ve had some purchasers inside that geography order show display screen block and have it put onto the Lowe’s truck to keep away from losing on transport; title the company to debate in case you’re on this selection. Due to Frannie for this tip! Sizes approx.:
- Sq. Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
- Rectangular “Double Show” (like my brothers’) — 8 x 8 x 16
- Picture voltaic — 8 x 8 x 12
- Picture voltaic — 8 x 8 x 16
- Greensburg Concrete Block, Greensburg, PA, has one design, a Circle-edged-in-quarter-circles.
Breeze blocks in Tennessee:
- Tankersley Concrete in Lewisburg, TN produces and sells 3 patterns; Due to Laura for this tip:
- Sq. Flower (Cloverleaf) — 4 x 12 x 12
- Sq. Half Moon — 4 x 12 x 12
- Subject-in-Subject — 4 x 12 x 12
Breeze block in Texas:
Breeze block in Washington State:
- Spokane, Washington — White Block Agency makes and sells the cloverleaf. Thanks, Gene, for this tip.
And:
- Confirm Home Depot — the company’s selection / distributors seems to change over time. Every time I’ve ever updated this story there’s been just one basic selection.
- Here is a guidelines of all members (I really feel) of the Nationwide Concrete Masonry Affiliation. Should you want to try to find a retailer in your state, get your fingers doing just a little strolling, and see what you flip up. If you do top quality further suppliers, we’d prefer to know and add them to our guidelines, e mail me.
Arrange safely
Bear in mind, dear readers, that these are ORNAMENTAL blocks. It is my understanding that they are not STRUCTURAL blocks. That is, they are not meant to be load bearing. They’re meant to be pretty and even then, to be put in appropriately with a view to not fall over and injury someone. So use them/arrange them accordingly — safely — search the recommendation of with the producer. I am not the skilled, so get with professionals.
A pause to try the historic previous of breeze blocks…
Who invented breeze blocks?
American architect Edward Durell Stone is effectively referred to as launching breeze blocks into the mid century American mainstream alongside together with his award-winning 1954 design for the model new American Embassy in New Delhi, India. There, he used show display screen blocks all through the whole width and prime of the facade, making a monumental exterior that was helpful, too. Sooner than the embassy developing was full, he used his breeze block design on his private Manhattan townhouse, which led to widespread publicity for the concept. Completely different companies quickly picked up on the thought and inside only a few years, with the Nineteen Sixties at full tilt, breeze blocks had been being manufactured all through the U.S. to be used on houses and enterprise and institutional buildings.
I found two good sources for exploring the historic previous of breeze blocks. First, the 396-page, 2007 thesis on Edward Durell Stone by Mary Anne Wanting traces essential works of Stone over his occupation and the best way their half inside the historic previous of current construction. Second, the small, extra moderen book Concrete Show Block, The Power of Pattern by Ron and Barbara Marshall traces the historic previous of breeze block and its journey all by means of its heyday in mid century America from the late Fifties via the early Nineteen Seventies.
The evolution of breeze blocks
Stone had been participating in with the concept of “perforated grilles” for just a few years earlier to the embassy design, Wanting recognized. A number of of Stone’s influences are cited in his 1959 patent for what grew to develop into generally called his “Empress” breeze block design: Works from 1883, 1905, 1922, 1934, and 1953 are all referenced. Wanting moreover says that Stone traveled all by means of India doing evaluation for the embassy design and that his use of the blocks references associated, historic makes use of of “perforated grilles” in vernacular construction.
Completely different influences probably embrace Belgian architect Auguste Perret’s 1922-23 use of show display screen blocks inside the Notre Dame du Raincy in Le Raincy, France (Stone had visited Perret’s church buildings), and some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. I moreover found a 1947 occasion of chimney block getting used mainly like breeze block in a 1947 catalog from Besser Manufacturing Agency (Besser was a severe producer of concrete masonry gadgets aka concrete blocks).
Actually, the considered using decorative tiles and such to create screens that current some shade in opposition to the current photo voltaic nonetheless nonetheless allow air to circulation in has historic previous going once more centuries.
All that talked about, Edward Durell Stone’s dramatic design, plus America’s housing development — significantly inside the sun-drenched west, plus the standard concept of brise-soleil (“photo voltaic break”) all seem to have come collectively on the right time and correct place to create this iconic product, the 20 th decorative concrete breeze block.
What’s probably the most well-known breeze block design?
Edward Durell Stone’s “Empress” design breeze block, patented in 1959, is arguably primarily probably the most well-known breeze block design. He used this design on the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in 1954 and sooner than the embassy could even be accomplished, alongside the doorway of his private townhouse in Manhattan. Phrase that in his patent, Stone known as this “wall block.” You can nonetheless get this breeze block from quite a few sources at current!
What are all the names for breeze blocks?
The phrase “breeze block” — most at current used at current — seems to have come from the French “brise soleil”, or “photo voltaic break.” Edward Durell Stone’s 1959 patent known as them wall block. Completely different phrases for breeze block embrace: Show block, architectural show display screen block, show display screen wall block, picture voltaic block, pattern blocks, decor blocks, decorative concrete block, and completely different variations of these phrases. Wanting, in her 2007 thesis, calls them “perforated grilles.”
Breeze blocks reached their peak of recognition inside the Nineteen Sixties
Concrete block producers quickly picked up on Edward Durell Stone’s fashionable use of show display screen block beginning inside the mid- to late-Fifties. It appears like decorative block partitions peaked in repute inside the Nineteen Sixties — used not solely on properties in places like California and Arizona, however moreover on enterprise buildings. Ultimately inside the Nineteen Sixties or Nineteen Seventies, they seem to have crossed that line separating “great fashionable and trendy” to … dare I say it, “kitsch.” Can there be an extreme quantity of of an excellent issue? Appears to be like as if mid century America’s urge for meals for breeze blocks was sated.
Nonetheless… the simplest of what’s earlier on a regular basis is new as soon as extra. So starting inside the 2010s, and-in-hand with the favored revival of mid century and mid century fashionable residential and inside design, breeze blocks are once more.
Breeze block in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Puerto Rico, and additional:
I cope with merchandise for the U.S. market, nonetheless readers have left suggestions with these companies — and some of them are FANTASTIC — fulfilling to ogle!
Canada:
- Niagara Block in Niagara Falls has 5 designs. “They’ve pretty only a few sorts, nonetheless they don’t have them in stock frequently. Confirm beneath “architectural block”.” Family run since 1931.
- Kreitmaker in Toronto has two designs, the Lotus and Diamond pattern.
- See Michigan itemizing.
Australia:
- Oh my, the selection! Dee Why, NSW: Besser Block
- Earp Bros. has numerous designs, which they’re saying are imported from Vietnam — they sure appear as if Viettiles (see beneath) to me.
Vietnam:
- Beautiful breeze block designs from Viettiles.
Europe:
Brazil:
New Zealand:
Thailand: