Why did the USSR actually build walls from glass blocks? (7 photos)

Surely those who found the Soviet era remember that during many institutions of those years could see the walls of the so-called glass blocks. These were squares of thick glass with corrugated surface.





Such decor was steadily associated with the "Soviet treasury ", but in fact, glass blocks, firstly, were not Soviet invention, and, secondly, had a very thoughtful function.

The first glass block was invented by American James Pennicuic. He patented his creation in the second half of the 19th century. And for that to start making money from it, Pennywick set up Luxfer Prism Company", through which he subsequently began to sell them.



Despite the fact that to challenge the primacy of the American impossible, his invention was still strikingly different from those blocks-bricks, which began to be used in construction during second half of the twentieth century. Pennywick's invention was more like metal grille with glass prism inserts. This lattice according to the idea of the American, was originally intended to replace ordinary windows in the basement.





In the 1930s, glass blocks were slightly modified and took on the form we are accustomed to. Then they began to be used not only in basement equipment of residential buildings, but also for the construction of internal and exterior walls and even windows on flights of stairs. So, gradually for the expansion of the scope, glass blocks expanded and the territory his "habitat". They gained immense popularity in the 1960s and 70s. in many European countries and in the Soviet Union.



In the USSR, glass blocks were produced in 3 colors: green, blue and yellow, and their surface could be either smooth or corrugated. Moreover, during the construction of ordinary residential buildings, glass blocks, as usually not used often. Various elements of them included Soviet architects in the projects of factory buildings, urban swimming pools, baths, clinics, schools, canteens, sanatoriums, pioneer houses, administrative institutions.



It must have seemed to many Soviet citizens that such glass walls or windows were made purely for beauty, however this is not entirely true. Undoubtedly, glass block structures performed the role of a decorative element, but this was by no means their main function.

First of all, glass blocks (as, by the way, James Pennywick) saved electricity. Letting light through a little worse than ordinary glass, at the same time the blocks were hidden from prying eyes what was behind them: for example, the office of one of the departments in plant management. No wonder in the text of GOST 1975 (9272-75) the coefficient the light transmission of the blocks is mentioned in one of the very first, and, therefore, and the most important points.



The same GOST also notes that glass blocks should were able to withstand temperature fluctuations up to 40 degrees, that is, this the building material was also heat-resistant. In addition, glass blocks differed in moisture resistance and durability. As stated in GOST 9272-75, the compressive strength of the blocks should not be less than 1.5 MPa (15 kgf/cm²). For example: according to GOST 530-80 for bricks and stones, some of their brands had similar strength parameters. All in all, glass blocks possessed such a set of useful qualities that they were superior in a number of characteristics of some traditional building materials.

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