Seves Glassblock

Originally invented to improve illumination of warehouses and industrial buildings, over time glass block has been revisited. Thanks to its versatility, it has become a highly sought-after product even by the most discerning international architects. Seves Glassblock is a world leader in the production of glass block for architecture and interior design applications. The German company stands out for its ability to have transformed a simple building material into an architectural element for designers who gladly work with its technological and expressive qualities. Seves produces glass block in a wide range of colors, dimensions, and finishes. Their combinations are countless and allow architects to unleash unlimited creativity.

Seves Glassblock: glass block for architecture and interior design

Seves Glassblock encourages architects to experiment with light, color, and movement to create welcoming, modular, and flexible spaces with great personality. Glass block surfaces can be smooth, wavy, or patterned so that using it is like drawing with light that can be controlled to modulate intensity, reflection, and diffusion. For demanding projects, the company has produced custom glass block in unprecedented dimensions to meet the creative needs of the most visionary designers.
Seves Glassblock's Smart Solution Plus includes high-performance glass block with innovative treatments and pronounced attention to sustainability. Anti-reflective glass block (Solar Reflecting treatment) allows effective brightness control through a thermo-insulating coating applied to the surface to protect against UV radiation, reducing overheating during the summer and avoiding heat loss during the winter. Self-cleaning glass block (Self Cleaning treatment) allows easier washing, thus reducing maintenance costs. The technology deploys surface coatings with fine finishes and hydrophilic properties to break down organic residues and drain rainwater. The glass thus maintains a cleaner appearance over a longer time and is also resistant to scratches. Energy savings glass block (Energy Saving treatment) increases energy efficiency, reducing consumption. This patented technology uses a low emissivity glass pane at the center of each block to form two chambers; each chamber is filled with argon, a noble gas used for its low thermal conductivity (about half that of air) resulting in a reduction of more than 50% of total heat transmission. Finally, Fire Resistant glass block (Fire Resistant treatment) - suitable for vertical and horizontal surfaces - can protect people and things from smoke, gas, and flames.

Photovoltaic: the new frontier of glass block

Photovoltaic glass block is bright, low-voltage, and solar-powered, letting architects design new lighting applications with significant energy savings. It can also become a usable outdoor ground surface. The possibilities for customization are endless, for example, soft lighting for outdoor contexts. Original lighting of floors and walkways can be created without the need for ducts, electrical cables, and maintenance, leading to net savings in terms of construction costs and times. Energy generated by photovoltaic panels is stored in a high-capacity battery that powers the LED lights during the night. A twilight sensor automatically illuminates the block when exterior luminosity falls below 30 lux. The Photovoltaic line is explicitly designed for outdoor commercial, public or residential applications: walkways, sidewalks, balconies, courtyards, piers, gardens, and any type of outdoor wall or panel.

Seves Glassblock and international architects

Seves Glassblock's commitment to innovation in the field of glass block extends to its collaboration with some of the most influential designers, accepting the challenge of creating custom glass block to meet and execute their architectural needs. Maison Hermès by Renzo Piano in Tokyo was inaugurated in 2001 and is still considered "the greatest contribution made to glass block architecture so far this century." More than 13,000 self-supporting glass blocks were used in the project; by day, they reflect exterior light and by night the building glows from inside out. The project is noteworthy because of the production, for the first time, of the Q42 block (the number refers to the size of the sides in centimeters) and another custom block with a variable section and a curved outer face, which allowed Piano to create the project's sinuous lines with precision. The metal paint on the perimeter of the blocks accentuates reflections to further enhance the building facade.