The humble glass block shines brightly again in this Melbourne apartment building

‘Brique de verre’, aka the humble glass block, first patented in 1886 and a regular feature of art deco buildings, may have had a starring role in the iconic 1932 Maison de Verre in Paris, yet it has slightly lost its lustre with residential clients in recent years.

Of course, architects have never stopped loving them, from Renzo Piano, whose 2001 Maison Hermès in Tokyo features over 13,000 bespoke glass blocks, to MVRDV, who in 2016 used glass to replace the original bricks on Chanel’s flagship store in Amsterdam.

Celebrating the glass block with this Melbourne building

The blocks are not just aesthetically pleasing but have many excellent properties, including high strength and durability, light diffusion, soundproofing and fire resistance. And all these qualities made them absolutely perfect for Splinter Society’s latest project, Newburgh Light House in Melbourne’s Auburn Village.

The ten-storey apartment block is located on a particularly tricky 50 sq m site, which the Melbourne-based studio, led by Asha Nicholas and Chris Stan­ley, describes as ‘almost un-buildable’. And it’s no exaggeration: the plot sits right right next to a historic train station, with only a pedestrian path separating it from the VicTrack trainlines.

Despite the challenging site, Splinter Society has created a highly sustainable housing solution, using glass blocks as a key material to meet the stringent fire, acoustic and light requirements, and prefabricated elements to address the construction constraints.

Both north and south façades use glass blocks and recessed glazing to maximise the light and views, while other surfaces are clad in metal panels with intricate detailing. ‘The translucent facades, combined with reflective finishes throughout, form a lantern to the public realm,’ explain the architects.

Built out of concrete to withstand a train derailment, the ground level is home to a small coffee shop opening onto the public pathway, with bluestone cobbles forming a pixelated pattern to allow ground-floor permeability. At the back the architects have even managed to squeeze in a garage, using a car stacker.

Each full-level residence is accessed directly through the lift or stairs, meaning no space is wasted on hallways or corridors. Most are two-bedroom apartments, but there is also a duplex, as well as bespoke top-floor penthouse. All are designed to be adaptable, and to appeal to both young families and individuals sharing a flat.

Inside, the grid theme continues in the shape of timber panelling, natural stone and ceramic tiles. ‘The glass blocks present a unique internal finish that creates a brilliant changing light effect through the day,’ say the architects. ‘Permeability of light through the floor plate is achieved with textured glass doors and internal walls.’

Known for its distinctly tactile projects that focus on func­tion­al­i­ty and envi­ron­men­tal sustainability, Splinter Society has also designed the Hawthorn Gable House, a family house in a prized her­itage estate, and a masterplan for Metung Hot Springs, a venue set by a lagoon in the Banksia Forest.

splintersociety.com