20,000 Glass Blocks Were Used To Create A Condo Sales Gallery, That Also Hides A Secret Garden

July 11, 2019
Architecture Ideas - 20,000 rectangular glass blocks were used to create a modern building that also hides an interior courtyard. #GlassBlocks #Architecture #BuildingIdeas
Photography by Spaceshift Studio

Archismith Architects has designed ‘The Glass Fortress’, a glass block building that serves as a condominium sales gallery in Bangkok, Thailand.

To keep in line with a large green space provided at the main condominium development, the sales gallery assigned some of the land along the street to become a pocket park in a bustling urban area.

Architecture Ideas - 20,000 rectangular glass blocks were used to create a modern building that also hides an interior courtyard. #GlassBlocks #Architecture #BuildingIdeas
Photography by Spaceshift Studio

To make the building stand out, the ‘box’ building design features 20,000 glass blocks that are rectangular in shape, instead of the usual square-shaped type.

They also have extended edges or wings to cover most of the grouting reducing the width to 2 mm instead of 10 mm as usual. This special detail reduces the visual perception of joints, and therefore creates a continuous all glass effect to the walls.


Architecture Ideas - 20,000 rectangular glass blocks were used to create a modern building that also hides an interior courtyard. #GlassBlocks #Architecture #BuildingIdeas
Photography by Spaceshift Studio

In an attempt to effectively cut down the noise pollution and to block off unpleasant views of the surroundings, the design team introduced 8-metre-tall walls that that hide an internal courtyard.

By doing this, the designers created a place for potential buyers to walk through and enjoy before entering the sales area. There’s also a water misting system to help control the temperature inside the courtyard on sunny days.


Landscaping Ideas - This modern glass block sales gallery features an interior courtyard with mature trees and a pathway. #Landscaping #InteriorCourtyard #GardenDesign
Photography by Spaceshift Studio (top photo) and Sky|Ground (bottom photo)

The path through the garden leads to a door that opens up to the sales area, that takes advantage of the landscaped courtyard views, by having couches positioned in front of large floor-to-ceiling windows.


This modern sales gallery has an interior courtyard that can be enjoyed by floor-to-ceiling windows. #InteriorCourtyard #GlassBlocks #Windows
Photography by Spaceshift Studio

To reduce the uncomfortable feeling of being surrounded by massive solid walls, glass blocks were was chosen as the building material as natural light still can filter through it.


Architecture Ideas - 20,000 rectangular glass blocks were used to create a modern building that also hides an interior courtyard. #GlassBlocks #Architecture #BuildingIdeas
Photography by Spaceshift Studio

At night, lighting hidden on the interior frames of the building, gives the building a blue glow, drawing attention from those passing by.


Architecture Ideas - 20,000 rectangular glass blocks were used to create a modern building that also hides an interior courtyard. #GlassBlocks #Architecture #BuildingIdeas #Lighting
Photography by Spaceshift Studio | Architect: Archismith Co., Ltd. | Team: Jirawit Yamkleeb, Sukonthip Sa-ngiamvongse, Takol Pattanopas, Thanaphon Phumipanchaphak | Landscape Designer: Landscape Studio by Arsomsilp | Interior Designer: Six.Seven.S | Structural Engineer: 2-R Engineering | Mechanical Engineer: V.Group Engineer | Main Contractor: T.T.S. Engineering

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