Breeze brick outdoor walls. Those structures made generally from patterned concrete blocks and utilised in a variety of ways from garden dividers to front entrance feature walls. Remember them? We do.
Once a common feature in Mid-Century Australian housing, these landscaping and architectural blocks have in the past couple of decades been sidelined. Maybe because the wheel of fashion invariably moves over time to see one aspect of building and design replaced by current trends. With ‘Al Fresco’ dining (didn’t it used to be called eating on the patio?), outdoor pizza ovens and water features currently dominating the scene, it was beginning to seem that these walls were sadly forgotten, lost to another time and the bricks themselves possibly no longer in production.
However, we the faithful have kept our eyes open and can sense a revival, a comeback, the writing on the breeze block wall.
Exhibit A – Cult television shows – Lovers of Mid-Century aesthetics have a lot to thank the series Dexter for and as one of the classic indicators of retro suburbia in warmer climates, you can’t miss an episode of the without an establishing shot of a pastel ranch home, completed by a patterned concrete block wall out front.
Exhibit B – Darwin – where due to natural trend-lag (hey, sometimes you’re so behind, you’re way ahead!), the humidity and luscious garden environments the architectural breeze block reigns supreme. MA have never seen such a high concentration of architectural bricks utilised in either the main structures or in the striking, jungle gardens of Northern Territory homes. Please check out Flickr page of our recent trip or plan one of your own and see them for yourself in all their tropical glory.
Exhibit C – Industry itself – As quoted from the website of Besser, spiritual home and manufacturer of the Besser Breeze Block:
“A product that has been on the market for over 30 years and is making a resurgence again. In common with many fashions from the 50’s and 60’s the large patterned blocks which were frequently used in apartment buildings are making a comeback……. One off designs are a specialty, with architects commissioning new molds regularly. Our range includes Starlight, Majestic, Callipso and Bellevue Hill…..”
Such names! We can just hear the soft chug of Bossa Nova lilting through courtyard.
In light of this evidence, we have a feeling the wheel is once again turning, giving this old favourite a new time to shine and showing up original breeze block walls to be a classically groovy and key element of any retro flavoured home. Welcome back.
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