Breeze Block — 75+ designs from 32 Companies in the U.S.

Breeze blocks — also known as decorative concrete blocks, screen blocks, and solar blocks — have experienced a tremendous revival over the past few years. Many are made by regional operations, including those in business making breeze blocks since the 1950s and 1960s. I followed up each one of them, and we now have identified 31 breeze block sellers across most of the U.S. — including some who will work with you to ship.

Find concrete breeze block in more than 76+ patterns from 32 companies across the U.S. using my comprehensive list, updated January 2022. Note, while my listings are organized by state, check with various manufacturers regarding delivery regionally or even nationwide. >>

Where to buy breeze block in Southern California:

• Throughout Southern Calif.: Orco Block manufactures 9 designs of breeze blocks — AND you can also order these blocks in a variety of concrete-colors — like white breeze blocks — and finishes (e.g. sandblasted or with sides cut very flat after the blocks are molded). Orco sells their screen blocks direct to the public out of their Oceanside location, or contact them for a dealer elsewhere throughout the state and beyond. Yes: I visited Oceanside in Aug. 2019 — that’s a photo from their yard — and they told me that they ship nationwide! Designs (sizes are not on their website, contact Orco for details) are:
  • Rectangular double X
  • Rectangular two Square-within-squares
  • Rectangular double Cloverleaf
  • Rectangular Starfire (curvy diamond)
  • Square La Fiesta
  • Square Cloverleaf
  • Square Cordova curvy (diamond)
  • Square Pinwheel
  • Square square-within-a-square
• San Diego area — RCP Block has 6 retail locations in SoCal. Sells one design (sizes approx.):
  • Square Diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
• So Cal — Angelus Block sells into Southern California region, from the Central California Coast and Southern San Joaquin Valley to the Low Deserts and San Diego. Thank you, Mark, for this tip. Designs include (sizes approx.):
  • Rectangular double X — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular Pompeian — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular curvy diamond — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular double Cloverleaf — 4 x 8 x 16
  • And check out this funky “Neptune” 8 x 8 unit!
• Riverside — Tesselle has 7 designs, available in 7 colors, each of the blocks are 8″ x 8″ x 2.6″.

Breeze blocks in mid-California starting north of LA north to Alaska and west to Wyoming:

• Basalite makes one design only and offers it though a network of retailers in the west starting north of Los Angeles and continue with lots of locations up California, Oregon, Washington, and over to Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and as far east as Jackson, Wyoming and as far north as Anchorage, Alaska! See the retail locations for this breeze block in the western U.S. here. Note, this is the mystery company that once supplied Cloverleaf breeze block to Home Depot out west — but no longer. Sells only:
  • Square Cloverleaf

Screen block in Arizona:

• Superlite – A manufacturer that distributes to retailers in many states, their Shapes catalog page 54 shows three designs as of May 2019 (sizes approx.):
  • Rectangular Wagon Wheel — 8 x 16 x 16
  • Rectangular double X — 8 x 16 x 16
  • 12″ Square Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Note: A reader says Preach Building Supply in Phoenix on Hatcher carries one design. 
• Our Block Co. in Phoenix opened in 2018, and shows a number of designs on their website. Some are modern interpretations, one is vintage. Thanks to Mark for this tip!
  • Custom made to order in various sizes — 4 x 12 x 12… 4 x 16 x 16… and even little 4×4 blocks!
  • Avion
  • Codex
  • Cross
  • Eclipse
  • Horizon
  • Origami
  • Phoenix (the vintage design)
• Cement Tile Shop — has a showroom in Tampa (and Scottsdale, Florida) — and lots of patterns. The blocks shown on their website are 7.5″ square.
• Also see Best Block listing, below.

Breeze block in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Texas:

• Best Block has locations in the states above. They have two designs, each in a different size:
  • Cloverleaf — 8 x 12 x 12
  • Square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12

Screen blocks in Colorado:

• Eagle Block Company today shows 7 designs of screen block aka breeze block, and also check their solar square. Designs are now on their website!
  • Their lineup includes one rectangular unit that when combined with another creates a sort of Chinese Jade Tile shape
  • For Colorado, also see Best Block listing above.

Breeze block in Florida:

• Based in Oakland Park, Atlantic Coast Precast: I’m counting at least 14 designs and they say they’ll work with you on custom orders to your specifications or using a sample block.
• Orlando: A1 Block Corp. — family-owned since 1952, they manufacturer and sell 10 designs of breeze block including one I’ve never written about and need to: Perk/Turf block. Sizes approx.:
  • Rectangular double X — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular small diamond in center– 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular double Y — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Square Bow-and-Arrow — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square curvy diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square square-in-a-square — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square Maze — 4 x 16 x 16
  • Square Circle-in-a-square — 4 x 16 x 16 — note, this circle-in-square breeze block design is attributed by Alison King of Modern Phoenix to Phoenix architect Ralph Haver.
  • Square Perk/Turf block — 4 x 16 x 16
• St. Petersburg: Carroll’s Building Materials — The company says it makes some of its breeze blocks and also brings in other designs from other manufacturers (Seems like I see A1 Blocks in their lineup) to sell retail — they have 12 options overall (sizes approx.):
  • Rectangular double X — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular double Y  — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular curvy diamond (Starlight) — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular Double Rectangle — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular Hidden Circle (curvy V) — 4 x 8 x 16
  • 8″ Square Maze — 4 x 8 x 8
  • 12″ Square curvy diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
  • 12″ Square square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
  • 16″ Square Maze — 4 x 16 x 16
  • 16″ Square Cloverleaf/Snowflake — 4 x 16 x 16
  • 16″ Circle-in-Square (Square Peg) — 4 x 16 x 16
  • 16″ Bow and Arrow — 4 x 16 x 16
• Venice:  White Cement Specialities — One design — in two sizes — which they told me they call a “snowflake” but surely is Cloverleaf. 
• Lakeland: Cement Products USA — sells their snowflake design in two sizes, 12 x 12 and 8 x 16.
• Cement Tile Shop — has a showroom in Tampa (and Scottsdale, Florida) — and lots of patterns. The blocks shown on their website are 7.5″ square.
• And, see Best Block listing above.

Where to buy breeze blocks in New York:

• Dagostino Building Blocks, Schenectady, New York, sells at least six designs. Plus, see my Sept. 2019 story here. They sell at 9 designs and a screen block — hooray, they seem to have found a few more forms since I first wrote about them!

Where to buy breeze block in Pennsylvania:

• Fizzano Brothers — 3 decorative designs and two open solar sizes that they both manufacture and sell retail — three locations around Philadelphia. The company also tells me they regularly ship standard concrete block to Lowes in the mid-Atlantic region, roughly NYC to Baltimore. They have had some customers within that geography order screen block and have it put onto the Lowe’s truck to save on shipping; call the company to discuss if you are interested in this option.  Thanks to Frannie for this tip! Sizes approx.:
  • Square Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Rectangular “Double Screen” (like my brothers’) — 8 x 8 x 16
  • Solar — 8 x 8 x 12
  • Solar — 8 x 8 x 16

Where to buy breeze blocks in Kentucky:

• A.C. Krebs — 6 designs + two solar screen blocks (thanks, Jordan!)

Breeze block in Michigan:

• Grand Rapids [check with company for further distribution in Michigan, the Midwest and Canada]: Michigan Certified Concrete Products (since 1946) now offers one design. I’m calling their square-in-square design unique because of the way the edges are rounded. Thanks to reader Anna for this tip!

Screen blocks in Alabama:

• Villa Lagoon Tile now shows 21 breeze block designs in stock and 47 via special order (some of the ‘special order’ blocks seem to be same design as in-stock–but in different finishes. Honestly, my eyes were glazing over!) According to the company, their blocks are different than traditional concrete breeze blocks.  They say, “These hand-made blocks use finer sand aggregate and hydraulic presses, rather than the course cast products of the past. This makes these blocks thinner, smoother….” The tiles look to be 7.5″ square — I didn’t go through each one to check, though.

Breeze block in Hawaii:

• Kapolei: Tile Co. Inc.— 9 options overall (sizes approx.):
  • Square square-in-square — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square curvy diamond — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square Cloverleaf — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square Circle-edged-in-quarter-circles — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Rectangular V — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular V — 4 x 6 x 16
  • Rectangular curvy diamond — 4 x 8 x 16
  • Rectangular curvy diamond — 4 x 6 x 16
  • Rectangular double Y — 4 x 8 x 16

Breeze blocks in Georgia:

• See Best Block listing above.

Breeze block in Arkansas:

Breeze blocks in Tennessee:

• Tankersley Concrete in Lewisburg, TN produces and sells 3 patterns; Thanks to Laura for this tip:
  • Square Flower (Cloverleaf) — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Square Half Moon — 4 x 12 x 12
  • Box-in-Box — 4 x 12 x 12

Breeze block in Texas:

• See Best Block above.
• Austin: D’Hanis Brick & Tile Company — makes 5 designs of Natural Terra Cotta breeze blocks, they call them Solar Tiles. See my full story with product photos here. 
• Austin: Check out Elgin Butler‘s 4 designs of ceramic fire clay (not concrete) breeze block:
  • Square Pattern: 8 x 8 x 8
  • Diamond-In-A-Square Pattern: 8 x 8 x 8
  • Snowflake Pattern: 8 x 8 x 8
  • X Pattern: 8 x 8 x 8
• Austin: Clay Imports — one red clay design imported from Mexico.

Breeze block in Washington State:

• Spokane, Washington — White Block Company makes and sells the cloverleaf. Thanks, Gene, for this tip.

And:

• Check Home Depot — the company’s selection / vendors seems to change over time. Every time I’ve ever updated this story there’s been just one basic option.
• Here is a list of all members (I think) of the National Concrete Masonry Association. If you want to try to find a retailer in your state, get your fingers doing some walking, and see what you turn up. If you do fine more suppliers, we’d love to know and add them to our list, email me. 

Install safely

Be aware, dear readers, that these are ORNAMENTAL blocks. It is my understanding that they are not STRUCTURAL blocks. That is, they are not meant to be load bearing. They are meant to be pretty and even then, to be installed properly so as not to fall over and hurt someone. So use them/install them accordingly — safely — consult with the manufacturer. I am not the expert, so get with pros.

A pause to look at the history of breeze blocks…

Who invented breeze blocks?

American architect Edward Durell Stone is widely recognized as launching breeze blocks into the mid century American mainstream with his award-winning 1954 design for the new American Embassy in New Delhi, India. There, he used screen blocks across the entire width and height of the facade, creating a monumental exterior that was functional, too. Before the embassy building was complete, he used his breeze block design on his own Manhattan townhouse, which led to widespread publicity for the concept. Other companies quickly picked up on the idea and within a few years, with the 1960s at full tilt, breeze blocks were being manufactured across the U.S. to be used on houses and commercial and institutional buildings.

I found two great resources for exploring the history of breeze blocks. First, the 396-page, 2007 thesis on Edward Durell Stone by Mary Anne Hunting traces the most important works of Stone over his career and how their part in the history of modern architecture. Second, the small, more recent book Concrete Screen Block, The Power of Pattern by Ron and Barbara Marshall traces the history of breeze block and its journey throughout its heyday in mid century America from the late 1950s through the early 1970s.

The evolution of breeze blocks

Stone had been playing with the concept of “perforated grilles” for many years prior to the embassy design, Hunting pointed out. Some of Stone’s influences are cited in his 1959 patent for what became known as his “Empress” breeze block design: Works from 1883, 1905, 1922, 1934, and 1953 are all referenced. Hunting also says that Stone traveled throughout India doing research for the embassy design and that his use of the blocks references similar, historical uses of “perforated grilles” in vernacular architecture.

Other influences likely include Belgian architect Auguste Perret’s 1922-23 use of screen blocks in the Notre Dame du Raincy in Le Raincy, France (Stone had visited Perret’s churches), and some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. I also found a 1947 example of chimney block being used essentially like breeze block in a 1947 catalog from Besser Manufacturing Company (Besser was a major manufacturer of concrete masonry units aka concrete blocks).

Indeed, the idea of using decorative tiles and such to create screens that provide some shade against the hot sun but still allow air to flow in has history going back centuries.

All that said, Edward Durell Stone’s dramatic design, plus America’s housing boom — especially in the sun-drenched west, plus the ancient concept of brise-soleil (“sun break”) all seem to have come together at the right time and right place to create this iconic product, the 20th decorative concrete breeze block.

What is the most famous breeze block design?

Edward Durell Stone’s “Empress” design breeze block, patented in 1959, is arguably the most famous breeze block design. He used this design on the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in 1954 and before the embassy could even be finished, along the front of his own townhouse in Manhattan. Note that in his patent, Stone called this “wall block.” You can still get this breeze block from various sources today!

What are all the names for breeze blocks?

The word “breeze block” — most currently used today — seems to have come from the French “brise soleil”, or “sun break.” Edward Durell Stone’s 1959 patent called them wall block. Other terms for breeze block include: Screen block, architectural screen block, screen wall block, solar block, pattern blocks, decor blocks, decorative concrete block, and other variations of these terms. Hunting, in her 2007 thesis, calls them “perforated grilles.”

Breeze blocks reached their peak of popularity in the 1960s

Concrete block manufacturers quickly picked up on Edward Durell Stone’s stylish use of screen block beginning in the mid- to late-1950s. It seems like decorative block walls peaked in popularity in the 1960s — used not only on homes in places like California and Arizona, but also on commercial buildings. At some point in the 1960s or 1970s, they seem to have crossed that line separating “super stylish and trendy” to … dare I say it, “kitsch.” Can there be too much of a good thing? Seems like mid century America’s appetite for breeze blocks was sated.

But… the best of what’s old always is new again. So starting in the 2010s, and-in-hand with the popular revival of mid century and mid century modern residential and interior design, breeze blocks are back.

Breeze block in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Puerto Rico, and more:

I focus on products for the U.S. market, but readers have left comments with these companies — and some of them are FANTASTIC — fun to ogle! 

Canada:

• Niagara Block in Niagara Falls has five designs. “They have quite a few styles, but they don’t have them in stock all the time. Check under “architectural block”.” Family run since 1931.
• Kreitmaker in Toronto has two designs, the Lotus and Diamond pattern.
• See Michigan listing.

Australia:

•  Oh my, the selection! Dee Why, NSW: Besser Block
• Earp Bros. has a lot of designs, which they say are imported from Vietnam — they sure look like Viettiles (see below) to me.

Vietnam:

• Beautiful breeze block designs from Viettiles.

Europe:

• Bradstone in England has concrete cloverleafs.
• Breezeblocks.nl — Netherlands

Brazil:

• Oh my, for indoors: Ceramic Martins.

New Zealand:

• Firth Solar Screen Blocks

Thailand:

• Omni Facade. Thanks to Tony for this tip