How we make a mixed patterned Breeze Block wall

How to build a breeze block wall effortlessly

By Clay Imports

Breezeblocks are one of the most versatile building materials you can incorporate into your project. While being installed outdoors, they are strong enough to withstand rain, winds and other climatic conditions and indoors they are an elegant solution to create a wall that can bring privacy and another layer of interior design. This last use is something we wanted to do in our SMA Studio, and it was a big task; a 14 ft tall task. In this article we’ll discuss how we build our breeze block wall, the recommendations we have if you want to use these blocks and hopefully we’ll inspire you to build your own.

Prep work before building a breeze block wall

At its basics, design is a solution to a problem. When form and function work in perfect harmony is when you achieve a successful design element. When creating the SMA Studio, we wanted to push the idea of functionality of a breeze block wall installation while also achieving an unexpected design impact.

This area, where the indoors staircase connects the common areas with the rooms above was the perfect choice for this project. Building the stairwell wall out of the breeze block addressed three problems: 1) facilitating airflow between downstairs and upstairs, 2) ensuring privacy between spaces and 3) providing a safety wall so that people don't fall off the stairs.

If this wall looks massive, is because it is! This wall ended up being 13 ft wide x 14 ft tall; an interesting challenge given the fact that terracotta breeze blocks are only about 2.5” thick. The layout played a key role in this project. We used a combination of Petalo and Ventana Blocks, which complement each other, to create a subtle complexity and break a little the uniformity of the same design, so we have a more appealing result.

If you want to mix and match different breeze blocks, the most important thing to remember is to make sure that the breeze blocks are the same thickness and size. Handmade blocks like these exhibit natural variations, which are inherent traits of natural materials like Terracotta. These variations in thickness and size are not defects but rather a natural part of the product. We highly recommend ordering samples before making a final purchase to confirm and appreciate these natural variations in each tile.

Building a breeze block wall

First, we have to choose the blocks we wanted to use and lay them out to have an idea on how the structure would look like. As we mentioned above, we chose Petalo and Ventana Blocks, but you can mix and match any design you want.

Though there are no design limitations on how you can mix patterns, our general rules are:

Use less of the more complex pattern: This project uses ⅔ of the minimal Ventana and only ⅓ of the intricate Petalo pattern. This gives the eyesight some rest and will spotlight the more complicated design.
Keep half pattern blocks in pairs: This will contribute to more continuity and will harmonize better with the overall look.
Always advise drawing your layout in advance: You can just draw them on your computer or on paper and, if your project size allows you, you could just lay out the blocks on the floor and take a picture. We suggest taking a look at how Ashley Campbell used prints to layout her project.

How to build an indoor breeze block wall

The mortar joints are also reinforced with rebar, along with a cement footing, angle iron support, and a cement cap, ensuring that the wall remains strong without compromising its visual appeal. To increase the visual impact of the wall, we kept all of the technical stuff between the wall and the staircase, making this view absolutely stunning. Take a look at this video of our friend Allie to have a better understanding on how to reinforce the joints and build a concrete footing.

Final steps

Keep in mind that breeze block walls should not serve as structural constructions, but rather as decorative and design elements. The walls you decide to build using breeze blocks should not support a weight heavier than the weight of the same structure.

We decided to keep the natural color of the clay breeze block, but they can be easily painted, as you can learn in this article. You can also use our newest glazed breeze blocks; they are already painted and will last longer, thanks to their glaze coating. Finally, we recommend taking a look at our Clay Care products. These maintenance items have been carefully tested with our products, and they are designed to preserve your tiles' beauty, ensuring their longevity and durability.