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The history of one of Phoenix’s most iconic building materials: Breeze blocks

Breeze blocks in an arid climate
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Breeze blocks in an arid climate.

If you’ve driven at all around the Valley, you’ve likely seen breeze blocks — decorative concrete blocks in front of or on the sides of homes and other buildings. They’re sometimes used in conjunction with more traditional concrete block construction, but not always. And, they’re not only aesthetic, they can also serve a purpose. And, Phoenix is one of just a few places where you can find them.

Taz Khatri, an architect and the person behind Taz Khatri Studios in downtown Phoenix, joined The Show to talk about when people started using breeze blocks as a way to build homes in the Valley.

Full conversation

TAZ KHATRI: Well, it was when there was a huge housing boom in the 1950s, the post-war era when there was a huge population boom and therefore there was a huge housing demand. And really, that's when the block started to become popular because it was manufactured here, it was lightweight and people could build homes really fast.

So they had a lot of benefits. But before then, concrete blocks were really heavy. And there was this group of people here in the Valley that actually figured out how to make them lightweight and that really expanded their use.

MARK BRODIE: And some of these weren't just for construction. Some of them seem to be more decorative, right.

KHATRI: Yeah. Absolutely. And that's the fun part about the, these blocks is not only are they great for building the actual building, but they're also great for decoration, for screening things. And they're really great for, the decorative block is a really neat way to have both see through material and a material that screens. So you kind of have a porous material, but it's also very solid and it's an opportunity for builders to put in a unique twist to a building. And it just, it just, it's sort of a delightful way to use block.

BRODIE: And am I right that in some cases, these are used for shade or other cooling mechanisms, like sort of not necessarily inside the house, but maybe in the yard or in a patio or something.

KHATRI: Yeah, like I'm sure you've heard of the word breeze block. So the breeze block is really to let in breeze and daylight, but it is a really nice screening, privacy screening as well. So that is often how midcentury modern architects used that grid of block as a screen and also just to let breeze in. So you have a sort of a semi-screened front patio.

BRODIE: So it wasn't just an aesthetic thing. It also serves a practical purpose.

KHATRI: Absolutely. And that's sort of the beauty of it for modernism is everything has to have a purpose and that's why these decorative blocks were purposeful so that modernists felt comfortable using them. But also it gave modernists a way to add decoration to a building.

BRODIE: So when you drive by them or walk by these, at least for me, I see them, it immediately screams like early 1960s. Do you, is that sort of the era that comes to mind for you when you see these decorative breeze blocks?

KHATRI: Absolutely. I mean, that's when it was at its peak. And these days, you know, they don't really manufacture a lot of these decorative blocks. And so they kind of went out of fashion, unfortunately, even though they're fantastic. But they really do scream out midcentury, 19th century because that's when they were most popular.

BRODIE: When did they go out of fashion and why?

KHATRI: Well, you know, block has in general, it hasn't gone out of fashion, it's just become much more expensive. So back in the ‘50s, labor was cheaper and manufacturing these blocks was cheaper, but now they're using different mixes and labor is a lot more expensive for masonry. So builders don't use it as much anymore. They use wood frame, which is really quick and cheap.

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An ad for Builders Supply Corporation.

BRODIE: Can you see a time when it sort of comes back and maybe either people are willing to pay for it or the price of the masonry goes down?

KHATRI: I'm not sure about the price going down. But I think, you know, there's definitely the longevity, the durability of the block. It's just a higher quality material, in my opinion, than wood frame.

BRODIE: Did you tend to see, especially the decorative block, was that mostly on homes? Did commercial buildings use it, office buildings use it?

KHATRI: You see it a lot in homes, like as a breeze block in front of people's patios. But I think there are some really beautiful ways that people have used decorative block on commercial buildings or institutional buildings, like a lot of churches from that era and just sort of maybe municipal buildings, things like that.

BRODIE: Yeah, I mean, I guess you see them at the state Capitol, right, on the state House and Senate buildings. They have sort of those, I think they are triangular type shapes that go from sort of above the first floor all the way to the top of the building.

KHATRI: Yeah, exactly. So people found ways to incorporate like creativity in these sort of building materials, which is super cool.

BRODIE: When these were sort of, in their heyday, were builders, like, trying to outdo each other with how they use them or the designs that they were able to come up with for these blocks?

KHATRI: I think so. And I think they became like a real signature of some architects, you know, like Ralph Haver, he even designed one of the breeze blocks himself. So it became sort of a signature material for him.

BRODIE: Were there other areas outside of the Phoenix area that, where this kind of design was as popular as it seems to have been here?

KHATRI: Well, the one place I can think of is Palm Springs. Palm Springs is like the haven of decorative block.

BRODIE: And a lot of mid century modern design there, too.

KHATRI: Yes. So it makes sense. So it's like the haven for really great midcentury modern design. So you can see a lot of great decorative block there.

BRODIE: But it never really caught on beyond those two places?

KHATRI: I guess not. I guess it's really unique to the Southwest. And I think it's a really unique asset that we have here in Phoenix that makes Phoenix a unique place.

BRODIE: So as an architect, do you see that when people maybe, you know, for example, buy a midcentury home and they're going to either tear it down or gut it and make it more, more contemporary. Is there an effort for those homes that have this kind of decorative block to keep it or incorporate it in some other way? Are people thinking about this when they're renovating homes from the ‘50s and ‘60s?

KHATRI: I think. Absolutely. People are thinking about it because they're so those decorative blocks are so valuable from that era, especially because there aren't a lot of contemporary examples of decorative blocks. So people, definitely what I've seen is try to maintain those and not tear them down and things like that.

And then there's also an effort to keep the block construction of a home because that's also unique because contemporary homes are not going to be block. So, I think that's something that people like to show off as well.

BRODIE: The fact that their home is actually made of the cinder block.

KHATRI: Exactly. So, that's a point of pride because it's unusual now.

BRODIE: Interesting. And so, like, do you find, I know that it's more expensive but are there builders that do this? Like, is it ever done that a new home or new building is built with blocks?

KHATRI: Absolutely. Oh, it's done all the time, especially like block is used a lot in education, in sort of like high use buildings where, because it's very durable. So a kid isn't going to kick the wall and break it in, you know.

BRODIE: They might break their foot if they try.

KHATRI: Exactly. So they use that a lot in schools, but in homes, like custom homes, homes that are a little bit more higher end, you know, people will use block because it is a durable and beautiful material.

KJZZ's The Show transcripts are created on deadline. This text is edited for length and clarity, and may not be in its final form. The authoritative record of KJZZ's programming is the audio record.

Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.
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