Ode to the Often-Disdained Concrete Block

When you need new siding for your house, do you opt for wood or vinyl?  Why?  Are you concerned about cost?  Low maintenance?  Nice looks?

These issues are hardly new. Believe it or not, we've been grappling with these exact questions for centuries. Over time, homeowners (and architects, and builders) have rearranged the cost/maintenance/aesthetics equation into every single permutation. But how people balance these needs tells us a lot about ourselves and what we really think about building materials.

Take the humble concrete block. Concrete is a really old building material-- the Romans used it for everything from temples to aqueducts. Inside the Pantheon, that masterpiece of Roman construction? Yep, that's concrete. Take a second on that one: concrete was the material of choice for what is arguably one of the greatest feats of Roman engineering. Hmmmmm……

In the early twentieth century, concrete experienced a revival. New machines formed it into blocks to be used as building elements in and of themselves. It may sound crazy, but this was the first time someone thought to do that. Some machines made blocks on mass for individual purchase. Others were smaller and intended for purchase by a homeowner. The idea was to keep your concrete block machine on, say, the farm for when you, or maybe your neighbors, needed a new outbuilding.

There's a lot one can do with concrete block. It's like the Lego of its time in that respect. Concrete blocks could be fabricated with a smooth, flat face or with a rough face that emulated stone. Thus, one could create an illusion in material--it could look like stone, but not cost as much as stone. Sound familiar? And, most concrete block machines came with multiple rough faces, so that one could mix and match in a non-repeating pattern. The end result could be a building whose individual blocks closely imitated stone construction. When you see a rough-cast concrete block building, look closely. You might see the same rough face repeated over and over.

The thing to know about concrete block is that it is a deliberate choice. People used it because they thought it was a good idea to do so. Bristol residents were no exception and as a result, we have our fair share of this material around town. Two good places to see it are the northern end of High Street and the corner of Thames and Franklin. On High Street, look at the building foundations on the East side of the street. Concrete block was extremely well suited for this kind of use because its imitation-stone appearance gave the impression of expensive stone without the expense. 

On Thames Street, look at the building. See how the concrete block makes its own decoration through the repeating unit? There is some artistry going on there. Now, look carefully at how the concrete block is set around that big black door. This building was the Franklin Garage, a 55-car parking and repair facility.  The door to the Daily Scoop was one place where you could drive a car into the building. Now, walk up to the which is also concrete block. This was the storefront. See how the different faces of the concrete block are used in different ways? Concrete block is a versatile material. On the Thames Street side, it speaks a “car” vocabulary, but on the Beehive, it's saying “house”.  What a cool thing for a material to do.

One of the best examples of a concrete block building is Leffingwell's Garage.  This adorable building is located on the east side of Metacom Avenue, just a little bit north of .  The building was built in 1922, according to owners Roy and Eric Leffingwell (and the cornerstone of the building, which, by the way, is also a concrete block). They would know: their great grandfather was the one who built it. 

Back then, the family owned the surrounding farm and used the building to service the farm's trucks. It is the perfect example of how concrete block could serve individual needs--need a garage? Here you go!  And, because concrete block is fire resistant, what better choice for a building housing gasoline-powered equipment.  I love that Leffingwell's Garage continues just as it was intended--and, with its original windows, too!

Now that you've seen it, concrete block tends to jump out at you.  Next time you're out for a walk, look around for its understated charm.  I bet you'll be surprised at how much a part of our town it really is.  And, while you're looking, ask yourself whether this is a building material you'd choose to use--and why.