Dalle de verre is a glass technique in which thick (15-30 mm) coloured glass blocks are set into a carrier of concrete or epoxy resin, producing decorative glass-and-concrete panels. The technique was developed in France in the 1920s-1930s and is mainly used in modern churches, civic buildings and art façades.
Origin and development
The term comes from French and literally means ‘glass slab’ or ‘glass tile’. The pioneer was the French glass artist Jean Gaudin, followed especially by the glassmakers of the Hébert-Stevens studio. After the Second World War the technique became internationally popular for the reconstruction of churches — used by architects such as Auguste Perret and Le Corbusier.
Build-up and technique
A dalle de verre panel is made in four steps:
- Glass selection — thick glass blocks (dalles) in many colours, often with a rough, faceted surface
- Faceting — the glass blocks are chipped or ground to shape, frequently with a pointed edge to enhance light refraction
- Formwork — a mould or formwork is built into which the glass blocks are laid
- Casting — concrete or epoxy is poured around the blocks, curing into a single panel
The resulting panels are self-supporting and can be placed directly into façades or roof openings.
Characteristics
- Thick and heavy — not comparable to traditional stained glass; panels weigh 80-120 kg/m²
- Strong colour effect — deeply saturated colours thanks to the thickness of the glass
- Light refraction — the faceted blocks create radiant plays of light
- Structurally strong — suitable as a façade infill or roof light
Application
Dalle de verre is mainly used in:
- Churches and chapels — famous examples include Notre-Dame du Raincy near Paris (Perret, 1923) and Le Corbusier’s chapel at Ronchamp (1955)
- Public buildings — town halls, schools, hospitals
- Modern villas — as a façade accent in place of traditional stained glass
- Art works — as a stand-alone art object or wall composition
In the United Kingdom, dalle de verre features in works by glass artists such as Patrick Reyntiens and several mid-20th-century Roman Catholic churches.
Related terms
- Stained glass
- Painted glass
- Glass block
- Concrete
- Façade infill
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