Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 10/26/2007

Question
I am trying to determine what is the name of the exterior window panels that adorned the masonry/cinder block homes in Florida in the 40-50's. These 3 dimensional panels look to be made of cement and have art such as palm trees, flowers, tropical birds, etc. They were used, like shutters, on each side of the front facing exterior windows of these homes and were somehow attached to the building itself as a decoration and no functionality. I cannot for the life of me find out what these are called. i want to try and find some for my own cinder block home built in 1951 or try to recreate with a DIY casting or mold. Thanks for your assistance

Answer
Cheri - thanks for your question!

There's no formal name that I know of, but what you're talking about are simply decorative (or architectural) concrete blocks.  In every other way but the face, they're exactly like the rest of the concrete blocks that your house is made of.

Frank Lloyd Wright popularized the use of similar elements on the West coast in the early 1900's.

They're still made for similar applications, although mostly for commercial applications.  Try Googling "decorative concrete block" and "architectural concrete block" and see what comes up.

You might contact your local building supply house for some leads on where to find them or have them made for you.  Have you checked with your local historical society?  You might also find more info there.

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtaplans.com
www.rtastudio.com