Perfectly Imperfect – Mano Glass Bricks by Eco Outdoor and Tom Fereday

Renowned supplier of architectural surfaces Eco Outdoor has launched a new, first-to-market product offering with the introduction of Mano Glass Bricks, created in a collaboration with celebrated Australian designer Tom Fereday. Part of the larger Mano Bricks Collection, which represents the first time Eco Outdoor has ventured into bricks after two decades specialising in natural stone and timber, Mano Glass Bricks embrace the unique materiality of glass, offering original textures and shapes unlike any glass brick seen before.

The pioneering Mano Bricks Collection encompasses three ranges, divided according to their composition – natural stone, terracotta (cotto) and glass. Meaning ‘hand’ in Italian, the name ‘Mano’ represents the rigorous handmade craftsmanship of every elongated or curved block. Each brick is imprinted with character through its production process that leaves behind inimitable markings and raw imperfections that age gracefully within the material.

Part of the larger Mano Bricks Collection, which represents the first time Eco Outdoor has ventured into bricks after two decades specialising in natural stone and timber, Mano Glass Bricks embrace the unique materiality of glass, offering original textures and shapes unlike any glass brick seen before.

Mano Glass Bricks present an exciting opportunity for designers, with the introduction of raw cast glass in a first-to-market format. Conceived in collaboration with renowned industrial designer Tom Fereday, each rectangular or gently arched brick allows glimpses through its translucent body, inviting light and interaction with its environment. Born of the appreciation for raw materiality and the process of finding beauty in imperfection shared by both Tom and Eco Outdoor, Mano Glass Bricks combine principles of wabi-sabi and artisanal manufacturing techniques to beget a product of lasting integrity and unparalleled individuality.

Uniquely presenting a near-liquid appearance despite their solid state, each hand-cast brick is crafted using 70 per cent recycled glass and 30 per cent quartz sand to form a softly edged segment with an organically tactile surface. Upon closer inspection into the bricks’ lustrous depths, ripples and bubbles are lazily suspended, providing a reminder of their unique existence. “The Mano Collection is a celebration of the beauty and allure of raw cast glass,” reflects Tom. “We began with a traditional Roman brick and then added a unique curved shape, allowing the collection to be used in an intriguing number of ways. It was important for the form to be quiet, to celebrate the material and allow the bricks to be used in large-scale applications. The true beauty of the collection is how it interacts with light, creating translucent walls and connecting indoor and outdoor spaces.”

Prompting users to surpass the usual bounds of brickwork, Mano Glass Bricks are an innovative intersection of the familiar building block with an unexpected materiality. The unprecedented profile opens up a plethora of opportunities for designers, as walls become playful windows of illumination or transform into sculptural statements. Offered in four shapes, including a curved option, the bricks can stack or wrap to realise a dynamic array of design visions. Private whilst welcoming of the light, with a humble yet alluring presence, designers and architects are invited to utilise the bricks’ characteristics to synthesise intriguing environments, indoors and out.

Upon closer inspection into the bricks’ lustrous depths, ripples and bubbles are lazily suspended, providing a reminder of their unique existence.