Blockwork house: The Pros & Cons of Concrete Block House Construction | Home Guides

When considering masonry construction, you mainly have two options to choose from – brickwork or blockwork. The two are quite common in the building industry but each has its own benefits and downsides. Therefore, you have to pay attention to the pros and cons to make the right decision regarding the best masonry technique between the two.

Brickwork

Brickwork is quite common because most homeowners prefer to use it on the exterior of houses due to its aesthetic value. Apart from that, brick is quite strong and has a great ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. Although brickwork is more expensive compared to blockwork, it is still attractive for those looking for a low maintenance and long lasting walling solution.

Blockwork

Blockwork is a method of construction that uses cement blocks and large concrete. These blocks are usually larger than normal-sized bricks. However, they are lighter because they have a hollow center, which makes them easier to work with. Blocks are usually used for construction due to their ease of use and cost effectiveness. Although many options for blockwork do exist in the market, blocks are usually rendered. This means that their appearance does not really matter.

Which is Stronger between Brickwork and Blockwork?

Brickwork and blockwork are both quite strong. However, their strength is usually influenced by the quality and type of mortar used to attach them together. All concrete blocks are required to have a compressive strength of about 1900 pounds per square inch. However, many dense blocks are stronger than this. This is because the average concrete block can withstand 3500psi and the average brick should withstand about 3000psi.

Other Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Brickwork and Blockwork

You need to have a look at many other factors when selecting between brickwork and blockwork. This part of the article looks at exactly that.

• Insulation Value

Normal brick walls usually have an insulation value of about 0.2 per square inch. To compare this, plywood has an R-value of 2.5. Brickwork thus has an insulation value comparable to other wood-framed homes. On their part, normal concrete blocks have an R-value of 0.08 per square inch or close to 2.5 for the entire block. Insulated concrete blocks can see an improvement in their R-value to about 1. 3 per square inch. Air-entrained concrete blocks can have an R-value of about 3.9.

• Weight

Bricks and blocks are quite heavy. Their specific weight depends on the type of construction and the material used. 8-inch conventional blocks weight about 43 pounds each while one clay brick weight about 5 pounds. It is good to note that a lightweight concrete block can contain about 80% air, making it weigh as little as 20% of a same-sized conventional block.

• Cost

Blockwork and brickwork are both quite inexpensive compared to other types of building materials. One clay brick and one 8-inch concrete block cost between $1 and $2. However, special lightweight blocks can cost $3-$4 each. Despite this, blockwork and brickwork requires a lot of labor, which can bring up the cost significantly.

Which is the Best Masonry between Brickwork and Blockwork?

As you have seen, brickwork and blockwork can be quite different. Therefore, the choice between the two comes down to how you want to build your house, the look you want to achieve, and the flexibility you want to enjoy when building. The cost of both brick and block in your local market can also influence your choice. Some homeowners may prefer brick masonry because they are looking to have lesser maintenance in the future despite the high cost of building that they will incur. On the side, other homeowners may go for blockwork because they are looking to have less cost of construction at the onset then conduct small maintenance along the way in order to keep the blocks properly maintained.

Both brickwork and blockwork masonry are strong, durable, and fire-resistant building materials. They contain thermal mass, which makes them able to retain heat, making up for their low insulation capability. Despite these similarities, the two can be quite different. Therefore, if you are looking to construct a new home or renovate an existing one, it is a great idea to learn the differences between the two. Doing this goes a long way in enabling you to make a proper decision. This article has shown you the key differences. You should hence be well informed when looking for a strong masonry material for your house. If you are still in doubt, you might want to speak to a professional for assistance.

A Structural Engineer Explains What is a Besser Block

A Besser Block (sometimes known as a Bessa Block) is a hollow, rectangular concrete building block used in the construction of the walls of houses, offices, multi-storey apartment blocks and industrial buildings.

The usefulness of a Besser block comes from its modular sizes and easy to lay courses. The structural integrity of a Besser Block comes from steel reinforcing bars laid vertically (droppers) and horizontally (bond beams and lintels) in special Besser Blocks called “knock-out blocks”.

What is the Standard Size of a Besser Block?

Besser blocks are made to suit a nominal 200mm metric system (known as 200 series blockwork) when you take into account 10mm grout between blocks.

Off the shelf, a standard Besser Block measures 390mm long x 190mm high x 190mm wide. But when it is laid in a 10mm mortar then those dimensions become 400mm long x 200mm high (x 190mm wide).

You can also find Besser blocks in these sizes:

• 390mm long x 190mm high x 140mm wide. (known as 150 series blockwork).
• 190mm long x 190mm high x 190 wide.
• 390mm long x 190mm high x 290mm wide (300 series blockwork).
• 390mm long x 190mm high x 90mm wide (100 series bricks)

In construction, concrete Besser Blocks are stacked in layers called courses with half a block offset in what is called a stretcher bond.

Besser blocks are ‘glued’ together with cement mortar joints. This is just a concrete glue trowelled between individual blocks to hold them together.

Steel reinforcement is placed horizontally in special blocks called knockout blocks as the wall is built. Steel reinforcement is also placed vertically in some of the hollow cores once a certain height of the block wall is built.

Concrete masonry block

Once the mortar has cured, a wall height of concrete block is filled with a special, flowable mix of concrete called grout (a mix of cement, sand, and water that often uses smaller stones than normal concrete) to fill all or some of the hollow cores.

In Australia, it is now common practice to fill all of the hollow cores with grout. Even though more grout is used, builders find filling all cores with grout faster which ends up saving money.

Besser Blocks Also Known As

In other parts of the world, Besser Blocks are also known as concrete blocks, grey blocks, breeze blocks, and cinderblock construction.

In Australia, the common name for concrete blocks is Besser Block which comes from a prominent concrete block moulding equipment manufacturer, Besser.

Besser block wall with raft slab

Besser block retaining wall and raft slab

Raft slab and concrete masonry wall

Besser blocks come in a variety of sizes. The most common block widths in Australian construction are 140mm (150 Series ) and 190mm (200 Series).

What are Besser Blocks Made From?

Besser blocks are made from concrete – a mix of sand, cement, water, stones, oxides, and additives.

The holes and sides of Besser Blocks are formed in a factory using a mould. Then the blocks are steam cured, wrapped and delivered to construction sites on pallets.

What are Besser Blocks Used For?

Concrete blocks, when reinforced with vertical and horizontal steel reinforcement, are conventionally used to form external load-bearing walls in residential houses.

Concrete Besser Blocks can also be used to form retaining walls and even elevator walls in buildings up to 8 storeys.

Do Besser blocks need to be filled?

Unfilled Besser blocks do not have much strength and so yes, Besser blocks need to be filled with steel reinforcement and concrete to make them strong enough to sideways loads like wind loads.

If a Besser block is only supporting vertical down loads like the weight of a floor or a roof then unfilled blocks might be ok – but it is really unusual to have a Besser block wall that doesn’t need to be filled with concrete.

How to Build a House with Besser Blocks

When hollow concrete blockwork is reinforced with steel reinforcement and filled with concrete it becomes a very strong, durable external wall.

The best manuals for building with Besser Blocks are available at CMAA. https://www.cmaa.com.au/Technical/Manuals/technical-manuals

How to Build a Besser Block Retaining Wall

A Besser block retaining wall can be built by a builder, a landscape gardener or by a professional block layer.

The best manual we have found for the design of Besser block retaining walls is available for free from CMAA Besser Block Retaining Walls.

For walls over 1m in height in Brisbane, you’ll need a structural engineer to design and specify the walls. Yes. We can help with that.

Why Are Besser Blocks Popular?

Besser Blocks are a popular form of construction because of several useful characteristics:

• When reinforced and filled with concrete, concrete block walls provide substantial structural strength and stability in residential houses. In cyclone areas, concrete walls are used because they have excellent impact resistance and have high bracing (racking capacity).
• When partially filled, concrete blocks have useful sound and fire insulating properties.
• For those looking for a different look, fancy architectural blocks are available from some suppliers including polished face blocks. These blocks are always a bit more expensive because they are denser concrete and have to be laid neatly.
• Besser blocks when laid below ground and reinforced can be used to retain fill under the slab.

Raised raft slab on sloping site with Besser blocks under the slab level

Besser Block Alternatives

If you want to build a strong wall or retaining wall but don’t want to use Besser blocks, these are your options:

• Formed reinforced concrete. Reinforced concrete walls have to be formed up and poured and are normally built by experienced concreters. Reinforced concrete walls are extremely strong, can be built as curved walls or as straight walls, can have openings of any shape and do not need to stick to standard thicknesses as Besser blocks do. However, reinforced concrete walls are normally more expensive than Besser block walls of similar dimensions.
• Dry stack blocks. Even though some will tell you that Besser blocks can be dry-stacked it is rarely done. Reliance on a fibre-reinforced skim coat inside and out is just too hard to get right so dry stack blocks could well crack. Yes, dry stack blocks eliminate the need for a professional block layer but then dry stacking blocks is not really the work of a home DIYer – well at least it should not be.
• Pre-cast reinforced concrete walls.  Precast concrete walls are poured flat on the ground and then lifted into position when the concrete has cured. They are normally used on industrial and commercial buildings where the scale of the job permits multiple panels of reinforced concrete walls to be poured in stacks and then lifted into place when all of the wall pieces have cured.
• Double brick reinforced walls. Double brick walls will traditionally be thicker than Besser block walls and the reinforcement between the leaves of brickwork must be installed carefully. This style of the wall will appeal to those looking for the aesthetic of brickwork but the strength of concrete.
• Aerated concrete blocks. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is light-weight concrete by the fact it is manufactured to have lots of tiny holes in the concrete. AAC can be reinforced with steel reinforcing to improve its strength. This product makes it into fewer buildings than Besser blocks because even though it is easy to cut and carry, it just doesn’t have the strength or the durability of conventional concrete blocks.
•  Insulating concrete forms. These light-weight core filled blocks are stacked by hand and then filled with reinforcement and concrete. They have handy insulating properties and can be cut on-site to suit the wall layout. Their disadvantage compared to Besser blocks is their durability. They don’t handle impact very wall and when used as retaining walls have to be carefully waterproofed.

Besser Block Adhesive

Yes, Besser blocks can be glued together. Construction adhesives used to glue concrete Besser blocks should be strong, durable glues that can hold blocks together.

However, if you intend to use block adhesive in a structural application like a retaining wall or the wall of a house, your structural engineers will need to specify the glue you use on the drawings.

This is because the calculations structural engineers do to determine the strength of a wall takes into account the type of glue or mortar that is used between the blocks.

Take care if substituting a structural adhesive for the mortar that in some commercial, residential and industrial walls the mortar and Besser block needs to be fire rated so the type of glue you use should also be fire rated.

Besser block Anchors

When fixing things to a Besser block wall you will need to determine if the wall is core filled or if the core you are fixing to is not filled.

You will need to use a different anchor to fix to a Besser block wall that is not core filled.

For the core filled and reinforced Besser block wall, the type o anchor you use will need to be strong enough for the type of load you are applying to the anchor and wall.

Options for anchors include chemical anchors, mechanical anchors, and screw-in anchors.

For structural applications like fixing a beam to a Besser block wall, the anchors and brackets should all be specified by an experienced structural engineer.

Clay Block Walls instead of Besser Blocks

In Australia, the structural design of clay blocks is often based on the excellent series of design and user manuals produced by the Concrete Masonry Association of Australia.

However, a first-principles design is guided by the Australian standard AS3700.

A lot of the principles of reinforcement and construction are similar to Bbesser block construction except the reinforced clay bricks do not need to be rendered and have the look of brick walls inside and out.

Don’t be confused. Reinforced clay bricks look very much like thicker single skin brick walls and this appearance has already confused a few experienced structural engineers.

Reinforced clay bricks suffer from the fact that they are only 150mm wide which makes it critical that the reinforcement is placed carefully in the middle of the blocks for maximum corrosion protection.

Besser Block Pools

Cornell Engineers has specified and supervised quite a few well-built Besser block reinforced concrete masonry pools.

The only trick is to have the pool walls and base filled with concrete in a single pour.

The only other trick is to dimension the pool base and walls appropriately so that the water and soil loads on the walls of the pool are transferred to the pool base.

There is an excellent concrete masonry pool guide located on the Shoalhaven Pools Website.

Besser block pool before being filled with concrete.

Construction Issues with Concrete Blocks

• Besser blocks are not waterproof. The external face of concrete cinder blocks needs to be waterproofed to prevent water penetration. Consult your block layer to determine your preferred waterproofing system.

• Waterproofing is especially important where concrete blocks are used as retaining walls for liveable space.
• Water coming through concrete masonry walls is often seen as efflorescence, a white crystalline salt on the surface of concrete masonry walls.
• Wall heights of more than 2500mm need to be filled in stages about 30 minutes apart to allow the grout to partially cure and become less fluid. This reduces the internal pressure of the grout on the concrete blocks.
• Standard concrete masonry wall heights in residential construction are 2500mm (2100 to the top of doors and windows and a full 2-course’ bond beam’ at the top of the wall and over openings; and 2700mm (2100mm to top of doors and windows and a full 3-course’ bond beam’ at the top of the wall and over openings.
• Blockwork control joints are 10mm wide vertical breaks in concrete masonry walls to allow differential movement of adjacent panels. Their use is optional is fully reinforced concrete masonry walls in residential walls. Their use is highly recommended in retaining walls longer than 10m.

Concrete Masonry Needs Reinforcement

Besser Block Architecture

An exposed concrete masonry Besser block wall, especially if the concrete is polished and coloured, looks fantastic. Take special care that normally one face of the wall will be the featured face and the other side will normally be hidden. It’s just too hard to get enough face perfect Besser blocks in a batch to create a double-sided feature wall.

These exposed Besser block walls are especially suitable for architectural homes. The solid integrity of a reinforced concrete Besser block combined with the aesthetics of an exposed face is simply breathtaking.

Even though these walls are architecturally inspired, the walls are an integral component of the structure.

More about Efflorescence on Besser Blocks

When moisture comes through a Besser block wall it is often visible as efflorescence (white salty crystal) that gets drawn out of the blockwork and remains when the moisture evaporates.

At its most basic level, these salt crystals indicate that water has or is leaching through the wall. Whether this moisture is bad or not depends on the situation. Moisture leaching into a garage is not as bad as moisture leaching into a liveable space.

While the efflorescence can be removed with efflorescence remover, the source of the moisture should be investigated first and remedied if possible.

If the moisture that is causing the efflorescence is from the ground behind a retaining wall perhaps the issue is poor drainage of the soil. Maybe the efflorescence is being caused by a broken pipe behind the wall. Perhaps the drainage system behind the retaining wall has failed.

Rectification might involve improving the drainage behind the wall, reinstating the waterproofing membrane, improving surface drainage, installation of a cut off trench or waterproofing the exposed surface of the retaining wall.

Contact a structural engineer if you are concerned with efflorescence and don’t know how to solve the issue that it indicates.

How deep should a footing be for a block wall?

The footing for a block wall should be designed by a structural engineer. The design is based on a few things:

• the height and therefore the weight of the blockwork wall.
• the bearing capacity (load carrying capacity) of the foundation soil.
• the site reactivity (clayeyness) of the soil.
• the presence and depth of soft soil and loose fill.
• whether the block wall is retaining soil.

It is easy enough to find a structural engineer to design a block wall and footing for you. Contact your local structural engineering association to obtain a list of local structural engineers that can design masonry structures.

Besser block homes are extremely popular in North Queensland. They have excellent strength, durability and are easy to cyclone rate. I’m surprised they aren’t used more in the rest of Australia.

Contact Us today to get us to design your Besser Block home.

Concrete Masonry Walling Technical Manuals
Besser Block Centre
Nudgee Road Landscape Supplies
Adbri Masonry

Blockwork internal wall myths busted! | Abode New Homes

There are so many myths about block internal walls in Darwin that unsuspecting buyers seem to believe they are the best option without knowing the truth.   We just want to make sure when you are investing your hard-earned cash into your future that you have all of the information before making a decision that is right for you!

Blocks used to build internal walls are only held together by the mortar between them (shear walls excluded) so there is absolutely no structural element to them, they are not filled with concrete and are not tied together, making them very susceptible to movement, in fact more than any other internal wall construction method.   Below is a very good example of how movement cracks appear in blockwork homes.  Once this happens, which it does often, the repair costs are huge!

Yes… it is a lot harder to put your foot through a blockwork wall but… if you hit a gyprock wall hard enough to break through it, then it is very likely that you would have moved your blockwork wall and you too will start to see cracks like these below.

The image below is from a 6yr old home in Durack in the Northern Territory where the owner contacted us for help after their ceiling fell down due to the movement of their block walls and metal roof trusses, their original builder was nowhere to be found to cover the repair costs which were in the thousands and not covered by insurance!

Myth 2 – Block work Internal walls are harder to damage!

The concrete render on block work is easily damaged in fact much easier than plasterboard.  The challenge with block rendered walls is that when you try to repair a small patch you are left with unsightly marks on the wall with different textures that don’t match the rest of the wall so… repairing a small patch without it being unsightly means re-rendering the entire wall which is expensive!

Gyprock internal walls may crack or become damaged too, but they are easily fixed by any handyman and do not require any specials tools or skills.   With plasterboard if you are not happy with the finish of a patch once the first coat of paint is applied then you can sand it down until you are satisfied.   Unfortunately,  this is not the case with concrete…once it sets it’s set regardless of if you are happy!  The image below shows how the different textures make block render impossible to repair easily.

Myth 3 – No need to worry about Termites

Another myth is that if you have block work internal walls you don’t need to worry about termites but…this is definitely not the case.  Termites love to eat everything from your wiring to the plasterboard in your ceiling to the kitchen cupboards so at no point in time can you afford to become complacent with your termite management plan regardless of what your home is constructed from.  Our standard finish is guaranteed for 50yrs against termites if you keep your annual termite inspections up to date.

Myth 4 – Block work Internal walls keep the home cooler!

This one always fasinates me…I thought it was pretty common knowledge that concrete retains heat you only have to walk barefooted on a cool night along a concrete path to feel the temperature difference the same theory applies to your home.   Once your blockwork home heats up in the wet season it’s near impossible to cool it down without a very large electricity bill from running the air conditioners at peak performance to cope.  With gyprock walls once the ambient temperature drops so does the temperature of the walls and your home meaning lower cooling costs which is a bonus!

More information can be found here under the heading Hot Humid (tropical) climates.

Myth 5 –  Blockwork is a superior finish!

A lot of people believe that blockwork is a superior finish and anything else is a cheap option, this makes us laugh, as again it’s a myth spread by uneducated builders…blockwork is the cheap and nasty option for internal walls that has no future benefits to help the homeowner reduce maintenance or energy costs at all.  At Abode New Homes we know the most superior product on the market is a Gyprock Timber internal frame system,  our frames are treated LVL timber(Laminated Veneer Lumber aka reconstituted timber)  that means it’s guaranteed not to move, warp or attract termites and it’s a lot stronger and more stable than blockwork or steel frames.   When I say steel frames most builders use a very flexible light weight product that is flimsy (shear walls excluded), also in our climate steel is extremely susceptible to expansion and contraction in the heat – again resulting in the unsightly cracking and movement in your home.   Our timber is covered by a 50 warranty against mould, mildew and termites.  We have been using this product since our inception over 15years ago and have not had any recalls from clients, in fact we have seen other builders start to follow and adapt to this product and method as well.   By using timber, it allows us to provide a finish inside the home on completion that is second to none, with timber door jambs and architraves, beautiful bulkheads and not to mention our trades love working on our sites due to it’s ease of use and superior finish.  The other thing to mention if you are concerned for the environment timber is the world’s most environmentally friendly building product, it’s natural, reusable, recyclable and sustainable, by choosing timber products you are helping the environment.   Of course, if we have a client that has their heart set on blockwork even after doing all of their research then we will happily accommodate their needs.

Over 500 happy home owners have trusted us with their investment and we are only too happy to help you too!  Feel free to give us a call on 08 8932 9999.

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We have an awesome house thanks to awesome people and we moved in 8 weeks early!”

Alison & Scott

You can tell a good builder by the after sales service… yours has been great!”

Lee & Kathy

Our house started at the same time as our neighbour. We have had a dream run, moved in early and would build with Abode again. Our neighbour doesn’t have the same feelings for their builder.”

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pluses and minuses, feedback from residents

Block construction can be considered one of the most common ways of building residential and industrial facilities. This article will consider the pros and cons of a block house, both multi-storey and in the country, reviews of residents and builders. In addition, a comparative description of block and panel houses will be given.

What is a block house?

The building material for a block house is ready-made concrete products manufactured at reinforced concrete structures plants using a special technology. They are delivered to the construction site completely ready for use and stacked according to the project. Unlike prefabricated houses, concrete blocks are held together not by welding, but by cement mortar.

The most significant difference between block and panel houses is the wall thickness. The thickness of a standard concrete block is 400 mm, while an equal-strength panel has a thickness of 140 to 180 mm. Such a significant difference is due to the fact that the panels have steel reinforcement inside.

Another difference is the method of fastening. The slabs are connected using metal fastening plates and electric welding, unlike block structures, which are held together with ordinary cement mortar.

Advantages and disadvantages of a block apartment building

The use of blocks in the construction of apartment buildings provides many advantages.

Advantages of a block house in the city

The main advantages can be considered:

• high sound insulation . Since the thickness of the inter-apartment walls is 400 mm, extraneous sounds practically do not enter the apartment;
• great potential for redevelopment . Most projects do not have carriers inside the apartment, which allows you to implement any design solutions;
• large loggia area. Modern projects of houses provide for spacious comfortable balconies. On such a loggia, you can equip an office, a workshop or even a children’s playroom;
• high fire safety . The structures do not contain any combustible materials and fully comply with all the requirements of the fire inspection;
• environmental protection . The composition of concrete blocks includes only natural ingredients. They do not cause allergies and do not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere;
• high strength . The material is able to withstand significant mechanical loads and temperature fluctuations.

Along with the advantages listed above, block apartment buildings also have significant disadvantages.

Cons of a block multi-storey building

The disadvantages of block apartment buildings include:

• low ceilings . Most house projects provide for a ceiling height of no more than 2.5 m, which is not enough for the installation of stretch ceilings or equipment for suspended systems made of plasterboard or plastic;
• frost protection . With insufficient heating and poor ventilation of the apartment, the walls can freeze through. This can lead to the appearance of mold and fungus in the apartment;
• small apartment area . Due to the design features, the living area of ​​​​apartments in such houses is small, especially for the kitchen and the corridor;
• low moisture resistance . The material intensively absorbs moisture, therefore, it needs waterproofing, a ventilated facade or other methods of protection.

In addition to multi-apartment residential buildings, concrete blocks can be used in the construction of a country or country house.

Advantages and disadvantages of a block house in the country

For the construction of country cottages, the use of blocks 400 mm wide is not advisable. During the construction of country houses, blocks are used, the overall dimensions of which are 390x190x190 mm.

Advantages

The most significant advantages of a cottage made of concrete blocks include:

• economy. With the same area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe bearing wall, brickwork will cost twice as much;
• frost resistance. Depending on the brand of concrete, blocks can withstand from 20 to 200 cycles of freezing and thawing;
• long service life. Concrete is a strong and durable material. Buildings made of concrete blocks can last 80 years or more without major repairs;
• high construction speed . The speed of construction of buildings from concrete blocks is 15-20% higher than from bricks;
• seismic resistance . Reinforced concrete structures are able to withstand not only earthquakes, but also other natural disasters;
• easy installation. You can build a house from concrete blocks on your own, without involving specialists.

Along with the advantages listed above, a country house made of concrete blocks has a number of disadvantages.

Cons

The use of concrete blocks in suburban construction is limited by the following factors:

large mass. The standard unit weighs 17.5 kg. With such a mass of the product, independent laying is extremely difficult, especially for the upper rows;

high thermal conductivity. This disadvantage entails additional material costs associated with the thermal insulation of the building;

unattractive appearance. As a rule, a concrete block house needs additional decorative finishing in the form of plaster or a ventilated facade, which also entails additional costs.

From the above, it follows that before starting the construction of a cottage or country house, it is necessary to take into account not only the cost of the blocks themselves. The estimate can significantly increase the costs associated with thermal insulation and finishing.

Block or monolithic house: what is better

Let’s compare block and monolithic construction according to several main criteria.

1. Strength properties . Monolithic walls are much more durable. This is due to the absence of seams, the presence of which significantly reduces strength.
2. Operating time . The service life of a monolithic wall is longer. Here again the problem lies in the presence of seams. Even if the blocks themselves can last about 100 years, the depressurization of the seams will occur much earlier.
3. Heat capacities . Block walls retain heat worse. The reason is again interblock seams, which in this case play the role of “cold bridges”.
4. Price . The cost of even reinforced concrete is significantly lower than the cost of concrete blocks. In addition, work on pouring monolithic walls is cheaper than laying block materials.
5. Construction pace . Laying block materials will require more time than erecting a monolithic frame or wall.

The above comparative characteristics clearly testify in favor of monolithic-frame buildings.

Feedback from tenants living in block houses

Nikolai Stepanovich, Kaluga

As soon as they bought an apartment in a new block house, they immediately started redevelopment. There were practically no load-bearing walls inside the apartment, which greatly simplified the process. Now the apartment fully meets our requirements. As for the freezing of the walls, mold and the like, nothing of the kind has been noticed so far.

Dmitry Nikolaevich, Rostov

We have a corner apartment in a block building. Last winter there were severe frosts and condensation appeared on the walls. In order to prevent the appearance of fungus and other troubles, they hastily made waterproofing and insulated the walls with foam and drywall. A little lost in the area, but now no problem.

Oleg Viktorovich, Saratov

The year before last, a small house of concrete blocks was built at the dacha. During the construction process, no serious difficulties arose, except for the heavy material. The house is solid and reliable. Outside sheathed with siding, inside pasted wallpaper. We didn’t freeze anything in winter, but there is no hint of mold and fungus. I think it will last at least 50 years.

Roman Andreevich, Moscow region

Our country house is built of concrete blocks, a ventilated corrugated facade is mounted on the outside. Even in the most severe frosts, the house is warm and comfortable, no condensation appears on the walls. The basement was waterproofed with liquid glass. Maybe a monolithic-frame house is better, but so far we have nothing to complain about.

Despite the fact that the technology of block construction is inferior to the monolithic frame method, apartments in block houses are in rather high demand. Ample opportunities for redevelopment, excellent sound insulation and a high degree of fire safety are the most significant advantages of such apartments.

What is the difference between a panel house and a block house

In the construction industry, panel and block houses are among the most popular and regularly built. What are those and others?

Contents of the article

• What is a panel house?
• What is a block house?
• Comparison
• Table

What is a panel house?

panel houses include buildings that are built, respectively, with the help of special panels – mainly reinforced concrete. They are characterized by a rather large size: the height of the walls in the houses of this type, as a rule, corresponds to the width of the building panels.

The houses in question are usually built fairly quickly and at relatively low economic cost. This circumstance largely predetermined the prevalence of panel residential buildings in the USSR and other socialist countries. At the same time, in Western countries, such houses are not uncommon.

The design of panel structures has a number of disadvantages. First of all, those panels that are most often used in the construction of the respective houses are of a size that allows for relatively low ceiling heights in the rooms. As a rule – no more than 2.5 meters.

Panel houses are usually not characterized by a high level of noise insulation, they require rather high energy costs for space heating. Many of the related structures have a simplified design, similar to most others built using similar technology. But the panels used for the construction of houses of this type can be additionally decorated with the participation of experienced designers and look very attractive as a result.

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It is rather difficult to carry out redevelopment in panel houses. This is due to the fact that the panels involved in the design are monolithic, they cannot be disassembled. The only actual option is to break them with a puncher, which is very laborious and noisy.

But it is worth noting that modern panel houses, thanks to the development of building technologies, can be deprived of these shortcomings. The panels that are used in their construction can be ordered in any desired quantity and at an affordable price in the optimal size – in order to ensure sufficient ceiling height.

Panel bonding technologies in modern homes provide a good level of heat and sound insulation. This is also facilitated by more technologically advanced materials used to produce panels. Some modifications of the relevant materials are much easier to perforate than, for example, reinforced concrete, in case the apartment needs to be redevelopment.

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What is a block house?

Houses of this type are built, respectively, from blocks, which are most often made, as in the case of panels, from reinforced concrete. But, as a rule, their value is relatively small: quite rarely the height of the walls in the houses in question corresponds to the width of one block (as is possible when using panels for the construction of houses of the first type). Reinforced concrete in block houses can be supplemented with other components – such as, for example, expanded clay.

Due to the noted design feature of block houses (when the height of the walls corresponds to the width of several blocks), it is much easier to redevelop them technically – but in fact it is undesirable, since when changing the structure of the walls in the buildings under consideration, there is a risk of eliminating the support of the ceiling slab, due to what it can collapse.

Block houses were also widespread in the USSR – due to the standardization and relative simplicity of the production of blocks involved in the construction of such structures. Block projects to some extent competed with those that involved the construction of housing for citizens using panels.

In the modern construction industry, the construction of houses of this type is also quite common. For block structures built using traditional technologies, the same disadvantages are characteristic as for panel houses: a rather low level of sound insulation, relatively high heating costs. But with the use of modern materials, they can be largely eliminated.

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Comparison

The main difference between a panel house and a block house is the use of those panels during the construction of the first, the width of which in most cases corresponds to the height of the ceilings in the rooms. The blocks involved in the construction of houses of the second type are usually several times less than the designed ceiling height. In other aspects (the material for the manufacture of the main building elements, indicators of heat and sound insulation, the possibility of redevelopment) of the type of structure under consideration are very similar.

Having studied the difference between a panel house and a block house, we will reflect the conclusions in the table.

back to contents Panels and blocks used for the construction of the structures under consideration are made of reinforced concrete The considered types of houses are similar in terms of heat and sound insulation characteristics, they are difficult to re-plan What is the difference between them? Made from panels whose width matches the height of the ceilings in the rooms Made from blocks whose width, as a rule, is several times less than the height of the ceilings

Block house – all the features of 9002 houses of enlarged blocks appeared in the 50s of the last century as a solution to increase the pace of housing construction.

At first they tried to use blocks assembled from bricks at the factory, but later only concrete ones were used.

Series of block houses

All residential block houses in the metropolitan area were built according to standard projects in the period from 1954 to 1967.

Series II-04 and II-05 were the first, on which the technology was worked out and the cost of construction of block buildings was estimated. There are not so many of these houses, but some of them are built with 6 – 8 floors and are equipped with an elevator.

Block house series II-04

Block 8-9-storey one-access towers of series II-18 are most widely used in Moscow. More than 850 of them were built in Moscow, and they became the first mass-produced Khrushchevs to receive an elevator and a garbage chute.

Houses of series II-18

Block houses of the All-Union series 1-439 and 1-467 were built in the Moscow region and in a small number in Moscow. These series, in addition to the five-story ones, also had nine-story modifications with an elevator.

1-439 and 1-467 Series Houses

Block House Construction

As building pieces, blocks are large, shaped bricks that form the load-bearing walls of a building. Floor panels and partitions rest on block walls.

In appearance, it is quite easy to distinguish a panel house from a block house (unless, of course, the facade has additional finishing).

Unlike block houses, panel houses are assembled from larger parts, which reduces the number of seams between individual elements, but complicates installation.

The construction of block houses did not require welding – the blocks were fastened with a cement-sand mixture.

An example of the construction of a block house

Even in comparison with large block buildings, panel houses are assembled from much larger parts.

Another feature of the design of block buildings can be considered the thickness of the bearing walls, which is rarely less than 38 cm and more than 46 cm.

Block house – pros and cons

Apartments in block houses do not have such an abundance of load-bearing walls as panel ones.

Most apartments in block houses are not partitioned off by load-bearing walls, which simplifies their redevelopment. At the same time, many layouts in block houses provide for walk-through rooms.

Block walls provide good thermal performance and sound insulation, but much depends on the quality of block joints, which are many in buildings of this design.

Over time, seams may lose their seal and require maintenance. Panel houses have inherited the same problem, but to a lesser extent.

In some cases, the reason for the destruction of interpanel joints in the first block series was the uneven settlement of the foundation.

Another disadvantage of block buildings can be considered rather low ceilings, rarely exceeding 250 cm.

Development of the idea of ​​block houses

hinged (non-bearing) panels made of expanded clay concrete or three-layer panels with insulation.

The widespread series II-68, I-209A, I-522A, I-700, as well as their modifications, have this design. Less common are houses of the I-491A series, as well as I-580.

Some series have reached 22 floors.

Examples of panel-block buildings

Panel-block houses grew up to 16 floors, but a further increase in the number of storeys with block load-bearing walls turned out to be impractical.

The age of block-panel series turned out to be long – their construction was completed only in 1993 year.

Block houses compared to others

Progress in mass construction has left block houses behind – along with an increase in the number of storeys, the task was to speed up installation, which gave advantage to prefabricated housing construction.

Brick and monolithic buildings, more expensive in terms of cost, did not become as popular as block buildings, and then panel ones. Most often, in comparison, the features of apartments in panel and block buildings are considered.

It must be admitted that panel houses improved with each new project – the ceilings in some of them grew to 290 cm, and the areas of the rooms have increased significantly.

However, the construction of panel houses requires more load-bearing walls, which greatly complicates the redevelopment.

During the rehabilitation (overhaul) of block houses in Moscow (early series), the problems associated with their design flaws and deterioration of communications are solved.

Facades receive additional thermal insulation and a neat appearance. Balconies are glazed, windows with energy-saving double-glazed windows are installed.

Block houses after renovation

Remodeling of an apartment in a block house

For the most massive series, block houses, developed by the design institute MNIITEP, their author prepared a catalog of typical redevelopments.

The use of MNIITEP catalog options when remodeling an apartment significantly reduces costs and time for repair approval.

Typical redevelopment in a block house

You can get a free consultation on the redevelopment of an apartment in a block house from the employees of our organization. This will allow at the very initial stage to take into account your wishes and take into account the requirements of current regulations.

We will be able to prepare all the documentation necessary for coordinating the work, as well as take over the execution of redevelopment in all state authorities.

Block house. Design and construction features.

Since the middle of the last century, the construction of multi-storey residential buildings in the country has been carried out using industrial methods.

The basic principle of industrial prefabricated housing is to divide the construction process into two stages:

1. prefabrication of house elements in a factory way;
2. erection of buildings from precast concrete structures and prefabricated parts at construction sites.

Type of house – block: what does it mean?

A block house is a residential building built from ready-made concrete products – blocks and reinforced concrete floor slabs. Such blocks are produced at specialized enterprises. Then the finished products are brought to the construction site and, according to the project, a house is assembled from them.

Concrete block residential building technology was designed to reduce the time and cost of housing construction. And at the initial stage, volume-block construction made it possible to reduce the cost of building houses and increase the pace of housing construction.

Thus, the cost of a block multi-storey building and the labor intensity of its construction were noticeably lower than a brick residential building. It is also worth noting the simplicity of the shape of the blocks, the relative simplicity of their manufacture and installation at any time of the year.

Block construction of multi-storey houses has its own design features:

• Block houses are assembled from expanded clay concrete or cinder block elements.
• Ceilings are made of hollow-core reinforced concrete slabs.
• Ceiling heights are typically 2.65 m or less.
• Internal partitions can be either block or gypsum concrete.
• Sanitary cabins in such houses, as in most panel houses, were made as a separate structure at a house-building plant and mounted by a crane in the right place.

Block houses in Moscow

The construction of block houses began in the 50s of the last century and was completed in the late 90s. The first two large-block houses were built in Moscow on 5th Sovetskaya Street and on Bolshaya Polyanka according to the designs of engineers G.B. Krasin and E.V. Kostyrko.

The most common series of block houses are 1-510, II-18, I209A and II-68. There are many other series, such as I-491A, I-700A, I-522A, etc. Also in Moscow, there are late Stalinist large-block houses of series II-04, II-05, etc. Projects of block houses of the most popular series in Moscow have been developed Institute MNIITEP.

Block house – pros and cons

Block apartment buildings are good because thick inter-apartment walls prevent unwanted outside noise from penetrating into the premises.

In addition, the interior walls of block residential buildings are usually non-bearing, which opens up more opportunities for redevelopment. On the features of the redevelopment of an apartment in a block house, we will describe further.

Now a few words about why a block house is bad. The disadvantage of a block house is the small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe apartments. This disadvantage applies primarily to block five-story buildings of the 1-510 series, in which there are also very small kitchens.

In addition, in block buildings built in the 60-70s, the quality of the seams between the floor slabs (series I209A) and not always convenient apartment layouts.

What is the difference between a block house and a panel house?

In a typical panel house, the reinforced concrete slab determines the height of the floor and the size of the wall of the room, and the width of the floor slab is usually proportional to the width of the room. In block houses, the wall of one room is assembled from several elements.

External and internal walls in block houses are thicker than in panel houses. In addition, in these buildings, the installation of building structures is carried out in different ways: the panels are fastened with the help of welded reinforcing embedded parts, and the blocks are connected to each other with a cement-sand mortar.

A panel residential building is built faster than a block multi-storey building. In many ways, this factor has become a determining factor in the choice of industrial methods of housing construction in favor of the development of panel housing construction. While the mass volumetric-block housing construction was actually terminated over time. And at present, block technology is not used in the construction of apartment buildings.

Block or panel house – which is better?

We found out the differences in the construction of block and panel houses. Now let’s determine from the point of view of living which house is better – block or panel:

• In panel houses, especially modern series, more spacious apartments and higher ceilings. Residential and auxiliary premises of panel apartments also have a larger area than block apartments.
• Block houses have less successful layouts of apartments compared to panel residential buildings.
• Most of the walls inside an apartment in panel houses are load-bearing structures. Because of this, there are much fewer options for any significant reorganization of apartments in “panels” compared to block houses, where, as we have already noted, the internal walls are mostly non-bearing.

Re-planning in a block house

Repair and re-planning of an apartment in a block house, as well as in panel-type houses, is a very common occurrence. And this is not surprising, because in the era of mass housing construction, a lot of panel and block residential buildings were erected. The relative cheapness of construction and the speed of erecting a block house predetermined their wide distribution at the time of mass development.

However, the quality of construction at that time was not the highest, and the layouts of apartments in block houses were cramped and inconvenient, so it is natural that many of their owners today want to improve their living conditions.

Despite the fact that, due to the nature of the construction, the number of load-bearing walls in block houses is much less than in panel houses, and this simplifies the coordination of certain types of redevelopment, those walls that are included in the load-bearing scheme of a block house are twice as thick as load-bearing walls made of reinforced concrete panels. This moment complicates the arrangement of openings in them, since more powerful reinforcement with metal structures is required. Let’s take an illustrative example.

Strengthening the opening in a block house, photo.

Strengthening the opening in a panel house, photo.

Coordination of the redevelopment of an apartment in a block house is practically no different from a similar process in other types of apartment buildings – brick, panel and monolithic.

It is possible to agree on redevelopment in a block house according to a standard project, which can be found in the corresponding catalog. The author of this catalog is the MNIITEP Institute, which at one time developed most of the series of block houses.

If you are planning “modest” actions: moving a toilet bowl, bathtub or other engineering devices within the premises in which they were previously located, then you can get by with a notification procedure for agreeing on redevelopment.

When the goals of redevelopment are the dismantling of a non-load-bearing partition or an opening in it, the expansion of a bathroom at the expense of a non-residential premises or its combination with a bathroom, or other actions that a priori do not affect the supporting structures of the house, project documentation as part of a technical report and a redevelopment project is possible order in any design organization with SRO approval, including ours.

Our organization is engaged in the development of project documentation and the coordination of redevelopment in Moscow and the Moscow region.

If it is planned to affect load-bearing walls, ceilings, then such redevelopment requires the development of a technical report from the author of the house project. At the same time, any organization with the approval of the SRO can develop a redevelopment project.

That is why many owners are wondering: is it not easier to carry out redevelopment without permission, especially since many options for redevelopment of apartments in block houses are freely available on the Internet?

Unfortunately, unauthorized work can lead to an accident later. For example, if you have partially or completely demolished a load-bearing wall, then the appearance of cracks in you and your neighbors is only a matter of time. In our practice, there were appeals from citizens through whose fault emergency situations arose.

It will not be possible to legitimize the redevelopment of an apartment, carried out with serious violations. You will have to pay a fine, and the apartment will have to be returned to its previous state, in accordance with the original BTI floor plan, as directed by the Moscow Housing Inspectorate. In addition, if your work has caused damage to your neighbors, you will have to pay for it at your own expense.

It is possible to avoid many unpleasant consequences associated with unauthorized redevelopment of an apartment in a block house only if all work is agreed on time, that is, before they begin. But the approval process can be long, especially for redevelopments that affect load-bearing walls and require the development of project documentation. And if you do not have enough time for this, then it is best to turn to the services of specialists for coordination.

In order for the organization you have chosen to be able to start working, you will need to issue a notarized power of attorney to agree on the redevelopment of the apartment. After that, it’s not you who will have to deal with all the hassle of coordination, but the employees of the company you have chosen. You can read about how to choose a company for coordinating redevelopment in the article at the link.

The photo shows an approved project for the redevelopment of a two-room apartment in a block house of the I209A series with a combined bathroom, developed by our organization.

To get a free consultation on the redevelopment of an apartment in a block house, please contact our specialists. Here you will find all the ways to contact us.

Block house | it’s… What is a block house?

Industrial housing construction – construction of microdistricts from standard block houses. (Map of the 2nd microdistrict of Tomsk)

Houses of mass series were built in the cities of the USSR and in some countries of the Warsaw Pact, and are the basis of the architectural appearance of many residential areas of these cities.

Due to political, ideological and demographic reasons, the period of Khrushchev’s “thaw” was the first in the history of the Soviet planned economy, when, along with the development of heavy industry, a significant increase in the production of consumer goods and everything, one way or another related to the needs of the people, and not the military industrial complex and resource-consuming raw industries.

The thrown slogan “Catch up and overtake America (in production …)” indirectly testified to the Soviet leadership’s recognition of the lagging behind the level of economic development from Western countries (although in official propaganda they continued to be considered a “decaying” and doomed economic formation). The lag concerned the quality of food (per capita consumption of the most important products, primarily meat), housing conditions (especially in comparison with the United States), the ability to purchase certain durable goods (household appliances, etc.), transport mobility (the level of motorization, the development of railway and air transportation), etc.

The Khrushchev years are best known for the state’s attempts to solve the housing problem through the development of industrial housing construction – the construction of microdistricts from 5- and 9-storey standard block houses. The reduction in the cost of construction, on the one hand, made it possible to increase the commissioning of housing, on the other hand, it did not make it much more comfortable than communal apartments.

History

block buildings built in Berlin and Dresden

Moscow. Losinoostrovsky district. Graffiti on one of the houses.

In the USSR, the harbingers of the coming mass construction on the basis of industrial blocks and panels were cinder-block “stalinkas”. Cinder block “Stalins” often have a dull look. The architecture is utilitarian, there are no decorations, unplastered sand-lime bricks for exterior walls, almost flat facades with standard stucco decoration. The first four-story frame-panel house in the USSR was built in 1948 in Moscow on the 5th st. Falcon Mountain (G. Kuznetsov, B. Smirnov). At this time, the country’s leadership set the builders the task of creating the cheapest possible project for a residential building with the possibility of family settlement (that is, with separate, and not communal, apartments). The first step in this task was the introduction of the idea of ​​industrial panel housing construction with a load-bearing frame. In 1948-1951, M. V. Posokhin, A. A. Mndoyants and V. P. Lagutenko built up a quarter in Moscow (Kuusinen and Sorge streets) with 10-story frame-panel houses. In the same year, a project for a frameless panel house was developed (under construction since 1950 g in Magnitogorsk). In 1954 in Moscow on the 6th st. Oktyabrsky field, a 7-storey frameless panel house was built (G. Kuznetsov, B. Smirnov, L. Wrangel, Z. Nesterova, N. A. Osterman). Khrushchev buildings, which were designed since the late 1940s, went into series after the historic 1955 decree “On the Elimination of Excesses in Design and Construction” (“the outwardly ostentatious side of architecture, replete with great excesses”, characteristic of the Stalin era, now “does not correspond to the line of the Party and the Government in the architectural and construction business . .. Soviet architecture should be characterized by simplicity, rigor of forms and cost-effectiveness of solutions”).

The ideological and scientific substantiation of the new course was reduced to the following points:

• the communal apartment was not a project of the Soviet government, but was the result of cost savings during industrialization;
• Living in one apartment by several families is not normal and is a social problem; ^[1]
• communal apartments – an economically disadvantageous type of housing that does not meet modern requirements;
• The problem of communal apartments can be solved through mass construction using new technologies.

The turning point was the resolutions “On measures for further industrialization, improving the quality and reducing the cost of construction” 1956 ^[2] and “On the development of housing construction in the USSR” 1957 ^[3] . The task of the party to the builders was to develop by the autumn of 1956 projects that would dramatically reduce the cost of building housing and make it affordable for the working people. So the famous “Khrushchev” appeared. The goal of the project was that in 1980 each Soviet family would meet communism in a separate apartment. ^[2]

However, by the mid-1980s, only 85% of families had separate apartments: in 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev pushed back the deadlines by 15 years, putting forward the slogan “Every Soviet family – a separate apartment by the year 2000.” ^{[2] [4]}

In 1959, the 21st Congress noted the existence of the housing problem and called the development of housing construction “one of the most important tasks.” It was envisaged that in 1959-1965. 2.3 times more apartments will be commissioned than in the last seven years. Moreover, the emphasis was on individual, rather than communal apartments. ^{[5] [6]}

The prototype for the first “Khrushchev” were block buildings (Plattenbau), built in Berlin and Dresden since the 1920s. The construction of residential buildings “Khrushchev” lasted from 1959 to 1985. In 1956-1965, more than 13 thousand residential buildings were built in the USSR, and almost all of them were five-story buildings. This made it possible to commission 110 million square meters of housing annually. An appropriate production base and infrastructure was created: house-building plants, reinforced concrete factories, etc. The first house-building plants were created in 1959 in the system of Glavleningradstroy, in 1962 organized in Moscow and other cities. In particular, during the period 1966-1970, 942,000 people in Leningrad received living space, with 809,000 moving into new houses and 133,000 getting space in old houses. Since 1960, residential 9-storey panel houses have been under construction, since 1963 – 12-storey ones.

Technology

Components of a panel house, which are large reinforced concrete slabs, are manufactured in factories. In terms of quality, any products manufactured in the factory according to existing GOSTs, and with proper technical control, will always differ in a positive direction from products manufactured directly at the construction site. The construction of a panel house resembles the assembly of a children’s design kit. Ready-made parts of the structure are delivered to the construction site, which the builders only have to mount. As a result, labor productivity in such a building is very high. The area of ​​the construction site is much less than that required for the construction of a brick house. Such lengthy and labor-intensive processes, such as installing reinforcement or concreting, which are typical for monolithic housing construction, are completely excluded. And it is precisely in this that experts see the main advantage of panel housing construction over other types of construction.

Typical house series

1940s

Since 1947, the USSR Academy of Architecture has been developing a prefabricated large-panel dwelling. Frame-panel and frameless houses are under construction:

• 4-5-storey buildings (Moscow, Leningrad, Magnitogorsk)
• 8-storey with panels on two floors (Moscow)

Brick Khrushchev series 1-447 in Tomsk

1950s

The height of 5 floors was chosen because, according to the then norms, it was the highest number of floors at which it was allowed to build houses without an elevator (however, sometimes houses were built with 6 floors – with a store on the ground floor).

Brick Khrushchev with a store on the ground floor in St. Petersburg

Since 1957, the construction of panel houses began – the so-called “Khrushchev”. Starting from the 1990s, they began to be called “Khrushchev” for a number of certain inconveniences: low noise insulation and insufficient thermal insulation – coolness in winter and, conversely, unbearable heat in summer (especially on upper floors)

1960s

Kashtak

Panel Khrushchev series 1-515/5 in Tomsk

• 1-510 Block five-storey house.
• 1-511 Five-storey brick house.
• K-7 Five-storey panel house. They have been demolished in Moscow since the late 1990s. The panels from which these houses were built, in most cases, were lined with white square tiles with a side of about 5 cm. Houses of this and similar types were popularly called: “Khrushchev”. Another feature is the protruding frame elements at the corners of the rooms. Basically, the houses of this series were built with 1, 2 and 3-room apartments, three apartments per floor. In the 1st microdistrict of Zelenograd there are also houses of this series with 4-room apartments (building 101-103). Ceiling height – 2.48 m (according to other sources 2.59m). Vertical pitch – approximately 2.85 m. Horizontal pitch – 3.20 m. Internal concrete panels 270 mm thick. Partitions – gypsum concrete panels 80 mm thick. Ceilings – reinforced concrete panels 220 mm thick.

• II-32 – a series of panel five-story multi-section residential buildings, one of the first series of industrial housing construction, the basis of some areas of mass residential development in the 60s. Demolished in Moscow since the end of 1990s.
• II-29 Brick 9-storey house. In Moscow, one house of this series stands inside the Boulevard Ring (Kolpachny lane, building 6, building 5)
• 1-335 Panel 5-storey residential building. The most common series of panel 5-storey residential buildings throughout the former USSR. The houses of this series were built from 1958 to 1966, after which they switched to the construction of the modernized series 1-335a and 1-335d, which were produced until 1976 inclusive.
• 1-464 Panel 5-storey residential building (Belarus).
• BM-4 A series of residential buildings for district centers and small towns (Belarus).

1970s

Chertanovo. Aerial view

Houses in Ziepniekkalns: serial block buildings 602 and 119 series

In 1970, the Unified catalog of building parts was adopted, on the basis of which standard projects were further developed.

house series P-46 in Zelenograd. Floors: 14

• house series (5-9 storey houses)
• 1-515/9m
• 1-515/9sh
• 1605/9

house series II-18/12. Number of floors: 12 Height of residential premises: 2.64 m m.

• II-18/9 – a series of block 9- (originally 😎 storey one-section (single-access) residential buildings, one of the first series of high-rise buildings of industrial housing construction.
• II-29
• II-32
• II-49
• 1LG-600 (Avtovsky DSK) – the so-called “home-ships”
• 111-90 – a series of large-panel multi-section residential buildings for industrial housing construction. The series was developed by TsNIIEP Dwellings in the late 1960s. Industrial production of buildings of the 111-90 series began in the early 1970s. Initially, the houses were five- and nine-story, but in the suburbs of Veliky Novgorod you can find houses three stories high (for example, in Grigorovo).
• 111-108 A series of 9-storey panel houses (Vitebsk).

1980s

• P-44

In the early 1980s, a series of KOPEs (composite space-planning elements) was proposed in Moscow, designed to build “buffer zones” between new buildings and protected areas of architectural monuments and areas of mass development, as well as to “revitalize” existing areas. The first houses of this series were erected in 1982 near Vorontsovsky Park. The project provided for the possibility of building houses up to 22 floors. At the same time, in many districts of Moscow and other cities of the USSR, faceless, multi-storey panel monsters, devoid of any expressiveness in architecture, continued to be built.

1990s

Ruins of the demolished Khrushchev building in Moscow

The territories of demolished 5-storey panel houses are built up with 17-25-storey residential buildings, mainly new series of panel houses.

2000s

Heating point (CHP) and attached building, Moscow

Typical nine-story buildings of the 1960s on Krasnokholmskaya embankment, reconstructed in the early 2000s

Novokosino District Center

• P-44T
• P-44TM
• P55M
• P111M
• PD-4
• HMS-1
• I-155
• I-1723
• KOPE
• P3M

The height of residential premises is 2.64 m. The series consists of houses from layout (catalog) space-planning elements (abbreviated as “KOPE”), representing a vertical block in the height of the house and part of the section in plan. The combined “KOPE” form residential complexes of various architecture.

• KOPE-M-PARUS
• Individual project monolith-brick
• IP-46S

Apartment types and characteristics

There are several classifications of apartments. Common abbreviations and their interpretation:

• xp (Khrushchev layout, aka Khrushchev) – ceilings 2.5 m, small kitchens – 6 sq.m., combined bathroom, adjoining rooms, apartments are located in 5-storey buildings.
• Unitary enterprise (improved layout) – a little better than Khrushchev, kitchen 6-8 sq.m., separate bathroom, walk-through rooms.
• PG (full size)
• el (elite)
• Pg – Full-sized apartments are houses built before the Khrushchev housing reform. They have high ceilings up to 3.5 m, large comfortable kitchens up to 15 sq.m., total area of ​​apartments: from 110 sq.m. three-room apartments up to 40 sq.m. one-room. The rooms in these apartments are isolated, bathrooms are separate, large landings. Houses of 3, 5 floors, as a rule, brick.
• Xp – Khrushchevkas are residential 4, 5-storey buildings built during the Khrushchev housing program, when in the post-war period the country needed mass and inexpensive housing construction. Therefore, apartments of a small area were built, rather compact, as a rule, adjacent rooms with low ceilings, with a total area of ​​60 sq.m. three-room apartments, 43 sq.m. two-room and 30 sq.m. one-room apartments, with small kitchens (5-6 sq.m.), combined bathrooms and balconies, not in all apartments.

panel house

• Typ. or Art. – Typical or Standard layout of apartments – these are apartments of the next (after Khrushchev’s time) generation: ceiling height from 2.6 m to 2.75 m, total area of ​​apartments from 63 sq.m. three-room apartments up to 33 sq.m. one-room apartments, kitchens 6-7 sq.m., rooms in two-room apartments are isolated, in three-room apartments they are adjoining-isolated, bathrooms are usually isolated, there are balconies and loggias. These are houses of 5, 9 floors with a garbage chute and elevators. Most of these houses are built of reinforced concrete panels.
• U/P – Improved planning apartments are usually 9-storey panel houses with an increased area of ​​​​apartments: 69 sq. m. three-room apartments, 53 sq.m. two-room and 39 sq.m. one-room apartments, the kitchen area has also been increased to 9 sq.m., all rooms are isolated, bathrooms are separate, there are balconies and loggias. The houses are equipped with elevators and garbage chutes.
• Email – Elite apartments or apartments of the new generation have no restrictions on the area, are diverse in their layout. Most often, the future owner plans his own housing. They are equipped with a large number of services – these are underground garages, a garbage chute, both passenger and cargo elevators, storerooms and a vegetable store, large landings, convenient access roads, gyms, saunas, etc. are possible.

Elements of panel buildings

One typical thorn in the eye of old Soviet buildings is the homemade glazed balconies

• Foundation;
• Wall;
• Column;
• Jumper;
• Cover;
• Rigel;
• Beam;
• Coating;
• Roof;
• Roofing;
• Staircase;
• Step;
• Partition;
• Door;
• Window;
• Engineering systems.

Other countries

Main article : Social housing

House of architect Le Corbusier In Berlin. after the Second World War was considered a standard.

Houses in Hammarkullen – Gothenburg suburb

View of Brasilia and from the TV tower

For the 1922 Salon d’Automne, Édouard Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret presented the project “Modern City of 3 Million Inhabitants”, which proposed a new vision of the city of the future. Subsequently, this project was transformed into the “Plan Voisin” (1925) is a developed proposal for a radical reconstruction of Paris. The Voisin plan provided for the construction of a new business center of Paris on a completely cleared area. To do this, it was proposed to demolish 240 hectares of old buildings. Eighteen identical skyscraper-offices of 50 floors, according to the plan, were located freely, at a sufficient distance from each other. At the same time, the built-up area was only 5%, and the remaining 95% of the territory was allocated for highways, parks and pedestrian zones. The “Plan Voisin” was widely discussed in the French press and became something of a sensation.

In 1924, by order of the industrialist Henri Fruget, in the village of Pessac near Bordeaux, the town “Modern Houses of Fruget” ( Quartiers Modernes Frugès ) was erected according to the project of Corbusier. This town, consisting of 50 two-three-story residential buildings, was one of the first experiments in the construction of houses in series (in France). Four types of buildings are used here, different in configuration and layout – tape houses, block houses and detached houses. In this project, Corbusier tried to find the formula for a modern home at affordable prices – simple forms, easy to build and at the same time with a modern level of comfort.

At the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, the Esprit Nouveau pavilion ( L’Esprit Nouveau ) was built according to the design of Corbusier. The pavilion included a full-size residential cell of an apartment building – an experimental apartment on two levels. Corbusier used a similar cell later, in the late 40s, when creating his Marseille Residential Unit . Block Marseille (1947-1952) is an apartment building in Marseille, located alone on a spacious green area. Corbusier used in this project standardized “duplex” apartments (on two levels) with balconies overlooking both sides of the house. Inside the building – in the middle of its height – there is a public service complex: a cafeteria, a library, a post office, grocery stores and more. For the first time on such a scale, the enclosing walls of the loggias were painted in bright pure colors – polychromy. Similar Residential Units (partially modified) were erected later in the cities of Nantes-Rezé (1955), Mo (1960), Brie-en-Foret (1961), Firmini (1968) (France), in West Berlin (1957). These buildings embodied the idea of ​​Corbusier’s “Radiant City” – a city favorable for human existence. In 1950, at the invitation of the Indian authorities of the state of Punjab, Corbusier embarked on the most ambitious project of his life – the project of the new capital of the state, the city of Chandigarh. As in the Marseille block, a special concrete surface treatment technology, the so-called “béton brut” (fr. – raw concrete), was used for the exterior. This technique, which became a feature of Le Corbusier’s style, was later picked up by many architects in Europe and countries in other regions, which made it possible to speak of the emergence of a new trend of “brutalism”. Brutalism was most widespread in Great Britain (especially in 1960s) and in the USSR (especially in the 1980s) by the beginning of the 1980s. Western Europe was swept by a wave of protests against this kind of development. Over time, brutalism began to be perceived as the embodiment of the worst qualities of modern architecture (alienation from human needs, soullessness, claustrophobia, etc.), and its demand faded. The planned city of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, was created as the embodiment of Le Corbusier’s vision, and includes some of the world-famous examples of typical residential buildings designed by him in the 1920s and 1940s.

Terminology

“plattenbau” (“panel building”)]

Poland

• Russia: “panel house” , “block house” or simply “block”
• CZ: Panelák (block houses in the former Czechoslovakia at Wikimedia Commons)

The term panelák is used specifically for block houses built in the former Czechoslovakia. Nevertheless, similar houses were built in other socialist countries, and even in Western Europe. Panelak (Czech term “panelák”) equivalents in other languages:

• French: Maison à panneaux
• German: Plattenbau / “plattenbau” (“panel building”)]
• Austria: Gemeindebau
• Bulgarian: panel block , panel block
• Croatian: stambeni blok (“tiled block”)
• Slovak: Panelový dom (“panel house”)
• Polish: Blok , Wielka płyta (“wielka (great/large) pŞyta”) (block houses in Poland at Wikimedia Commons)

• Romanian: Bloc
• Italian: Casa prefabbricata
• Estonian: Paneelmaja
• Hungarian: panelház (“panel house”) or tömbház (“block house”), Transylvanian variant;
• Finnish: Elementtitalo , Tornitalo
• Serbian: stambeni blok (“stambeni (tiled) block”)
• Catalan: bloc prefabricat

Prague, Czech Republic

• Spanish: Torreta prefabricada (usually Panel or Sectional in the US)
• Esperanto: Slabokonstruaĵo
• Slovenian: sk:Vežový dom

One-section (one-entrance) residential building in Bratislava

Changwang Street (Pyongyang).

In Poland, it is customary to paint block houses in bright colors

See also

Insula

During the Soviet years, typical architecture was widely used throughout the country. The areas of new buildings in different cities were similar to each other. The irony and curiosity of such a situation is played up, for example, in the film The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!

English

• Public housing
• Apartment building
• Systematization (Romania)
• Urban decay
• en:Category:Urban studies and planning0028
• Category:Planned_cities

Notes