Designing with Air and Light: The Brise-Soleil Way

This post explores the charm and versatility of breezeway blocks—highlighting their history, materials, and modern design potential

Back House Beginnings & A Breezeway Block Love Affair
by Jessica Maros, MAROS Designs

I'm currently in the middle of designing the interior of the back house dwelling unit on our property, and I’m experimenting with a few new ideas I’ve been excited to try out for a while. This space was originally just a garage, and I’ve already transformed the exterior—sharing a few of the before-and-afters here for context. But now, it's time to turn my attention inward… and that’s where things are getting fun

Let’s talk breezeway blocks. Or, as I recently learned from a designer friend who messaged me on Instagram, these are also known as “Brise Soleil Blocks”—which actually rhymes with breezeway! How charming is that?

While no one can definitively claim ownership of their invention, breezeway blocks have been used by iconic architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and others over the past century. Made from either terracotta clay or concrete, they were originally designed to filter light and allow air to flow through buildings in hot climates. Personally, I love the terracotta versions. The texture, the porous surface, the subtle warmth they bring—it all feels so rich and grounding to me, especially in contrast to smoother, more modern materials