diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.cpp b/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.cpp
index 29ddca06..c1bf9592 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.cpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.cpp
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ namespace netgen
     index = 0;
     badel = 0;
     deleted = 0;
+    visible = 1;
     typ = TRIG;
     orderx = ordery = 1;
     refflag = 1;
@@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ namespace netgen
     index = 0;
     badel = 0;
     deleted = 0;
+    visible = 1;
     switch (np)
       {
       case 3: typ = TRIG; break;
@@ -190,6 +192,7 @@ namespace netgen
     index = 0;
     badel = 0;
     deleted = 0;
+    visible = 1;
     orderx = ordery = 1;
     refflag = 1;
     strongrefflag = false;
@@ -219,6 +222,7 @@ namespace netgen
     refflag = 1;
     strongrefflag = false;
     deleted = 0;
+    visible = 1;
     orderx = ordery = 1;
 
 #ifdef PARALLEL
@@ -246,6 +250,7 @@ namespace netgen
     refflag = 1;
     strongrefflag = false;
     deleted = 0;
+    visible = 1;
     orderx = ordery = 1;
 
 #ifdef PARALLEL
diff --git a/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.hpp b/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.hpp
index 05ac8cac..b4782738 100644
--- a/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.hpp
+++ b/libsrc/meshing/meshtype.hpp
@@ -309,6 +309,11 @@ class Element2d
   bool strongrefflag:1;
   bool deleted:1;  // element is deleted
 
+  // Philippose - 08 August 2010
+  // Set a new property for each element, to 
+  // control whether it is visible or not
+  bool visible:1;  // element visible
+
   /// order for hp-FEM
   unsigned int orderx:6;
   unsigned int ordery:6;
@@ -465,6 +470,13 @@ public:
     return deleted; 
   }
 
+  // Philippose - 08 August 2010
+  // Access functions for the new property: visible
+  void Visible(bool vis = 1) 
+  { visible = vis; }
+  bool IsVisible () const 
+  { return visible; }
+   
   void SetRefinementFlag (bool rflag = 1) 
   { refflag = rflag; }
   bool TestRefinementFlag () const