Brickwork Architecture and Design.

Had you asked me a few years ago how I felt about brick, I may have pulled a rather unenthused expression. For the longest time, bricks lived in the same brain cell as bad developer houses from the 90s. Oh, how things have changed. I am now an obsessive convert. I’ve come to realize the immense magic of that modular block and its infinite possibilities.

Theresia Bastion by Archaeus. Photo by Stefan Tuchila via ArchDaily.

VM House by Vincent Van Duysen, Image via Vincent Van Duysen.

Villa Rotondo by Bedaux de Brower Architecten. Photo by Michael Kievits via designboom.

National Parliament Principality of Liechtenstein by Hansjoerg Goeritz Architekturstudio. Photo by Jürg Zürcher via ArchDaily.

Buda Art Centre by 51n4e. Photo by Filip Dujardin via 51n4e.

Saint Brides Church by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, 1963. Photo by Torjus Dahl via A Daily Dose of Architecture.

In all honesty, some of the simplest, classic stretcher bond walls get me the most excited. Bricks are capable of providing monolithic, grand gestures whilst simultaneously maintaining a tactile, human scaled quality.

Then there are countless examples of intricately interlocking brick patterns, creating delectable architectural tapestries.

Casa Antoniz by Marcelo Villafane. Photo by Nicholas Campodonico via homedsgn.

Brick Pattern House by Alireza Mashhadmirza. Photo via ArchDaily.

The Curving House by JOHO Architecture . Photo by Sun Namgoong via Dezeen.

Carrum Downs Police Station by Kerstin Thompson Architects. Photo by Peter Bennetts via ArchDaily.

Pavilion 4 by HMA Architects and Designers. Photo by Gengtao via ArchDaily.

Ijburg House by Marc Koehler Architects. Image via Contemporist.

Harold Street Residence by Jackson Clements Burrows. Photo by John Gollings via ArchDaily.

Poroscape by Younghan Chung Studio Archiholic. Photo by Yeakyung Kim via designboom.

Lanxi Curtilage by Archi Union Architects. Photo by SHEN Zhonghai via ArchDaily.

Taking things a step further, there are those projects that command your attention with their feats of engineering gymnastics.

In summary, bricks are friggin awesome and I’m such a fool for ever questioning it.

Ecumenical Forum, Hafencity by Wandel Hoefer Lorch + Hirsch. Photos via ArchDaily.

SAHRDC by Anagram Architect. Photo via designboom.

Pope John Paul II Hall by Randic Turato. Photo by Robert Les via ArchDaily.

Iglesia Cristo Obero by Eladio Dieste. Photos via Wazeone.

Occasionally, I come across those who still wince at the mere suggestion of bricks. So now I keep a collection of killer brick images in case I need to perform emergency brick-is-awesome-brainwashing. Please enjoy and spread the love.

–Ella.