Brick is one of the oldest and most widely used building materials in the world. It’s durable, modular, and adaptable across climates and construction methods. This week, we take a closer look at how architects today are working with brick. From residential to institutional projects, we feature examples where brick is the focal point.

Kengo Kuma & Associates

The challenge was to create a building that connects with Copenhagen and its waterfront. The solution uses a warm-toned brick facade which pays tribute to traditional Danish craftsmanship. The perforated pattern allows light to pass through and helps frame the views of the water from inside.

Office Winhov

The challenge was to convert a former university building into a hotel while adding a new extension that did not compromise the integrity of the original architecture. The solution was to preserve the existing materiality and introduce a new brick pattern in the extension, creating a contemporary design that complements the original structure.

Studio Vincent Architecture & Space Encounters

The project began as a renovation of a structurally outdated 1950s villa that no longer met contemporary living standards. Instead of demolition, the solution was to extend and adapt the home using contrasting brickwork and a new layout that connects the house more directly to the surrounding landscape.

Tropical Space

The challenge was to design a new workshop that preserves traditional craft practices while improving climate performance and spatial organization. The solution uses tall, folded brick walls to divide and define work and visitor areas, while also shaping airflow, controlling sunlight, and framing views. Brick is used not just as a structural material, but as a tool to regulate the interior climate, and connect the architecture to its context.

A Threshold

The challenge was to create a flexible, low-impact structure that supports various community programs. The solution was a partially sunken, load-bearing brick structure built with local materials. Exposed kiln-fired brick walls were left raw, using lime and site soil mortar to reduce the environmental footprint which helped blend the building into the landscape over time.

HCCH Studio

The challenge was to use a traditional material, brick, to build a complex, double-curved structure. The solution involved the digital fabrication of a perforated steel formwork to position the bricks, which were then cast in place with concrete to form a self-supporting shell.

If you want to see how they constructed this project, you can click here.

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