Brickstainable

Brickstainable (via BLDGBLOG) is a design competition seeking integrative design solutions that promote the use of clay brick to achieve sustainability goals. The competition explores the potential of brick construction in the creation of energy efficient building and challenges designers to maximize the physical characteristics of brick. The results from the 2nd Annual BrickStainable International Design Competition have just being released. They are broken into two categories, one called « integrated building design » where entrants were tasked with creating a sustainable building in an urban Baltimore setting (which is very much like any other architecture student competition) but more interesting is the technical design category, where entrants explored specific aspects and assemblies of a brick. I was less enthralled than BLDGBLOG with this years awards, but Kenfield Griffith’s 2009 submission of a sustainable interlocking assembly (.pdf) caught my attention.
Brickstainable is linked to a brick company (Potomac Valley Brick & Supply Company), and its mission is supported by a need to find new markets for bricks. Brickstainable’s Concepts (.pdf) and case studies (pdf) outline 3 main areas where brick has a future: Trombe walls, Thermal Mass and Permeable Pavers. The first two provide some innovative ecobuilding ideas. More brick case studies can be found on the (UK) Brick Development Association site.
A presentation called « evolution of the masonery » by Peter Doo (President of Doo consulting, which is Potomac Valleys Brick’s consultant for Brickstainable) can be found on their site (.pdf). It has some good ideas on using brick in a eco-building, including cool(ing) towers (such as in the Zion National Park Visitor Center).