Brickworks and the Brick Revival
Brick is experiencing a renaissance, re-emerging as the material of choice for high-end architecture, particularly in response to our evolving climate.
Brick has featured heavily in a raft of residential projects at the recent National Architecture Awards, highlighting architects’ renewed focus on durability, resilience and sustainability. Brick’s tactile qualities, longevity and enduring presence, as well as its low-maintenance nature, make it ideal for creating homes built for generations. With sustainability at the forefront of design, brick’s natural properties – such as insulation, fire resistance and energy efficiency – also make it a deeply appealing choice.
A prime example of brick’s re-emergence in high-end projects is Six-Ways House by Kennedy Nolan. This compelling residence, located at a busy roundabout in Melbourne’s North Fitzroy, required a delicate balance between heritage and contemporary design elements. Austral Bricks’ Indulgence plays a key role, with the colour palette reflecting the surrounding spotted gums. The brick not only complements the overall design but also provides significant acoustic and thermal benefits. Moreover, the textured surface fosters a sense of calm within, while its enduring qualities ensure the house will age gracefully, embodying the long-term design principles that prioritise sustainability and lasting value.
Similarly, Naples Street House by Edition Office uses brick to create a seamless connection with its natural surroundings. By prioritising garden space and preserving large native trees, the project ensures the home is integrated with the landscape. The cool grey tones of Bowral Bricks’ Bowral 76 in Simmental Silver echo the nearby gum trees, grounding the home within its site. The bricks are also part of Brickworks’ Carbon Neutral Offsetting Program, aligning with the project’s sustainability goals and reinforcing the home’s enduring presence.
High Street by Lineburg Wang – winner of the Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture: Houses (Alterations and Additions) – presents another example of brick’s adaptability. On a modest 253-square-metre site, the project reimagines a timber workers’ cottage with a new, light-filled extension raised above ground level to address flooding risks. Bowral 76 bricks in St Pauls Cream enhance the extension’s durability and low-maintenance qualities, ensuring the structure remains resilient over time while giving the home a lasting place in the neighbourhood.
These projects illustrate how brick is both adaptable and essential in contemporary architecture. Architects continue to favour brick for its longevity and design versatility, and, as demand for climate-resilient designs grows, brick remains a material that provides both beauty and functionality for the future.
Architecture by Edition Office, Kennedy Nolan and Lineburg Wang. Bricks by Brickworks.
