George Ranalli Architects - Community Centre, Saratoga Avenue, New York, 1999

Architect's Website:
www.georgeranalli.com

Photos by Paul Warchol from:
http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature274.htm

Rael San Fratello - Planter Bricks - 2009

Brick-Stainable Competition Entry
http://www.brick-stainable.com/
Architect's Website: www.rael-sandfratello.com

I don't know if these planter bricks would actually work (bricks don't do very well with moisture over long periods of time - they deteriorate - especially in a winter climate), but I sure find 'em purdy!

Nini Leimand - Wall Technology, 2009

Brick-Stainable Competition Entry

I recently read through all of the entries for the 2009 Brick-Stainable competition at http://www.brick-stainable.com/. People were asked to 're-think brick' as a building material, or to design a quasi-consulate building for people to stay on a site in Maryland.

I think this wall technology by Nini Leimand shows a lot of promise, in the coming years I believe building construction will begin to favour low-tech passive solutions as an alternative to the overly complex wall construction that we see today (often with 10+ layers of plastic, insulation, etc.).

I find this project elegant in its simplicity and ripe with decorative potential.

Small Brick Building, St.John's, Newfoundland, Canada

From The Back Side:

Brick Buildings; St.John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Most everything is built on a hill in this city; The thing I found interesting about St.John's is how buildings delt with the grade change. In the Canadian climate, brick doesn't do well at grade (at the ground) because moisture causes it to deteriorate. Many buildings in St.John's have a built up foundation in stone (granite works well in Canada), and brickwork above. This is most visible in the exaggerated bottom example where a small structure built on a severe hill becomes more stone foundation/basement than actual brick building on top. Satisfying.

Erwin Heerich, Museum Insel Hombroich, Neuss Germany, 1982-1987

A series of small buildings by Erwin Heerich.
Scans from: Architecture and Urbanism, November 1998.
Previous Post on this Subject: http://brickmasonry.blogspot.com/2008/10/erwin-heerich-walk-in-sculpture.html

Hanson EcoHouse, 2007

Photo source and more information here:
http://www.heidelbergcement.com/uk/en/hanson/sustainability/hanson_ecohouse.htm

I admit, I'm not a big fan of pre-fabricated walling systems, but I do find this project interesting.

SUMMARY
Developer: Hanson
Architects: TP Bennet Architects
House type: 3 bed detached
Construction: Pre-fabricated external masonry panels, pre-fabricated concrete aggregate partition walls, unique composite suspended ground floor construction, pre-stressed hollowcore floor units.
Code for sustainable Homes rating: 4
Heating system: Underfloor heating by GSHP, solar panels and gas boiler.
Other features:
• High thermal mass
• Passive ventilation through the design-featured ‘stack effect’
• Combined SUDS including geothermal heating and cooling and rainwater harvesting.
• Rapid build
• ‘Smart’ technology
• Cool bedrooms on ground floor, warmer living spaces on first floor







1.Hollowcore flooring
2.QuickBuild walling system
3.Partition walls
4.Concrete foundations
5.Insulated floor
6.Precast staircase
7.Permeable pavers