Report for Berkeley Prize, Travel/Volunteering in England and Ireland

The Rebuilding of the Cotswold Canals, Gloucestershire, UK

(Note: I'll try and post bigger/better photos, but I might just put up individual entries in the coming weeks featuring the architecture discussed here)

This report was written for the travel fellowship I was granted by the Berkeley Prize for writing this paper about aspects of Canada's bricklaying history.

September 2009

As part of the Berkeley Prize travel proposal, I outlined a trip that would allow me to observe several themes related to brick masonry architecture. The intentions of the travel proposal were as follows; first, observe examples of historic brick buildings that have been adapted and reused for new purposes; second, learn about the traditional bricklaying practices that were used for these buildings' construction which results in their longevity; and third, look at mid-density residential building examples that are prevalent in Europe, but not so common in Canada. This lead me first to London to study the modifications to the Tate Modern building, next I headed to the Cotswalls for some volunteering where I learned how to lay bricks, and finally I ended up in Dublin where I studied how to respectfully insert modern buildings into an historic city fabric. Naturally, I learned just as much in unplanned observations as I did in those that I sought out, therefore I will discuss what I found most relevant and interesting during my travels.

Observations in London
In early August I arrived in London and made my way to Chelsea where I had arranged to stay for a few days. Exiting “The Tube” at the Baron’s Court stop, I found myself in a tightly knit three storey Victorian neighbourhood. The buildings were built of brick masonry and set back about 10 feet from the sidewalk to allow for basement entry and daylight to penetrate the lower windows. These smaller residential blocks of flats were planned and constructed together to create one continuous elevation of symmetrically mirrored units that surround the block and create an interior “courtyard” between the two sides of the block. Backsides of the flats allow for small outdoor courtyards for the main floor units, but more importantly they enable trees, small flower gardens and vined green space that can be observed from all of the upper floor units. Attached housing means shared walls between units which results in less material used for construction, and heat loss is reduced to two sides instead of a detached unit that has four sides. What I found most interesting about these residential blocks was the way each unit became uniquely defined by way of incremental changes. Over time certain units had painted or replaced front doors, had new mortar repointed in a different colour or style, planted vines, perhaps added a stained glass transom window or roof dormers to gain precious space, all small changes which ultimately combine to make street elevations of pleasing variety, but still harmonious from one unit to the next because of similar overall form and massing.

A notable difference between the European and North American concepts of architectural history is the approach to re-use versus restoration. The North American ideal tends to favor perfection where historic buildings are frequently “restored” to an artificial new museum like state. Most, if not all, evidence of human use and previous modifications to the building are erased and, in extreme cases, complete portions are re-built to keep the building 'consistent' with a certain era. The European approach to historic buildings includes a much more sensible practice of re-use. The idea that a structure has value in its age is acknowledged, and buildings are often stabilized structurally so that the ‘historic thread’ is demonstrated by the building’s patina, modifications, repairs and so forth.

The Tate Modern art gallery in London is a great example of the European approach to re-use. The building, originally designed by Giles Gilbert Scott as a power station, was re-invented as a modern art gallery by Herzog and deMeuron in 2000. Modern entrances were inserted where necessary at the ground level, and modifications were denoted by the use of red brick as a mild contrast to the original yellow brick which is toned grey/black from patina. These changes transformed an antiquated structure and have allowed it a new life where it has been seen and used by over 30 million visitors since reopening nine years ago. Future plans include a new addition on top of subterranean oil tanks which will add an additional 60% of space to the gallery. The proposed addition is to be completed in 2012.

Tate Modern, London

Not far down the Thames River from the Tate gallery is the OXO development. This project includes the dramatic modification of an existing building where the façade facing the river and a portion of the original building were left intact, and a new mixed-use building was created between the two structures. The new development includes exterior access to design shops and studios located on the first three floors with residential units on the upper floors, and adjacent space in the remaining portion of the original building. By leaving a space between the new and old buildings, an outdoor courtyard is achieved where ground floor restaurant patios and pedestrians walking along the river are free to use the space. A particularly interesting aspect of the new design exposes an old connection between previous buildings by the “ghosted” section left on the elevation. This sort of historic reveal is fascinating to see and its inclusion is a valuable contribution to the public because it demonstrates the original construction method and the fact that cities are continuously growing and changing.

OXO Development, London

Another site I visited in London was the Battersea Power Station, a handsome example of Victorian industrialization and also an integral component to providing power to London. It now sits vacant with steel hording installed to keep it from crumbling. Several proposals over the last ten years have been put forward for the re-use of the building and surrounding site, but the current economic recession has put a hold on the project and it remains uncertain what will ultimately happen with the building.

Battersea Power Station, London

These three examples of creative solutions to existing buildings allow for the re-use of building material where possible and enable the story of the building to remain, they demonstrate a vibrant alternative to a strict museum quality “restoration” that can be the unfortunate fate of many North American re-use projects.

Canal Restoration in the Cotswolds
After a few days in London I headed west in England towards where I planned to volunteer for a week working on a Cotswold canal restoration project. I took the train to Stroud where I was picked up by the camp directors and brought to the Scouting Hall where myself and the rest of the volunteers would be sleeping and eating for the week.

Let me back up for a minute and explain a few things; In England before trucking and trains became the common method of transportation, there existed an elaborate system of canals and rivers where long narrow boats were used to ship cargo around the country. For centuries this was the way that building materials, food, coal, and livestock were moved in England and it functioned very well. After the automobile became the main method of shipping some of the canals were filled in as a result of disuse. Today, many of the canals still exist and are primarily used by houseboats in an elaborate canal cruising sub-culture that really needs to be seen to be fully understood, but essentially some people live in, and other people vacation on long narrow boats that travel through the canals and dock at various quays. Its pretty wacky, but its also fascinating, especially the architecture of planning a 7' x 40' living space.

In order to keep the canals in working order a British organization called theCotswold Canals Trust exists that arranges weekly volunteer groups through the summer months to help keep the canals functioning and work towards re-instating several historic canals that have since been buried or fallen into disrepair. These canals run through many small villages in England and provide bike and walking paths in a charming setting where the public can stroll next to the river.

My time in Stroud was spent with a group of nineteen other volunteers who worked together on a site at Gough's Orchard. In order to join the canal systems to various rivers water locks were engineered and built to compensate for the change in elevation and allow boats to move uphill, the site at Gough's Orchard included one of these water locks. This particular location was infilled in the past and consequently the restoration first began this July with a dig-out of a fifty foot portion of the buried canal and lock chamber. Previous volunteer groups continued excavation work through July and erected scaffolding in early August. Our group arrived mid-August to a well prepared site where the restoration work began.

The water lock walls were constructed of 10 wythe deep brick walls laid in English bond which meant alternating courses of the long side (header) bricks and short side (stretcher) bricks. The mortar for the walls was originally a mix of lime, sand, fine aggregate, and water, which resulted in a soft mortar that allowed moisture to drain through the walls. This straight forward construction method allowed our group of untrained volunteers to learn the basic tasks and then work together to repair the walls as necessary.

Stroud Canal Restoration Site

The main jobs on the site were as follows:

Demolition - Observing the masonry walls to indicate lose, cracked, and rotten bricks that were "soft" from moisture absorption. A hammer tap test was also preformed to listen for unsound bricks. Once indicated, the bricks were removed mainly by using hammers and chisels, more difficult areas used small hand held jack-hammers to facilitate the process.

Brick sorting & cleaning - After bricks were removed from the wall they were sorted into re-useable and unusable piles. Even after more than one hundred years, many lose bricks were in good shape they simply needed to be re-set with new mortar in the wall; these bricks were cleaned using chisels and wire brushes to remove old mortar and then stacked to be re-set in the wall.

Mortar Mixing - Two people were needed to continuously mix mortar from a lime, sand, fine aggregate and water combination, and supply it by wheel-borough to the folks laying bricks in the walls.

Bricklaying - Under the guidance of two former 'brickies' (also volunteers), we were shown how to set bricks to a level line, how to lay a bed of mortar followed by a 'buttered' brick (prepared with mortar), and how to lay them flush with adjacent bricks. Once semi-dry, the final step was to remove excess mortar with a soft brush and finish the mortar joint profile with a tool.

Volunteers were given demonstrations for the various jobs on site. Each day tasks alternated depending on our own interests and the week-long goal of completing one side of the water lock.

In previous readings about brick masonry work, I learned that historic brick walls were often laid with lime mortar. This mortar mix allowed moisture to pass through from the interior of the wall to the exterior, and it dried softer than brick which meant that it would allow mild "give" as walls naturally shift and settle over time. I had also learned that it was poor practice to use cement mortar with historic brickwork because this type of mortar dries harder than old bricks and as the bricks move, expand, and contract with seasonal moisture they often crack and fail because the cement does not allow the "give" that lime mortar does. During the canal rebuilding project I was able to see firsthand and understand when and how to use these two types of mortars and the clear difference between the two. The canal walls had been repaired in the past with cement mortar in certain areas and it had caused many bricks to crack and crumble instead of shifting with the wall. As we worked to remove rotten bricks and repair the wall it was very evident where cement mortar had been used because it was nearly impossible to remove with a hammer and chisel and required large portions to be jack-hammered out and removed with crowbars. Very few of the bricks laid with cement mortar could be salvaged because of the damage caused during removal compared to those laid with lime mortar.

Restoring the brick masonry canal

The canal restoration was a week of satisfying outdoor work and learning. What I found most pleasing was talking with the local people as they passed by our construction site excited to see the canal being worked on. Many asked questions and several people returned to see the progress through the week and watch us build. As the week came to an end, we were able to realize our goal of rebuilding one side of the lock wall and preparing the other wall for the next group of volunteers.

Observations in Dublin
The last part of my trip involved traveling through Ireland to Dublin where I spent the remainder of my time studying the city's urban fabric and observing the placement of contemporary and historic brick buildings in this setting.

1. Timberyard Social Housing, Cork Street, Dublin 8.
An bold example of a well scaled modern residential building is the Timberyard Social Housing by O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects. The project has a variety of elevations that take cues from the varying conditions on each side of the site. On one side of the development is a significantly smaller two-storey attached residential neighbourhood, which is acknowledged by a stepping down in height towards these lower buildings. The opposite side of the site is presented with a four lane boulevard which allows for a taller, bolder elevation. This new development is well placed contextually and engages in a dialogue with the surrounding area, as landscaping and trees fill in, the building will become a real part of the neighbourhood.

Timberyard Social Housing, O’donnell + Tuomey Architects, Dublin

2. Historic Georgian Housing, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.
Georgian Housing in Dublin was originally built for the wealthy, but many of the buildings were converted to tenement houses in the 19th century with the interiors divided into multiple living units. History aside, these buildings' uniformity in scale and horizontal alignment of windows provide an overall order and organization to form a continuous street elevation. Individual property divisions are indicated by changes in brick tone and colour, and from a pedestrian's point of view the variety in mortar shades, stone bases, doors, and iron details become a richly crafted architecture. These properties from the 18th and 19th centuries contain many good lessons about how to be a good neighbour in relation to the street and adjacent buildings.

Georgian Housing, Dublin

3. National Photographic Archives, Temple Bar, Dublin. O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects. (Post Script Note: I did not realize two of these buildings were by the same architects until I looked them up afterwards. Evidently, I appreciate their work) More important than the style of this building is the scale and material used in its construction. The surrounding Temple Bar area of Dublin consists of four to six storey buildings built primarily of red brick. This building was designed in conjunction with the lot behind to develop an outdoor market and gathering space where video projections can be shown. By matching the materials and scale of existing adjacent buildings the National Photographic Archives demonstrates a contextual sensitivity that allows the whimsical post-modern design and details to blend into the streetscape.

National Photographic Archives & Context photo, Dublin. O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects

Final Remarks
What made the largest impact on me during this trip is the notion of designing with contextual awareness. Historically, many areas in England and Ireland constructed buildings using similar materials as a default because those were the available resources at the time. Today we have many more options in terms of construction methods and materials that enable almost anything we can imagine. Studying the surrounding context to choose building materials and appropriate scale can develop and contribute a respectful architecture that acknowledges existing buildings and engages in a dialogue with the neighbourhood.


Bibliography:

Architect Jeffrey Scherer discusses "historical thread"
(http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20070518/a-stitch-in-time)

Additional Photos and Observations from my travels
(http://brickmasonry.blogspot.com/)

Further Information on UK Canals & Volunteering
(www.cotswoldcanals.com)

Good news! - U.C. Berkeley Prize Travel Fellowship

I ended up being one of 12 finalists in the Berkeley Prize essay competition for a paper that I wrote on brick masonry (read essay here). As a finalist I was invited to apply for a travel fellowship, and I just learned today that I was granted the fellowship and they are sending me to London and Dublin as outlined in my travel poposal and they're paying for it! More info here:

http://www.berkeleyprize.org/travel/travel.cfm?year=2009

----------------------------------------------------

Berkeley Essay Prize Travel Fellowship Proposal:

BENEFITS TO MY ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION:
My architectural goals are simple:
i. Make passive solar buildings in Canada.
ii. Help Canada develop a mid-density residential building type that is in-between the tall condo and the single family house.
iii. Make buildings in such a way that can be adapted and re-used for new purposes; well built, hand-crafted and repairable to ensure the building outlasts the embodied energy used in materials.

Above all, I would like to make beautiful buildings that respect their environmental, local, and climactic contexts.

After several years in University and one working in an adaptive re-use architecture firm, I am confident that brick masonry is an excellent material that lasts in our climate and has intrinsic hand-built qualities that can be used to develop an enriching architecture for communities; an architecture that endures and can be repaired and adapted and re-used. One that ages gracefully and shows this history through patina to contribute beauty to the community.
As outlined in my essay competition submission, huge progress has been made in the last twenty years regarding efficiency in brick manufacturing processes that make this material relevant and sustainable if used appropriately.

At this point in my architectural education I need to know how to lay bricks in order to include intricate detailing into buildings, and additionally so that I fully understand the limitations of the material. Through this understanding I can develop techniques and approaches for passive solar designs and insulated, thermally massed buildings to take advantage of the free energy provided by the sun. Heating and cooling buildings is a large energy sinkhole that I feel can be eliminated in Canada if we just think about things a little further. I want to look at making an architecture for Canada with locally available masonry resources that responds to the various climates in each of the provinces. I plan to do this within my thesis work by studying the brick masonry building typologies developed in various cities across Canada (victorian rowhouse in Toronto, two storey walk-up in Montreal, etc.) and extrapolate this into meaningful mid-density building types for the specific climates in Canada.

Helping me learn to build with brick masonry will help me in the next step to achieving the three goals I outlined above. The program I have selected involves the restoration / rebuilding of the Cotswold Canals in Gloucestershire UK with an opportunity for volunteers to learn how to lay bricks.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM:
Rebuilding the Cotswold Canals (Gloucestershire, UK.) "The work will include a wide variety of restoration skills in rebuilding the Cotswold Canals. It will focus on rebuilding the lock walls, undertaking repairs to the lock bridge, ... a complete rebuild of the main lock chamber walls and top sill - a fantastic chance to learn or improve your bricklaying skills!"
http://www.wrg.org.uk/
http://www.wrg.org.uk/camps_flyer_2009.pdf

ITINERARY:
I would like to take full advantage of travel to the UK by visiting London and Dublin Ireland to study the rich history of traditional and modern construction techniques using brick masonry, specifically:

London:
•Herzog & De meuron - Tate Modern Building - adaptive re-use of brick factory
•Battersea Powerstation - adaptive re-use of brick powerstation

Dublin:
•Lincon Place, Dublin - modern mid-density residential brick building
•Dublin Quays - integration of modern & historic brick buildings
•Tenement housing - historic mid-density residential brick buildings throughout Dublin

TRAVEL ADGENDA:
•Fly to London, visit significant brick masonry buildings.
•Participate in restoration Camp, learn to lay bricks.
•Visit significant brick masonry buildings in Dublin Ireland.
•Return to Canada.

BUDGET:
•Return Air Travel: $850.00 US
•Train travel to/from airport to camp: $150.00 US.
•Camp cost: (£49UK) $90.00 US.
•Food/Accomodation cost (including travel in Dublin & London ): $1700.00

PUBLISHED MATERIAL:
http://www.wrg.org.uk/
http://www.wrg.org.uk/camps_flyer_2009.pdf

Paper submitted to the Berkeley essay competition

Competition Poster:


Competition website: http://www.berkeleyprize.org/

Post script: In hindsight, I think I really needed to do a lot more to explain HOW to revive this tradition, but its always easier to understand what you wanted to say after you've finished talking. I'm just glad to have started a dialogue on the subject.

----------------
Learning from Canada's Brick Masonry History


Walking up a gently sloping hill in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I noticed a Victorian red brick building off in the distance, or at least I figured it was Victorian from the number of charming pointy details sticking out everywhere. As I approached the building, a beautiful colour variation in the brick was revealed. Standing right next to it, I could see that the walls had been well maintained, and over the years a few bricks had been replaced here and there at different times giving the building a tapestry of slightly lighter and darker bricks. Standing in front of the building, I realized that it had been there for over a hundred years, and many people had worked on it to keep it standing; the brickwork became a rich layering of history and craft revealing the many hands that had a part in its creation and maintenance. I also realized that constructing with a method that can be easily repaired allows structures to stay standing for much longer, an inherently sustainable approach to architecture.

I would like to take a closer look at the history of building with brick masonry in Canada and at how building solidly – for the long term – just makes sense. I hope to demonstrate that the brick industry in Canada could shift our perception of building sustainably and set an example that could be followed in other places with access to clay and brick masons. Within this tradition, there are three main areas to discuss: first, historical aspects, including construction methods that have allowed these buildings to be adapted and re-used for different purposes over centuries. Second, I’ll review the social aspects and benefits of construction by brick masons using one's hands to construct a building, and finally I'll talk a bit about the future and the practical aspects of revitalizing the brick building tradition in Canada today.

One thing I've learned about architecture is to look at local examples and historic buildings for clues about how to build well and appropriately for the local climate – if a building has been around for a few hundred years, then its builders have probably done something right. Canada's colonial beginning denoted a point of transition towards permanent architecture in Canada, whereas indigenous Native and Inuit groups functioned primarily as semi-nomadic cultures. Consequently many Canadian architectural traditions stem from European roots, but are expressed with local materials; the use of local brick creates unique and distinct examples that reflect concurrently the colonial and local histories in Canada. Before trains and today's questionable shipping practices, people used what was near by to build and developed techniques to deal with local climates. Brick is one of very few materials that have been used historically in virtually every climate in Canada, from coastal to prairie. This is mainly due to brick's availability – there are clay and shale pits in every province – but it’s also because of the adaptability of the material to almost any building type and form.

Although brick has lent itself to every architectural style in Canada, the late 1800s mark the high point for the use of brick in this country. As noted in L.E. Shaw's book “My Life in the Brick Industry”, small scale brick manufacturers were located on the outskirts of most towns, and as production methods became more efficient with advances in steam power, brick makers popped up anywhere that suitable clay quarries were found. This meant that brick used for construction in expanding cities and towns was typically excavated from nearby clay pits, contributing to the local economy and providing work for the community. The small towns of southern Ontario are exemplary of this condition where use of polychromatic brickwork in Italianate style buildings is prevalent. These buildings include turn of the century farmhouses and main street shops that use uniquely detailed, regional yellow and red brick to create a vernacular typology that celebrates the locally available materials.

Before elaborate heating and air conditioning systems and highly technical construction techniques came into widespread use, there were very simple methods to deal with local climates in buildings: Too hot? Make windows that open. Too cold? Light a fire. Simple, but practical. These straightforward methods are demonstrated by large brick warehouses and manufacturing buildings that were built in many cities before air conditioning was available. In particular, the 401 Richmond building in downtown Toronto was configured to take advantage of passive heating and cooling principles by strategic placement of windows that open in the summer to vent hot air and draw in cool air from interior shaded courtyards through a process called 'the stack effect'. Additionally, the thermal mass of the building imparted by heavy brick masonry walls helps to keep it cool in the summer through 'lag' time, when the sunlight in the day is absorbed by the heavy walls, and heat is re-radiated outside at night time. These simple passive principles have allowed the building to stay in operation for over a hundred years under a variety of uses. According to the 401 Richmond web site, in its most recent re-invention it has become a home to over 140 small art galleries, cultural producers, and entrepreneurs.

These are only two of many examples of brick masonry traditions in this country. The variety of brick buildings in Canada is fantastic; ranging from two and three storey walk-up homes in Montreal, to Victorian row houses in Toronto, to large manufacturing warehouses in Winnipeg built in the early 1900s (similar to those in New York City). The building types varied to meet people's living and working needs, but brick masonry construction was used everywhere because of its durability and weather resistance in a variety of climates. In summary, these historic building traditions demonstrate that brick is a versatile material, is locally available, endures in our climate, and can be repaired, prolonging a building's lifespan.

On my way to class each day I have to pass through a lackluster, 1960s modern-styled institutional building. You know the kind: low ceilings, fluorescent lights, stuffy hallways and loud echoes. A few years ago, I went away over the summer break and returned to find the building's interior newly renovated for office spaces. Most surprising was that a new wall fronting onto the hallway was made of brick. More curious yet: this wall was not made of new material, but instead built with salvaged brick, using the material's character to combat the alienating starkness of the original hallway.

Bricks are made to fit in the human hand during construction as walls are laid out one brick at a time. When a brick wall is completed, it echoes this method of construction though a human scale and substance that people can understand and respond to. The warmth and texture of the material adds a depth to building construction that, even in the example of the renovated hallway, develops a richness imbued with an authentic human quality that results in a more meaningful architecture.
An area that seems to have been overlooked in the architecture of the last fifty years is the notion of permanence and cultural value. Somewhere along the line the desire for quickly produced buildings that fulfill a one time use with a twenty or forty year lifespan became the standard, replacing a tradition of constructing buildings of value that form an important part of a community over hundreds of years.

One result of this is a 'nagging sense of insufficiency' that as discussed in James Howard Kunstler's book “Home From No Where”. Kunstler illustrates the social detriment caused by the continuous erection and destruction of poorly considered buildings designed for short lifespans. Big box retail buildings are a rampant example of this problem. In addition to the well publicized issues around waste and the building industry, the psychological degradation likely has further reaching consequences than we've considered – it doesn't feel good to know that a building may only be around for a few years because we know it’s wasteful. We openly discuss the poor construction methods of new condo buildings that are erected in months, and no one is surprised when issues crop up shortly after their completion. Problems with concrete exteriors and new/imported materials that cannot be easily or aesthetically repaired contribute further to premature demolition and waste. If we were to use local brick instead, we would allow for maintenance of buildings; individual blocks could be replaced without serious aesthetic compromises, resulting in a "patina" over time that exhibits the age of a building and celebrates its history in the community. Part of the solution to premature demolition lies in developing architecture that is well crafted and carefully considered for its local climate. These buildings become better with age, and will readily be adapted and re-used for new purposes, such as the brick warehouses in many cities that have been converted to lofts and offices.

Cities and towns are made of buildings that we see and experience everyday as we live our lives in and around them. Therefore, they deserve adequate consideration and care. Buildings that are well crafted can become a cherished part of the community through the time and effort applied in their construction. As illustrated by the story of the new institutional hallway, brick lends itself to this tactile handcrafted approach that imbues a value which is intuitively understood by those passing.

In Shaw's “My Life in the Brick Industry”, the author discusses the appreciation that was awarded to brick masons by their communities in the late 1800s and early 1900s for their visible contributions to the community. This resulted in the development of highly skilled craftspeople and brick masons who took pride in their work and gained the admiration of the community through their intricate techniques and brick detailing – a mutually beneficial relationship that had beautiful aesthetic results.

People enjoy seeing things being built; an observation of construction sites reveals that people stop to watch. When watching a skilled bricklayer or craftsperson work people can respond to the scale of the project and develop social and emotional ties to the structure. Building with brick is a process that occurs brick by brick and the product expresses this method, resulting in a more enriching architecture. This attribute is often absent in many other construction methods, such as large concrete and glass buildings, which have few human qualities and induce a sense of alienation.

In the last hundred years, there has been a shift away from small family-owned brick making operations towards larger provincial manufacturers. In the late 1800s when brick making was a seasonal operation, it required little more than a shovel, some clay, and a fire to start one's own brick manufacturing company. Today, production is often year-round, and the expense of efficient manufacturing equipment has resulted in the amalgamation of many of these small operations into the larger provincial manufacturers that exist today.

Still relevant, however, is the use of these provincial or state operated manufacturers to supply locally manufactured products. The reduction in shipping requirements and development of a local building material that responds to specific climactic conditions is important; this is demonstrated by the east coast Shaw Brick Company that manufactures bricks for the extreme freeze-thaw cycling of the Canadian east coast climate. Furthermore, there is built-in accountability with the use of local materials because the supplier's reputation depends on the success of the building product.

In today's architectural practice, after many years of producing modern architecture divorced from climate and context, we are at a point of reflection where alternatives are being sought out to wasteful, energy-intensive methods of heating and cooling buildings. In recent years, the International Masonry Institute has worked with building technologists to develop insulated masonry wall systems that provide better insulation values for consistent temperatures. Additional opportunities exist outside of Canada as has been demonstrated by the 'Think Brick Australia' group, working hard to make the brick manufacturing process more efficient, reduce the total embodied energy in the product, and reduce its ecological footprint overall. According to dailycommercialnews.com, these types of changes have resulted in an estimated 50 per cent reduction in energy consumption over the past 25 years in the brick manufacturing process. When combined with the enduring nature of the material and its social value, this makes for a time tested and sustainable building product.

Brick masonry has played an important role in forming Canada's built environment and continues to us teach lessons about appropriate building construction. Due to the inherent value of human workmanship and beauty, carefully-crafted brick buildings have typically been passed down or adapted and re-used because of sound construction techniques, ease of reparability, and the desire of the community to maintain buildings which they care about. When combined with new and passive sustainable technologies, there exists a profound opportunity to develop a brick masonry architecture that is well crafted and environmentally sound. Canada, and other countries, can benefit from re-establishing this once thriving building practice.

---------------

Sources:

Daily Commercial News:
www.dailycommercialnews.com/article/id26848

International Masonry Institute:
www.imiweb.org/design_tools/technical_seminars/leed_checklist.pdf

401 Richmond:
www.401richmond.net

Think Brick Australia:
www.thinkbrick.com.au

Berkeley prize abstract about brick masonry

I submitted the abstract below for the 2009 Berkeley essay competition, and out of 100-150 entrants I am now one of 23 semi-finalists who have been invited to develop their abstract into a 2500 word paper. It pleases me to know there is still a place for brick masonry in today's architecture.

More information on this year's competition here:
www.berkeleyprize.org

Abstract:
Learning from Canada's Brick Masonry History

Traditional brickwork in Canada is a lost craft which should be re-established for its inherent sustainable and community based principles. The past use of locally made bricks in various areas of Canada resulted in the development of micro-cultures of material use where brick buildings tell a story of locality through their specific colors and styles while simultaneously being economically, environmentally, and locally sustainable. Canada has a relatively young permanent architectural history, but we can learn from a time before materials were imported.

Canada's colonial beginning denotes a point of transition towards permanent architecture in Canada, whereas indigenous Native and Inuit groups functioned primarily as semi-nomadic cultures. Consequently many Canadian architectural traditions stem from European roots, but are expressed with local materials; the use of local brick creates unique and distinct examples that reflect concurrently the colonial and local histories in Canada. Brick used for construction was typically excavated from nearby clay pits contributing to the local economy and making work for the community. This resulted in the development of highly skilled craftspeople and brick masons who took pride in their work and gained the respect of the community through their intricate techniques and brick detailing - a mutually beneficial relationship that had beautiful aesthetic results. The small towns of southern Ontario are exemplary of this condition where use of polychromatic brickwork in "Italiante" style buildings is prevalent. These buildings include turn of the century farmhouses and main street shops where local yellow and red brick are uniquely detailed to create a vernacular typology.

There is a sustainable quality in the enduring nature of brickwork which is why so many historic examples of brick buildings exist today. The use of local brick allows for ‘maintenance’ repair of these buildings by obtaining more bricks from the clay pit, versus problems with concrete and new/imported materials which cannot be easily and aesthetically repaired, resulting in premature demolition. This also allows bricks to obtain a "patina" over time which exhibits the age of a building and celebrates its history in the community.

People enjoy seeing things be built; an observation of construction sites reveals that people stop to watch. There are additional social benefits to watching a skilled bricklayer or craftsperson construct a building; people can respond to the scale and develop social and emotional ties to the structure, versus large concrete and glass buildings which have few human qualities and induce a sense of alienation.

Due to the inherent value of human workmanship and beauty, carefully crafted brick buildings have typically been passed down or adapted and re-used because of sound construction techniques, ease of reparability, and the desire of the community to maintain buildings which they care about. Canada, and other countries, can benefit from re-establishing this building practice that once thrived and has since been lost in a time where "international" architecture and materials are desired. Combined with new and passive sustainable technologies, the implications are profound.