Bricks

Affordable and easy to use, this age-old building product is also winning in the style stakes

- Georgia Madden

There’s a real buzz around brick. Thanks to new manufacturing techniques, this humble building material has been reimagined and is now available in a vast array of colours, formats and finishes. As a result, designers and architects are eagerly pushing the boundaries of its creative potential: think swooping curves, sculptural feature walls and dramatic patterns, all designed to make a high impact statement in contemporary homes.

“Bricks are available in more colours, sizes and textures than ever, including glazed, semi-glazed and matt finishes, as well as distinctive shapes,” says Brett Ward, general manager of marketing at Brickworks. “This has given architects far more range to innovate and experiment. They’re trying different colour combinations, mixing textures to create light and shade, and using varying shapes and sizes for intricate, bespoke designs.”