20 Things We Like - Video 15: Bricks

In Part 15 of our “20 Things We Like” video series to celebrate 20 Years of Clay Architecture, we reminisce on our site visit to Freshfield Lane Brickworks.

Clients sometimes ask if we named the practice after clay, the material. We might as well have, as we admire clay’s innate plasticity and ability to find the exact right form with which to respond to outside influences. The way clay can be moulded by process, and in turn, assume a form that creates opportunities for other processes to begin life. Very Zen Buddhist, some have said. But no, the name Clay comes from George Edward Clay, who founded the practice in 1904. When we took over the practice in 2000, we felt it was important to retain a name that has historic links to Gravesham and Medway, and which evolved as the area evolved over the last century like… well, clay.

But how can we not love clay, or bricks? A building material as old as the history of building itself, which enables a space to be shaped out of many, many small components. An everyman building material which is also capable of magic.

Steve Hardy of Brickability, our ‘brick’ man of many years kindly organised this trip to a brick foundry for us in 2016. We were lucky enough to go behind-the-scenes to see how the bricks are made. It did change the way we think of bricks. We hope you enjoy this video.