Small packages, good things
/In our last two posts we talked about traditional bonds (the various patterns in which brick are traditionally laid) and contemporary bonds (any pattern that falls outside those traditional ones). In both cases, the fact that brick is stacked up in small units is what makes beautiful and interesting bond patterns possible. It’s a characteristic of masonry walls that other construction systems simply cannot match.
Even when using the same bond pattern, two different structures can take on dramatically different looks depending on several design choices:
How and where individual brick units of different colors are integrated into the wall;
How and where individual brick units of different textures are integrated into the wall;
How and where brick of different sizes are integrated into the wall.
We’ve talked about number one and number two before, but choice and application of brick size is the focus of today’s post.
It’s tempting to think about choosing a size of brick as purely a logistical consideration, and for good reason. A brick’s size may affect the speed of a building’s construction, the cost of labor, the amount of mortar used, and the cost of the brick itself. But the aesthetic design considerations that go into choosing the right brick size are at least as significant.
Any size of brick will be small compared to today’s pre-fab, panelized wall systems — and that’s a good thing. It’s a human-scaled material that allows even large buildings to be absorbed and processed by the human eye. Structures that might be imposing and bland in other materials can be interesting and welcoming in brick. Within the generally small package that brick delivers there is still a huge variety of dimensions available to the designer. Some turn corners and meet openings well. Some are taller but not so long, allowing a more vertically-stretched look without committing to a true soldier orientation (laid vertically). Others are vertically short but long, stretching out horizontally for a look that might be ideal for a structure with Prairie School cues. The options are many.
The palette of brick sizes is generous, and when different sizes are used in combination, the possibilities are endless! Combining sizes can be used to create visual focal points on a structure, or to add a new twist to a traditional bond pattern. And, using smaller brick on the most visible face of a structure and larger units on less prominent facades can help projects stay under budget without sacrificing the desired look.
We’ll have more detail on brick sizes and their applications in coming posts. Until then, check out these photos showing various sizes in action.
