Another (black) brick in the wall

As the industrial revolution pushed forward in the 20th century, that classic building material – brick - was overshadowed by the wonders of steel and glass. Modernism took hold. Fast forward to the 21st century and although brick never really disappeared, black brick has slipped into a more pronounced limelight; creating an homage to modernism before it.

This collection of architecture uses black bricks as a defining material. It also communicates a strong formal language. Particularly when viewed together, the similarities of mass, colour and form become even more apparent.

But one of these buildings is not like the others, making the perfect starting point to dissect the rest. And that is St Hubertus Church by German architect, Gottfried Böhm. What is so different about this piece of architecture compared to the others? It was designed over fifty years ago, unlike the other four which have been realised in the last decade. Böhm’s St Hubertus Church in the town of Aachen in Germany was designed and built from 1961–1964. And sadly there is very little known about this Catholic Church. The roof design features geometric, angled lines as if cleanly sliced from a piece of timber. The black bricks rise sharply to meet a fine layer of slate ‘dachwerk’ (roof work). The result is a piercing structure that stands strong fifty years later.

Moving onto one of the more recent black brick projects, Dirty House by Adjaye Associates is an enigma in Shoreditch. The converted warehouse, built in 2002, is situated on a back street of London’s east side. Square windows that line the street-level are completely blacked-out, while several levels up, the contrasting white roof pops up to allow for a covered, rooftop space. The mass of the building defined by black bricks.

Not too far away in London is the Olympic Substation by Danish practice NORD Architects. The building serves a purely utilitarian function - an electricity substation for the 2012 London Olympics. The architects drew on the area’s industrial heritage by using brick as the primary material, however opting for black to bring into its modern context.

Taking black brick as it’s dominant building material is the ABC Building in Seoul by Wise Architecture. Described as an architectural mountain, the building draws its users up the summit via a stairwell that is encased with black bricks. While the front facade forgoes the traditional masonry, resulting in a semi-transparent wall.

Moving further into the southern hemisphere, the most recent project in the collection is Ari Apartments by OLA Studio. The commercial development features nine apartments with an accompanying ground-level retail shop in Melbourne’s inner east. Ari Apartments blends traditional black brick together with a timber batten facade and concrete. But the black brick is not only the striking feature, its selection ties back to the suburbs surrounding heritage as it is known as the brick-making district.

Collectively, these projects show that black brick can be used to create strong, striking and confident buildings.

Designing with Pegboard

An architect’s home in Auckland, detailed with fervent character and a teeny glimpse of pegboard in the most unexpected way. Across the Tasman, a North Melbourne coffee institution takes the essence of pegboard and reimagines it in a practical application. Two examples of designing with this simple material to create something slightly left-of-centre.

First up, New Zealand architect Henri Sayes of Sayes Studio had the opportunity to build himself a home. Describing the home as a glorified barn, defined by a timber-framed rectangle with exposed, inverted timber trusses, the home also features more complex and unexpected details. One of those details happens to be a clever, custom made screen to add privacy to the downstairs bathroom. The pegboard offered a moderately priced alternative while keeping a sense of delight and practicality to the space.

Over the ditch, Melbourne-based interior design studio, Studio Zwei have created a cafe space rather fitting of its locale. Situated along bustling Errol Street in North Melbourne, the newly opened  Code Black Coffee is an exercise in industrial chic. The warehouse space respects the original facade and brick exterior, fitted out with clean and minimal timber joinery inside. One piece in particular being a wall display sat snugly between the front door and front window. The pegboard shelving is an update on the more traditional with larger size dowel slotted into the larger circle punctures on the timber backing board.

These two projects go to show that a simple material can be reimagined within a space with a little creativity.

BUILT PIECES: Screen divider in Onehunga House by Sayes Studio & Display shelf in Code Black Coffee by Studio Zwei

Images: 1-2 - Code Black Coffee by Studio Zwei via Studio Zwei website 3 - Onehunga House by Sayes Studio by Patrick Reynolds

A perforated program of space: Corner house

Corner House by SMART Architecture sits on a tight corner block in Korea’s Daegu district, not far from the Kyungpook National University. The project defies classification, bringing together a mixture of parking, a restaurant space and single-family apartments.

Space-saving techniques were used in the design to ensure the 200m2 plot of land was used to its full extent – the resulting development uses up 58% of the land.

The program of spaces plays out with parking and facilities on the first two floors, third and fourth floors are apartments and the restaurant space neighbours the first floor on a terrace.

The folded steel façade with detailed perforations is used to give the residential floors privacy while still allowing light to filter through. The continuous zinc panel, daintily perforated, adds a clear demarcation between public and private. It also ensures that views and access to natural light are not compromised. A unique addition to the architecture that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

A curving plastic wall

Retail environments are one of the most important commodities for a brand. They become the face and the experience that consumers have when purchasing. And fashion would be at the top of the list.

Italian couture brand, Marni knows the value that their retail spaces have on the whole customer journey. Each of their flagship stores around the world has a sense of individuality while also instilling a sense of familiarity. London-based studio Sybarite have completed a handful of Marni stores, but the moulded fibre-glass walls found in the Miami and Las Vegas stores show that many shapes and forms of plastic can be truly cutting-edge.

A curved form surrounds the stores interior, with spherical shapes popped-out and sunken in for displays. This interior wall also allows a clever space for storage off the shop floor. The partition wall creates a series of vignettes throughout the store, allowing product to merchandised and ‘featured’ as needed. The circular motif is repeated throughout from the moulded plastic wall to the circular, tiered shoe displays in a polished stainless finish.

The curving, circular repetition of the fibre-glass wall is the star of the space, creating a unifying presence throughout.

 BUILT PIECE: Marni flagship store, Miami by Sybarite

A Kitchen made of functional Dreams

There can be no discussion about kitchens without featuring a kitchen itself. And a well-designed kitchen feels incredible to be in. As most designers and architects would know, it’s the details and the thought-processes around function that take a nice kitchen up a few notches. Things such as the way doors open in relation to the fridge or oven, adequate storage and clever ways to conceal appliances. And then there are the details – splashbacks, lighting, where all the power points are located (and making sure there are enough).

M House by MAKE Architecture is an extension to a family home in Melbourne’s Northcote, and is a beautiful example of an open plan, integrated and well-thought out kitchen. The extension as a whole creates an entirely new living space, light-filled as it brings in northern light. Timber detailing, matte white joinery, flourishes of red and a flecked tile splashback make for a dashing design. A kitchen that looks as good as it is useful, even integrating space for ‘home admin’.

BUILT PIECE: M House by MAKE Architecture

A Little Leather Strap

Take a closer look. This piece is a subtle one, the peachy leather straps holding up the images behind the counter. A few hints of warm brass details, furniture in oak upon a white backdrop. It makes for a pleasant discovery when the details are honed in on. And just as good design should always do - it’s these details that create a sense balance.

The Melbourne outpost of Beauty EDU was designed by Techne Architecture + Interior Design as a hub for their beauty training and courses. The reception area sits as the centrepiece alongside a nail bar and a row of occasional chairs that operate as individual beauty stations. The white reception desk has an oak bench nestled into the far end, with Tom Dixon Copper Void pendant lights hovering above. There is an obvious relationship between the copper display rail behind the reception desk and the pendants, but a more subtle complement when paired together with a blonde timber veneer. Delicately added into the mix are those little beige leather straps. The buckles face outward over the copper pipe, giving a wink to the oak timber furniture. A subtle pairing of leather and wood.

BUILT PIECE: Beauty EDU by Techne Architecture + Interior Design

Woody P - When in Rome

Woody P is a new restaurant to the most bustling section of Flinders Lane, sitting cosily next to Chin Chin, Woody P is all about Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Get it? Wood-fired Pizza = Woody P. Cute no?

This new kid on the block also has a new interior fit out by Eades&Bergman (the designers responsible for Meatball and Wine Bar a few doors up). Woody P is warm and welcoming with a palette of exposed brick, timber flooring and table tops, with the open kitchen finished off with angled timber panelling. With all that timber it would be easy to imagine a sauna-like space, alas, it’s all broken up with some white, floating planter boxes – the vines slowly starting to creep up, making a natural demarcation between the dining zones and thoroughfare.

Another nice touch is the angling of the timber panelling on the kitchen mimicked in the exaggerated shadow of a custom neon light. ‘When in Rome’ sits proudly on the exposed brick wall, sprawled in a cursive, bright white light and bleeding downwards in the same 45degree angle. And again, that same drop shadow is added to the logo on all the other collateral.

So just as the wood is used to cook the delicious food, wood is used in the interior to create a sense of comfort and atmosphere.

PIECE ABOUT FOOD & BUILT PIECE: Woody P, Melbourne

The Kettle Black: An execution of restraint

Not every marble interior needs to be designed with hulking mammoth slabs. In fact the built piece today is actually quite the opposite; it embraces the beauty and subtlety of marble through a delivery of soft restraint.

The Kettle Black by Studio You Me is something of a breakfast institution for Melburnians. Nestled in South Yarra, the café is another venture for the owners of Top Paddock and Two Birds One Stone (there are 6 co-owners in total). The café and its modern breakkie cuisine have had plenty of time in the press – but it’s the interior that adds elements of elegance to the dining experience and is just as deserving of some coverage.

Using a muted palette of oak, concrete, brass, green accents and a creamy marble, the space feels utterly contemporary with an old-school charm. The marble peeks out in hexagonal floor tiles as they organically meet the polished concrete floor. The same hexagon tiles surface the side of the barista’s bar and come up to meet a beautiful slab bench which forms a seated bar along the opposite side (where I happened sit on my inaugural pilgrimage).  

There are tiny details that keep unfolding in this space, from the hanging cutlery boxes and condiment caddies to the concrete pipe converted into a sink. It’s the careful selection of materials that all come together in a harmonious mix of clever executions that make it so memorable.

BUILT PIECE: The Kettle Black, Melbourne by Studio You Me