Brick

A fresh, insightful and surprising look at one of the world’s most versatile and popular architectural building materials, Brick explores the beauty of brick through 169 structures dating from 2,100 BC to the present day.

Showcasing extraordinary early structures, such as the strange remains of the Ziggurat of Ur (2,100 BC) and the vast Baths of Caracalla in Rome (216 AD), Brick also features works by some of the most celebrated architects of the twentieth century, such as Alvar Aalto, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Equally striking and memorable projects are featured by innovators working in the twenty-first century, such as Frank Gehry, Peter Zumthor, Kazuyo Sejima, and many lesser-known newcomers.

Arranged to promote comparison and discussion, the selected projects take you on a global tour of intriguing and inspiring structures: an American arts centre sits next to an English castle, a French war memorial is shown alongside a Russian cathedral, and a Uruguayan church next to a school in Burkina Faso.

Illustrated with extraordinary photographs, each project includes an extended caption providing a commentary on the building, while an essay by the historian and BBC television presenter Dan Cruickshank sketches the fascinating history of this enduring building material.

Following the popularity and format of Concrete (William Hall, 2012), Brick is a beautiful and informative visual exploration of a material that is often overlooked, and sometimes considered limiting, but is actually full of spectacular potential.