Brick –one of the oldest building block created by mankind, and perhaps the most common one still in use today. In Pakistan, brick is the foundation of almost every house that is built, every marketplace, mosque and commercial building that stands, and even the historical sites that still stay their ground hundreds of years later. Not only is it one of the most natural and inexpensive materials that are available to us, but it is also one that makes us feel closest to the earth, made from the grains of the very soil on which we stand. Even though all of us understand brick as the building block through which our homes are created, bricks are used in numerous other ways in Pakistan, and around the world. Let’s look at some local examples first.
Let’s look at some local examples first.
St. Thomas Church, in G-7/2, designed by Suhail& Pasha, Architects and Planning Consultants, is undoubtedly one of Islamabad’s hidden gems when it comes to architecture. Even though the whole building exhibits a mastery of brickwork, the highlight of the building is its altar wall. Two curved perforated brick screens emerge from the sides, framing and holding up a tall cross between their centre. A smaller, crown-shaped wall also sits atop the curved screens, bringing the cross further into focus. The perforations and the curve of the screens highlight the materiality of the brick and create a beautiful spiritual experience.
Kamil Khan Mumtaz, a master in combining tradition with modernism, shows his expertise with brickwork in the Tamkinat and Shahid Karim's Residence. The plan of the home is dominated by semi-open spaces and courtyards. One such space is defined by a cross-vault made of exposed brick. The curving ribs of the vault seem to challenge the rigidity of brick, with the ribs staggering into steps as they once again join into the wall. The warm hue of the brick and the intricate way in which it is used infuse the area with a sense of old nostalgia and tradition.
Another work of the master, Kamil Khan Mumtaz, the brick muqarnas at Baba Hassan Din Mazar is a beautiful nod to traditional Islamic architecture. The bricks seem to emerge from the walls in layers, dissolving into two voids on either side before coming together at the top in an intricate pattern. This artfully crafted muqarnas defines the experience of entering into the Mazar.
Another expert of brickwork, Suhail and Fawad Architects strategically employ brick in all their projects. The skylights framed in staggered layers of brick is a trademark of the firm, while brick is also used in the facades of their residential projects. In this residence, Suhail and Fawad Architects strategically balance the use of brick against plain grey walls. This not only highlights the use of the brick itself but also puts emphasis on the parts of the facade they want to highlight, like certain walls and balconies, and the details on the windows and the parapet.
In CKK Jordanki, the architect Fernando Menis employs brick in an entirely ingenious way. He created a technique called Picado, which is a process of mixing concrete with materials such as brick and then breaking it afterwards to achieve a chipped effect. Not only was this method inexpensive due to recycled bricks being used, but it also proved to be very acoustically efficient, which was key in the design of the concert hall.
In this apartment building, the architect Mohsen Kazemianfard defines the façade entirely through the use of brick. The architect used perforated brick screens to create a strong connection between the interior and the exterior of the building, while also keeping in mind the privacy needs of the client. Not only do the rotated screens open up to urban views, but they also filter the light entering into the inside of the apartments, creating soft daylit spaces.
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