Nepal meets Munich

I think it is remarkable that such a relatively small association with around 30 brickworks can get such a project up and running. As part of the Architecture Award 2009, € 8000 00 in prize money was shared out. In her laudation at the presentation ceremony, jury chairwoman, Prof. Anne-Christin Scheiblauer from Frankfurt University of Applied Technology, praised the high quality standard of the projects. The 63 projects submitted demonstrated, in her opinion, a lively interest in clay brick as a building material. Worth particular mention for Prof. Scheiblauer is the “rediscovery” of brick as an ornamental material. The “brick tower” in Nepal is an outstanding example of this. But not just of this! This project also shows how you can arouse a “love” of bricks in architecture students. Without doubt, their Nepal project with brick as the building material will stay in the memories of young award-winners for their whole lives.

Focus of the work submitted was on the facing brick and clinker sectors, very highly valued products among architects. And that is also remarkable: although most of the Association members produce backing bricks, this Architecture Award promotes clay brick as a building material per se. For this, the Ziegelzentrum Süd deserves our full recognition. Curious? Under “Editorial” at www.zi-online.info, we are presenting the award winners and other interesting information on this award scheme.

The next award highlight will be Wienerberger AG‘s “Brick Award 2010”. Here international brick-built structures will be honoured for the fourth year, even if they have not been built with Wienerberger products. The most impressive projects will be profiled in the book “Brick 10”. As we have just heard, the “Fritz Höger Award” for clay brick architecture is going into its second round. Following the call for entries in autumn 2010 (further information available at www.backstein.com), the answers for the best clay brick buildings are to be presented in spring 2011.

Especially in these economically difficult times, schemes promoting clay bricks and roofing tiles are good for our products as they bring them to the attention of architects. We need more of them! We should be pleased to report on your projects too, just send the relevant information to me at anett.fischer@bauverlag.de.