The Best Brick Architecture Around the World

When you’re low on inspiration, architect Louis I. Kahn famously told his students, you should have a chat with your material: “You say to a brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’ And brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’ And you say to brick, ‘Look, I want one, too, but arches are expensive and I can use a concrete lintel.’ And then you say, ‘What do you think of that, brick?’ Brick says: ‘I like an arch.’ ”

Kahn acknowledged the creative limitations of the straightforward brick—of course there were many more malleable mediums—but ultimately it was the modest block he chose to explore. Using a material seemingly destined for variations on the square, he formed undulating curves and colossal arches, a testament to its unsung (or perhaps just oft-forgotten) abilities.

Brick (Phaidon, $49.95) explores a range of striking architectural structures that push the boundaries of the humble material. From the ancient ruins of a Roman bathhouse to the world’s largest brick cathedral in France (completed in the late 15th century, it took more than 200 years to build) to modern structures built by a robotic arm, the book shows the brilliant versatility.

Click here to see highlights from the book.

__ __