Patrycja Iskra and Julia Więckowska from the Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology won third prize in the single-family house category for their project "Sculpted House" in the 7th edition of the Brick Architecture Competition. Their concept caught the jury's attention with its innovation and comprehensive approach to the use of brick as a building material.
visualization
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
competition to promote the beauty of brick architecture
The Brick Architecture Competition aims to promote bricks and clinker tiles as the most noble facade materials. Brick, being one of the oldest building blocks, not only combines tradition with modernity, but also offers architecture students unique design opportunities. The goal of the competition was to show how modern architecture can draw on its potential to create beautiful and functional buildings.
The organizers placed particular emphasis on building awareness among future architects of the value of the brick and its aesthetic and practical qualities. The competition made it possible to showcase the skills of young male and female designers, especially in the context of creating clinker facades. Importantly, the works submitted to the competition could be realized in real or abstract locations, giving participants full creative freedom.
visualization
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
"Sculpted House"
The award-winning project by Patrycja Iskra and Julia Więckowska is distinguished by its innovative approach to the traditional form of a single-family house. The house, measuring 11.1 x 11.1 meters, was designed as a compact block in which the living spaces and interior furnishings were "carved" directly into the brick. This idea maximizes the potential of the brick, providing not only an aesthetic but also a functional solution.
facades
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
The house consists of two floors: the first floor, where a dressing room, toilet, kitchen, living room with dining room and office are located, and the second floor, which houses two bedrooms, a bathroom and a reading room. The second floor, which is a usable attic, has been fully designated as a space for artistic expression. It has the character of a free plan giving the opportunity to create an individual arrangement, giving the project a multifunctional character and openness to the diverse needs of residents and residents.
first floor plan
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
All rooms have the character of niches gouged in the brick cube, which allows to keep thick walls in places where additional rooms are not required, thus emphasizing the concept of gouging in the interior. Hence the irregular layout of the walls, sometimes being walls tens or even hundreds of centimeters thick, reminiscent of those of medieval buildings.
attic plan
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
historic brick the material of the future
Brick is one of the oldest materials, a classic building material used for centuries. In line with this thought, the solid used refers to the classic archetype of a house - a simple cuboid with a gable roof.
detail
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
Iskra and Więckowska's design highlights the unique qualities of brick - both as a structural and decorative material. The use of hand-formed bricks and dark gray grout creates a raw, natural look for the building, referring to traditional building forms, while fitting in with modern architectural standards. The irregular arrangement of windows of different sizes gives the project an avant-garde character, introducing a modern touch to the classic body of the house.
detail
© Patrycja Iskra, Julia Więckowska
In the project, brick is not limited only to the exterior walls - it was also used to create interior elements, such as cabinets, shelves and the staircase. In this way, the "Sculpted House" becomes a coherent whole, in which the building material is an integral element of both the structure and interior design. Brick, as a raw material with a long tradition, brings not only durability to the project, but also its unique character.
