Ibstock collaborates with Architectural Association School of Architecture

Ibstock Brick has joined forces with the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) to look at the important role that brick plays in helping to create buildings and spaces that can transform communities and inspire people to work and live better.

The partnership between Ibstock and the AA will see Year 2 undergraduates that are working towards their ARB/RIBA Part 1 complete a module around ceramics in architecture titled ‘Digital Craft: Beyond Certainty and Risk.  Taught jointly by Dylan Wozniak O’Connor and Patricia Mato-Mora (two digital fabrication specialists and architectural researchers), the module gives students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the material qualities of brick. 

As part of the programme, students will have the opportunity to design and manufacture ceramic dual-purpose building components through a hybrid approach of numeric and manual fabrication, with Ibstock clay materials being used in conjunction with innovative 3D printing tools, prototyping and robotics to create building elements such as arches, columns, domes and walls.

The combination of industrial robotics with the manual making processes will enable students to produce digitally manufactured building modules informed by the physical and haptic intimacy of clay to push the limits of the capabilities of the material.

Ben Gerry, commercial director at Ibstock Solutions said: “As a business at the heart of the building, we are extremely passionate about the role that brick plays in the development of UK’s built environment.

As part of the partnership, Ibstock’s South Holmwood factory in Dorking is donating over 300kg of clay materials to the AA for its students to carry out the practical elements of the module including the 3D printing.  Students will also have the chance to visit Ibstock’s brick manufacturing plant to see first hand how bricks are manufactured from clay, including the preparation of clay, moulding, drying and firing.

For information on Ibstock Brick and Ibstock Kevington, visit www.ibstockbrick.co.uk