Brick

Brick takes a fresh look at one of the world's most popular and abundant building materials. Collating 180 fascinating and beautiful brick buildings from around the world, dating from 2100BC to the present day, this newly reimagined format is the perfect gift for anyone interested in architecture, design, and visual culture.

In this newly reimagined and easy-to-use size, Brick takes a fresh look at one of the world's most familiar and popular building materials. Presenting diverse and fascinating examples, from the strange remains of the Ziggurat of Ur dating from 2100 BC to the formidable mills of the industrial revolution, Brick beautifully illustrates how this humble material has been an architectural staple for centuries.

And despite its ancient heritage, bricks have stood the test of time, proving to be the material of choice for many of the world's most famous, visionary architects. Alvar Aalto, Antoni Gaudi, Frank Gehry, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Peter Zumthor, and Kazuyo Sejima have all explored the breathtaking versatility of brickwork.

Following the structure of Phaidon's bestselling series on architectural materials, the brick buildings are organized by contextual themes such as Texture, Juxtaposition and Light, and are accompanied by anecdotal or descriptive captions, alongside detailed information on the architect, location, and date of completion.

Arranged to promote comparison and discussion, the projects take the reader on a worldwide tour of intriguing and incredibly diverse structures - everything from bus stations and castles to schools, crematoria, and temples.

Illustrated with extraordinary photographs, the book also features an introductory essay by historian and BBC presenter Dan Cruickshank, offering a human response to the theme of brick. Written in an accessible and engaging way, the text draws on personal experience to explore brick buildings both aesthetically and psychologically.

Brick is a beautiful and informative visual exploration of a material that is often overlooked, and sometimes considered limiting - but is actually full of spectacular potential.