Interplay of joints and bricks

Anna Kovacs: We had to adhere to an existing development plan that controlled the building height. Normally, we would prefer to build on several floors to minimise the footprint and surrounding area. The school is quite small; therefore, it was manageable to put all needs on one floor. Given this fact, and because we didn’t want the parts to feel so distant, we chose to bend the building. That also created the schoolyard. 

Anna Kovacs: The Cassis has a nice colour with a lovely warm tone that gives a great softness to the façade. We used Cassis in several other projects, both schools and housing, but it was the first building in which we used the LESS variant. Sustainability is at the top of our agenda at Archus and we welcome all innovation that drives the issue forward. So, whenever there is a more sustainable solution, the question is not “why,” but “why not.”

Anna Kovacs: I have been working at Archus for 17 years but originally, I come from Hungary, so it is natural for me to work with bricks. In Sweden, brick is mainly used as a façade material, almost never as a load-bearing wall element. But yes, Archus and our clients use brick a lot.

Anna Kovacs: Brick is robust and durable and gives authority. Also, the material carries a primordial human memory of mud and fire. The format is adapted to our hands, usually placed one by one. Brick has fantastic possibilities in architecture: with the infinite range of options offered for colours and joints, you can almost sculpt the façade.

Anna Kovacs: I think it is the best choice in terms of sustainability if you use new bricks. I was very pleased with the colour palette. Also, I think the entire industry should make a greater effort to achieve sustainability goals. By that I mean all players: architects, builders, and suppliers. So, I hope the innovation continues to develop. 

Anna Kovacs: The joints make up as much as 30 percent of the brickwork, therefore they have a major effect on the entire building The idea came some years ago while doing architectural drawings. The pens have different thicknesses, which puts the focus on different areas. The same focus can be mimicked with different joint colours. The technique has been used in the past to decorate façades and create patterns on gables, for example. I tested the idea in an apartment building with red brick and light and dark joints and it had a big effect. It is an easy way to create a graphic expression.

Anna Kovacs: Aesthetically, I think the interplay of joints and bricks, the birch-inspired pattern, and the nature around the building are very pleasing. But apart from that, we were able to create a place in the village that is more than just a school. It is a school and preschool, but also a place for the local community and its children. When I drive by on a summer evening, the schoolyard is teeming with children from the area.