Brick from a Stone: Arch Revival—Showcasing the Future of Sustainable Stone Construction
Brick from a Stone: Arch Revival has been unveiled at Clerkenwell Design Week, showcasing the strength and versatility of stone bricks. Commissioned by ourselves and Albion Stone, the installation features two freestanding hyperbolic arches, each standing 4 metres tall.
Designed by Hawkins\Brown and engineered by Webb Yates, the arches are crafted from a single layer of 102mm-thick stone bricks, demonstrating their structural potential. The design incorporates innovative brick specials, including T-shaped bricks, produced using advanced machinery. These unique elements earned recognition at the inaugural Clerkenwell Design Week Product Awards.
The arches highlight British craftsmanship and sustainability. One is built from sandstone bricks sourced from Hutton Stone’s quarries, including Darney Heritage sandstone from Northumberland. The other features Heritage Portland Stone bricks from Albion Stone’s Dorset mine. Each arch contains 702 bricks made from repurposed stone that would otherwise go unused, significantly reducing waste and lowering embodied carbon. Compared to a similar clay-fired brick structure, the pavilion cuts embodied carbon by 66%, saving 419kg of CO₂ emissions.
Photo Credits: Will Pryce & Sam Frost
