Cool brick
Cool bricks are 3D-printed porous ceramic bricks that interlock to form a 3D lattice effect. The porous material of the bricks absorbs water which is then released as warm outside air passes through the lattice, producing an evaporative cooling effect.
The design of the bricks has been optimised for cooling performance and buildability. The brick is shaped to maximise the proportion of the surface that is shaded from the sun, so as to maximise the cooling performance, and when stacked together the bricks interlock to make an effective screen.
The low cost of the materials and the ease of production and installation of cool bricks makes them a good solution for providing comfortable indoor environments in hot, dry climates such as the Middle East and Western Australia.
Cool bricks are the brainchild of Emerging Objects, a California-based studio focussing on innovation in the 3D printing of architectural and building components. Their investigations into architectural form include the Involute Wall, which combines thermal mass and acoustic dampening in a massive 3D printed sand structure.
Much of their innovation is at the prototype stage but it will be interesting to see whether they filter through to mainstream applications.
This article was created by --BRE_Buzz. It was originally published on BRE Buzz in September 2015 and was written by Ali Nicholl, Innovation Network Manager at BRE.
Featured articles and news
Specifying rendered external wall insulation for fire safety
How to interrogate the evidence provided to the specifier.
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
Mental Health Awareness Week with ABS
Architects Benevolent Society programme of activity.
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
May 13-19: Moving more for our mental health.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.
National Retrofit Hub unveils new guide
Digital Building Logbooks and Retrofit: An Introduction.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.