Collection by Matthew Keeshin

Brick Houses from Around the World

From former industrial buildings to new structures, these homes celebrate their brick heritage.

White brick exterior of Goddard and Mandolene’s home post renovation.
White brick exterior of Goddard and Mandolene’s home post renovation.
The rear of the house features Victorian brick, a modern extension, and Velfac windows. Landscape designer Matthew Wright was inspired by the art of Henri Rousseau when choosing plants to set amid the garden’s Dorset pebbles.
The rear of the house features Victorian brick, a modern extension, and Velfac windows. Landscape designer Matthew Wright was inspired by the art of Henri Rousseau when choosing plants to set amid the garden’s Dorset pebbles.
Because the house is located in a historic area, the exterior updates were limited to new windows and ipe cladding around the front door.
Because the house is located in a historic area, the exterior updates were limited to new windows and ipe cladding around the front door.
Yvette Leeper-Bueno and Adrian Bueno’s home, on West 112th Street in New York City, is recognizable by its two-story bay window angled to bring light and views into the dark, narrow structure. "There’s a threshold of planting between the outside and inside,” says architect Laura Briggs, citing the blooming boxes on the sidewalk, the rear deck, and the master-suite terrace (above the bay window). Photo by Adam Friedberg. See how the rooms stack up inside the narrow shell.
Yvette Leeper-Bueno and Adrian Bueno’s home, on West 112th Street in New York City, is recognizable by its two-story bay window angled to bring light and views into the dark, narrow structure. "There’s a threshold of planting between the outside and inside,” says architect Laura Briggs, citing the blooming boxes on the sidewalk, the rear deck, and the master-suite terrace (above the bay window). Photo by Adam Friedberg. See how the rooms stack up inside the narrow shell.
The wall surrounding Ravi and Esha Chowdhary’s backyard in Bangalore, India, includes bricks made from soil that was excavated for their home’s foundation.
The wall surrounding Ravi and Esha Chowdhary’s backyard in Bangalore, India, includes bricks made from soil that was excavated for their home’s foundation.
The residence is set back a few feet from the site’s edge, allowing more light to flood into neighbors’ windows and leaving space for trees. “The idea was to make a strong gesture to incorporate ideas 

of openness,” Lynch explains. “It’s not just a box if you look at it closely. It’s a series of planes that fit together."
The residence is set back a few feet from the site’s edge, allowing more light to flood into neighbors’ windows and leaving space for trees. “The idea was to make a strong gesture to incorporate ideas of openness,” Lynch explains. “It’s not just a box if you look at it closely. It’s a series of planes that fit together."
Viewed from above, the lower level’s brick floors establish a sense of continuity between the living spaces and the outer courtyard. Two-stories of glazing ensure that the lower levels never feel gloomy.
Viewed from above, the lower level’s brick floors establish a sense of continuity between the living spaces and the outer courtyard. Two-stories of glazing ensure that the lower levels never feel gloomy.
The bricks were locally sourced from the surrounding Brabant region. While gabled structures such as this are a common sight, the Riel Estate's lopsided roof sets it apart.
The bricks were locally sourced from the surrounding Brabant region. While gabled structures such as this are a common sight, the Riel Estate's lopsided roof sets it apart.
The firm chose Endicott brick for the curved elements of the exterior, a natural material with a glossy effect that creates the illusion of changing colors and animated movement. The dark grey contrasts boldly with the earthy brown tones of the durable ipe wood used for the exterior walls.
The firm chose Endicott brick for the curved elements of the exterior, a natural material with a glossy effect that creates the illusion of changing colors and animated movement. The dark grey contrasts boldly with the earthy brown tones of the durable ipe wood used for the exterior walls.
Rusticated clay bricks form the home's unbroken façade, anchoring it to the site and creating the sense of “weight and permanence” the owners desired. The small building blocks added charm and texture, while allowing for a constantly shifting interpretation of scale throughout the project.
Rusticated clay bricks form the home's unbroken façade, anchoring it to the site and creating the sense of “weight and permanence” the owners desired. The small building blocks added charm and texture, while allowing for a constantly shifting interpretation of scale throughout the project.
Tribeca Manufacturing Building

New York–based architect Andrew Franz undertook the renovation of a landmark circa-1884 former soap warehouse in Tribeca, originally designed by George W. DaCunha in the Romanesque Revival style. Franz reorganized and modernized the six-story building—which retains its original 16-foot beam ceilings, brick walls, timber columns, and elevator winches from the former freight shaft—by incorporating steel, glass, handmade tile, and lacquer to complement the masonry and heavy timber. An interior courtyard and rectangular mezzanine are situated below the original 16-foot gull-wing ceiling planes.
Tribeca Manufacturing Building New York–based architect Andrew Franz undertook the renovation of a landmark circa-1884 former soap warehouse in Tribeca, originally designed by George W. DaCunha in the Romanesque Revival style. Franz reorganized and modernized the six-story building—which retains its original 16-foot beam ceilings, brick walls, timber columns, and elevator winches from the former freight shaft—by incorporating steel, glass, handmade tile, and lacquer to complement the masonry and heavy timber. An interior courtyard and rectangular mezzanine are situated below the original 16-foot gull-wing ceiling planes.
In this Facade Focus on brick, Tom Verschueren, of Mechelen, Belgium-based DMVA Architects, created a closed street-side facade with an open backside facing the garden, totally glazed from the ground up to the saddleback roof. On the street side, the only true opening is the door; the seven tall, slim windows are screened by what Verschueren calls “knitted” bricks. “In this part of Belgium, 90 percent of the houses are built with brick,” says Verschueren. “It’s a classic material that we tried to use in House BVA in a totally different way.”
In this Facade Focus on brick, Tom Verschueren, of Mechelen, Belgium-based DMVA Architects, created a closed street-side facade with an open backside facing the garden, totally glazed from the ground up to the saddleback roof. On the street side, the only true opening is the door; the seven tall, slim windows are screened by what Verschueren calls “knitted” bricks. “In this part of Belgium, 90 percent of the houses are built with brick,” says Verschueren. “It’s a classic material that we tried to use in House BVA in a totally different way.”
The lower level is covered in traditional red brick, while the upper level consists of coil-coated aluminium sheet with large glass panes.
The lower level is covered in traditional red brick, while the upper level consists of coil-coated aluminium sheet with large glass panes.
This Victorian-era home in Melbourne, renovated by OOF! Architecture, maintains privacy from the street, but does so in an unusually "friendly" manner—with a giant brick wall that spells out "Hello," a collaboration with local artist Rose Nolan. The residents wanted their house to appeal to passersby, since it sits on a well-trafficked block near a café.
This Victorian-era home in Melbourne, renovated by OOF! Architecture, maintains privacy from the street, but does so in an unusually "friendly" manner—with a giant brick wall that spells out "Hello," a collaboration with local artist Rose Nolan. The residents wanted their house to appeal to passersby, since it sits on a well-trafficked block near a café.
It's traditional among homes in the region to enter through their backdoor, seen here. The door leads directly to the living room.
It's traditional among homes in the region to enter through their backdoor, seen here. The door leads directly to the living room.
A tall and narrow window separates the new brickwork from the historic building, making its lines and profile clearly understandable.
A tall and narrow window separates the new brickwork from the historic building, making its lines and profile clearly understandable.
The renovated industrial compound is clad in metallic bronze-glazed bricks from Modular Clay Product, which match the neighboring Victorian terrace homes. The reflective bricks change in appearance as the sun moves through the sky, but always echo the Bronze Casements by Vale windows.
The renovated industrial compound is clad in metallic bronze-glazed bricks from Modular Clay Product, which match the neighboring Victorian terrace homes. The reflective bricks change in appearance as the sun moves through the sky, but always echo the Bronze Casements by Vale windows.
Home Renovation Tip: Get an Understanding of What’s Already Around
Home Renovation Tip: Get an Understanding of What’s Already Around
The location, which is hemmed in by buildings on three sides and faces a heavily-trafficked road and tram line to the east, presented a challenge for architect Delia Teschendorff, who was tasked with carving out a family sanctuary for a woman and her two daughters. The handmade brick exterior, which the client requested, lets the new home slip into the neighborhood's semi-industrial character.
The location, which is hemmed in by buildings on three sides and faces a heavily-trafficked road and tram line to the east, presented a challenge for architect Delia Teschendorff, who was tasked with carving out a family sanctuary for a woman and her two daughters. The handmade brick exterior, which the client requested, lets the new home slip into the neighborhood's semi-industrial character.

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