An impressive case for the sustainable potential of brick has been provided by the recently completed 拢1.95m HQ building for Neal鈥檚 Yard Remedies in Gillingham, Dorset.

Architect Feilden Clegg Bradley鈥檚 strong environmental agenda led it to specify unfired clay bricks as a means of reducing the embodied energy of the structure and help give the project the potential of developing into a zero carbon manufacturing facility.

Project architect Alex Morris explains: 鈥淏ecause the building is of predominantly lightweight construction, we wanted to increase its thermal mass to help regulate summer temperatures. The embodied energy of the unfired bricks is lower than most high mass materials.鈥�

Dried in waste heat from the kilns, the 鈥済reen鈥� bricks were found to have an average compressive strength of 4.9 N/mm2, allowing their use internally to support their self-weight. They were finished with a breathable clay plaster and are expected to contribute to a healthier workplace by absorbing and releasing moisture into the environment.

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Brick Bulletin Autumn 2005