Bricks-blocks of fired clay-are known to have been used for the construction of buildings since around 2800 BCE. Highly appreciated throughout well over four millennia, this immensely versatile and sustainable building material continues to be used today for an almost unlimited range of applications in construction.
Since 2004, Wienerberger AG, the world's largest manufacturer of bricks and other clay building materials, has biannually presented the International Brick Award as a scene for outstanding achievements in brick architecture. In 2024, the eleventh edition of this global master class saw 743 submissions from 53 countries that were reviewed by an international jury of renowned experts. The German-language book Brick 24 features the 50 nominees and the winning designs in five categories. They are presented through concise texts, atmospheric images, as well as site and floor plans, views, elevations, and sections. Topical essays are contributed by distinguished practitioners and teachers of architecture, publicists, and historians, including Peter van Assche, Adolfo F.L. Baratta, Eva Guttmann, Maren Harnack, and Vendula Hnídková.
