Block The Noise

The potential of bricks exceeds durability and simple design. Today, bricks are being reimagined as versatile elements that offer innovative privacy solutions without hindering or compromising on aesthetics. From creating textured architectural screens to defining intimate outdoor areas, bricks can provide a sophisticated way to introduce solitude into your spaces. 

01

Sunday by Architecture Architecture 

Located in Melbourne’s inner city suburb of Fitzroy, Sunday by Architecture Architecture is a home that embodies physical and mental wellbeing. Providing a range of spaces, occupants can always find a space of comfort–whether it be through “social spaces and private spaces; generous spaces and intimate spaces; spaces to gather, and spaces to retreat”. 

Working to only 175 square meters, the architect leveraged both separation and connection.

GB Masonry's Breeze Blocks in Wedge Nickel creates three distinct zones – communal, outdoor, and private, supported by north-facing clerestory glazing to allow for an abundance of light, air and outward views. A central outdoor courtyard has been established using these bricks. Once plantings become overgrown, they intertwine themselves within the bricks to soften this separation and create an interconnectedness between the outdoor and indoor spaces. Accessing the bedroom requires walking across this open-air courtyard, creating a deliberate retreat from the rest of the house. The project is elevated through GB Masonry GB Smooth Block in Nickel and Austral Masonry Block in Grey. Refined, durable and sustainable, their thermal mass can reduce the intrusion of external temperature fluctuations in internal living areas. They also come in a range of different sizes and formats that can be combined with standard-coloured masonry to provide a distinctive architectural finish.

02

Cross Street by Aphora Architecture 

Set within the city centre of Brisbane, Cross Street is located in the inner city suburb of Newfarm. Through simple design solutions, Andrew Forsyth, Director and Lead Architect of Aphora Architecture, designed two new builds that addresses Australia’s rapidly growing and ageing population by accommodating a variety of inhabitants from families to empty nesters.

The project utilises GB Masonry GB Smooth bricks in Porcelain to signify the beginning of the property and ease the transition throughout the house–from the garage and front door to the living areas, and bedrooms that act as the retreat to the rest of the home. The bricks are left untreated to enhance the expressive quality of the restrained material palette that features polished concrete floors, sandblasted stainless-steel balustrades and concrete blocks. Locally sourced from Brickworks’ factory in Gympie, 165 kilometres north of Brisbane, the bricks were also employed for their high thermal mass and low maintenance.

“The project utilises GB Masonry GB Smooth in Porcelain to signify the beginning of the property and ease the transition throughout the house.”

03

Malvern House 02 by Rob Kennon Architects 

Located in Victoria, Malvern House 02 by Rob Kennon Architects fuses the interior and exterior to create a seamless connection from the home to the surrounding nature. Celebrating a lifestyle spearheaded by nature, Rob Kennon Architects implemented a “low and wide” strategy when constructing the home, maximising the immediate connection between the homeowner and the outdoor space. Enclosed by a surrounding garden, the house feels like an oasis within its inner-city suburban setting. 

The use of Bowral Bricks Simmental Silver helps enhance privacy and creates a more insular and intimate atmosphere within the home. Inside, a masonry wall partition incorporates a built-in seating area, reinforcing the themes of intimacy and enclosure throughout the interior. The colour palette has remained consistent with the original structure. At the same time, the careful introduction of additional light into the new living spaces fosters a welcoming ambience despite the dense surrounding greenery. A standout feature of the renovation is the open courtyard, which acts as a retreat within the home, preserving a sense of separation from the landscape whilst making indoor spaces feel more ample.