Week 3 - brick construction, (free standing walls)

• Overview

This week’s lecture focused on the design and construction of free-standing walls, with a particular emphasis on brick as a key material in landscape architecture. The session introduced the properties of brick, its structural capabilities, and how it can be used to create durable and visually strong elements within outdoor spaces.

The lecture also explored how brick walls are constructed, including bonding patterns, mortar joints, and considerations for long-term performance.

• Key Learning

A key takeaway from this session is that brick is a highly durable and low-maintenance material, making it suitable for external landscape elements such as walls and seating structures.

The lecture highlighted that:

• Bricks are non-combustible and long-lasting

• They provide thermal mass, helping regulate temperature

• They are available in a wide range of colours and textures

It was also important to understand basic brick terminology, including:

• Courses – horizontal layers of bricks

• Bed joints – horizontal mortar layers

• Perpend (head) joints – vertical mortar joints

These elements form the structural system of a brick wall and ensure stability.

Basic brick terminology and structure of brickwork

• Construction & Bonding Patterns

The lecture introduced different brick bonding patterns, which affect both the appearance and strength of a wall.

• Stretcher bond – the most common and economical, with staggered joints

• Flemish bond – alternating headers and stretchers for a more decorative appearance

• English bond – alternating courses of headers and stretchers

• Stack bond – bricks aligned vertically, but structurally weaker and often requires reinforcement

These patterns are essential in free-standing walls, where structural stability is critical.

• Construction & Performance

The session also emphasised the importance of designing brick walls for long-term performance.

Key considerations include:

• Movement joints, typically placed at regular intervals to allow expansion and prevent cracking

• Durability and frost resistance, especially in exposed outdoor environments

• The correct selection of mortar joints, which can influence both strength and water resistance

This highlights that brick walls must be designed not only for appearance, but also for

structural integrity and environmental conditions.

• Link to My Design

This lecture has directly influenced how I consider structural elements within my design proposal in Woolwich. Free-standing brick walls can be used not only as boundaries, but also as functional and social elements within the landscape.

In my project, brick walls could be integrated as:

• Seating edges around the pond area

• Defining spaces within the market and entrepreneur zones

• Guiding movement and creating enclosure within the site

Using brick also aligns with the urban context of Woolwich, creating a material connection to the surrounding built environment while ensuring durability and low maintenance.

Overall, this session reinforced that structural elements such as walls are not purely functional, but play a key role in shaping spatial experience and user interaction.