Plant-Based Bricks
Planter Brick
KAILI WEAVER
Bamboo Brick
BEN SIMMONS
Biophilic Air-Filtration Brick
ALEXIS ANDRIKANICH & VIOLET DRINKWATER
This brick design explores the many advantages of utilizing plants within an individual module. One of the main goals is to utilize mosquito-deterring plants on the exterior of the home to act as a natural repellent and lessen the reliance on chemical repellents. The planter brick also harvests rainwater as it filters through each plant in the tapered hollow core of the brick. The water would be collected in an underground system that could be saved and utilized for irrigation or potentially drinking water, depending on the filtration process. The plants on the exterior of the home would provide shading, and the added mass of the plant, soil, and sand or gravel for filtration will potentially slow the heat traveling to the interior.
The brick design evolved into a typical Tanzanian-sized brick with a hole in the center, allowing a bamboo structure to pass through the wall cavity. Semicircles were added on either side of the brick to facilitate a running bond. During construction, the bamboo would allow the bricks to rotate, creating a perforated effect in the brick wall. This flexibility creates airflow throughout the building as well as sunlight. The rotation of the brick allows for the building facade and form to be co-authored by the builders. Bricks can be rotated to the best possible orientation, allowing for maximum thermal comfort based on the site.
A living, growing wall can be accomplished in many ways and has significant positive effects for the experience of the people who utilize the building. This kind of brick would have the benefits of being multi-functional as a garden or pest deterrent. It would also contribute to a less-stressed environment due to its biophilic nature. The properties of this brick would be having a small container with plants to sit, small holes that filter the water collection out of the planter pot, and larger holes that allow for air to be filtered through the growing plants into the building or home. Different designs have prevailed when considering the coexistence of plants in bricks.