The circular
brick facade
Circularity offers great opportunities for the building of tomorrow’s living spaces. The aim is to consistently close material cycles in the construction industry. The continued use of existing resources and materials is even more important than energy-saving production possibilities. It can make a major contribution to an improved ecological balance.
Due to its compressive strength and low water absorption, brick is a building material with a lifespan of 1,000 years. If a building is threatened with demolition, the brick can be recycled through practicable urban mining. This is where the idea of the circular brick façade comes in - walls without mortar!
The system makes it easy to dismantle brick façades and fully recycle them in a "second life".
We at Hagemeister are collaborating with our exclusive Dutch partner Drystack B.V. on this new processing system.
A conventionally brick-constructed wall is created with masonry mortar. This prevents the degradation of the material in the event of demolition.
The circular brick façade, however, does not use mortar as a connecting material. Instead, plug-in connecting elements are inserted between the bricks across the stones. Layer for layer, it is stacked dry, but aligned. Suitable anchor systems are available especially for the simple connection to the rear wall.
The façade is permanently stable due to the relief on each brick and simple anchoring solutions on the back. To protect against the effects of weather, the joints are sealed at a depth of 1.5 - 2 cm with a joint mortar that can be removed without leaving any residue. An almost jointless installation is also possible.
Dismantling is done by simple de-stacking. The bricks can be removed undamaged, the joint strip falls off easily and connectors can be separated by type and recycled.
With this process, we are treading a new path together. The circular façade is aimed at sustainably-minded architects and building owners. Because - resources are finite.
Familiar materials and components will no longer be available in the future. It is therefore important for the future of building to rethink and to handle valuable resources with care.