CANVAS BRICK

PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN . BFA . INSTRUCTOR: JEREMY BARBOUR . MATERIALITY & ASSEMBLY . SPRING 2016 . NEW YORK, USA

The idea consists of canvas panels bolted diagonally to a concrete frame, allowing for variation in direction. The fabric’s partial transparency allows sunlight to come in, but not as intensely as if it was glass, creating a type of brise-soleil structure. In order to assemble the bricks, mortar would be used, since it would still allow the canvas to be cleaned or replaced in case of damage.

This material study started from the curiosity of casting a piece of canvas to a concrete block. The results were curiously firm and elegant. From those studies, came the idea of creating a translucent brick that would function as both structural material and window for sunlight. The aim was to develop a new kind of material for sustainable constructions that would both be easy to fabricate and beautiful to look at.