BRICK AWARD 26 reveals 50 architectural works redefining the use of brick

BRICK AWARD 26 showcases bold visions in brick

The international shortlist for BRICK AWARD 26 has been announced, showcasing 50 of the world’s most inspiring brick buildings from 21 countries across the globe. Selected from 849 submissions, the projects represent originality and excellence in contemporary brick architecture. The biennial prize, hosted by wienerberger yet independently judged, spans five categories, including small house projects and commercial buildings, highlighting the versatility of brick as a timeless material. The awards ceremony is taking place in Vienna on 11 June 2026, announcing the winners selected by an international jury of renowned architects and designers including Gabriela Carrillo, Christine Conix, Jens Linnet, Traudy Pelzel and Eduardo Mediero.

From Kengo Kuma and Associates’ sculptural UCCA Clay Museum in Yixing, China to the glass-brick Melbourne Holocaust Museum in Australia by KTA, Brazil’s Bloco Arquitetos’ White Bricks House, and the expressive Shafagh Tomb in Iran by 35-51 Architecture Office, the 2026 shortlist celebrates how brick continues to bridge culture, craft and contemporary design.

UCCA Clay Museum in Yixing, designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates | all images courtesy of wienerberger

from brazil to china, the prize celebrates the potential of brick

Launched in 2004, the BRICK AWARD has grown into a leading international prize that celebrates architectural innovation and the creative potential of brick. Presented every two years, it highlights projects that combine craftsmanship, sustainability and design excellence. Organized by wienerberger yet judged independently, the award ensures recognition is given purely on merit, with winning and shortlisted works published in the official BRICK book and honoured at a ceremony in Vienna.

Behind the initiative is wienerberger, a leading international provider of innovative ecological solutions for the entire building envelope, in the fields of new build and renovation, as well as infrastructure in water and energy management. With more than 20,000 employees worldwide and over 200 production sites, the company is the world’s largest producer of bricks and market leader in clay roof tiles in Europe. Through the BRICK AWARD, wienerberger underlines its commitment to supporting architecture that is both forward-looking and firmly rooted in material tradition.

White Brick House by Bloco Arquitetos | image © Joana Franca

brick award 26 spans five categories in five continents

The shortlist is divided into five categories: Feeling at home for residential houses, Living together for urban housing, Working together for commercial and industrial projects, Sharing public spaces for civic and cultural architecture, and Building outside the box for experimental and innovative works. Together, these categories form a panorama of architectural approaches, from intimate dwellings to monumental public landmarks.The selection spans five continents, from a white brick house in Brazil built using artisanal methods to a sculptural tomb in Iran with inscriptions flowing across its surface.

In Asia, highlights include the Aga Khan Academy in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, that comprises a series of four-storey brick-clad buildings that nestle within a highly developed urban site bordered by a large motorway. Arranged around green outdoor spaces, the project offers relief from these built-up surroundings, creating external areas for both play and education.

Aga Khan Academy by Shatotto and FCB in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka | image © Asid Salman

Still in Asia, highlights from China include the UCCA Clay Museum in Yixing, designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, whose distinctive roof is defined by a series of peaks that reference the nearby Shushan mountain. Described by the studio as “an inverted shell structure carved by virtual spheres”, the framework has been cloaked with 3,600 handmade ceramic tiles glazed in dark and light brown tones, evoking the colour changes that occur in pottery as it is fired.

Further north towards Bejing, the shortlisted Tianjin Zhongshuge bookstore is a three-storey building featuring a design with ‘waves’ of custom-designed bricks and ironwork, creating a unique, immersive space for visitors.

Tianjin Zhongshuge by X+ Living Architecture | image ©SFAP

Additionally, in Chennai, India, the Metallic Bellows factory office by KSM Architecture, is a single-storey brick structure inspired by local brick kilns and clay-rich soil, with a focus on reducing CO₂ emissions by minimising concrete use. The design features a traditional jack arch system, with downstand and peripheral beams, giving the locally sourced brickwork a light, floating appearance and an artisanal character.

Shortlisted entries from the Middle East include the Shafagh Tomb in the small city of Ardakan, in central Iran, which features an inverted dome and inscriptions flowing freely across its surface, transforming the architecture into a canvas that celebrates freedom of expression. Acting as a gateway to the cemetery, the Shafaq Tomb redefines a traditionally private space as a monument for all – a place where the sacred meets the everyday.

Shafagh Tomb by 35-51 Architecture Office | image © 35-51 Architecture Office

Moving to Europe, Dutch architecture practice Studio RAP has designed a ‘wave-like’ facade completely clad with 3D-printed ceramic tiles fronting onto Amsterdam’s historic Hooftstraat shopping street. While in Germany, working on a much larger canvas, fired clay, in the form of glazed panels with a fine, irregular vertical structure, was used for the facade of the plant buildings at Leipzig Cogeneration Plant. And in Slovenia, the transformation of a former industrial hall in Ljubljana into a temporary theatre focused on recycled and reusable materials, with the visible clay blocks painted silver.

Reuse by Michail Riches Architects was also a theme at Park Hill in Sheffield in the United Kingdom, where a Brutalist housing estate featured board-marked concrete infilled with fine-grain domestic brickwork. The reinvigorated bricks denote each ‘street in the sky’ and the colours of the balconies were chosen to complement the tones of the brickwork.

Ceramic House by Studio RAP | image ©Riccardo De Vecchi

All the way to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum in Australia, an estimated 25,000 bricks were reportedly incorporated into the facade, comprising a combination of clay bricks in Ceniza and Poesia glass bricks. Arranged in a refined ‘hit and miss’ pattern, the design carefully balances transparency and security, serving as a powerful expression of remembrance and resilience and establishing visual and physical connections to activities, daylight and the community.

Right across, through the Pacific Ocean, Aatequila facility provided a notable entry from Mexico, where warehousing and offices for Clase Azul La Hacienda Jalisco used local ceramics and stone from the site excavation to anchor the buildings in their volcanic topography. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the White Bricks House was built using artisanal techniques and exposed solid bricks painted white. Varying brick spacing creates different levels of openness and privacy for each room. Careful study of the brickwork produced unique patterns and finishes, giving the project a timeless, handcrafted character. 

Claze Azul warehouse & office by Atelier ARS | image © Cesar Bejar

Among other entries from the USA, 64 University Place by Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects is an 11-storey residential building in Greenwich Village, New York, distinguished by its hand-laid brick masonry facade, arched windows and a grid of pilasters. The design blends historic references from the surrounding neighbourhood with contemporary details. The brick facade showcases skilled craftsmanship, relying both on expert bricklayers and thoughtful detailing.

Crossing continents, Set on a 4,000m² site on the slopes of Steenberg Ridge in Cape Town, South Africa, Mountain House by Chis van Niekerk sits lightly within its semi-rural landscape. The design uses a restrained palette of materials that express the earth’s colours and textures, allowing the building to age gracefully. Rooted in a primordial sense of shelter, it embraces simple, unadorned materials to create a timeless sense of enclosure.

Slovenian National Theatre by Vidic Grohar Arhitekti | image © Maxime Delvaux 

Melbourne Holocaust Museum (MHM) by KTA | image © L Showell

project info:

name: BRICK AWARD | @brickaward

The post BRICK AWARD 26 reveals 50 architectural works redefining the use of brick appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.