10 Brick Buildings from Around the World That Will Make You Rethink Timeless Architecture

While high-tech composites come and go, the allure of brick buildings remains steadfast and lies in their unparalleled versatility and raw, organic warmth. Whether mimicking the delicate warp and weft of couture fabric or rising in towering expressionist arches, this ancient medium clearly remains the future of design. Designed in 2022 by UK architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and Dhaka-based SHATOTTO, the Aga Khan Academy, Dhaka celebrates Bangladeshi customs. Arranged around a maidan, or tree-lined central gathering place, it uses locally made bricks and was built by traditional local bricklayers, helping to preserve their skills for the next generation. The façade’s elegantly restrained details are inspired by jali screens, while its simple linear forms show just how contemporary brick can look.