How do the materials we build with shape the future of our cities?
Bricks are so familiar that most of us rarely stop to think about them. Yet these small, hand-sized building blocks have helped shape London for centuries, connecting the city above ground with the clay, chalk and silt beneath our feet. As the construction industry searches for more sustainable ways to build, this event asks a timely question: what role can the humble brick play in a lower-carbon future
The Eco Brick Project explores the relationship between materials, ecology and society, examining how traditional construction techniques might contribute to more regenerative approaches to building and place-making.
At a time when London is grappling with housing delivery, retrofit, sustainability and resource use, conversations about material choices are becoming increasingly important. The environmental impact of construction is no longer just a technical issue for architects and engineers. It affects the quality, resilience and long-term sustainability of the places we all live and work in.
This event brings together research, practice and industry through The Eco Brick Project, a collaboration exploring bio-receptive clay bricks and their potential environmental benefits. A testing station at the University of Westminster’s Marylebone Campus is monitoring environmental conditions around a growing brick structure, helping researchers understand how these materials interact with their surroundings over time.
The project also examines the social side of sustainability through its partnership with Bulmer Brick and Tile, a Suffolk-based heritage brickmaker with more than 400 years of history. Through knowledge exchange, practical workshops and discussion, the project explores how traditional skills, local production and circular economy principles can contribute to more resilient communities and supply chains.
Attendees will hear about the research behind the project, explore questions around regenerative material culture, and join wider discussions about sustainability, craftsmanship and the future of construction. The event is expected to be of particular interest to built-environment professionals, students, policymakers and anyone interested in how the materials around us shape the places we inhabit.
London Society members can access an exclusive discount for this event. To receive the discount code, please email events@londonsociety.org.uk
Please note that booking is via a third-party website. This is not a London Society event but we are pleased to recommend this event to members and supporters interested in sustainability, construction, heritage skills and the future of London’s built environment.