Promotion: American brick manufacturer The Belden Brick Company has developed a custom sawtooth brick shape that forms the defining feature of One Park Point, a new residential tower in Brooklyn, New York.
Tasked by the tower’s designers – architecture studio FXCollaborative – to create a visually rich brick facade while balancing cost efficiency, Belden Brick created a versatile brick shape that brings depth and complexity to the building’s exterior.
Belden Brick responded to FXCollaborative’s vision for varied masonry textures, drawing on architectural elements of Brooklyn’s Windsor Terrace neighbourhood when designing the shaped bricks, which incorporate vertical masonry patterns and Art Deco-inspired details.
The building’s structure and facade were also designed to complement the circular entrance of the Machate Circle at the nearby Prospect Park, reinforcing its connection to the adjacent urban landscape.
Belden Brick explained that its custom bricks were manufactured using specialised production methods. Due to the complexity of the brick’s shape, a special technique was adapted to suit its geometry and production was limited to smaller quantities per cycle.
A push cutter was used to form the lip stretchers while the company’s manufacturing team fine-tuned the process to ensure consistent quality across all custom units.
“We are continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with special shapes,” said Tabitha Alleshouse, business support specialist and manager of architectural shapes at Belden Brick.
“Transforming simple geometric lines into architectural statements is where function meets artistry,” she continued. “While we’ve previously explored projections in brickwork, the sawtooth design – especially executed in multiple colours – marked an exciting first for us.”
Belden Brick explained that the building’s decorative brick exterior was produced using a single custom die, which enabled the repeating sawtooth module to animate the facade through shifting light and shadow.
The brick facade responds to the sun’s movement throughout the day, giving the textured, rhythmic surface a kinetic quality.
“One of the most compelling trends in modern architecture is the use of light and shadow to bring surfaces to life,” said Alleshouse.
More than 57,000 custom sawtooth-shaped bricks make up the building’s facade, comprising projected stretchers, lip stretchers and traditional face brick.
A neutral colour palette consisting of shades such as tan and charcoal was selected to blend the building in with the textures and tones of the nearby park.
According to Belden Brick, the company is continuously exploring the use of new technology and equipment to support ambitious contemporary brick architectural designs.
To learn more about the company, visit its website.
The photography is by Michael Young unless stated otherwise.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for The Belden Brick Company as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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