Contemporary aesthetics of exposed bricks for buildings’ façade and interior

Abstract

Exposed bricks have been trending in architectural design for façade and interior. They are known to have good reputation as construction material for their high functionality and high artistic values. There is an increasing demand for buildings to appear aesthetically contemporary, rather than traditional. Some buildings have tried to utilize bricks but failed, making its aesthetic underwhelming. The purpose of this study is to find a creative strategy for arranging bricks. Design Thinking is the basis for this paper’s research methodology. According to Design Thinking, to maximize on certain ideas several stages are needed: 1) emphatise; 2) define; 3) ideate; 4) prototype; and 5) test. In results and discussion section, it is found that aesthetics in architecture are desirable values which please the eyes and the mind in the forms of shapes and expressions. Principles for bricks arrangement composition still refer to Nirmana, with its need for visual unconventionality. The study concludes that the alteration of bricks function no longer serves as dividers, supports, or beam barrier but have transformed to include connecting rooms and channeling limited beam to create aesthetic ray of light. The novelty borne from the creativity of designers will indicate how bricks will stand out or fade with time as the chosen material for Indonesian-themed construction.