More than Just a Material Perfection: Preserved Human-Environment Relationship in Traditional Brick-Making Scenarios

Abstract

This paper argues the importance of traditional, local bricks-making production as a convergence of craftsman, material, and environments. The relationship between those three aspects brings meanings to the brick, emphasise on the process of making beyond its property as a physical material. This paper focuses on the forming phase of the brick-making scenario, whereby the craftsmen have more control in altering the bricks clay. In particular, we conduct this study in three brick-making workshops in Indonesia, precisely in Songgom, Welahan, and Tanjung Pinang. It is found that the stories of identity, the tools used the production, and context-involved production is preserved within the end product. These findings contribute to the current architecture material discussion to look at the imperfection of traditional-made bricks as something that should be celebrated to preserve the local culture.