What is so exciting about face brick as a building material is that you can add texture and depth to a structure by making use of hollowed spaces or stepping brickwork in or out, which also creates an interesting play on light and shadow. BPAS Architects, an award-winning architecture firm that has extensive experience in the design of educational buildings, experimented with various brick bond patterns for Curro Northriding College High School.

SPECS OF CURRO NORTHRIDING HIGH SCHOOL

• Corobrik face brick used | Topaz Satin
• Architects | BPAS Architects
• Contractor | MNK Projects

When asked what's important when choosing materials for Curro, the leading independent school network in South Africa, BPAS Architects explained:

Materials should be selected for durability, low maintenance and longevity, and should be appropriate to the climate, building use, and architectural context. Such materials contribute to a sense of permanence, as well as to the inherent sustainability of a building. The aim is to promote design, which is economical, safe and progressive.