The Brick Award 26 has revealed its shortlist of the most inspiring and inventive brick architecture worldwide. Organized in Vienna, Austria, the award celebrates the enduring appeal of brick as a sustainable, timeless material that continues to shape the architectural imagination.
A Global Celebration of Brick Craft
Presented biennially since 2004, the Brick Award by wienerberger honors innovative use of brick and ceramic in design. This year’s edition gathered 849 submissions from architects across 21 countries, with 50 projects selected by a pre-jury of experts. Though hosted by wienerberger, the competition remains independent—participation does not require use of the company’s materials, reinforcing its focus on creativity over commerciality.
Five Categories, One Material with Infinite Possibilities
The shortlist spans five categories: *Feeling at home*, *Living together*, *Working together*, *Sharing public spaces*, and *Building outside the box*. These themes capture the diverse ways in which brick architecture contributes to human life—from intimate homes to public landmarks. Projects include everything from Mexico’s Clase Azul La Hacienda Jalisco to Australia’s Melbourne Holocaust Museum, and from the Aga Khan Academy in Dhaka to the UCCA Clay Museum in Yixing, designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates.
International Highlights and Cultural Diversity
Among this year’s highlights are the Shafagh Tomb in Iran, which transforms an inverted dome into a poetic surface of inscriptions, and the Metallic Bellows Factory Office in Chennai, India, which reinterprets industrial typologies with artisanal brickwork and minimal concrete. Europe’s entries include Studio RAP’s Ceramic House in Amsterdam and the Leipzig Cogeneration Plant by Atelier ST, while the Americas are represented by projects like White Bricks House in Brazil and 64 University Place in New York by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Each project demonstrates how local materials and cultural context can reinvent the humble brick into an art form.
Looking Toward the 2026 Awards Ceremony
The winners of Brick Award 26 will be selected by an international jury that includes Gabriela Carrillo, Christine Conix, and Eduardo Mediero. The ceremony will be held on June 11, 2026, in Vienna, celebrating the craft and creativity of architects who continue to push boundaries with brick. All shortlisted projects will also be featured in the official BRICK 26 Book, a global showcase of excellence in contemporary brick design.
Timeline – Brick Award 26
| Stage | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Submission Period | 2024–2025 | Open call for global architecture projects using brick and ceramic materials. |
| Shortlist Announcement | October 17, 2025 | 50 projects from 21 countries selected by the pre-jury panel. |
| International Jury Evaluation | Late 2025 – Early 2026 | Final review by architects and designers of global repute. |
| Awards Ceremony | June 11, 2026 | Presentation of winners and publication of BRICK 26 Book in Vienna. |
