School for Innovation and Preservation in Brick Construction Part 1 Project 2012 Arthur Trieu University of East London London | UK The agenda of the project aims to integrate the design of a building element i.e. a brick into a proposal for a School located in Rupia, Catalonia, Spain. The project initially started out with a case study of Eladio Dieste, an Uruguayan architect famous for his use of reinforced brick construction that allowed innovative building forms in brick construction. The design of the building element, the Axagon brick, takes inspiration from such structures and seeks to challenge the limits of brick construction in the same manner Dieste challenged them. Working with a modern material, the Tensar TriAx Geogrid, the Axagon brick could offer a faster and lighter construction technique that could push further the possible forms that could be achieved. Catalonia's long-standing tradition in 'brick construction and ceramic production makes it an ideal site for a centre for the development of new bricks. The School for Innovation and Preservation in Brick Construction will bring together centuries old techniques with modern designs developed within the school. Such a program can only be made stronger if it is built with the typology of materials it aims to bring to life. The proposal integrates itself within the historical fabric of Rupia. Next to these heavy stone structures, the light Axagon bricks create a subtle yet strong intervention In a disused site in the centre of the village. The program splits in two volumes, two brothers, arranged around a central cloister that emerged from the constrained conditions of the site. The older brother, the Library for Preservation, holds an archive of books and materials that will preserve traditional construction techniques that originated in Catalonia. This library also keeps a history of the newer developments made in the younger brother, the Atelier for Innovation, the place where students will develop, experiment and create new construction techniques, inspired by Catalunian tradition. In our modern age, the School for Innovation and Preservation In Brick construction tries to revive and give a new life to nearly forgotten techniques from which we all can learn from, by making them evolve into the architecture of tomorrow. Arthur Trieu Tutor(s)