Colombian architects Miguel Niño and Johanna Navarro recently designed a series of irregular bricks that can help to keep buildings cool. In recent years, architects have been working on ways to make it more efficient to regulate the temperature inside of our buildings. These architects demonstrate that sustainable innovation doesn't always have to involve high-tech materials.
The re-engineered bricks are produced by Niño and Navarro's company 'Sumart Diseño y Arquitectura SAS.' Unlike a traditional brick, the new building blocks feature an unusual shape and a semi-hollow core. The irregular bricks are designed to reflect sunlight, while also shading the surface beneath. In addition, the brick's hollow channels facilitate ventilation and stop heat from traveling throughout the structure. As a result, the bricks can keep homes cool and drastically reduce the need for air conditioning.
In addition to providing a more sustainable building material, the bricks can also speed up construction time. This is due to a groove in the bricks that ensures that the amount of mortar used by workers remains consistent.
Sunlight-Reflecting Bricks
These Irregular Bricks are Designed to Keep Buildings Cool
Trend Themes
1. Sustainability-driven Bricks - The creation of irregular bricks that are designed to reflect sunlight and keep buildings cool demonstrates the potential disruptive innovation in the building materials industry.
2. Efficient Building Materials - Innovative design of bricks with hollow channels is an indication of new opportunities for disruptive innovation in the construction industry aimed at making buildings more energy efficient and eco-friendly.
3. Alternative Cooling Solutions - The development of bricks that can keep homes cool without the need for air conditioning illustrates the potential for disruptive innovation in the cooling and energy management industry.
Industry Implications
1. Building Materials - The irregular bricks designed for energy efficiency demonstrate an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the building materials industry.
2. Construction - The combination of sustainability and faster construction time potential presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the construction industry.
3. Energy Management - The development of bricks that reflect sunlight and can keep buildings cool could pave the way for disruptive innovation and alternative cooling solutions in the energy management industry.