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major subsidy housing projects in Bergville, Glencoe and Ladysmith in Northern KwaZuluNatal, South Africa, existing home owners in Osizweni (Newcastle), are moving to upgrade their
homes with face brick exteriors and face brick is finding wide application in perimeter walls. The
growing demand for clay face brick in this housing sector re-emphasises clay face brick’s unique
capacity to uplift built environments and satisfy the desire of South Africans to live in proper
houses. The occupants of the houses have expressed their satisfaction with the end product and
voiced their pride at being able to live in a ‘face brick’ house.
But can materials with the weight of bricks be successfully imported into Africa? “Absolutely,”
says Kidger. “Corobrik, as a case in point, successfully exports face bricks to many African
countries, with these bricks finding application in residential housing, commercial developments,
educational facilities, hotels and public sector buildings. In many African countries there is a
competency in basic masonry materials and construction but a lack of local face bricks produced
to internationally recognised standards. Face brick, in spite of its higher mass which virtually
doubles the ex-factory cost, is able to offer a commercial proposition on the higher value projects
in particular,” he says.
The success of face brick in uplifting informal settlements is highlighted in numerous cases,
including those above. As more and more thought goes into the lifecycle costs and the
performance of the buildings, the use of face brick in informal settlements is sure to grow. AD
A completed house in Lindelani just outside Galeshewe in Kimberley.fro
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africandesignmagazine.com