Brick

Brick

The bricks are materials that have been used for many years, because the elements necessary for its manufacture are in nature. In ancient times were made with mud (clay), straw and sometimes volcanic ash or lime, and were left to dry in the sun spills into molds. It is now manufactured with different components, expanding the range of bricks, made of cement, clay, slate, calcium silicate, among other materials, and are baked in large ovens. They are used mainly for construction, for the realization of structures, cladding, flooring and decoration. Because of its great strength (some types of bricks) are used to heat structures that are subjected to high temperatures, such as industries and factories. There are many types of bricks that differ in composition and form of fabrication, but I know a few of brick types. There are clay bricks, concrete, calcium silicate ... and they are differentiated according to their porosity, strength and durability. I think it is about the techniques that are used and must be known at the time of placing the bricks. Pattern bond refers to the pattern formed by the  masonry units and mortar joints on the face of a wall. The pattern may result from the structural bond, or it may be purely decorative and unrelated to the structural bond. Figure shows the six basic pattern bonds in common use today. They are running, common or American, Flemish, English, stack, and English cross or Dutch bond. The running bond is the simplest of the six patterns, consisting of all stretchers. Because the bond has no headers, metal ties usually form the structural bond. The common, or American, bond is a variation of the running bond, having a course of full-length headers at regular intervals that provide the structural bond as well as the pattern.
 * What are they made of?
 * What are they used for?
 * How many types of brick are there?
 * What is the meaning of // brick laying techniques //?
 * Describe 2 brick laying techniques.



Listening / Reading activities:

The use of brick in construction and public spaces.

Brick because of its various qualities since ancient times has been used by many civilizations for the construction of their public and private spaces, replacing in many cases since they came to the stone. Brick is easier to produce and transport, so it became a favorite material. The brick has been used since the 4th millennium BC, and techniques for using it have been improved over time (the ancient Romans contributed largely to the development of this material, making the brick material necessities). At present, remains a very popular and is used for the construction of buildings, walls, streets, structures and many types of elements that make up the public and private space. The great success of the brick lies in its high resistance, easy and cheap procurement, and minimum requirements for maintenance. Finally we see the passing of time, changing the shapes and construction techniques but the brick remains an irreplaceable material in our lives.

a. Comparison and contrast. · “Brick __compares__ favorably with stone as a structural material for its fire-and-weather resisting qualities…”
 * __ Worksheet 2. __**** Find examples of the following rhetoric functions. **

b. Description c. Exemplification d. Cause/Effect · “The commonest ancient Roman bricks __were cut__ into triangles and laid with the base out and the apex set into a concrete filling __that__ provided additional strength.” e. Chronology
 * “The size of bricks is limited by the need for efficient __drying, firing, and handling__…”
 * “…__for example__, wedge-shaped bricks are sometimes employed in arch construction and bricks with rounded faces in columns.”
 * “__Employed throughout the Middle Ages__, brick grained greater popularity __from the 16 th __. Century on, particularly in northern Europe. __It is widely used__ in the 20 th Century…”

5. How has brick been used in Piazza del Campo? media type="file" key="Piazza del Campo, Siena.wma"

Piazza del Campo, located in Siena (Tuscany, Italy) is a public space that is one of the greatest medieval squares, and acts as a link between several important milestones in the city (Palazzo Pubblico, with its Torre del Mangia and various palaces signorili.)

In this square we can see that the brick is the ornament that gives a special warmth, the pavement with fan-shaped or shell-shaped divided with lines in travertine (which divides the floor into 9 sections representing the "Noveschi") and covered with brick, also the facades of the buildings bordering the square and surrounding areas... The arrangement of the red brick gives the order to create harmony and space that characterizes the place.

Good use of brick in this area has been a successful architectural and urban planning that will turn the beautiful city of Siena in the warm colors.