# Beautiful/striking/or interesting brick structures **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648 "2011-03-22T21:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/1 "2011-03-22T21:09:33Z")
I have to do a presentation in a couple of weeks at a place where the slogan is “building communities one brick at a time”. The brick is the official logo of the initiative. (I didn’t choose it and don’t particularly like it, but… nobody asked me.) Bricks are good for symbolism but they’re not one of the prettier building materials. Nevertheless for the graphics in my presentation I want to use as background pictures of really impressive brick buildings and structures. It doesn’t have to be a particular kind of brick- photos I’ve downloaded so far include glass bricks, ice bricks, Legos, blue glazed bricks, and of course red bricks. They won’t all make the cut. Can anybody think of any brick structures, ancient or modern or anywhere in between, that you happen to think of as beautiful or impressive or striking or interesting? Thanks for any suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/2 "2011-03-22T22:11:57Z")
[Chimneys](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Billbeee-hc.JPG) at Hampton Court. The whole [Palace](http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1409481686075192021ZRjazQ) is fairly well regarded, generally. [Battersea Power Station](http://battersea-buzz.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/battersea-power-station1.jpg) isn’t bad. [This](https://environment7.uwe.ac.uk/resources/constructionsample/conweb/walls/brick_granary.jpg) granary in Bristol’s quite nice. [This](https://environment7.uwe.ac.uk/resources/constructionsample/conweb/walls/brick_circle.jpg) is a more modern take, it’s a block of flats (apartment building) in Bermondsey, South London, imaginatively called “The Circle”. [I had to add this](http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue20/reviews/images/fodde3th.jpg) - it’s built from mud bricks. Cool. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/3 "2011-03-22T22:15:54Z")
My first thought was [Milwaukee City Hall](http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=122453), but it’s only partially brick. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/4 "2011-03-22T22:25:41Z")
I love clinker brickwork like [this](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2004/10/09/HOGM894FBD1.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2004%2F10%2F09%2Fho_sigstyle_11.jpg) or [this](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2004/10/09/HOGM894FBD1.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2004%2F10%2F09%2Fho_sigstyle_06.jpg). (Clinker bricks are imperfectly fired.) Maybe not “impressive” but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/5 "2011-03-22T22:26:29Z")
My favorite, a Mayan site: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2002.12.29_18_Codz_Poop_Kabah_Yucatan_Mexico.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2002.12.29_18_Codz_Poop_Kabah_Yucatan_Mexico.jpg) Edit: though not sure what sort of “community” it represents … ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/6 "2011-03-22T22:44:33Z")
I always thought the [British Natural History Museum](http://www.pbase.com/tigerdave/image/29643978) was amazing. I was struck by that building when I first saw it over 20 years ago and I still think it’s one of the most beautiful brick buildings I’ve ever seen. [Another link](http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/history-architecture/waterhouse-building/index.html) to the website with a small slide show about the Waterhouse Building. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/7 "2011-03-22T23:07:17Z")
These are great- thanks all! [QUOTE=Teacake] [I had to add this](http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue20/reviews/images/fodde3th.jpg)- it’s built from mud bricks. Cool. [/QUOTE] That is cool. What/where is that? Tibet? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/8 "2011-03-22T23:10:22Z")
[St Pancras Railway Station?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St_Pancras_Railway_Station.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/9 "2011-03-23T00:58:23Z")
[The Anaconda Smelter Stack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda_Smelter_Stack) is the world’s tallest all masonry structure. The Washington Monument could fit _inside_ it! ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/10 "2011-03-23T01:16:39Z")
The base of the [Eiffel tower](http://www.flickr.com/photos/thevince/895332624/). ETA: Here’s a [farther view](http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ewT0mu0F5cP5Seht6CbC8g), for perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/11 "2011-03-23T01:30:36Z")
How about Quebec City’s beautiful [Château Frontenac](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Ch%C3%A2teau_Frontenac01.jpg)? Or the [Charles Bridge](http://img.radio.cz/pictures/r/praha/karluv_most_okoli1.jpg) in Prague? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/12 "2011-03-23T01:33:06Z")
The Filoli Mansion and Gardens has some neat brick [buildings](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BDsUP1EP2-xgj2Z81_FnpA?feat=directlink), and[walkways](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0z4pzORbr16ss3fXPEE_sw?feat=directlink). ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/13 "2011-03-23T02:15:24Z")
Check out the [Unitarian Universalist Fellowship](http://www.uuathensoh.org/new/galleries/buildinggrounds/building.htm) in Athens, Ohio, which was built by brick sculptor John Spofforth. You need to get into about the third set of thumbnails to see the really interesting brickwork. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/14 "2011-03-23T02:25:50Z")
The [Torre di Mangia](http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Torre_del_Mangia.jpg/90px-Torre_del_Mangia.jpg)in Siena is simply one of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen. Indeed the whole of the Campo and its surrounding buildings are just sublime. I sat for the longest time looking at the tower thinking “Its made of bricks yet it seems so light it could almost be floating above me.” ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/15 "2011-03-23T02:43:14Z")
The Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright… [http://designrumahku.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/11.jpg](http://designrumahku.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/11.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/16 "2011-03-23T02:56:23Z")
The Bank of America building in Baltimore, AKA the [Baltimore Trust](http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1307679.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/17 "2011-03-23T04:02:27Z")
[St. Paul’s Church in Chicago](http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp?photoID=740340&catID=5845&contestCatID=6&rowNumber=22&camID=) is sometimes called “the church without a nail” because it’s made entirely of brick—245 feet into the sky. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/18 "2011-03-23T04:57:06Z")
I think you should shoot for something grander. How about this [Segovia Aqueduct](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AcueductoSegovia_edit1.jpg). Or the [Alcántara Bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bridge_Alcantara.JPG). [Acorn street](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acorn_Street_Beacon_Hill_Boston_Massachusetts.JPG) on Beacon Hill. And of course the [Giza Pyramids](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:All_Gizah_Pyramids.jpg). They are all iconic, and all are symbols of civilization and community. An aqueduct is about feeding cities, a bridge connects communities, pyramids are about cooperation, Beacon Hill is about liberty and patriotism. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/19 "2011-03-23T07:32:11Z")
New York City needs representing: [Puck Building](http://www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/nyc/PuckBuilding.php) [Jefferson Market](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://adaptivereuse.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/JeffersonMarketLibrary1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://adaptivereuse.info/tag/new-york-city/&usg=__7w5ZNUd-JGTGp9cN8t7tIt3tFn4=&h=467&w=700&sz=154&hl=en&start=183&sig2=0-T6GHU2Hcdii5Sqr_pBhg&zoom=1&tbnid=CGG9YjmeD4CCHM:&tbnh=149&tbnw=196&ei=XZ6JTeKEA4j2gAe44KTaDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djefferson%2Bmarket%2Bnew%2Byork%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1202%26bih%3D824%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C4899&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=886&vpy=405&dur=84&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=93&ty=43&oei=-p2JTe6FCMStgQfM4d3DDQ&page=8&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:183&biw=1202&bih=824) [The Dakota](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Dakota1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/2010/12/08/he-heard-the-shots-that-killed-john-lennon/&usg=__2YMuX37Rt4uvRyK9jW8EPAUx9qg=&h=614&w=909&sz=76&hl=en&start=169&sig2=WJzvkm5JE-urhJgHyEXx4w&zoom=1&tbnid=zW3TMEnwmU7P4M:&tbnh=163&tbnw=215&ei=uqGJTbZRiseAB8r7vLkN&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddakota%2Bapartment%2Bbuilding%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1202%26bih%3D824%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C5867&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=896&vpy=161&dur=542&hovh=164&hovw=243&tx=201&ty=95&oei=NaCJTbRFz-mAB-zX1MEN&page=9&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:169&biw=1202&bih=824) ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648/20 "2011-03-23T08:31:14Z")
**[Layer Marney Tower](http://www.layermarneytower.co.uk/)** is a quite nice piece of Tudor brickwork in Essex, England ( **[Google images](http://www.google.com/images?q=layer+marney+tower&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Ore&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:unofficial&biw=2048&bih=1392&tbs=isch:1,isz:l&source=lnt&sa=X&ei=zq2JTcWOIIe0hAfAmri0DQ&ved=0CAcQpwUoAQ)** ) **[Oil sketch](http://www.hallmasterpaintings.com/works_for_sale/zoom/F73_Layer%20Marney%20Tower,%20June%201814,_JOHN%20CONSTABLE%20R.A.)** by Constable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beautiful-striking-or-interesting-brick-structures/575648.md?page=2)