Brick Bonds

Brick Bonds is a book documenting the range of traditional bond patterns used in brick-laying. We are surrounded by bricks, but seldom dwell on the patterns used to build them into walls and structures. The diverse range of bonds exist for different reasons – the traditional bonds, such as English Bond and Flemish Bond are used for their structural strength. Some bonds exist for their economy, speed of laying or ability to form a cavity wall, such as Stretcher Bond. Others, like Gothic Bond and Chevron Monk Bond were developed to create a more decorative and complex appearance. The most elaborate are the diaper patterns where different coloured bricks can be used to express beautiful diamond, heart or zigzag motifs.

The bond names have an unexpected poetry, in contrast with their practical and down to earth use. Many of the names derive from the names given to the various parts of the brick’s anatomy – the long side of the brick is known as the stretcher, the short edge as the header. Terms such as staggered, raked and stacked refer to different ways of overlapping the courses to provide strength.

The book is 96 pages long, printed on Munken Lynx Rough paper and the cover is Cairn Eco, foil-blocked in gloss red. It is swiss-bound, allowing flat opening fo easy reference, with the section-sewn binding exposed when the book is opened. The book is the size of a standard brick.