This circular facing brick has been developed for the Gent Design Museum from scratch. By making the waste particles visible (up close) in the circular facing brick we created a perceptible distinction with industrial bricks.
Raw Materials
Lime and lime flour (18%), white cement (6%), sand (13.33%), broken concrete (26.67%), broken glass (36%). The lime flour, sand and waste (crushed concrete and glass) are the local raw materials.
The production process
- The facing brick is manufactured from raw materials, mainly from local waste streams. To this end, we collaborate as much as possible with local waste processing companies, such as De Mol Recycling and IVAGO.
- The raw materials are carefully selected for the final white-grey shade of the stone, with which a moist mixture is then made.
- The mixture goes into molds, after which the pressing process begins.
- After pressing, the bricks are removed from the mold, after which the process of drying and carbonation (chemical reaction of the wet lime with CO2 from the atmosphere) starts.
- After this last and also longest phase, the stone is ready for use. At the end of its life cycle, the stone can in principle be returned to the local waste streams and the whole process can be started again.
Up to 50% fewer material-related emissions than an average baked clay facing brick
Applied
The facing brick was custom made for DING, the new wing of Design Museum Gent, to be built in 2023-2025.
Environmental impact
- 82% local raw materials in the brick
- 63% local waste in the brick
- 2 years of CO2 absorption by the brick
- 33% less CO2 emissions
Also nice!
Air-drying instead of baking and carbonating the limestone significantly reduces CO2 emissions.
Growth Opportunities
The acquired know-how regarding color, composition with local raw materials, … can mean added value for future research. The process is a model for the production of waste-based bricks and can be applied anywhere and contribute to reducing the waste stream by using it in building materials. We hope that in the future we can continue to work on the results obtained, that the brick can also be scaled up for other projects, provided that an extra certificate is obtained to make this possible.
Contact & info
- Website: www.designmuseumgent.be
Design Museum Ghent
Selection as part of DING (Design in Ghent), the new wing of Design Museum Ghent.