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Brick Series – Case Study 1: Chapman Stables

The Significance of Brick as a Material in Architecture

Dating back as far as 7000 BC, bricks are one of the oldest man-made building materials. They have been used to define many cultural styles through a multitude of structural methods. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, “Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins.” While bricks can be made with a variety of materials, the main ingredient is clay. Since clay is unique to the region where it is collected, there are many variations in color. Local bricks in the Northeast United States are reddish brown, bricks in the Southeast are a more vibrant red, and bricks from the Midwest contain more yellow and beige tones. Formed using one of three process, extrusion, molding or pressing, bricks are then fired slowly through a large tunnel kiln. The end color of the brick is a result of the chemical and mineral content of the clay and the temperature of the kiln.

Light red bricks were used at KIPP DC Benning.

Gray and black bricks were used at this house in Maryland.

Chapman Stables used red pink bricks.

KIPP DC MC Terrell is housed in yellow tan bricks.

The Aya utilized cream and light gray bricks.

The thermal mass of the bricks aids in controlling temperature fluctuations in buildings. Bricks are often a more sustainable material than other mass-produced building materials and can reduce heating and cooling demands. Brick has inherently low carbon emissions, making it a cleaner choice. As brick structures are known for exceptional durability with minimal maintenance requirements compared to other materials, the long-term benefits of brick can be seen both economically and environmentally.

Historic/Load Bearing Brick Walls vs. Brick Veneer Walls

One of the attributes of the brick modular building system is its ability to perform as both structure and cladding and historically, it has assumed both roles in many forms. Early brick buildings utilized a solid brick stacked in multiple layers known as “wythes” bonded together with mortar to create the primary structural support of the building. In addition to its ability to regulate heat, the mass created by these layers absorbs exterior water to limit “wicking”, or moisture penetration to the interior.

The original building at Chapman Stables was a mix of different structural systems: load-bearing multi-wythe brick walls in the coal yard houses and stables, and concrete-covered steel carrying terracotta floors and roofs.

As construction methods and building materials advanced, bricks became thinner and became cladding. The building structure is behind a thinner brick layer separated by an air space to allow water to drain. The thermal rating of this type of brick wall can be much more specific as the insulation of choice can be placed within the wall independent of the brick.

Thin brick veneers were installed at Philip’s Academy.

Understanding the differences between brick production and brick installation from a historical perspective is crucial when working on a project that involves the adaptive reuse of a historic building. Most historic brick buildings require careful restoration of the deteriorated areas, a process that can be done in several different ways. “Pointing” involves filling in deteriorated mortar joints, “repointing” is the process where the damaged mortar joints are removed and replaced, and “tuckpointing” is when old mortar is removed and replaced with mortar that closely matches the color of the bricks. Then, narrow lines of putty are embedded in a contrasting color to blend the repairs with the existing ones.

At Chapman Stables, the historic brickwork was carefully cleaned and repointed.

Chapman Stables

Stable Ghosts

Brickwork can be used to reveal the history of how a building was constructed and used. At Chapman Stables, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1908 two-story stable was situated behind the garage structure. It was identifiable along the alleyway by a hay loft door, an ”architectural ghost.” An “architectural ghost” is a trace or remnant of a structure that no longer exists, telling the story of the building’s original use. The garage’s facade had irregular brickwork architectural ghosts, indicating the locations of turn of the last century coal offices and other small buildings that were incorporated into the car garage when it was constructed.

At Chapman Stables, the second story was characteristic of a city stable in the early twentieth century. A second-story hayloft opening was centered on the wall, and while the hardware was no longer intact, an opening in the wall that housed the block—for the block and tackle—was readily apparent. A corbelled brick cornice rose above the hayloft, indicating the stable’s original roofline. A brick wall extended above the cornice, enclosing the stable’s roof, which was raised when it was incorporated into the garage.