The Best of Brick and Roof Award 2013

The Best of Baltic Brick and Roof Award 2013

Dear business partner!

Dear reader! „Baltic Brick and Roof Award“ was first presented in 2009 and this year we do it third time in Wienerberger Baltic history.

As you might know Wienerberger Group started already years ago with an international „Brick Award“ and due to the fact that much interesting projects have been applied for this award from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, we have decided to continue with our “Baltic Brick and Roof Award” Wienerberger runs 226 plants groupwide in 30 countries of Europe and in North America and India. Wienerberger is the world’s largest producer of bricks (POROTHERM, TERCA AND PENTER) and the market leader for clay roof tiles (KORAMIC, TONDACH) in Europe.

Building materials and system solutions made of clay are healthy, economical and energyefficient. They can be used in all energy-efficient housing concepts, including passive, active, low-energy and solar houses. Bricks have a minimum service life of 100 years, which means they are particular value drivers.

The large variety of different projects shows the high flexibility of Wienerberger clay products as facing bricks, pavers, roof tiles and hollow bricks (blocks), produced of clay, water and fire like in the past, but with new designs and improved technical function to fit to the demands of the future and modern architecture. Special attention is paid to how the building blends naturally into the surroundings as well as to the geometry, personality and quality of the building and its lighting conditions.

The purpose of this competition was to find and distinguish the objects, in which usage of ceramic bricks, clay roof tiles, hollow-bricks and clay pavers is done in the best solution in architectural and technical way. The nominating projects are demonstrating the variety of opportunities of ceramics in construction.

We hope that reading this brochure is supporting you in creating ideas for new projects.

Wienerberger will be happy to support you at the realization of your ideas.

With compliments,

Raivo Vasnu Member of Board

Baltic Brick and Roof Award 2013

Wienerberger AS presented already for the third time the winners of the “Baltic Brick and Roof Award 2013”, the outstanding brick buildings and objects in the Baltics, awarding them with EUR 2,000 in prize money.

 All functions are possible: single-family homes, row house, apartment buildings, commercial and industrial buildings, public buildings, squares, places, gardens, etc.;  New buildings, extensions, and architecturally interesting renovations in brick-buildings as well as created gardens and squares will be included in the evaluation.  One and the same project can be presented in two different categories, but it can win the price in one category.

The winners were selected by a group of chosen international specialists. The jury consisted of seven members: architectural critic Andres Kurg (Estonia), Latvian architectural journal "Latvijas Architektūra" editor Velta Holcmane, architect Algimantas Kancas (Lithuania) and Wienerberger team was presented by Juha Karilainen (Finland), Eduard Rõžov (Estonia), Vilmantas Pališkis (Lithuania) and Dimitrijs Gavrilovs (Latvia).

Narva College of UT (photo: Urmas Alles)

The purpose of this competition was to find and highlight the objects, in which usage of ceramic bricks, clay roof tiles, hollow-bricks and clay pavers are done in the best way in architectural, technical and constructional way. The nominating projects demonstrate variety of opportunities of ceramics in construction.

The technical project of partial reconstruction of Klaipeda city recreation park (photo: Romualdas Eitkevičius)

Altogether 32 projects from all Baltic countries were submitted for the “Baltic Brick and Roof Award 2013” and all of them measured up to the terms of competition.

Samrode office building (photo: Indriķis Sturmanis)

Brick’n’log house in (photo: Laur Pihel)

The criteria for nomination were:  A significant part of the project must consist of at least one of Wienerberger products (as POROTHERM hollowbricks (clay blocks), TERCA facing bricks, KORAMIC clay roof tiles and/or PENTER clay pavers);  The completion date for the project is the year 2006 or later;

The prices are divided between the following categories of the best projects:  Facing bricks and clay blocks: residential building (single-family house, row house, apartment buildings);  Facing bricks and clay blocks :public building (office building, business centre, industrial building, church, school, hospital and other public spaces… );  Roof tiles: residential and public buildings category;  Pavers: squares, plazas or pavements of gardens.

Private house “Exteriour and interiour ceramic in living house” (photo: Juozas Kamenskas)

In addition to the winners and the Wienerberger AS special price selected jury three additional projects, which all will be sent along with five award-winning projects to the global architectural competition "Brick Award 2014", organized by the Wienerberger Group.

All these projects are presented in this publication.

The winner of facing bricks and clay blocks: residential building category

House in Antsla (Estonia) Description of project: The single-family house is neatly overlooking a small lake in a south-eastern Estonian town. The setting is traditional: everybody still knows almost everybody in the community, people tend to talk in local dialect, and the measure of a good and valuable house is its durability and reliability. The client had two basic and definitive wishes: brick as the building material and spacious rooms inside. The house, facing the lake, took the form of an arch, accommodating the entrance and a covered terrace beneath.

All photos of project: Karli Luik

Comments of jury: Andres Kurg: The form of this dwelling works against common expectations: it has rounded outer corners and rounded archway for entrance and it is difficult to understand the interior setting of the house when looking from the outside. This “conflict� between the form and content is further underlined by the use of bricks: for what is usually considered as a material for straight lines and right angles is here used in a sculptural and free form. It is a bold approach and the result broadens our understanding of residential architecture as well as the ways how bricks can be used in an innovative way.

Velta Holcmane: Free placed area – residential house is standing out with flexible form and professional use of materials. Used facing materials for wall and roof are chosen by dark rich color, what is as opposite to colors of lake and landscape. Special nice is build entrance, where is perfect connected wall with ceiling.

Algimantas Kancas: At first glance it seems that this happens somewhere in between Holland and Japan.

In a flat full of birch trees field emerges sharp shaped building connecting Estonia and the rest of the world.

Young architects reinvent language of Estonian architecture.

House in Antsla (Estonia) The winner of facing bricks and clay blocks: residential building category Address: Antsla, Estonia Used materials: TERCA facing bricks Nero smooth (Aseri); KORAMIC roof tiles Pottelberg 301 anthracite Architects: AB „Salto Arhitektid“, Karli Luik, Ralf Lõoke, Kristiina Arusoo The completion date: 2012

The winner of facing bricks and clay blocks: public building category

Narva College of University of Tartu (Estonia) Description of project: Narva is a border city between Russia and Estonia. Its baroque old town was destroyed in II WW. The college is built to the area of Narva’s no longer existent Old Town with the main façade opening towards the south side of the Town Hall square. In front of the building is a square of its own, marking the site of the former stock exchange building and creating main entrance to the college.

The main idea is to clearly mark the historical volume of the stock exchange building. New building consists of two conceptual parts – first part is stock building reconstructed as a void and second part is the real building. The solution could be a (simultaneous) monument for the lost Old Town and for dreams to rebuild it.

Our proposal reconstructs stock building on its original place and with all its details. But like formwork or mould. The mould is the building destroyed decades ago. It appears as if it had left its trace on the body of the new structure.

The imprinted façade is cast of white concrete, while the other three sides are made out of brick. Brick is covered with thin layer of plaster and painted (buildings in Old Town and were all plastered). The basement of the stock exchange is reconstructed and used as an exhibition space.

Photo: Kaido Haagen

Photo: Kaido Haagen

Comments of jury: Andres Kurg: The building of the new Narva College has been one of the most disputed buildings in Estonia and definitely the most disputed one in Narva for the past 5-6 years. It borrows and approach from the works of British sculptor Rachel Whiteread, who has studied how to show absence in a tangible way, by casting the “negative” forms of objects and even buildings. In a similar way the facade of the Narva College points to that which is no longer there: the previous baroque building of the stock exchange. But in a more broad way it becomes a metaphor for the whole of the historical old town which was destroyed in the II World War. Although the facade of the building is of concrete, the main material, that also works to tie the main body to its historical context, is brick, covered with a thin layer of plaster and coloured in dark red. This represents the historical technique of finishing in the city and becomes a needed counterbalance for the complex modern layout. So it could be said that if the concrete part of the building deals with the context through absence, then the brick part emphasises the presence of the building.

Photo: Urmas Alles

Velta Holcmane: Architectural nice sample of reconstruction in historical center of Narva – very good fit into city square with some conceptual renewed details, responding to needs of university Used materials emphasize deep understanding of historical value and modern interpretation of this value. Bricks’ façade is original plastered and colored, what rather surprised and masks primary structure.

Algimantas Kancas: Newly designed block of the college sensitively incorporated into already existing complex.

New buildings renew, prolong, enrich and continue ensemble by shape and by scale.

Narva College of University of Tartu (Estonia) The winner of facing bricks and clay blocks: public building category Architects: Siiri Vallner, Indrek Peil, Katrin Koov Address: Raekoja plats 2, Narva, Estonia Used materials: TERCA facing bricks Aseri red brushed; KORAMIC roof tiles Pottelberg Amarant; PENTER pavers Aseri red and Dresden.

The completion date: 2012

The winner of roof tiles: residential and public buildings category

Single family house “Frykas house” (Lithuania) Description of project: The site of this project is located on the slope of Žaliakalnis old suburb residential area, built mainly with villas from the beginning of 20th century. Formerly, the place was residential that became neglected during the last 70 years. In such an historical environment with strict rules we had to design this house. First sketches were made in 2007 although the construction finished only at nowadays. Our intention was to plan modern extension to existing old historical house, creating new living spaces to provide additional accommodations: living room, modern kitchen, home cinema with steam room and master bedroom. New volume was positioned in the southern portion of the site along plot area, turned outwards towards panorama of the hilly landscape. The volume of the new building among transparent connection articulates these two pitched geometries and addresses the link between the two parties, the old and new. The materiality of the extension gives moderate contrast of the old and new to be expressed.

All photos of projects: Gintaras Česonis

Comments of jury: Velta Holcmane: Small residential house is renewed and expanded with new modern annexe. Common wall/roof surface from bricks and class, very nice new/old combination shows perfect architectural sample for private house development.

Andres Kurg: This residential house is an annex to a traditional early 20th Century dwelling. The whole volume of the new part of the building is covered with black roof tiles, the continuity is only cut on the facade with a balcony on the first floor level and a large window on the ground floor. The two parts of the building form a well-suited contrast and the clever use of rooftiles gives a strong and a sculptural character to the new part of the building.

Algimantas Kancas: New silhouette of the house replicates the house existed before, designed by famous modernist architect Frykas. Emerges sensitive, diplomatic and easthetic dialogue among past and present. New building easily meets high standards of midwar district architectural quality.

Single family house “Frykas house” (Lithuania) The winner of roof tiles: residential and public buildings category Architects: Aurėja Šlančė, Marius Šlančius Address: Vaižganto 56A, Kaunas 48290, Lithuania Used materials: KORAMIC roof tiles Tradi 12 natural red and Pottleberg 301 braised blue; PENTER pavers Anthrazit The completion date: 2012

The winner winner of pavers: squares, places or gardens category

Complex renovation of central part of Marijampolė city and public spaces (Lithuania) Description of project: Public space – an urban element which reveals face of a city and its identity. Moreover, this is a green opened plan zone of community‘s integration where a social dialog can be hold. Some cities uphold values for centuries and some are lucky enough to get the opportunity to recreate their history. Marijampolė city reconstructed public spaces with a new project. The main aim of this project was to reconstruct streets, sidewalks and paving of squares, to modernize lightning system, to form new plantings and bicycle paths, to expand public spaces and supplement them with architecture elements, to renew buildings of municipality. Creating modern spaces is an excellent way to modernize city. There are three basic zones in nowadays Marijampolė city functional scheme: old town (small and cozy places), J.Basanavičius square (representative and public events space) and a Poetry park (recreation area). Therefore, it was seeking to connect these areas into a general connecting network, where lots of different people could meet and enjoy themselves. The idea of old town reconstruction was to bring the old town closer to people. For this reason traffic was limited and priority given to pedestrians and bicycle paths. In addition, all pedestrian paths were paved with clinker tiles, bicycle paths with dark clinker tiles, car parking spaces with enhanced clinker. All paving are framed with grey granite street or lawn board. The character of an old town creates lightning, small elements of architecture, art accents. Little squares are paved with lattice blocks. On the whole, integrity of different areas was achieved preserving character, mood and content during used materials.

Photo: Gintaras Kandrotas

Comments of jury: Velta Holcmane: Perfect sample of city reconstruction, where are used many materials for surface, color, light and structure connection to one public zone.

Modern renovated square improve inhabitants’ sensing of environment.

Photos: Algirdas Marcinkevičius

Andres Kurg: This is a major reconstruction work of the central part of a small town in Lithuania, of joining the different buildings and quarters to one whole, which has been done with a clever use of urban design. The main elements that are used for this are pavement stones, light fixtures, urban furniture. The material has a symbolic weight – forming the public spaces of the small town – as well as a practical function, to provide long-standing quality walkways and squares.

Algimantas Kancas: Park and public spaces are undoubtedly worth to be mentioned. It is even not the shame to show it to Estonian colleagues. It is undoubtable example to every city and town how to do it.

Complex renovation of central part of Marijampolė city and public spaces (Lithuania) The winner of pavers: squares, places or gardens category Architects: Gintautas Vieversys, Reda Marcinkevičienė, Algirdas Marcinkevičius, Arvydas Bekeris, Tomas Eidukevičius, Donatas Valiukas Address: Bažnyčios, J. Bendoriaus, Laisvės V. Kudirkos, Kęstučio, Gedimino, Butlerienės str, Marijampolė, Lithuania Used materials: PENTER pavers Holstein, Aseri Terra smooth STT and Aseri red smooth STT The completion date: 2012

Special price of Wienerberger AS

Samrode office building (Latvia) Description of projects: The design of addition to the “Samrode” construction company headquarters in Ventspils is based on the desire of the client and the project team to create a compact and contemporary architectural volume that maintains a harmonious relationship with its historic city center context and compliments it as well. The conceptual basis for this building is rooted in three scales of purposeful design operations in response to opportunities/limitations offered by the site. From the urban design perspective, the massing of this building is determined by the precedent outlines of a munitions warehouse and a wooden shed, previously present on the site. The form of the new building unites motley geometries of these volumes into a cohesive building form, while improving pedestrian circulation paths around the building and spatial relationships with other buildings on the block. The material palette of “Samrode” is based in the historic precedent as well.

Traditional construction techniques, nevertheless, are re-interpreted according to standards of present-day design aesthetic and contribute to the unmistakably contemporary character of the building. See-through stacking of bricks along the main facade should be particularly noted, as it allows combining close resemblance to the visual character of the opaque brick warehouse precedent with the must-have requirement for light and views of a modern-day office building typology. Visual connections are provided from one space to another, as well as from interior of the building to the urban environment outside. Whether one is looking through windows or transparent/veiled curtain walls, the resulting visual effect is that of layered spatial composition and depth.

All photos of project: Indriķis Sturmanis

Comments of jury: Andres Kurg: This modern building in a context of historical structures makes a statement that contemporary architectural language need not be in conflict with traditional building aesthetics. The use of bricks is simultaneously innovative – the use of see-through walls and experimental bricklaying – as well as referential of the historic structure through colour and texture. The main volume of the building consists of many materials and forms that are however well balanced and give a pleasant overall impression.

Velta Holcmane: Construction is very well placed into landscape, keeping historical value. Used right materials for transmission of old house atmosphere. Good and qualified work performance.

Algimantas Kancas: Building skillfully embedded into environment. Quality doesn’t stop shining up to the tiniest detail. Latvian colleagues have delivered only one project to show and it has got special prize nominee.

Are there all the buildings same great quality in Latvia?

We will have to check.

Samrode office building (Latvia) Special price of Wienerberger AS Architects: SIA “Forma” and LLC “Krists Karklins Design” Address: Zvanu str. 2, Ventspils, Latvia Used materials: TERCA facing bricks Dresden glatt / dark NF The completion date: 2012

The additional project to Brick Award 2014

Healthcare College of Tartu (Estonia) Description of project: The area is defined by a friendly co-existence of small private houses and large healthcare institutions in the park. The new college building is located in between two dormitories to maintain the buffer zone between private houses and large buildings. The design solution is based on the need for sufficient natural light in all dormitories and classrooms. Each floor steps back, creating interesting interior spaces and communication with the existing dormitory. The latter side has open character with large glass surfaces whereas the more confined outward side has a red brick cladding similar to the existing dormitories. The college building tries to step into the context as an unexpected yet interesting partner. The new and existing buildings are connected in the basement. The interior space has two defining elements: the core – a library and information center with a cafeteria; and the big staircase, following the gradient rise of the building itself, providing visual connection of all floors and all main activities of the building.

Photo : Jaan Sokk

Comments of jury: Andres Kurg: This is almost a camouflage building that in between the red brick dormitory buildings from the 1970s could be missed as part of the original ensemble. However, on a closer look one can discern elements that place it to the context of contemporary architecture: stepping terraces, a dense rhythm of posts that becomes as-if an ornament, the asymmetrical placement of windows. The result is unexpected, yet a most welcome one: not to deny the Soviet modernist aesthetic of the original structures, but actualise it on a new and more humane level.

Velta Holcmane: Perfect ex-soviet architecture reflection with new building material usage. Very well placed into existent building and nice realization.

Photo: Jaan Sokk

Algimantas Kancas: Newly designed block of the college sensitively incorporated into already existing complex. New buildings renew, prolong, enrich and continue ensemble by shape and by scale.

Photo: Martin Siplane

Healthcare College of Tartu (Estonia) The additional project to Brick Award 2013 Architects: Siiri Vallner, Indrek Peil Address: Nooruse 5, Tartu, Estonia Used materials: TERCA facing bricks St. John’s The completion date: 2011

The additional project to Brick Award 2014

Two single-family houses „BLAC HOUSE BLUS“ (Lithuania) Description of project: Two archetype single family houses in pine forest. Traditional ascetic form with black ceramic tiles and black and grey bricks – harmony with nature. Quiet composition of two houses – a little sad as blues. It’s nice to live here!

All photos of project: Juozas Kamenskas

Comments of jury: Andres Kurg: These houses form a pleasant ensemble in the middle of pine trees, combining modern elements (all glass walls, roof tiles covering whole volumes) with traditional architectural forms in the rural areas (pitched roofs, division of functions between several building volumes, load-bearing brick walls). The outcome is of high quality in terms of building as well as living.

Velta Holcmane: House is very good fit into complex, improving color pattern and environment of this complex.

Algimantas Kancas: There goes intense competition among architects and clients in fields of a living house. And sometimes there is possible to find clientele, which can read and furthermore need contemporary architecture. It is a dream and fresh grasp of air to every devoted architect.

Two single-family houses „BLAC HOUSE BLUS“ (Lithuania) The additional project to Brick Award 2014 Architects: UAB “Studija Archispektras”, Aidas Kalinauskas, Vaidas Tamošiūnas, Ignas Kalinauskas Address: Akaciju av. Kulautuva, Kaunas area, Lithuania Used materials: POROTHERM blocks 18.8; TERCA facing bricks Frankfurt NF and PAGUS Grijs WFD; KORAMIC roof tiles Actua 10 noble graphite The completion date: 2012

The additional project to Brick Award 2014

Lithuanian Veterinary Academy (Lithuania)

All photos of project: Violeta BeigienÄ—

Description of project: A living body expression Escape the straight lines without disrupting the harmony. Reconstruction of the building for the Veterinary Academy of Lithuanian Health Sciences University represented a challenge.

Not only is the whole faculty area a state-protected cultural monument and had to be adapted according to modern and scientific standards. The challenge was also in creating a connection to the fauna and thereby preserving the harmony of the building ensemble. The complex of buildings of the Veterinary Academy was built between 1930-1938. It includes the central palace, the educational divisions and other structures covering the area of almost 5 hectares.

The ensemble of the Academy buildings is a state-protected cultural monument. In 2007, the reconstruction of several buildings was planned. During the conversion of one of the blocks and its adaptation for scientific and research activities of the Veterinary Institute, its interior was redesigned, and new, modern laboratories of several types were equipped. However, not all facilities could be accommodated in the main, state-protected building; therefore we had to build an extension for staircase, elevator, technical rooms and several additional offices.

Finding the harmony within the animal On one hand, the integral nature of the state-protected building of the Academy and its moderate and reserved style, volumetric harmony and moderate colors that have been popular in the 1930's, required the project's architects to create a structure not disrupting the harmony of the ensemble. On the other hand, the specific purpose of the complex invoked was to look for visual interfaces to the animal world, to escape from straight lines and rectangular forms, and to look for expression close to a living body of a creature.

Opposites attract This in particular induced the choice of clay roof tiles Pottelberg 301 with different colors and gloss. They ideally suited for the objective of making a living scaly body. The contrast principle has justified the expectations, and the new wing did not significantly disrupt the principles of composition of the ensemble and did not clear away the identification criteria of a historical period, but clearly showed us who, when and by what means and materials the ensemble has been built. The Veterinary complex is dominated with park style lighting, and only some of the buildings have sparing illumination at the entrance to the buildings.

Following the same principle of contrast, the illumination solution was completely different this time – special ventilation ceramic tiles with integrated LEDs. This type of illumination provides particular shine at night, and imparts even more features of a living and moving body to the building.

Comments of jury: Andres Kurg: The slightly curving end wall of a new annex, covered with orange, black and grey roof tiles, forms a strong and almost sculptural accentuation to the historical Veterinary academy building. It is a bold and impressive solution and tests the limits of the use of clay roof tiles, turning them here through varying colour and gloss of the material to a powerful modernist decoration.

Velta Holcmane: Decorative, but not caused functionally usage of materials.

We need to note very good color range and light direction.

Algimantas Kancas: It is a rare example in Lithuania of how gracefully old architecture embraces contemporary.

Lithuanian Veterinary Academy (Lithuania) The additional project to Brick Award 2013 Architects: Violeta Beigienė and Vydė Vaičenonytė, UAB “CEDRA” Address: Kaunas, Lithuania Used materials: KORAMIC roof tiles Pottelberg 301 in six different colors (anthracite, slate matt glazed, wine red glazed, black glazed, rustic, blue braised) and Marsylka natural red The completion date: 2011

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