International BRICK AWARD 26 Winners Highlight Climate-Responsive Design, Reuse and Contemporary Ceramic Architecture

International BRICK AWARD 26 Winners Highlight Climate-Responsive Design, Reuse and Contemporary Ceramic Architecture

(IN BRIEF) The BRICK AWARD 26 winners were celebrated in Vienna, recognising outstanding international architecture projects that demonstrate the creative, sustainable and cultural potential of brick and ceramic building materials. Hosted by wienerberger, the manufacturer-independent biennial award has been presented since 2004 and this year honoured projects across five categories, with an additional Grand Prize and a first-time Special Prize. The Grand Prize and Sharing public spaces award went to Đạo Mẫu Temple and Museum in Vietnam by ARB Architects, a carbon-negative project that reused around six million clay tiles from more than 500 local homes. Other winners included Ca na Birgit in Mallorca by TEd’A arquitectes, Social Atrium – 54 Dwellings in the Besòs in Barcelona by Peris+Toral Arquitectes, Warehouse and Offices for Clase Azul La Hacienda Jalisco in Mexico by ATELIER ARS, and Endless Brick Playground by the China Academy of Art. A Special Prize was awarded to MAKER’s social and urban infill project in Kortrijk, Belgium, which reimagines neighbourhood living through reuse and garden-city principles. The awards underline how brick and ceramic materials are being used to address climate resilience, affordable living, social connection and architectural beauty.

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 12-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The international winners of the BRICK AWARD 26 have been announced in Vienna, celebrating projects that demonstrate the versatility, beauty and contemporary relevance of brick and ceramic building materials.

Hosted by wienerberger, the biennial BRICK AWARD has recognised outstanding brick architecture since 2004. The manufacturer-independent prize gives architects a global platform for innovative designs using brick and ceramic building products, while highlighting the role of these materials in sustainable, forward-looking architecture.

The 2026 edition recognised winners across five categories: Feeling at home, for single houses and small-scale projects; Living together, for urban residential developments; Working together, for commercial and industrial buildings; Sharing public spaces, for public buildings and spaces; and Building outside the box, for innovation. A Grand Prize was also awarded, and for the first time the jury introduced a Special Prize for a project reimagining the concept of neighbourhood.

The Grand Prize went to Đạo Mẫu Temple and Museum in Soc Son, Vietnam, which also won the Sharing public spaces category. Designed by ARB Architects for folk artist Xuân Hinh, the 5,000 sqm project draws on deep cultural traditions while integrating a spiritual architectural language with contemporary life. The carbon-negative project reused around six million clay tiles sourced from more than 500 local homes, creating a strong material and symbolic connection with the surrounding community.

The Feeling at home category was awarded to Ca na Birgit in Mallorca, Spain, designed by TEd’A arquitectes. The single-family home, built on the cliffs of Ses Penyes Rotges, uses locally sourced brick and a compact built area of 194 sqm. Its design responds to the climate, the landscape and the need for privacy by creating two deep walls parallel to neighbouring properties, framing sea views while shielding the home from outside sightlines.

The Living together award went to Social Atrium – 54 Dwellings in the Besòs, a mixed-use social housing project in Barcelona by Peris+Toral Arquitectes. The development includes 54 social rental apartments and is organised around a bioclimatic atrium that connects the homes with social amenities at ground level. Biomass-fired brick used in the façade and interior supports thermal performance, helping keep the building warm in winter and cool and ventilated in summer.

The Working together category was won by Warehouse and Offices for Clase Azul La Hacienda Jalisco in Mexico, designed by ATELIER ARS. The project uses local ceramics and stone from the site excavation to anchor the development in its volcanic landscape. From the east, the building appears as a ceramic horizon, with a roof clad in traditional clay elements that blurs the boundary between architecture and terrain.

The Building outside the box award went to Endless Brick Playground, developed through the Fundamentals of Masonry course at the School of Architecture, China Academy of Art in Hangzhou. Rather than a conventional engineering project, the work is an evolving educational and experimental site where first-year students design and build brick structures using red bricks as the only material. Between 2014 and 2024, nearly 80 students contributed to the site, creating 48 structures, with 26 preserved by the end of 2024.

The jury also awarded a Special Prize to A social and urban infill project in Kortrijk, Belgium, designed by MAKER. The project reimagines a neighbourhood of 54 homes as a contemporary garden city, creating stronger social and environmental connections between residents and nature. Reclaimed bricks and tiles shape the façades, reflecting the history, availability and character of reused materials.

Heimo Scheuch, CEO of wienerberger, said the winning projects show how brick and ceramic materials continue to inspire architectural innovation. He said the projects demonstrate how these materials can respond to climate change and modern living needs while creating beauty and a sense of wonder for building users.

The BRICK AWARD 26 winners were selected from a shortlist of 50 projects across 21 countries by an international jury of architects and designers. This year’s jury included Gabriela Carrillo, co-founder of Colectivo C733; Christine Conix, co-founder of Conix RDBM; Eduardo Mediero, co-founder of HANGHAR; Jens Linnet, co-founder of BOGL; and Traudy Pelzel, co-founder of MAP studio.

The jury evaluated projects based on architectural quality, innovative design concepts, skillful use of brick and ceramic materials, aesthetics, form and configuration. Sustainability, climate resilience, energy efficiency, affordable living, cultural context and the success of each project in serving its intended purpose were also key considerations.

The Grand Prize winner receives €7,000, while category winners receive €5,000 and bespoke ceramic trophies. Winners and shortlisted nominees will also be featured in Brick Book 26, a reference publication showcasing leading examples of contemporary brick and ceramic architecture.

The BRICK AWARD continues to serve as an international platform for architects using brick in creative, ecological and socially meaningful ways, highlighting the material’s continued relevance in contemporary design.

wienerberger

wienerberger is a leading international provider of innovative, ecological solutions for the entire building envelope, in the fields of new build and renovation, as well as infrastructure in water and energy management. With more than 20,000 employees worldwide, wienerberger’s solutions enable energy-efficient, healthy, climate-friendly, and affordable living. wienerberger is the world’s largest producer of bricks and the market leader in clay roof tiles in Europe as well as concrete pavers in Eastern Europe. In pipe systems (ceramic and plastic pipes), the company is one of the leading suppliers in Europe and a leading supplier of facade products in North America. With its more than 200 production sites, wienerberger generated revenues of €4.6 billion and an operating EBITDA of approx. €754 million in 2025.

High-resolution images of the winning entries are available here.

About the BRICK AWARD

The BRICK AWARD is an international architecture prize that celebrates outstanding brick architecture from around the world. Hosted by wienerberger, the award recognizes innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainable design, while remaining independent; use of wienerberger products is not a requirement for participation. Established in 2004, the biennial prize has become a prestigious platform for visionary architects, showcasing the creative and ecological potential of brick in contemporary architecture. Winners from around the world are celebrated during an award ceremony, and their work is featured in the official BRICK Book, alongside nominated projects.

Media Contacts:

Claudia Hajdinyak
Head of Corporate Communications
Wienerberger AG
+43 664 8283183
claudia.hajdinyak@wienerberger.com

SOURCE: Wienerberger AG