Why Brick Is The Preferred Building Material For Childcare Centres

With the ability to withstand high foot traffic, high impact and constant intervention, brick is the ultimate building material for schools and childcare centres. Brick requires no ongoing maintenance, excellent thermal insulation qualities, a uniquely textural patina which is durable, and ages beautifully over time.

Horsley Park Childcare Centre located in Western Sydney has moved towards this durable materiality for its architectural update. Crafted with over 140,000 Austral Bricks San Selmo Reclaimed Red Bricks, the project features expansive brickwork running from the outside in. The entire frontage and exterior of the building is crafted from brick, imbuing the centre with a rustic feel, one of permanence and familiarity. 

The centre is almost compound-esque in its form. Centred around a bright and breezy courtyard, the building is composed of separate components that meet to create two L-shaped forms. Despite the aged patina of the San Selmo Reclaimed Bricks, the building’s uniform structure and geometrically slanted roofs infuse the space with a contemporary, refined style. Indistinguishable from the outside, the building’s facade is sleek, modern, and could easily be mistaken for a gallery or elevated architectural facility. 

Not the first of its kind, the Blue Gum Childcare Centre in Chifley NSW has also selected brick as its main materiality, The most distinguishable feature of Blue Gum is the oval-shaped turret with oblong cut-outs and a spherical skylight crafted from Bowral Bricks in Bowral Blue. The ideal enclave for young children, the space acts as a reading nook or place to play and cultivate imagination.

Recognisable by their unique patina and tactile aesthetic, Bowral Bricks in Bowral Blue line the centre’s interior. The bricks are imbued with an inherent character and can be categorized by their highly pigmented colour and expert craftsmanship.  

Blue Gum’s interior is refined, crafted from a natural materiality in a nod to the local surrounding and of course to the centre’s namesake. With concrete flooring, brick features and timber panelling, the centre’s materiality is durable, sustainable and ideal for staying cool in the warmer months. The contemporary interior design is sleek, a far cry from the childcare centres of yore, with primary coloured plastics and garish tones. The natural materiality fosters a feeling of calm allowing for moments of serenity and for a design style to last the ages. 

Childcare centres and schools are an essential part of our social landscape. With a brick composition, these establishments are built to last, and can continue providing education and security to children for decades to come. Whether they’re located in rural or urban Australia, a brick composition is the ideal materiality for schools or childcare centres. For rural locations, brick has the added benefit of being bushfire resistant, and its hard wearing materiality renders it impermeable to the natural elements. For both rural and urban locations, brick’s high density and insulative properties mean it is ideal to keep students warm in winter and cool in summer, fostering the ideal climate for work and play. 

“With a brick composition, these establishments are built to last, and can continue providing education and security to children for decades to come. ”

“With a brick composition, these establishments are built to last, and can continue providing education and security to children for decades to come. ”