Set against the historic backdrop of Charterhouse Square, London, A Week at the Knees is not simply an installation; it is a dialogue between tradition and imagination told entirely through clay brick. Designed by artist and architect Alex Chinneck, the project was created as part of Clerkenwell Design Week 2025 and was on public display for a limited time. Despite its temporary presence, it left a lasting impression by challenging long-held assumptions about masonry, weight and permanence while celebrating the enduring appeal of brick as a material.
At first glance, the façade appears to ripple like fabric caught in a breeze. On closer inspection, the viewer realises this is a four-storey brick structure, meticulously hand-laid and engineered to defy visual expectation. Measuring 5.5 metres high and 13.5 metres wide, yet only 15cm deep, the installation demonstrates just how far the boundaries of clay brick design can be stretched, both literally and creatively.
A Study in Clay Brick Possibility
Clay brick has long symbolised solidity, repetition and order. A Week at the Knees deliberately disrupts these associations. Constructed from approximately 7,000 hand-laid bricks supplied by Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC, the façade uses Freshfield Lane First Quality Multi and Floren Albion bricks, precision-cut to achieve complex curves and flowing lines. The result is a surface that appears soft and pliable while remaining structurally robust, an intentional paradox at the heart of the design.
Key Clay Brick Design Considerations
The project illustrates how clay brick can move beyond convention while retaining its inherent strength and character. Although the façade appears to bend, a concealed recycled-steel framework provides structural stability, proving that expressive forms can still meet rigorous engineering demands. Precision cutting and skilled craftsmanship allowed traditional rectangular bricks to form smooth curves without losing their natural texture or tonal variation.
Despite weighing 11.5 tonnes, the structure is only 15cm deep, demonstrating how brick can be used sculpturally as well as structurally to reduce material use while maximising visual impact. Its dialogue with the surrounding Georgian architecture highlights brick’s ability to reference heritage without imitation, supported by the rich colour variation of the chosen brick blends.
Sustainability also underpinned the installation, with reclaimed steel significantly lowering carbon impact and reinforcing clay brick’s long-life, circular potential. Close collaboration between designer, manufacturer and specialist fabricators was central to the outcome, showing that innovation in clay brick emerges where material knowledge and creative engineering intersect.
A Living Façade
Although conceived as a temporary installation, A Week at the Knees offered a full 360-degree experience and was engineered with touring and potential future re-installation in mind. It was not merely a static sculpture but an evolving statement on how we perceive the built environment. By softening the visual language of masonry without compromising its essence, the project encouraged architects and designers to reconsider what brick can achieve.
Ultimately, A Week at the Knees stands as a reminder that clay brick is not confined to straight lines or predictable façades. With thoughtful engineering, precise craftsmanship and creative ambition, it can become fluid, expressive and emotionally engaging, carrying centuries of heritage while still bending confidently toward the future.
Brick Bulletin |Â Feature 281
