Reimagining the Skyline of 2075
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brick Awards, the Brick Development Association invites architects, students, and design teams to imagine the future of clay brick.
The Future of Brick is a national design competition challenging participants to look ahead to 2075 and explore how one of the world’s oldest building materials can shape the next generation of architecture.
This is an opportunity to rethink brick not as a traditional material, but as a catalyst for innovation - driving circular construction, climate resilience, urban transformation, and low-carbon design.
The Brief
Design a visionary building for 2075 that uses clay brick as a high-performance material at the forefront of future architecture.
Your proposal should explore how brick can respond to the environmental, social, and technological challenges of tomorrow - while creating bold, inspiring architecture for future generations.
Why Enter?
Be Part of the 50th Brick Awards
The competition forms part of the prestigious 50th Brick Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in brick architecture across the UK.
Industry Recognition
Shortlisted entries will be featured in a dedicated digital showcase, gaining national visibility across the architectural industry.
VIP Brick Awards Experience
The winning scheme will receive two VIP tickets to attend the 50th anniversary Brick Awards ceremony on 4th November 2026 alongside leading architects, developers, clients, and manufacturers.
Shape the Future of Architecture
This is your chance to contribute ideas that challenge convention and redefine the future role of clay brick in the built environment.
The Challenge
Participants are invited to design a visionary building set in the year 2075 that responds to one or more of the defining challenges shaping the future built environment. Proposals should explore how clay brick can evolve as an innovative, high-performance material within future architectural thinking.
Designs may address themes including:
- Climate resilience - responding to extreme weather, flooding, and thermal performance
- Net-zero and beyond-carbon strategies - advancing low-carbon and regenerative approaches
- Circular economy and reuse - designing for adaptability, disassembly, and material recovery
- Advanced modular or prefabricated construction - exploring new construction systems and efficiencies
- Urban density and mixed-use living - rethinking future communities and city living
- Community wellbeing and social infrastructure - creating healthier, more connected places
- Biodiversity integration and regenerative design - embedding nature within the built environment
The building typology is open and may include residential, public, educational, commercial, cultural, or mixed-use proposals.
Entries should clearly demonstrate:
- Innovative and primary use of clay brick
- Creative application in futuristic or non-traditional ways
- Technical credibility and buildability, even where speculative
- Architectural ambition and design excellence
- A compelling vision of society in 2075
Entrants are also encouraged to consider how advances in manufacturing, robotics, AI-driven design, digital fabrication, and material science could influence the future of brick construction over the next 50 years.
Entry Requirements
The competition is free to enter and open to:
- UK-based architects
- Architectural students
- Multidisciplinary design teams
Entrants must submit:
- Two A1 landscape presentation boards
- A 500-word design statement outlining the project vision, environmental strategy, and technical approach
Submissions must include:
- Site plan (if applicable)
- Floor plans
- Sections
- Elevations (where relevant)
- High-quality 3D visualisations or renders
- Diagrams illustrating environmental and technical strategy
- Clear explanation of innovative clay brick application
All material must be presented clearly and professionally for judging.
Submit entries to:
For any questions regarding the competition or to submit your entry, please contact the team at marketing@ceramics-uk.org.
Key dates:
- Competition launch: 19th May 2026
- Entry Deadline: 25th September
- Winner Announcement: 9th October 2026