Promotion: American brick manufacturer The Belden Brick Company has created Luminescent, a range of decorative glazed bricks designed to shift in appearance from dawn to dusk.
Intended for external or interior use, Luminescent bricks have subtly iridescent surfaces that appear to change with natural light throughout the day.
The product offers an alternative to traditional glazed bricks and “gives buildings a dynamic presence not possible with conventional materials,” according to Robert T Belden, CEO and vice president of operations at Belden Brick.
“Architects in regions with distinctive lighting conditions are particularly interested in materials that enhance facades through changing daylight,” said Belden. “Luminescent, which is part of our Clay Coated range, creates visual depth that transforms with the sun’s movement.”
Belden Brick makes the range in four colours, including Morning Mist, Aluminum, Twilight and Frost – the latter is suitable for specifiers seeking an alternative to traditional white-glazed bricks.
The bricks also come in six sizes: Modular, Norman, Ambassador, Economo Modular, Utility, Monarch, in addition to thin brick variations.
According to Belden Brick, the product’s versatility makes it suitable for diverse architectural applications and offers solutions for adaptive reuse projects where contemporary designs integrate with existing structures.
The manufacturer also said Luminescent functions differently in various regional lighting conditions.
“In northern environments with low-angle seasonal light, the brick’s iridescent properties create subtle facade transitions during months when exteriors may look flat,” said Belden. “In southern regions, these bricks can respond to intense sunlight as it moves across buildings throughout the day.”
“Luminescent bricks are made with a three-sided application for ease when applying to a building’s corners,” continued Belden. “The coarse velour texture, which only Belden Brick offers, ensures optimal mortar adhesion compared to typical glazed brick options.”
Belden Brick makes Luminescent at its Ohio facility, where the company started its Clay Coated range. The iridescent finish is applied to dry bricks before they are fired in kilns with regulated heat.
Each brick is made with clays and shales sourced from Belden Brick’s mines also in Ohio. The company selects materials for structural integrity and durability, it explained.
“Durability is perhaps brick’s greatest sustainability feature,” concluded Belden. “When you specify Luminescent, you’re choosing a facade material that will maintain its appearance and performance for generations.”
The photography is by Todd Biss Productions unless stated otherwise.
For more information about the Luminescent brick range, visit The Belden Brick Company’s website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Belden Brick as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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