As noted in the book’s introduction, the author observes that “brick has been excessively associated with masonry, with on-site construction carried out piece by piece”. The book was launched at Rebuild 2026 in Madrid and presents a range of off-site construction projects that position brick alongside other widely used materials such as timber and concrete.

Industrialised construction addresses two of the main challenges currently facing the construction and architecture sectors: sustained demand for housing and a shortage of skilled labour. According to a 2024 report by Observatory 2030 of the Spanish Council of Architects (CSCAE), industrialised construction accounts for only 1–2% of completed housing in Spain, compared with 7–10% in the United Kingdom and Germany and around 50% in the Netherlands.

Despite these limited figures, the lecturer notes that companies are adapting to this changing context and that the proportion is expected to increase in the coming years. “This is not only a challenge for the sector but a broader social issue; we are witnessing a shift in approach,” Sarrablo explains. Off-site construction – building in a controlled environment such as a factory, before final assembly on site – has been in use “for years”, according to the lecturer, but industrialisation and automation of construction have accelerated its adoption.

The advantages of brick construction

While concrete and timber currently dominate industrialised construction, Vicenç Sarrablo sets out six reasons for considering brick as a construction material. Brick is highly durable and requires little maintenance, provides excellent fire resistance, contributes thermal mass while improving acoustic performance, relates closely to historical and cultural contexts and allows for formal, chromatic and textural innovation.

The book examines 25 architectural projects that incorporate brick within an industrialised construction process, using it in cladding systems, ceramic textiles or prefabricated panels. Among the projects discussed is The Lady building in Amsterdam, designed by Dok Architecten and Liesbeth van der Pol. Located in the heart of the Museum Quarter of the Dutch capital, this striking building resembles a female figure crafted from handmade bricks, fired in an old circular kiln and subsequently shaped using a 3D milling machine.

Another example is the Girasol Building in Madrid, a residential complex designed by architect José Antonio Coderch, which was refurbished using a ceramic textile system developed by Flexbrick. This system, created by Vicenç Sarrablo, simplified the construction process and addressed longstanding detachment problems through a mesh mechanically fixed to the supporting structure.

Ladrillo, Sistema Off-Site. Nuevas estrategias para la arquitectura industrializada has been published by Hispalyt (the Spanish Association of Brick and Tile Manufacturers) with funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda. The publication brings together a selection of significant architectural works and reflects the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture’s ongoing commitment to innovation and creative research.