Given the inherent features of brick, including beauty, durability, accessibility, and environmental friendliness, along with the positive reception and impact of holding four rounds of the National Brick Award by the Architectural Arts Quarterly at an international level in 2023, it appears that contemporary society is eager to learn more about brick—not just as a practical material, but as a cultural element in architecture. A brief look at architectural history reveals that brick has always been present in architecture and has maintained its essential role throughout the numerous transformations that architecture in this land has undergone. However, it should be noted that in recent decades, materials that may not have been suitable for this climate have been used without taste in buildings, diminishing the effective and significant presence of local materials like brick. Thus, the main goal of organizing such a competition is to "promote the use of brick in contemporary and future architecture."

In the upcoming event, the creative use of brick (alongside scientific and practical reasoning), as well as its application in the main sections of buildings (extending beyond just façades), will be particularly significant, and the jury will pay special attention to these aspects when evaluating the projects.

Time and Location: May 29 to 31, Fine Arts Gallery, University of Tehran

Instructor: Engineer Alireza Mashhadi Mirza

Judging Panel:

• Dr. Hamed Mazaherian
• Dr. Yahya Eslamian
• Dr. Katayoun Taghizadeh
• Engineer Faramarz Parsi
• Engineer Alireza Mashhadi Mirza
• Dr. Mojtaba Sabat Fard
• Dr. Morteza Sadiq

Event Scientific Program and Architecture Workshop:

Day 1: Education, the Importance of Brick, Formation Process and Project Design

Part One: Attendance will be free for all students, architects, and interested parties. From early morning to noon, Alireza Mashhadi Mirza will discuss the formation process of brick in projects, strategies, techniques, etc.

Part Two: Participation in this section requires registration and payment. After the first part, registered participants will work in groups of five to create a concept project using miniaturized bricks in their preferred style (traditional or modern).

Days 2 and 3: Starting on the second day, participants will work on creating, executing, and constructing their projects. At the end of the third day, there will be a judging session and the announcement of winners, followed by the awarding of prizes. If possible, an exhibition of the created works will be held for one week at the Faculty of Fine Arts.

It is worth mentioning that certificates of participation will be issued to those attending the second part of the workshop, signed by Dr. Hamed Mazaherian, the head of the Faculty of Fine Arts, and Engineer Alireza Mashhadi Mirza. The selected projects by the jury and those chosen by the editorial board will be published in the Architectural Arts Quarterly, on the Art and Architecture Knowledge Base website, and on the website of the Architectural Technology Scientific Hub and the Instagram page of both entities.

Judging Criteria:

• Use of brick as a structural, decorative element, determining spatial proportions, dimensions, texture, color, etc.
• Innovation in technique or originality of using brick supported by scientific backing and logical reasoning.
• The simplest, most practical, and aesthetically pleasing responses (strategies to create the best questions and answers).
• Attention to the concept of authenticity in architecture.
• Pure beauty without redundancy or excess.
• Techniques and spatial quality.
• A practical perspective on brick—not merely as a consumable material that acts as a facade.

Timeline: Registration deadline: Until midnight on Tuesday, May 23, 2024.

Note: The deadline for submitting works will not be extended.

Contact Information: Architectural Technology Scientific Hub, University of Tehran
Executive Director (Azar Mortazavi): 09122586963
Email: ceat.aca@ut.ac.ir
Instagram: ceat.ut

Event Secretariat Phone Number: 88342960-1
Event Manager (Shahryar Khani Zadeh): 09123446870
Email: aoaholding@gmail.com
Instagram: honare_memari

Registration is open to all interested parties, architects, students, interior designers, contractors, employers, etc.