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A team lead by Sumart Diseño y Arquitectura SAS in Columbia have developed the HB- Heatsink Brick. Given the abundance of clay as a prominant raw material in the region, a traditional clay brick was the starting point when considering a solution which would address key concerns in the Columbian construction industry such as the need to reduce thermal discomfort in homes and the need to make use of sustainable local raw materials.
The HB - Heatsink brick is essentially a ceramic tile for building fences and architectural facades, which adopts the same manufacturing process as traditional clay brick but with an innovative cross-section design which provides shading, protecting part of the brick from solar radiation and heat tramsmission.
As well as the shading provided by the unique shape of the brick, the chambers within the brick provide ventilation, rapidly dissipating any heat gain. And the unique shape also allows for many three-dimensional facade designs.
The irregular shape of the Heatsink brick also acts as a sound baffle. Unlike a flat wall which receives sound easily from the outside, the Heatsink brick breaks the continuous wave, dissipating the amount of noise reflected into the building.
Credits:
Design: Sumart Diseño y Arquitectura SAS
Project Director: Miguel Niño
Designers: Johanna Navarro, Miguel Niño
Technical Advisor: Ladrillera Norsan LTDA
Photo: Camilo Suz
Location: Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia
Year: 2015
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