A Scottish start-up created ecological bricks made almost entirely of waste and that do not need to be fired, also saving energy
Bricks have been a fundamental element of construction for decades now. Unfortunately, they are not environmentally friendly and create quite a few problems when disposed of. To try to provide an alternative to ordinary bricks, a group of engineers at Heriot-Watt University have created a start-up. In 2009 Kenoteq was founded, managed by Gabriela Medero and Sam Chapman, civil engineer and professor of Geotechnics and Geoenvironmental Engineering respectively.
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From the work of the researchers in Kenoteq comes the eco-sustainable K-Briq brick. The new brick consists of 90% waste and scrap from demolition operations. The materials do not have to undergo a kiln firing process to harden. The absence of high temperatures also allows to save a lot of energy and have an impact also in the reduction of CO2 emissions. The new production process also makes it possible to obtain bricks in different colours, also satisfying the aesthetic aspect.
The start-up is committed to using K-Briq in real projects. A first test will see the new bricks used by the South African architectural firm Counterspace. The bricks will be used to build Serpentine Pavilion as part of a social experiment of integration of migrants in London. The construction will also use another innovative building material, cork, instead of wood, to make the building even more eco-sustainable and green.
