Ochre uniform

Ochre uniform

VADUZ (LI) - No fewer than 680,000 bricks were used in Liechtenstein's new parliament. They were specially made for this project and appear at every level of scale – in the facades of the two parliament buildings, on the forecourt, the columns, stairs and balustrades. This project, designed by Hansjörg Göritz, really does merit the appellation 'brick architecture'.

The distinctive, ochre-yellow brick, combined with a simple and familiar formal language (gable roof, colonnade) harmonizes with nearby classic government buildings, which include the National Museum and the National Archives. At the same time, the ceramic material ensures a high degree of unity and a strong presence, as befits a parliament building.

One is impressed not only by the sheer quantity of bricks, but also by the attentive, consistent manner in which they have been applied – rarely by hand, in fact, more often by means of far-reaching prefabrication, because the architect wanted nothing to spoil the uniform appearance. The column cladding, ceilings and some of the walls were consequently delivered in the form of pre-stressed elements. Inside the building, most of the brickwork was laid in situ, but the joints were precisely lined up to match those in the prefab work.

The project won the Wienerberger Brick Award 2010. (Kirsten Hannema)