Innovation meets tradition

The new ClickBrick Pure dry stacking system has been used in a pilot project in the Netherlands. The eleven new apartments and a commercial space showcase how these dry stacking bricks can be used in sustainable and recycling-orientated construction.

The "Trias Energetica" principle

"In the construction sector, we are facing a major sustainability challenge due to the goals of the Dutch government, which are set out in the National Climate Agreement. The first principle of the Trias Energetica model is to reduce demand for energy,” says Erwin Wessels, Director of Wessels Vakbouwers in Lichtenvoorde, the Netherlands. A good building envelope contributes significantly to doing just that. The ClickBrick Pure dry stacking system, for example, is a sustainable and reusable choice that has the familiar look of a traditional façade.

New approaches to masonry

“The design of Opzoom Architects for this new building included a lot of features in the brickwork. It motivated us to test in practice what was and wasn’t possible with the new ClickBrick façade system,” says Wessels. Pilot projects like this can generate a wealth of valuable information.

“We found that traditional bricklayers and masons had to get used to this new way of working. They are used to compensating building tolerances through masonry courses and joints. ClickBrick works differently because you don’t use mortar between the bricks, instead you attach them with clamps,” Wessels explains. This feature means that, if required, bricks can be replaced and recycled without wastage.

"ClickBrick works differently because you don’t use mortar between the bricks, instead you attach them with clamps. This feature means that, if required, bricks can be replaced and recycled without wastage." - Erwin Wessels, Wessels Vakbouwers.

A more sustainable alternative

According to Wessels, another major advantage of this construction technology is that it is highly flexible: “You don’t need any special knowledge of bricks or mortar for construction. Staff can be trained much faster and other craftsmen apart from bricklayers can also do the work. You can also build with these bricks in all weather conditions.”

And clients, too, are becoming more aware of the impact of their product choices. Wessels says that, “It goes without saying that we carry out our work with respect for people and the environment. We try to align ourselves with the government’s ambitions and implement them as much as possible in our work, for example with the ClickBrick system. This is the way we can meet the challenges of sustainability together.”