COROBRIK BESPOKE GLAZED BRICKS HELPS RESTAURANT SHINE

Galjoen Restaurant in Cape Town shines thanks to bespoke glazed bricks from Corobrik. This is Part 2 of a two-part series.

…continued from Part 1.

The use of glazed bricks in the Galjoen project met both aesthetic and budgetary goals. “I have used brickwork as a substructure for restaurant counters before, mainly as a structural component over which we would layer cladding, tiles, or other finishes. In this project, we had specific budgetary constraints that required innovation from everyone involved. The glazed bricks provided an opportunity to implement a holistic solution that met all our requirements while achieving a customised and enriching result,” explains Vorster.

Alistair Cloete, overseeing Business Development for Corobrik in the burgeoning Western Cape region, says the brickmaker’s range in terms of colours and even shapes and textures has expanded remarkably over the years, allowing for exciting one-off projects like the Galjoen Restaurant to be completed successfully. “Architects used to have limited options, but that has changed significantly. It is entirely up to the architects’ imagination now.”

Another project that featured engobed Vanilla Travertine face brick and graphite modular pavers was at the Haldane showroom in Cape Town, a premium outdoor furniture brand. Engobes are colourants that mainly consist of clay minerals and oxides. Mixing them with water creates a liquid that is sprayed onto the unfired bricks as a thin layer. The engobes are then sintered firmly onto the surface. Engobe spots can cover the brick completely or partially.

Corobrik’s three new engobed products are the first-ever so-called ‘white’ brick in South Africa and Vanilla and Honey Travertine face bricks with an artisanal finish that gives the appearance of a handmade texture. The design potential of the white brick makes it ideal to be used in conjunction with a white mortar for a completely different look and feel.

White brick is popular in residential developments in Europe and the US and is also often used in feature panels. Such a neutral colour is perfectly matched by Corobrik’s range of mono products from black to red and beige. The Vanilla and Honey Travertine face bricks are influenced by the European trend for a heritage look, supplemented by the unique artisanal finish.

Cloete remarks that the Western Cape market differs from Gauteng due to the growth in high-end construction and custom projects. “The region has the appetite and budget to experiment, so it is a market we are closely involved in. We continue to educate architects and interiors designers as to the sustainability, aesthetic, and design benefits of clay brick as a building material.”

The tight budget of the project made the professional team reach out to local craftsmen and suppliers like Corobrik. “Bricks allowed for a highly customised solution while utilising basic building industry knowledge. It is endless what you can achieve in terms of textures, colours, patterns, and murals.”

Cloete says Corobrik’s involvement in such bespoke projects is a major undertaking that starts with making samples. “Historically, Corobrik used to manufacture glazed bricks, but discontinued the product. When Annelise approached us to ask for bricks to be glazed by a professional ceramicist, we were intrigued by the possibility. Seeing the glazed bricks in their final form was amazing, especially as the colour gradation came through as part of the glazing process.”

Vorster adds that Jacobs, a ceramicist with 30 years’ experience, was crucial to the successful outcome. “I explained the colours we were trying to achieve, and she brought it to fruition through multiple test runs. Once we got the bricks right, everyone was excited, and the project came together beautifully.”

Asembl. Studio, the design firm behind the Galjoen Restaurant, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and responsiveness. “Our philosophy revolves around a profound commitment to quality, innovation, and responsiveness,” says Vorster.

“We believe that every project is a unique narrative, and our mission is to bring these narratives to life through meticulously crafted and highly individualized spaces.” The studio’s client-centric approach ensures that projects are not only aesthetically stunning but also functional and deeply personal, crafting experiences that tell a story.