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Incorporating Clay Face Bricks in Modern Architecture

Posted by

Zenith Beck

Paarden Eiland is fast becoming a marker of Cape Town’s architectural evolution. Blending its industrial heritage with fresh residential and mixed-use developments, the precinct is shifting its identity and Maritime Place stands at the forefront of that transformation. Klay’s face brick range offers both aesthetics and performance well suited to this kind of project.

Maritime Place: Design Ambition

Developed by Rawson Developers, Maritime Place is a landmark mixed-use residential project in Paarden Eiland. Designed by Bruce Wilson Architects, it comprises 334 units across a mix of studios and 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, with completion set for 2026.
The architecture is described as “soft-industrial, contemporary” with natural finishes, generous balconies, large windows that frame views of the ocean and Table Mountain, and amenities like rooftop gardens, co-working spaces, cafés and more. The design aims to retain industrial character while achieving modern liveability.
The idea behind Maritime Place is not just housing, but a statement about repurposing industrial areas, densification, blending residential with commercial, and doing so with design that respects its history and landscape.

Why Face Bricks & Terracotta Fit So Well

● Durability & Performance: Fired clay face bricks resist weathering, fire, pests, and maintain structural integrity over time. For a coastal-adjacent environment such as Paarden Eiland with salty air and sea mist, developers need to keep in mind the exposure levels of their materials. Klay’s Chai face bricks have an exposure zone rating of 1-3, Espresso face bricks 1-2, and Latte face bricks zone 1 only.
● Thermal qualities & comfort: Clay bricks have thermal mass, helping regulate interior temperatures. Large windows and balconies help with daylighting and ventilation; face brick walls assist in moderating heat gains or losses.
● Aesthetics & texture: Face bricks offer a palette of natural tones, texture variations (smooth or travertine), and the capacity to create expressive façades, offsetting steel, concrete, glass elements to avoid a cold, purely industrial feel.
● Heritage and industrial reference: Paarden Eiland has an industrial past. Using natural clay brick recalls the materiality of warehouses or harbour buildings, but in modern forms.

Klay: Products & Capabilities

Klay has positioned itself to bridge tradition and innovation. A few key points:
● KlayBrick focuses on the traditional fired clay brick and blocks: strong, durable masonry units.
● KlayConcept brings in more “special products”: architectural terracotta cladding, screen blocks, tiles, and more special products.
● Colour / Finish & Product Variety
Klay’s face bricks come in a refined signature palette – ‘Chai’, ‘Latte’, ‘Espresso’ – in both smooth and travertine finishes. There are also special forms: long format / Roman Linear, L-Shape, Double Cant, as well as your standard imperial size face brick.
● Standards & Technical Spec
Klay’s face brick and block products are manufactured to SANS 227 standards, ensuring both quality and durability.

Challenges & Considerations

To use face brick effectively in a modern architecture context (especially in a large developments like Maritime Place), there are some aspects to watch:
● Colour variation & blending: Because clay is a natural material, even face bricks of the same batch may vary slightly in tone. Proper blending (mixing bricks from multiple pallets) is essential to avoid patchy appearance.
● Choices like stack bond, stretcher bond, Flemish, and more, affect visual expression hugely. You should also take into consideration the mortar colour, joint thickness, and whether joints are struck flush or recessed.
● Weather exposure & maintenance: Although bricks are durable, portions exposed to salt spray, wind, sun will need periodic cleaning. Detailing to prevent water ingress (flashing, proper waterproofing behind brick etc.) matters.

Written By: Nick Dall | Freelance journalist, author and copywriter based in Cape Town, South Africa

What Maritime Place Is Becoming with Klay’s Face Brick

Modern architecture doesn’t have to abandon traditional materials, in fact, materials like face brick help forge a bridge between the familiar and the cutting edge. At Maritime Place, the design ambition, locale, and mix of use all suggest that a brick-forward design palette would add immense value in sustainability, durability, and lived experience.
Choosing Klay’s face brick and terracotta ranges for your façades, interiors, or detailing is more than an aesthetic choice, it’s an investment in quality and character.