Bricks considered garbage elsewhere are super popular in Edmonton
They say that one man’s trash is another person’s treasure, and that apparently goes for cities, too.
Have you ever been out walking in Edmonton and noticed old brick buildings that looked to be covered in warts? Or bricks of all different shapes, sizes, and colours? They’re called clinker bricks, a building material that became popular in the city despite being labelled as garbage elsewhere.
Clinker bricks are ones that were overfired while being processed. The high temperatures caused minerals in the bricks to form a natural glaze with shades of red, green, yellow, and purple.
Some of these bricks also fused in clumps during firing, making them look even more unpredictable. Many of these clumped-together bricks are at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Old Strathcona.
Allison Stephen/Daily Hive
These bricks are most commonly found in buildings constructed before World War II and are a building tradition unique to Edmonton.
“In most places, such irregular and burnt bricks were thought substandard, and discarded or sold as “seconds” for use in rough brick work,” writes The Edmonton City as Museum Project.
“But in Edmonton, a different way of thinking began to catch hold, propelled by the Arts and Crafts movement and its emphasis on natural and rustic materials.”
Clinker bricks can also be found at the Trudel Residence, William Brown Residence, and Fredrick S. Jones Residence, located in neighbourhoods northwest of downtown.
With Edmonton’s love for all things offbeat, it’s no surprise that these garbage bricks became a hit in the city. We love to see the character it brings to buildings!