A pioneering ultra-low carbon brick made from near 100% recycled construction waste has been used to create the striking colorful façade of one of London's most anticipated new cultural buildings.
Image Credit: Holyrood PR
The K-BRIQ®, developed by Scottish-based climate technology company Kenoteq, has been incorporated into the newly rebuilt Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick, where its distinctive colored brickwork forms a major part of the building's external identity.
Designed by RIBA award-winning Takero Shimazaki Architects, the new 220-seat venue replaces The Yard's original theatre and more than doubles its capacity. Sustainability has been embedded throughout the project, with the building incorporating low carbon materials, a six-story natural ventilation chimney and a design approach focused on reducing environmental impact without compromising architectural ambition.
The use of the K-BRIQ® on the project is estimated to have saved around 3.5 tons of CO2e compared with an equivalent clay brick specification, helping reduce the building's embodied carbon footprint from the outset.
It also represents a significant milestone for Kenoteq as the company continues to expand the use of the K-BRIQ® across major commercial, public sector and cultural developments.
Recognized as one of the world's most sustainable building bricks, the K-BRIQ® is manufactured using recycled construction and demolition materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill. Unlike traditional clay bricks, which require energy-intensive kiln firing, the K-BRIQ® is unfired and produces around 95% less carbon emissions than a conventional clay brick.
The product achieved BBA Agrément certification, enabling it to be specified with confidence across a wide range of construction applications throughout the UK.
Dr. Sam Chapman, co-founder and executive director of Kenoteq, said:
"The Yard Theatre is exactly the kind of project we hoped the K-BRIQ® would help bring to life. It demonstrates that architects do not need to choose between outstanding design and environmental performance."
"This is a building that places sustainability at the heart of its design, yet it also has a bold architectural character. The K-BRIQ® forms a highly visible part of that identity, showing how lower carbon materials can become an integral part of a project's architectural expression rather than simply a hidden sustainability feature."
"For the construction industry, reducing embodied carbon has become a major priority. The challenge is finding products that deliver meaningful environmental benefits while meeting the performance standards expected on commercial projects. Achieving BBA certification was a critical milestone because it gives architects, developers and contractors the confidence to specify the K-BRIQ® on projects of every scale."
"What excites us most about The Yard is that thousands of people will see the K-BRIQ® every year. It sends a powerful message that circular economy principles and beautiful design can work hand in hand."
For architects and developers facing growing pressure to reduce embodied carbon, the K-BRIQ® offers a certified solution capable of delivering both measurable carbon reductions and architectural flexibility. Available in 12 colors produced using recycled pigments, the product allows designers to achieve distinctive visual outcomes without sacrificing environmental performance.
Embodied carbon can account for more than half of a building's total carbon footprint, yet historically it has received significantly less attention than operational energy use. As developers, local authorities and public sector organizations work towards increasingly ambitious net zero targets, demand is growing for materials that reduce emissions across the entire lifecycle of a project.
London-based Takero Shimazaki Architects, with a work emphasis on renewal rather than replacement, led the Yard refurbishment project. Takero Shimazaki said:
"The Yard Theatre's material palette brings the project's ethos to life, combining resourcefulness, creativity, and sustainability. Reused materials sit alongside innovative products such as Kenoteq's K-Briq, a construction waste-based brick that delivers both environmental benefits and visual impact."
"Its striking magenta, blue, and yellow colors take their cue from Hackney Wick's vibrant graffiti culture, rooting the theatre in its local context while expressing optimism for the next generation of artists and performers. Used throughout the building, inside and out, the K-Briq palette creates a strong and memorable identity for the theatre."
The project comes as Kenoteq enters a new phase of commercial growth. The company recently secured almost £900,000 in investment as part of an ongoing funding round, supporting increased production capacity and the delivery of a growing pipeline of healthcare, hospitality, education and commercial projects. Kenoteq's manufacturing facility near Edinburgh is currently scaling production as demand increases.
The Yard Theatre joins a growing portfolio of projects across the UK and Europe that have specified the K-BRIQ®, including educational developments, commercial schemes, hospitality projects and major sustainability-focused developments. Previous applications include Scotland's National Retrofit Centre at BE-ST, Oaklands College in St Albans, Kaufland's sustainability-focused hypermarket development in Germany and projects for the fast-growing Gail's bakery chain.
The K-BRIQ® has also secured certification for use in the United States through a DrJ Technical Evaluation Report. With certification now established in key international markets, Kenoteq is receiving growing interest from developers and specifiers seeking practical solutions to reduce the environmental impact of construction.