A Scottish brick made from recycled construction waste has helped transform one of London’s most distinctive independent theatres.
The K-BRIQ, developed by Kenoteq, has been used to create the colourful façade of the newly rebuilt Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick.
Designed by Takero Shimazaki Architects, the new 220-seat venue replaces The Yard’s original theatre and is more than twice the size. Sustainability is said to have been embedded throughout, with low carbon materials, natural ventilation and environmentally conscious design principles helping shape the finished building. The use of the K-BRIQ is estimated to have saved around 3.5 tonnes of embodied carbon emissions (CO2e) compared with using a clay brick.
The original Yard Theatre was created in 2011 when artistic director Jay Miller and dozens of volunteers transformed a warehouse using reclaimed materials from the Olympic Park. 15 years later, its new permanent home has again put reuse and sustainability at the centre of the building’s story.
The K-BRIQ is made from near 100% recycled construction waste. Unfired and fully recyclable, it produces around 95% less carbon emissions than a traditional clay brick. The project is one of the highest-profile uses of the K-BRIQ to date.
Dr Sam Chapman, co-founder and executive director of Kenoteq, said, “The Yard Theatre has always been a place that does things differently, so it feels incredibly fitting that its new home has been built using materials that challenge traditional approaches to construction. What makes this project special is that sustainability is not hidden away. The K-BRIQ forms part of the building’s public face and shows how lower carbon materials can help create buildings that are every bit as distinctive, creative and memorable as their conventional counterparts.
“We are proud that a product developed in Scotland has played a role in bringing such an important cultural building to life.”
London-based Takero Shimazaki Architects led the 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 colours 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 is the latest milestone for Kenoteq. The business recently secured almost £900,000 in investment as part of an ongoing funding round that will support increased production capacity and delivery of a growing pipeline of projects. The brick has already been used on projects across the UK and Europe, including Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre, Oaklands College in St Albans, interiors for Gail’s Bakery and a retail project in Germany.
