Austral Bricks
Special Shapes Competition
Design a brick to shape the future of design
What could the brick of the future look like?
Austral Bricks invites you to imagine it, design it and see it made, with the winning designer heading to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027.
For generations, the brick has been one of architecture’s most enduring forms. Now, we’re asking you to imagine what it could become next.
The New Shapes Competition invites architects, designers and students to create an original Special Shape Brick design within a defined set of manufacturing parameters. It’s an opportunity to push the form in a new direction, explore new possibilities across a façade and take brick somewhere we haven’t see before.
Finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their design thinking, with the winning shape brought to life by Bowral Bricks and added to our Special Shapes offering.
Winning Selections
- 3 finalists will be selected by the jury of industry professionals.
- 2 finalists will receive Commendations.
- 1 finalist will be selected as the Overall Winner, with their winning shape being added to Bowral Bricks' special shapes offering.
Prize - Venice Architecture Biennale 2027 Experience
The overall winner will receive a Venice Architecture Biennale experience, including flights, accommodation and a Vernissage pass for the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale, happening between 4 May - 8 May 2027 to the value of $10,000*.
Competition Dates
- 23 September 2026, 9am - Competition Opens
- 30 October 2026, 5pm - Competition Closes
- 3-6 November 2026 - Judging
- 9 November 2026 - Winner Advised
- March 2027 - Winner Announced Publicly
How to Enter
Submit the following:
1) Shape Drawings - drawing of proposed brick shape
- One (1) Profile/Side View and Top View of the individual shape
- One (1) 3D View - Isometric, Axonometric or Perspective drawing (can be hand drawn)
See above for example of acceptable drawing(s).
2) Application Drawings - show how the shape could be used within an architectural application
- One (1) 2D Section and Elevation of shape in application on a façade
- One (1) 3D View - Isometric, Axonometric or Perspective drawing
See above for example of acceptable drawing(s).
Our Jury
Your submission will be considered by a panel spanning architecture, design, media and brickmaking, bringing together different perspectives to recognise original thinking, architectural potential and a compelling new expression of brick.
Lucia Amies
Editor
ArchitectureAu
Penny Fuller
Partner
Silvester Fuller
Cameron Bruhn
CEO
Australian Institute of Architects
Avery Spackman
General Manager, NSW
Brickworks
Downloads
Online Entry Form
Bowral Bricks Range
