Innovative designs emanate from Corobrik-sponsored Creative Bricklaying Workshop

A busy afternoon of novice bricklaying and paving revealed some hidden talents among the various women participating in Creative Bricklaying Workshop at Corobrik’s Avoca Factory on Friday, 24 August. This innovative teambuilding experience formed part of the Corobrik-sponsored 2018 Women in Architecture Workshop, an informative networking event which brought together professionals in architecture, property and social science.

The Creative Bricklaying Workshop - which followed a full morning of productive seminars centred on the ‘Beyond the Binary’ theme – was a fun and enlightening teambuilding initiative unified the attendees in an innovative way.

“These women are leaders in their respective industries. They work daily on massive projects, designing skyscrapers and putting together major property deals, but most of them have never actually had the chance to lay a brick before,” said Karuni Naidoo of CNN Architects, organiser of the Woman in Architecture workshop. “It was really wonderful to see these women taking this activity to heart and just having some fun with it. A lot was learned and shared during this teambuilding event.”

For the Creative Bricklaying Workshop, the women were organised into 10 groups, with half assigned a paving project and the other half a 1-metre by 1-metre wall-building project. The five paving teams had to unify their individual patterns in a cohesive ‘W’-shape design. Corobrik’s Derek Dimba demonstrated laying bricks in a stretcher bond pattern, as well as the correct way of buttering and pointing. Using the instruction as a basic foundation, the women then took it upon themselves to design their own unique creations.

“Bricklaying is fundamental to the construction of any development and the technicality and skill needed is often overlooked,” said Dirk Meyer the CEO of Corobrik. “It was so interesting to hear the feedback on this workshop, how much was learnt about the bricklaying process, and then seeing the individual interpretations of the project revealed. Corobrik is proud to be part of such an engaging and productive exercise that showcases the versatility and supportive nature of these dynamic women.”