Reclaimed Broken Common Bricks / NSW Architectural Technologies Award
Winners of the NSW Architectural Technologies Award, Cheera Montriwat and Neha Kayastha reflect on their project using discarded bricks, and the values of craft, reuse, and community.
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Inside the Award-Winning 'Reclaimed Broken Common Bricks' Project by Cheera Montriwat and Neha Kayastha
Winners of the NSW Architectural Technologies Award
Project: Reclaimed Broken Common Bricks
Studio: 11553 Studio 11: Re-framing Design
Tutor: Shahar Cohen
Congratulations on receiving the NSW Architectural Technologies Award! Can you tell us what the award means to you?
Neha: Thank you—it's an incredible honour. Winning the award honestly means so much to me. It feels like recognition for the care and thought we put into working with reclaimed materials and traditional craftsmanship. To have a project centred on broken bricks be celebrated this way makes me feel hopeful and proud — like there's space in architecture for meaning, memory, and sensitivity.
Cheera: Thank you! Winning this award means so much to both Neha and me. It's a validation of our belief that architecture can be both deeply sustainable and culturally expressive. We approached this project with a lot of heart—exploring how discarded materials, like broken bricks, could be transformed into something beautiful, functional, and meaningful. This recognition affirms that rethinking quality and sustainability through craft and community is not only possible but necessary in today's built environment.
What was the inspiration behind Reclaimed Broken Common Bricks?
Cheera: It started with a question—what if we didn't discard the imperfect? As immigrants, we both carry a strong cultural heritage of repairing and reusing. We were also responding to the context of Woollahra—a beautiful but expensive suburb—and wanted to create spaces that were more inclusive and accessible.
Neha: The inspiration came from our connection to traditional architecture and the way materials are valued in our culture— nothing is wasted, and everything carries meaning. Seeing broken bricks discarded made us wonder how we could reframe them as something beautiful and functional. It became a way to honour imperfection, craft, and resilience, both in materials and in design.
Why bricks, and why broken ones?
Neha: Bricks are one of the most common building materials, but we often overlook their potential once they're damaged. We were drawn to broken bricks because they carry a story — they're imperfect but still strong. Using them was our way of challenging ideas of waste and showing that even the most discarded materials can hold beauty, value, and purpose.
Cheera: Bricks are one of the most common and symbolic materials in architecture—they're tactile, honest, and hold memory. Broken bricks, specifically, are often thrown away despite their potential. We saw them not as waste, but as fragments with stories. By using them as ornamental screens and facades, we gave them a new voice in the narrative of the building, demonstrating that what's considered broken can still hold immense value, both aesthetically and environmentally.
The project blends sustainability, craft, and community. How did you balance these priorities in your design?
Cheera: We treated them as interconnected principles. Choosing hand-crafted approaches over mass production allowed us to celebrate the material's imperfections. The shared residence and gallery create spaces for direct community engagement, making every element of the design part of a larger conversation.
Neha: We approached sustainability, craft, and community as interconnected rather than separate goals. By using reclaimed materials like broken bricks and working with handcrafted techniques, we naturally created a design that was low-impact yet rich in detail. At the same time, the shared spaces—like the gallery and courtyard—were designed to foster connection, making the building not just sustainable in materials, but also in how it supports people.
What technical challenges did you face working with reclaimed and broken materials?
Neha: The reclaimed bricks varied in size and condition, which made achieving consistent quality and structural stability a real challenge. We had to carefully balance each element and adapt our techniques to preserve the unique character of the materials while ensuring safety and durability.
Cheera: Designing the brick screen, in particular, involved a lot of trial and error—getting the spacing, structure, and moisture control right. These challenges pushed us to collaborate more deeply with builders and craftsmen.
What role does the artist gallery and shared residence play in the broader vision of the project?
Cheera: It's central. The gallery and residence support emerging and underrepresented artists in an otherwise high-cost area. The building becomes a platform for sustainability-focused exhibitions and community engagement—architecture as social infrastructure.
Neha: The artist gallery and shared residence are heartbeats of the project, creating a space where creativity, community, and sustainability come alive together. They embody our vision of reconnecting people with material stories while fostering collaboration and a sense of belonging. This blending of art, living, and reclaimed materials transforms the space into a living expression of heritage and innovation.
What advice would you give to architecture students entering design awards?
Neha: Start by staying true to your values and letting your passion lead your design journey. Embrace challenges as chances to grow, and don't hesitate to take creative risks that express your unique voice. Above all, remember that meaningful design comes from authentic stories and thoughtful connections, not just appearances.
Cheera: Be authentic and thoughtful in how you communicate your ideas. Awards value narrative and vision just as much as presentation. Challenge conventional notions of beauty and quality if that's what your project calls for.
What's next for you both?
Cheera: I'm continuing to study and work in sustainable design, with the goal of starting my own practice focused on reuse and community-driven architecture. We're both inspired to keep exploring circular design and social equity.
Neha: We're eager to keep exploring sustainable design and material reuse in future projects. Our goal is to create spaces that connect people, celebrate heritage, and inspire innovation.
Closing Thoughts
Reclaimed Broken Common Bricks is a model for how architecture can be resourceful, inclusive, and deeply human. By turning fragments into form, and waste into wonder, Cheera Montriwat and Neha Kayastha have set a new benchmark for environmentally and socially conscious design.