Graffiti Bricks: Creating builds - with character

The Melbourne Orthopaedic Group facility in Prahran - a beautifully curated commercial build, epitomising urbanistic Melbourne design. Created by the minds of Erilyan Builders and Julian Brenchley Architecture, this building extension encapsulates contemporary design and Melbourne’s artistic essence, with bricks splashed with the graffiti paint that once completed them.

EcoGroup’s recycled bricks have become a staple in thousands of builds across Australia. Decorated with the memories from the builds they once fashioned, recycled bricks have become one of the most popular products to create a build -with character.

When Melbourne architect, Julian Brenchley dreamt up the build for the Melbourne Orthopaedic facility, he opted for a brick that remains contentious between home design connoisseurs - the graffiti brick, decorated with coloured paint and undeniable character.

We interviewed Julian about his vision, and how EcoGroup’s bricks became a part to play in the final product that is the Melbourne Orthopaedic Group Facility. Here’s what he had to say.

From a broad perspective, what influences your choice of building material and how did the decision to utilise recycled clay bricks come to fruition?

“The micro precincts in and around Prahran have such a wonderful character, a mosaic of heritage and contemporary styles and finishes. Placing a significant building in an urban context requires a sensitive approach to finishes, form and massing. The choice of the re-purposed bricks enabled us to be respectful to the local contact, and effective cloak a carpark in a tight urban street. Unless you knew what you were looking at, the average passer-by wouldn’t see the building.”

What influenced the decision to opt for graffiti bricks/ bricks with paint on them? Was this creative endeavour intentional from the outset?

“Face brick finishes of which graffiti bricks are a hero - give Texture. It can’t be said any more clearly than that - texture. Visual texture, tactile texture, a sense of place and belonging.”

Lastly, do you opt for recycled bricks often in your architectural designs?

“Recycled bricks give texture, warmth, visual softness, character and a sense place, theatre and performance.

We don’t generally impose arbitrary finishes on a project, however the finishes often ‘find’ us in the design process.”

The project now stands tall in the heart of Melbourne, painted with dashes of purple and white graffiti paint, accompanying thousands of builds across Australia that have been facilitated by EcoGroup.

To find out more about EcoGroup’s bricks, visit our website here: https://www.ecogroup.com.au/

Chris Murray Photography @chrism.photography

Erilyan @erilyan_construction

Julian Brenchley @julianbrenchley

The Power of the Circular Economy

EcoGroup was established with the goal of reducing the impact that the construction and demolition (C&D) industry has on the environment, operating under the ethos of recycling materials to salvage as much as possible. Founded in 1991 by landscaper Toby Sail, EcoGroup has since become one of Australia's largest brick recycler, operating at its Clayton Resource Recovery Centre.

As we approach almost 32 years since our establishment, we would like to take a moment to celebrate the successes of EcoGroup and the impact we have been able to make in the Construction and Demolition Industry. We continue to collaborate with demolishers, government bodies, and individuals within the construction industry to bring about positive change and navigate this circular economy together. We hope that these statistics can inspire you to join us on our journey.

Consistently, EcoGroup has been selling over 1 million bricks each year. Recycled bricks remain an environmentally conscious building option, contributing to a reduction of 0.5kg of CO2 per brick compared to newly manufactured bricks. Based on this figure, EcoGroup continues to facilitate an average saving of 500 tonnes of CO2 per year.

With a workforce of over 40 employees dedicated to salvaging construction and demolition materials, EcoGroup has partnered with demolishers throughout Victoria to divert demolition materials from landfills toward new purposes. Achieving a recovery rate of over 90% for these materials, EcoGroup has been able to divert approximately 140,000 tonnes of C&D material from landfill in the past 5 years.

Through extensive development over the past 31 years, EcoGroup continues to develop innovative means of resource recovery to ensure no material gets left behind. With an aim to develop close relationships with industry bodies and encourage resource recovery from the inside-out, EcoGroup has a range of materials that are processed in our recovery centre and sent to these specialist sites to be repurposed. This includes timber, metal, masonry and plaster. Bricks and crushed brick continue to be EcoGroup’s most popular recycled material.

EcoGroup continues to invest in consistent research to enhance their innovative means of recycling, reusing, and repurposing materials from the construction and demolition industries. With ongoing refinements in timber and brick innovations, EcoGroup aims to lead the industry and promote the circular economy to its fullest extent.

Find out more about EcoGroup

View our brick catalogue

EcoGroup has been working hard by the beach on the Black Rock Life Saving Club, assisting in the earthworks, excavation and site remediation of the existing building.

As a part of this process, EcoGroup has ensured the maintenance and integrity of the bordering land, providing and installing sheet piles to protect the native trees that surround. 

EcoGroup's demolition, excavation and site remediation model is driven by the goal to maintain the land, materials and a do-no-harm ethos. After a few overcast and more than a few beautifully sunny days by the beach, EcoGroup's role on this project comes to a close. 

This project has set the foundation for the new and improved Life Saving Club. 

Builder: Sj Higgins
Client: Bayside City Council

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s East, the Burwood Brickworks has been officially named World’s Most Sustainable Shopping Centre, and EcoGroup’s premium recycled bricks had an integral part to play.

EcoGroup was approached by one of Melbourne’s most notable commercial construction companies - The Hacer Group in early 2018, with the daunting yet exciting task of creating a shopping centre that is founded on sustainability and a ‘do no harm’ ethos. Developed and owned by Frasers Property Group, this build incorporates EcoGroup premium, A-Grade Face Red Bricks to fashion the urban-style build.

EcoGroup’s recycled bricks assisted in the sustainability certification of this retail project, with the restoration of all our brick materials placing recycled bricks as the most planet-friendly option.

The Burwood Brickworks Centre “achieved Living Building Challenge® Petal Certification”, becoming the first retail development in the world to achieve this.

Find out more about EcoGroup’s Face Red Bricks here.

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Projects that make a difference.

EcoGroup has been assisting in the valiant project by Mercy Health to help rebuild and assist the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Whittlesea, aiding in the excavation and Earth Works of the South Morang site that will soon become one of the Early Parenting Centres promised by the Victorian Government.

Working with the building experts at Hutchinson, EcoGroup assisted in the prompt refinement and excavation of the land that the 14-unit project will be placed. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas attended the site at 34 Anchorage Drive to view the works underway that herself and the Victorian Labor Party promised in late 2022.

The project is set to be completed in the later months of 2023, with the goal to house Indigenous families and assist in the nurturing of this vulnerable community in youth and in parenthood.  

For all enquiries call EcoGroup on 1300 326 476.

Get in-touch with the building experts at Hutchinson here: https://www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au/contact.