Kite Bricks prototype proposes smarterbuilding approach (w/ Video)8 July 2014, by Nancy Owano

A company called Kite Bricks is out to shake thingsup in the way buildings, bridges and sidewalks arebuilt. The company proposes a product wherebystructures, "from Africa to Manhattan," in companyparlance, will be highly insulated, strong, and muchcheaper to build. So what is the product? The"Smart Brick" is constructed of high-strengthconcrete. As shown in the company's promotionalvideo, the distinguishing characteristic of this brickis in design, where the bricks easily join togetherwith open internal spaces for insulation andinfrastructure elements to be run through thebricks. A number of technology sites described thebricks as Lego-like. The company's Ronnie Zohartold Wired.co.uk that making the bricks Lego-likewas not top of mind; the focus was always oninsulation and strength. The fact that the blockscan connect together so easily was secondary.

Nonetheless, Victoria Solon of Wired.co.uk did agood job in explaining the Kite Brick product interms of how exactly they do fit together: Theycome in a variety of forms for different purposesand easily connect together, "with rows of knobsalong the top of bricks that slot into voids along the

bottom of other bricks. A special adhesive—whichworks like a super-strong double-sided sticky tape,a bit like 3M VHB—dispenses with the need forcement." She added that steel bars can be slottedthrough dedicated channels in the bricks to providethe same support as traditionally reinforcedconcrete. The open internal spaces are forinsulation, making them need less energy forheating and cooling.

The blocks have patented removable faces; thebricks arrive in proper sizes, number and finishes.This carries a cost benefit of minimizing labor andtime; the bricks come complete and theirattachment does not require mortar or leveling; theapproach is amenable for building multi-storystructures with ease; no cranes are required; fortaller structures, an elevator on site to take up thebricks is enough. Another cost-saving advantageinvolves energy by redirecting heat in the summerand trapping it in the winter. All in all, Kite Bricksthinks it has a quite special solution. "Realalternatives to the Smart Brick do not exist," saidthe company web site. "Most blocks are 'dumb' inthat they simply provide a structural scaffoldingonto or through which 'important elements aredecorated—just as was done 100 years ago. Some'advanced" blocks may include insulation. TheSmart Brick offers it all: high thermal control, fullpassage of pipes, wires, cables and the like,finishes for both indoors and outdoors,extraordinary tensile strength, ease of construction,safety of materials, and total application throughouta structure—floors, ceilings, and walls. The SmartBrick is the solution for building from Africa toManhattan."

Wired.co.uk reported that so far, there's only aprototype and IP protection. He said in Wired.co.ukthat a key focus has been to make it as simple aspossible to build using the bricks. "I'd like people inAfrica and other places in the world to be able tobuild with our brick and get a thermally-insulatedhouse using the same money they would have

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spent on tin."

More information: kitebricks.com/

© 2014 Tech XploreAPA citation: Kite Bricks prototype proposes smarter building approach (w/ Video) (2014, July 8)retrieved 21 September 2018 from https://techxplore.com/news/2014-07-kite-bricks-prototype-smarter-approach.html

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