That most ubiquitous of all building materials is back, and is now favoured by some of the world's best architects.  

RIBA Gold Medalists and Stirling Prize winners Herzog and de Meuron have declared brick 'the new cool' and have changed their material for the planned extension of the Tate Modern from glass to brick.

George Ferguson, Past President of the RIBA and of Acanthus Ferguson Mann Architects, is an avid admirer of brick and clay as a building material which he will espouse in a 'Brick is Back' lecture next month, supported by Wienerberger.

The humble brick in the right hands can produce exquisite results.  There are numerous examples of some great buildings and places throughout the world, both ancient and modern, showing that the only limit is the architect's imagination.

In an exclusive piece, he will look beyond the matter of aesthetics and highlight the vital issues of environmental responsibility, long life and maintenance, encouraging us to make durable and adaptable architecture to last.