The Modern Domus: An Exploration of Roman Brick

Abstract

My thesis explores the potential manipulation of Roman brick using a Flemish bond, corner quoining, and barrel vaulting. The design uses this brick module to re-interpret the Ancient Roman domus, an urban residence embedded within the heart of the city. This classical inspiration is apparent in the tripartite plan and elevation as well as the use of the Golden Ratio, a classical proportioning system, incorporated throughout the design, revealed on both large and small scales. However, the emphasis of the project is on true brick construction, a process irrelevant to historical allusion.