Kiwis might tend to go for timber when building their homes, but bricks are experiencing a resurgence, and they aren’t going anywhere. From the Neolithic Age to New Zealand’s avenues, bricks are versatile, natural, energy-efficient, low-maintenance and more. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And with bricks, you won’t have to.
Anna Carlton is the Marketing Manager for Brickworks NZ. Brickworks brings durability, sustainability, and design excellence to Aotearoa with innovative, beautiful building products that combine timeless style with modern performance. Anna says that in 2025, there was a clear shift towards natural yet elegant brick solutions.
“During 2025, we saw a clear shift toward refined, thoughtful material choices that balance heritage with innovation. Roman profiled bricks stood out as a key trend, slim, elegant, and sophisticated; they offered a contemporary proportion while still feeling grounded in traditional masonry.”
New Zealanders are shying away from covering up their brickwork, choosing instead to celebrate the material unapologetically.
“Warm tones and subtle textures dominated, alongside a return to more ‘honest’ bricks that celebrate the natural character and heritage of brickworks rather than masking it.”
Going for a more natural brick look doesn’t mean compromising on creative expression or design ambition. Instead, it means letting the material do the talking, with a focus on tone, texture and craftsmanship.
“Creativity also played a major role, with customers and bricklayers increasingly mixing different bricks to create custom blends, resulting in more personalised and expressive façades.”
Bricks have always been an eco-friendly choice. Modern brick-making is moving towards more innovative architectural solutions, decarbonisation, automation and the use of sustainable, alternative raw materials.
“Technology emerged as an important influence, highlighted by the introduction of Thin Tech Plus to New Zealand and Brickwork’s brick facings (brick slip) cladding system, which responds to modern construction needs while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of brick.”
Thin Tech Plus® is a ventilated, medium-weight engineered façade system that delivers an authentic clay brick finish, without the weight and space limitations of traditional full brick veneer.
Anna says these trends reflect a year where craftsmanship, authenticity, and innovation came together. Looking ahead, these trends are set to strengthen and evolve rather than disappear in 2026.
“Further technological advances will continue to shape the industry, with brick facing and slip systems becoming more widely used across residential builds, commercial projects, and technically challenging sites where traditional construction methods are less practical. As confidence in these systems grows, they will play a larger role in delivering both design flexibility and build efficiency.”
Warmth, character and timelessness characterise this year’s colour palette choices. Anna says these reasons showcase the durable yet expressive nature of bricks.
“In terms of aesthetics, colour palettes are likely to continue moving away from cooler greys. We expect to see a stronger return to warmer creams and reds, along with increased demand for custom blends.”
Brickworks offers a comprehensive range of products and services, including an extensive selection of 70mm clay bricks developed by their New Zealand team specifically for local conditions and building needs.
Manufactured across Australia, Spain, and Italy, these bricks deliver trusted quality alongside a diverse range of styles and performance options.
For projects requiring a deeper profile, Brickworks can also source 110mm bricks from a wide network of international manufacturing plants, giving customers access to an exceptionally broad and versatile range.
The range and support available mean bricks can be specified across everything from smaller residential builds to larger-scale developments.
For commercial and high-volume work, Brickworks partners closely with manufacturers to produce custom bricks and colours, helping architects and developers achieve truly bespoke outcomes at scale.
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