Brick is a fresh, insightful and surprising look at one of the world's most familiar and popular building materials. From the strange remains of the Ziggurat of Ur dating from 2100 BC, to formidable mills of the industrial revolution, the humble brick has been an architectural staple for centuries.

The world's best architects have explored the qualities of brickwork. Alvar Aalto, Antoni Gaudi, Jørn Utzon, Frank Gehry, and Mies van der Rohe all built with the material, and bricks were integral to Frank Lloyd Wright's vision for an American vernacular in his Prairie Houses.

Lesser-known newcomers have created some equally striking and memorable structures, from the stunning Winery Gantenbein - built by robotic arm - to the audacious Kantana Institute, an unprecedented vision in a Thai rainforest.

Brick is a beautiful and informative visual exploration of a material that is often overlooked, and sometimes considered limiting, but is actually full of spectacular potential.

William Hall trained at Central Saint Martins in London and began his career in the office of the minimalist architect John Pawson. Hall now runs his own design practice in London, working with clients such as Calvin Klein, the Henry Moore Institute and Tate. William is the author of Concrete, also published by Phaidon Press. This book is a celebration of brick: collating fascinating and beautiful images of brick structures from the ancient remains of Tepe Sialk ziggurat in Iran, dating from 3,000 BC to the functional solidity of Battersea and Bankside power stations in London, Brick will engage anyone interested in architecture and encourage them to think about the sculptural qualities of buildings. Familiar 20th century icons by Mies van der Rohe and Louis Kahn are featured alongside vernacular structures such as the conical grain silos of central Mexico, the sublime Bagan Temples in Myanmar and the world-famous Great Wall of China.|A visual exploration of the aesthetics of brick architecture