The Sergison Bates London-based architectural practice, which was founded in 1996, stands out by virtue of its work on an unexcited kind of architecture. The projects of Jonathan Sergison (*1964) and Stephen Bates (*1964) are influenced equally by the normal and everyday aspects of architecture as by their realistic approach to the disciplines limitations. This realism is connected with their preoccupation with the effects, specifications and abstraction of building materials. Brick, which has a long tradition in England and plays a part in many of Sergison Bates buildings, was the theme of their activities as guest lecturers at the ETH Zurich (2003-2005). The publication Brick-work documents Sergison Bates continued studies on the use and effects of brick. Eight case studies on realised projects and competition tenders dating from 1996 to 2005 are introduced by means of construction planes and concept models (1:25); and the spatial potential of brick construction and the materials influence on the way the building is read and perceived are examined and analysed.