INTERNATIONAL TRUCKING - TGS

Flemish bond.
Soldier course is at the top when bricks stand vertically side by side.

3460 OAK HILL - TGS

This building has been standing empty for years in TGS. A proposal was recently accepted for its redevelopment. I'm relived since it's a killer art deco building that once housed 12 efficiency apartments. Each apartment had two entrances and a perfect floor plan with plenty of closets and storage space in the kitchens. It will be turned into 6 market rate condos. UPDATE 07/18/07 Still owned by LRA.

It is fronted with 'wormed' brick, the parking garage is no longer standing, only the pads. Parking will be an interesting consideration.

Lots of views from the roof, the building sits at the crest of the hill on the corner of Potomac and Oak Hill.

CLEARLY ABSTRACT - TGS

Maybe I'm having a bad day when it comes to calling brick but these is reminiscent of Mark Rothko's paintings. Located on 42 Utah near MGF.


ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST BRICK.

NICE ANGLE, BABY

Morgan Ford Rd near Connecticut Street. Totally bitchin.

SUNFLOWER BRICK

I never thought I'd say this about a brick: CUTE!

SUNFLOWER BRICK

ELEANOR'S HOUSE - TGS

41xx Connecticut. The Victorian Manse with a crazy turret that used to scare my little sister Efficient when we were kids.

The building extends all the way back to the alley. Towards the back top there's a little play house. My theory is that this was the first house on this area, it rests on the crest of the hill. Some fool covered it with asbestos tile siding.

It was recently bought by a woman who told me she stalked the building for a year before buying it. Previous to her purchase it housed at least three different apartments inside.

HAUNTED BRICK
(basket weave, 42 Utah)

Was strolling the MGF with my friend Tim last night. He's an architect and I am enamored of his tutelage on brick bonds. While snapping a photo of basket weave bonding and the building that host it, Tim exhaled.

ST. LOUIS BRICK

FLEUR-DE-LIS

I do some creative driving and it allows me do conduct Brick spotting while motoring through the city. Fleur-de-lis spotting is my version of a scavenger hunt. It requires chronic scanning.
Page Blvd, north St. Louis.

FLEUR-DE-LIS

On the old Ibex building on Tower Grove Avenue.
Update 3/9/09: This building has been razed.

BEIGE MOTTLED BRICK

After a bit of google research I discovered that this style of front brick was indeed referred to as mottled Brick in the yards.

INCISED LAVA BRICK

These bricks are a heady experience. Spotted on a rainy summer day when I was 16 while walking along MGF. There's something about the smell of hot brick after rain has hit it, a steamy, earthy and fresh scent loaded with history. I was doing acid at the time and hung out with these bricks for about an hour.

My recent visit to take photos of them had me giggling with the memory.

When I was much younger, I used to think that the mica on some sidewalks was god and no one could see it but me.

MITERED BRICKS

There's nothing better than mitered bricks and there's nothing worse than bad tuckpointing on them.
Located next to The Grove on Morgan Ford Road in TGS.

TONIGHT'S IKEBANA ARRANGEMENT

Ikebana means Living Sculpture and while this doesn't relate to brick in the specific I've seen some old school Ikebana that never included organic material.

Besides, I'm showing off my garden growth that includes the bent maidenhair grass and black African Mask plants in my back yard. Eat yer heart out.

ASH PIT

When I was a kid these concrete cubes called ash pits were at the back of every home. Ashes from the coal burning furnaces were dumped into them. That was before my time.

Once gas furnaces were installed, these pits were used for burning rubbish and leaves until it was outlawed. Many people demoed them but there are a few complete ones still standing in Tower Grove South like this on on the 40 block of Potomac.

NOBODIES HOME

Abandoned Wasp nest on MGF.

White Cascade Brick

I was driving down the 41 block of Utah when I spotted this pile of white cascade bricks, slammed the brakes, pulled back and gazed with that feverish excitement that concerns my closer friends.

I debated poaching just one but broad daylight is a deterrent. I left a note in the mail box flat out begging for some of it and the home owner graciously called.

I listened to a half hour rant about a forgivable loan program snafu that involved a city contractor taking the money and running and leaving her porch demoed. I have to mention this because it was A LENGTHY RANT. I figured if I held on long enough there would be a pay off.

I now have 12 of these bricks. They remind me of what I call Wave brick. These are new (much to my disappointment) and have three holes. BUT THEY ARE WHITE!

LaClede Wallac Brick

Manufactured in the Dogtown area of St. Louis and given to me by my friend, Charlene. Sometimes I will arrive back at The Brick house to an email that says, Check you back Gate to discover the Brick Fairy has left some gifts for you.

Laclede St. Louis Brick

Sometimes when I am jonesing for a brick fix I haul ass to Ebay where I discovered this gem. Shipped from Oklahoma, go figure.

Resurrection Church Redux:

Of course my attraction to photographing the church was the exposed brick walls, considered to be a bizarre style element in a church.

The supports are steel, the exterior brick is a glazed turquoise, white terrazzo steps to the altar (and mounted along the walls), brushed aluminum communion railing, blond wood pews, brass font, ceramic font designed by Hills Arnold, massive mosaic wall behind the altar and a deep dome above it with a skylight.

Check out the various angles of the cross along the Stations.