Brick by Brick: Building Our Hallway Arch

There’s something undeniably timeless about a brick archway and we’ve always known we wanted one (or two!) to be the focal point in our home build. This month, our team tackled the first of the two hallway arches, and while the process has been physically demanding and logistically tight, it’s also been a proud showcase of the craftsmanship and skill that define our crew.

It all started with a timber form. To get the perfect curve, the team designed and built a custom form to support the bricks while the mortar set. It’s a delicate balance, precision is everything. Too tight, and the bricks won’t sit flush. Too loose, and the curve loses its definition. Once the form was in place, scaffold was erected, tools were loaded up, and the real fun began.

Getting the bricks in position wasn’t straightforward. The hallway frame was already up, meaning space was limited. The team had to work around ceiling joists and trusses, sometimes literally laying bricks from the rafters. It was a tight squeeze, requiring careful coordination and a fair bit of patience, not to mention a few laughs along the way.

But even with the tight quarters, the attention to detail never wavered. Each brick was placed with care, checked and double-checked to ensure the arch would be as structurally sound as it was beautiful. Seeing the form slowly disappear behind that perfect curve of brickwork has been incredibly satisfying.

This hallway is more than just a passage, it’s a feature, a statement, and a bit of a legacy piece. The first arch is now complete, and preparations are already underway to tackle the second one. It's been a brilliant opportunity to test new techniques, work as a team, and push the boundaries of what we normally do on a day-to-day job site.

We can’t wait to see it all come together. This isn’t just a house, it’s our home, and it's being built by the same hands and with the same care that goes into laying your brick work and pouring your driveways, paths, and patios.

📸 For more behind-the-scenes pics and progress updates, follow our build journey over on @the_asylum_estate.