ABSTRACT by Samantha Oswald Brick. A simple object, but one that has been a base unit of architecture for over 6000 years. It carries connotations of labour, of energy, of the fundamental desire of humanity to give form to the substance of the Earth. However, current tendencies in manufacturing and construction are challenging the prevalence of the traditional brick-and-mortar system. Automated manufacturing, large-scale prefabrication, and digital simulation are becoming standard practices. This thesis posits that...