May 8: Only a Common Piece of Clay: Exploring the Legacy of the Brickmaking Industry in North Cambridge

Just how big of a role did brick play in the history of North Cambridge? Join Cambridge resident Josie Kuchta for an exploration of the topic. As a recent Wellesley College graduate, Josie has explored architecture through an interdisciplinary lens, critically examining the cultural and environmental context of the built world. In her senior honors thesis, she researched the history of the brickmaking industry in North Cambridge and designed a sculptural form to connect the neighborhood’s industrial past with the community today. She received Wellesley’s 2023 Eliza Newkirk Rogers Prize in Architecture for her in-depth research and context-driven design.

Read Josie’s thesis: From the Ground Up: Material Exploration of New England Brickmaking Through a Contemporary Danish Lens

View her proposed monument information

She can be reached at: jk2@wellesley.edu

What are your experiences with the brick industry?

History Cambridge is always curious to hear about your experiences. How have you interacted with Cambridge’s brick industry? Bring your stories or email us at info@historycambridge.org. Thanks for sharing!