The Wuxi Xibaohang BMW 4S dealership uses a white ceramic brick screen to give a large commercial showroom a distinctive identity without relying on oversized signage. The double-layer facade combines a perforated outer clay layer with glazed areas and changes the density of the screen by floor. This makes the project a useful study in brand expression, daylight, privacy and buildable repetition.
All four original project images are retained in full. The discussion focuses on observable design and procurement decisions; thermal, acoustic, structural, fire and environmental performance must be demonstrated for the exact assembly.
A material-led identity for a commercial showroom
BMW dealerships already have a strong brand system, so the architectural challenge is to create a recognisable building without making the facade feel like a billboard. Here, the white fired-clay screen provides a consistent texture and a fine-grained module. Its colour sits close to the brand’s clean, technical visual language while the repeated openings introduce a local, crafted character associated with Jiangnan architecture.
LOPO’s project archive records a 20,000 m² site and an 8,000 m² building area. Those are whole-project figures, not quantities of ceramic brick. Product quantity, exact unit size, finish and fixing details should come from the approved schedule and order records.
Brand recognition
Use colour, rhythm, depth and shadow as part of the building identity. Keep logos and wayfinding readable without asking the clay screen to carry every communication function.
Human scale
A repeated brick module breaks a large commercial volume into smaller visual units and changes character as visitors approach the entrance.
Day and night
Perforated areas can reveal light from behind and create a different evening appearance. Lighting, glare, privacy and maintenance still need a coordinated design.
Material continuity
The same pale clay language appears in exterior and selected interior areas, creating continuity without assuming that every application uses the same unit or fixing method.
Vary screen density according to the space behind it
The primary LOPO project account describes three perforation densities across the first, second and third floors. The lower showroom level uses a more open arrangement; the second-floor used-car and after-sales areas use a medium density; upper office areas use a denser pattern. This is a stronger design approach than applying one percentage everywhere because the facade responds to different interior uses.
| Zone | Design intent to coordinate | Required checks |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-floor showroom | Visibility, display backdrop, entrance emphasis and a sufficiently open relationship to the street | Glass cleaning access, reflections, impact exposure, security and safe separation between screen and glazing |
| Second-floor customer/after-sales areas | Balanced outward view, privacy and an intermediate shadow pattern | Sightlines from occupied positions, daylight/glare analysis and maintenance routes |
| Upper offices | A lighter overall building expression with a denser repeated pattern | Daylight, view, ventilation strategy, fire access and coordination with internal partitions |
| Corners and openings | Continuous rhythm without narrow cuts or visually weak end conditions | Custom pieces, tolerances, support returns, movement and replaceability |
Treat the white brick screen as an engineered assembly
A dry-hung or mechanically supported ceramic brick screen requires more than attractive units. The responsible facade engineer must establish the load path, supports, anchors, restraint, movement, tolerances, impact and fracture risks, fire strategy and safe temporary conditions. The clay product, metalwork, substrate and installation sequence need to be reviewed together.
White and very pale fired-clay finishes also need a realistic appearance standard. Physical samples should show the acceptable range in tone, surface and edge character. A project mock-up should include joints, corners, openings and adjacent glass or concrete, then be retained as the reference for production and installation inspections.
Do not assign whole-building performance to the brick alone. Energy use, acoustic comfort, waterproofing, daylight, privacy and indoor conditions depend on the double-skin geometry, glazing, cavity, insulation, ventilation, shading, services and operation. Record the exact role of each component in the project specification.
Carry the material language indoors with purpose
The archive also shows white ceramic brick used on selected interior walls, columns and background surfaces. Indoors, the decision is less about weather exposure and more about touch, cleaning, impact, edges, joints and coordination with furniture, lighting and services. The exterior product should not automatically be copied indoors without checking finish, thickness, support and maintenance requirements.
Briefing a similar branded facade
Begin with the elevation area, screen zones, target unit size, open-area pattern, colour and texture reference, corner conditions, support concept, distance to glazing, interior uses, night-lighting intent, performance criteria and programme. For custom perforated work, agree on a naming system for each unit and orientation so drawings, samples, packing and installation remain traceable.
Brand-sensitive projects should also approve the clay palette beside signage, glazing, metalwork and interior finishes. That combined review is more reliable than choosing a brick from an isolated photograph.
Develop a white terracotta brick facade
Send elevations, reference images, proposed unit dimensions, pattern or open-area intent, estimated quantity, project country and schedule. LOPO can review current brick and custom-shape manufacturing options and prepare relevant samples for the project team.