In an attempt to revolutionize sustainable construction, a multidisciplinary team from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals has introduced an innovative method to produce sustainable bricks, termed "sand rose bricks." The inspiration for this research stems from the ancient architectural practices of the Sahara Desert, where historical cities were built using sand roses. These unique rocks, composed of sand cemented by gypsum, have withstood the test of time, demonstrating remarkable durability in arid climates.

Today, the College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences team, IRC for Advanced Materials, and IRC for Construction & Building Materials have sought to replicate sand roses through a method known as cold sintering. This involves applying pressure to the sand-gypsum mixture at room temperature, eliminating the need for high temperatures. Key findings from the study indicate that the strength can be optimized by controlling the size of the gypsum particles and applying cyclic loading during the sintering process.

The resulting bricks not only meet but exceed the mechanical performance of conventional bricks.

Using sustainable materials and manufacturing practices, sand rose bricks can achieve several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The cold sintering process, which avoids high temperatures, dramatically reduces energy consumption, promoting cleaner industrial practices in brick production (SDG 9.4). This advancement creates more sustainable cities (SDG 11) and reduces greenhouse gas emissions (SDG 13.2). The reduced material costs support affordable housing initiatives (SDG 11.1). The recyclability of these bricks also aids in waste reduction (SDG 12.5) and promotes the efficient use of natural resources (SDG 12.2). The study, published in Construction and Building Materials, exemplifies the power of blending tradition with innovation, offering a vision of a future involving high-performance and eco-friendly construction.