A crinkle crankle-/ serpentine wall is a wall constructed in a wave form-/ sinusodial pattern. The name is derived from how the wall follows the path of the serpent. It is commonly found in British landscape and garden settings, structurad as thin (one brick-width) walls of half height to give extra protection against wind for fruit trees. The walls also capture and store energy from the rays of the sun, and further radiates extra heat which helps with fruit ripening. Serpentine walls are designed with a wavy shape that allows them to be taller or in need of less reinforcement. This shape makes the wall stiffer and better able to withstand wind by widening its base and preventing it from tipping over ¹. Most normal landscape walls are one or two layers thick. When such walls are designed without reinforcement, they often can't be very tall. Thomas Jefferson designed the serpentine walls at the University of Virginia to be only one layer thick. To make this work, the wall had to be wavy instead of straight ². It's unclear where the first design rules for serpentine walls came from, but simple guidelines have been used for a long time.

Even though it’s commonly seen in England, its history goes way back to ancient Egypt. In 2020, archeologists discovered a 3000 year old city in Egypt that was named “The Rise of Aten” under the sand by the western bank of Luxor. The city dates back to the reign of King Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt between 1391 and 1353 BCE ³.

Historians debate the purpose of the old wave-form walls, as some emphasize spiritual and ritual significance, whereas other argue for the structural utility (as previously mentioned), that it might have been used as retaining walls ⁴, other theorize about its effective fortification abilities against outside aggression, as the shape would force oncoming troops to break ranks, exposing them against defensive assault. In the end, we can only guess.

The technique was later adopted by the Dutch that used it for reinforcement in wet ground conditions, a prevalent issue in the Netherlands. During the mid 1600’s, dutch engineers were employed during a project to drain the Fens in east of England, the introduction of Serpentine walls in England allowed the transformation of the peat soils so that they could be used for summer cultivation and to prevent serious winter flooding. The project itself was a success, however, it’s important to note that it was fiercly opposed by the local inhabitants who saw that the transformation of their land threatened their ways of life ⁵. Nevertheless, the serpentine wall was introduced into England, and it was there to stay.

The concept is fairly simple, which makes it ingenious; start by digging a trench and filling it with a mix of mortar and bricks. Lay the bricks in a serpentine shape (also called snake walls), overlapping them slightly. Repeat this process, adding more layers until reaching the desired height. Finish with a cap layer for a sturdy and unique wall that is only one thick bricklayer⁶.

If you are interested in learning more about the numbers and formulae behind this curvy aesthetic, I suggest you to dive into Vlad Feinberg’s post on the subject ⁷.

It’s clear that this aesthetically pleasing type of wall has a lot of pros, but how about the cons? Compared to a straight wall, serpentine walls seem to be more material economic and structurally efficient, but the construction is also more complex. Building a good serpentine wall requires highly skilled labor and precision, as poor design can lead to collapse. The wave pattern, however doing away with the need for buttresses, require more lateral space which eats away at the square meters/feet, making them unsuitable for tight (and straight) property boundaries. The capping in the top is also more complex, as the curvy shape makes water infiltration a higher risk. Also, these walls do not comply with standard rectangular fences and furniture, meaning that getting a coherent harmonious design concept could prove more expensive. Furthermore, if a building is constructed with a curvy wall, the designer should keep in mind the difficulty of furnishing the spaces, as well as hanging paintings, shelves or other decorations on the walls.

There are certainly challenges with achieving a good design incorporating a serpentine wall, that does not stop it from being an alluring technique, and there are plenty of cases where a serpentine wall has been used as a part of the architectural idea.

The temple is dedicated to Christ the Worker and Our Lady of Lourdes. It is a famous architectural site designed in 1958 by engineer Eladio Dieste. The building is a simple rectangle with wavy side walls that rise up to form large arcs. These walls support a wavy roof made of reinforced brick vaults, a design created by engineer Eladio Dieste. It was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 ⁸.

For anyone of you who saw similarities to the Uruguayan piece above, you’re right, the Church of Saint John of Ávila was constructed by the same Uruguayan engineer Eladio Dieste, but 40 years apart (!!). The church of Saint John opened to the public in 1998 in Alcalá de Henares, Spain ⁹.

The St Marks Church was designed by swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz and constructed between 1958 and 1963. The building is located within a birch grove on a former lakebed, terrain which influenced the low and horizontally oriented design, as well as the usage of curved brick walls for stability. The construction mainly consist of brick, timber and technical installations, and has become one of the flagships of swedish brutalist architecture. Since 1990 its been designated a cultural monument by the Swedish National Heritage Board ¹⁰.

Using brick to create organic shapes, such as serpentine walls, has a spiritual and ritual value as well as structural and material benefits, and when it comes down to it - it is a symbol of humanitys urge to explore, test and try novel ideas bringing evolution forward. It is not something new, but it sure is timeless, and there are many exciting architectural projects being designed even today using this concept. Would you join the crowd and contribute to its legacy?