Which opus type uses alternating brick courses in its facing?

Which opus type uses alternating brick courses in its facing?

• A. Opus Mixtum
• B. Opus Incertum
• C. Opus Recticulatum
• D. Opus Quadratum

Answer: (A)

Alternating brick and stone courses in the exterior facing define Opus Mixtum. In Roman masonry, this method layers different materials in successive facing courses while the core remains rubble or concrete. The result is a façade that shows a rhythm of textures—one course brick, the next stone—combining the flexibility of brick with the solidity of ashlar. It’s distinct from opus incertum, which uses irregular stones without a regular facing; opus recticulatum, which creates a diagonal net of small squares; and opus quadratum, which uses large, uniformly cut blocks laid in neat horizontal layers. The alternating brick/stone pattern is the hallmark of Opus Mixtum.

Alternating brick and stone courses in the exterior facing define Opus Mixtum. In Roman masonry, this method layers different materials in successive facing courses while the core remains rubble or concrete. The result is a façade that shows a rhythm of textures—one course brick, the next stone—combining the flexibility of brick with the solidity of ashlar. It’s distinct from opus incertum, which uses irregular stones without a regular facing; opus recticulatum, which creates a diagonal net of small squares; and opus quadratum, which uses large, uniformly cut blocks laid in neat horizontal layers. The alternating brick/stone pattern is the hallmark of Opus Mixtum.