A 'bricks-and-mortar' assembly approach can be used to create well-defined fibers on the microscale with alternating organic-inorganic arrangement through a simple ice-templating strategy. ne fibers are constructed from closely packed monodisperse inorganic nanoparticles@PNIPAm core/shelf microgels. A series of functional 'bricks', such as core/shell and hollow nanoparticles are prepared.