"brick slip"

The refurbishment scheme at Buckley View in Smallbridge was completed in March 2022 and is one of a series of demonstrator projects that Rochdale Boroughwide Housing are completing.These projects are part of an ongoing approach to improve the energy efficiency of homes and reduce carbon emissions, helping to identify the best ways to meet Greater Manchester’s 2038 target to be carbon neutral.The scheme has seen 23 bungalows in Buckley View receive investment to help improve the energy efficiency of the homes and reduce carbon emissions using a whole-house, fabric first approach.The work carried out included replacing cavity wall and roof insulation, installing External Wall Insulation (EWI), upgrading ventilation and installing new windows and doors.We worked in close partnership with our approved installer Profac and provided a suitable EWI solution for the project and complementary finish. A brick slip finish was utilised, which was supplied in three colours to totally refresh the facades.The bungalows in Buckley View were totally transformed and will enjoy increased energy efficiency, improved thermal comfort, reduced fuel consumption for residents and, as a result, lower carbon emissions.Our ServiceK Systems prides itself on having an inspiring and effective solution for every style, and this project is just one example of how it provides the flexibility to fulfil any specific design criteria.We tailored the specification process for the project based on the set and very specific requirements of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and its properties, and every single request / objective of the client was not only met but exceeded in the refurbishment.The design and delivery of the refurbishment not only received 100% satisfaction ratings from all parties involved, but has also gained external recognition for its excellence and already been shortlisted for three prestigious industry awards:Large Scale Project of the Year at the North West Energy Efficiency AwardsSustainability Project of the Year at the Aico HomeLink Community Awards 2022Best Retrofit Initiative at the Northern Housing AwardsOverall, an outstanding and successful refurbishment by our team that has given Buckley View in the North West a new lease of life.Ryan Robson at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, said:“We are delighted and incredibly proud to have worked on the refurb project at Buckley View which has been recognised with three award nominations so far. These nominations are a testament to the great partnership approach by all involved parties, the highest levels of construction quality showcased throughout, and the exceptional performance outcomes of the entire project, for the housing residents, housing provider and for the wider area.”Technical Project DetailsThe external façade and sheathing boards on the existing, poorly insulated timber frame structures were removed. The sheathing boards were replaced with A1 rated carrier boards and the K Systems M, Mineral Wool Insulation System was specified.This system not only generates exceptional thermal performance and provides high levels of fire resistance (A2-s1, d0), but also boasts exceptional environmental qualities – by choosing it, we not only demonstrate our innate understanding of best-suited solutions but our dedication to sustainable working.The bespoke system specified for Buckley View was designed using 110mm non-combustible mineral wool insulation to meet the desired u-value of 0.20W/m2K, improved from 0.43W/m2K. This meant homes were more energy efficient, warmer, and less expensive to heat – a major bonus given the current cost of living crisis.For the finish, we specified a unique finish of VBriQ+ clay brick slips. This cost-effective, lightweight traditional clay brick slip system replicates traditional brick construction on low-rise buildings like the Buckley View bungalows.Our unique and innovative VBriQ+ clay brick slip finish was specified due to its robust, durable characteristics and wide range of colours. The brick slips were supplied in three colours, which totally transformed the facades aesthetically and with their low maintenance and element resistance qualities, will ensure the homes avoid cracking and maintain their appearance over time.At K Systems we are confident that we have the inspiring solution for every style, and this project is just one example of how we provide the flexibility to fulfil any specific design criteria.We tailored the specification process for the project based on the requirements of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and their properties. Bespoke technical detailing included use of pistol brick slips around window reveals with a soldier course detail specified above window heads to create a contrasting aesthetic feature to the main walls. A band of silicone thincoat render was added as a design feature around the doors– yet again showcasing K Systems’ unrivalled attention to detail.

Built by Wates Group for developer MARK and designed by London-based architect SPPARC, Borough Yards’ features a number of transformed and re-purposed railway arches, viaducts and warehouses along with five new buildings, that weave their way from Borough Market to Clink Street. This new shopping and dining district also includes a cinema, art gallery and two new office buildings.IG Masonry Support worked with brickwork contractor Lesterose, designing and supplying a number of complex prefabricated brickwork elements including Welded Masonry Support (WMS), Brick Slip Masonry Support and its renowned B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System).ChallengeIn this landmark conservation area, the brickwork for the new buildings needed to compliment the existing brickwork on the repurposed viaducts and warehouses but also present their own unique character.To meet these challenging design requirements, IG Masonry Support manufactured and supplied a range of prefabricated components that met both the wider considerations around planning in this conservation area and at the same time all fire and building regulations.As part of the complex design for building 4, the architect and design team required a bespoke ‘floating’ brick feature presenting a jagged design. The utilisation of IG Masonry Support’s brick slips helped achieve the distinctive angled soffit design, offering a flawless and historic aesthetic in a modern, easy-to-install solution.The distinctive spearheads featuring on building 2 were a separate hurdle but thanks to IG Masonry Support’s close collaboration with the contractors and the architect, it enabled an accurate and sufficient design. Installed over 4 level points of the building, these innovative spearheads, never seen before, were manufactured with glass reinforced concrete, and hand-laid brickwork in-between.Customisable to the architect’s design wishes, the Brick Slip Systems and Masonry Support are prefabricated units manufactured offsite and delivered complete with bricks mechanically-fixed and bonded to them.Due to the type of being brick being used on buildings 2, 3 and 4 being a weaker composition, this necessitated pre-pointing the brick slips in dry, controlled conditions in order to create a high quality, finished surface.SolutionThe bespoke elements for building 4 pushed the boundaries of IG Masonry Support and its products but through technical collaboration the jagged design features were achieved with angled soffits, ensuring a solution that met the architect’s specific requirements.IG Masonry Support exceeded expectations with its Welded Masonry Support system and versatile B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System), creating a seamless match with the surrounding brickwork.Able to accommodate loads of up to and exceeding 14kN/m, IG’s Welded Masonry Support (WMS) is a rigid masonry support system comprising a stainless-steel angle support shelf with fixed brackets. It is fabricated to engineers’ specifications on a project basis and offers two planes of adjustability onsite. Offering ease-of-installation, the system can be supplied in a variety of configurations depending on the project’s requirements. At Borough Yards, the WMS was designed, manufactured and supplied by the IG Masonry Support team and installed across building 2 and 4 in order to support the application of the B.O.S.S. system.The B.O.S.S.+ is a lightweight prefabricated system that is faster to install than traditional hanging brick systems. Installed to a pre-fitted Masonry Support System, B.O.S.S.+ allows increased adjustability along three axes. Produced offsite, B.O.S.S. offers 90% time saving onsite and negates the need for mechanical lifting. B.O.S.S.+ also removes the need for brick-cutting onsite, resulting in a quality system that is checked before it arrives onsite. This BBA-certified unit is an ‘A’ Fire Rated, BBA certified and mechanically-fixed unit, suitable for use on residential buildings over 18m above ground level and complies with the Building Regulations 2010* Approved Document B: Fire Safety.Not only is the system versatile, it offers ease-of-installation and enables time-savings onsite. The bespoke solution offers a 70% weight-saving against an equivalent concrete product, negating the need for mechanical handling and onsite labour. These were significant benefits on this mixed-used development in particular.An integral part of the street scene and conservation area, these stunning new buildings sit side-by-side with the historic viaducts and warehouses. The presence of IG Masonry Support’s systems and the company’s technical prowess has ensured this landmark Southwark development is thoughtfully planned, well-built and a sought-after attraction in South London.

The Sedgewick and Barwick high rise building in Bristol is council owned and has been in need of improvements to prevent damp, cold and condensation. As part of the Bristol Homes Standard, Bristol City Council has been working to provide warm, safe and energy efficient homes for its tenants via its Warmer Homes project. Over 4,000m2 of SPSenvirowall Wall System 2, utilising GEPS with an Envirorend base coat, mechanical fixing and acrylic brick slips was installed as part of the external wall build-up.

Imperial Central is a collection of fifty five 1 and 2 bedroom apartments based in the heart of Slough. Designed around a private residential courtyard with ecofriendly planting, Building and cladding materials certified to A Grade EWS1 Fire safety standards, each apartment has its own balcony or terrace.Delivered via our project partners Architectural Facades | Cladding Supplier (brickability.co.uk) Pro brick slip panels were used for this project to meet both the fire performance and U values required but also the rapid fit benefits of the system.

Brick manufacturer Vandersanden is expanding its Texture Generator with paver textures for garden and landscape projects. This allows professionals and consumers to render their designs in a detailed and lifelike way. These designs can also be integrated into the CAD programme Vectorworks. Integration with other common software packages for architects is in development. "At Vandersanden, we are constantly pushing for innovation and the digitisation of our offering. This major expansion of the Texture Generator fits in seamlessly with that," said Bart Hesen, Paving Marketing Manager at Vandersanden.Following the launch of the texture generator for facing bricks and brick slips, an online tool to design facades, Vandersanden is now expanding it to include its range of clay pavers for garden and landscape projects. So now the texture generator also visualises paving for gardens and public spaces in a lifelike way and allows users to design and download their own textures. This allows garden and landscape architects, project managers at municipalities, garden contractors and private individuals to imagine the end result in a lifelike way.More than 1.1 million lifelike combinationsAmong other things, users can experiment with formats and laying patterns in the online tool. In addition, they can mix colours themselves to create their own unique colour mix. This possibility is especially valuable for architects.The paver’s textures visualise public spaces or gardens in a lifelike way and help both professionals and consumers make aesthetic choices. After all, there are more than 1.1 million possible combinations at Vandersanden, all of which are available in the texture generator. The texture obtained is also infinitely scalable, with minimal repetition of patterns.Thanks to digital innovation, the brick manufacturer succeeds in making all combinations look lifelike: all pavers are scanned in 3D for this purpose, and lighting is added afterwards.Faster and more efficientThe texture generator works quickly, easily and intuitively. Afterwards, users can also download the creations, including exposure folders (including Albedo, Alpha and Diffuse) and technical specifications, allowing them to integrate the creations into their own design or 3D model."Knowledge sharing, inspiration and convenience for customers are central to us. The digitisation of our offering is indispensable in this respect. With the expansion of our texture generator for the paving of public spaces and gardens, we are taking another step forward on the digital front. We strive for the most realistic representation of our products in 3D visuals," says Bart Hesen, Paving Marketing Manager at Vandersanden.Vandersanden also enables the integration of its texture generator for facades and paving in the most common software packages for architects. This has already been done in the Vectorworks CAD programme; integrations with Archicad and Revit are under development.Try the Vandersanden texture generator here Texture generator | Vandersanden

Beechview Drive is a development by MD Constructions Ltd consisting of 8 brand new, luxury detached family houses set in a secure gated development. Each comprising 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, stunning kitchen diners and integral double garages. Licata Building Systems supplied full silicone render systems and clay brick slips systems for the facades of the houses. The combination of the two finishes created a modern style to the development. Full Licata waterproofing systems were used in the bathrooms of the properties and were also finished of with high quality premium Italian porcelain tiles supplied by Licata.

Improving the thermal fabric performance and replicating the existing lookThe primary aim of the project was to improve the thermal fabric performance of the block and also to replicate the existing look. To achieve this, the client’s key requirements were two-fold. Firstly, to match the original external style as closely as possible in both colour and texture to satisfy the local authority’s requirements. The second key criteria was to ensure that all the systems used on the project were fully approved regarding fire performance, to meet the current regulations for buildings over the height of 18 meters in England. Delivering a robust, safe and aesthetic system solution to meet the project requirementsWe specified a combination of K Systems M VBriQ and K Systems M VBriQ+ to ensure we met the aesthetic planning requirements and comply with building regulations for resistance to fire in high-rise buildings. Our system incorporate mineral wool insulation which has an outstanding A1 non-combustible fire rating, which improves the thermal comfort and reduces heating costs for residents, whilst supporting Bristol City Council to meet their carbon emission targets.Our VBriQ acrylic brick slip finish was specified due to its lightweight characteristics and wide range of colours. Our Acrylic slips have a high UV resistance which will ensure the building maintains its appearance over time. Our VBriQ+ clay brick slip finish was specified for the ground floor and surrounding garage areas because of its robust and durable characteristics.Meeting the project deadlines and minimising disruptionsWe worked in collaboration with our approved installer Rateavon Ltd to ensure there was minimum disruption to the residents of Gaywood House. Our Technical team carried out regular site inspections to ensure the systems were installed to the highest standard with timely responses to technical detailing requests.

This development of 104 apartments was built on behalf of the Metropolitan Housing Trust by Guildmore on an infill site at Barrington Road, Brixton, which forms part of the Loughborough Estate.The project was designed to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and has been tested to meet BS8414 part 2 Fire Performance of External Cladding Systems.FastClad Brick Slip Rainscreen Cladding System was used on the tower elements at the end of the main block, the balconies, as well as the third and fourth floors of the main building.FastClad was chosen for it’s weight, ease of installation, fire properties, as well being indistinguishable from the areas of traditionally laid masonry

The Arc was a large and complex project with over 1,000,000 Brick Slip cuts and 235,000 Cut and Bonded Bricks. The Architects AHMM had chosen a bespoke blended product from our wider product range to create a random bond effect for the brickwork, this consisted of 126 different lengths of brick slips which all needed to be manufactured by ourselves.The Arc is a new mixed-use building in east London delivering new retail opportunities, office floorspace, 100 new homes, landscaped roof terraces and a new area of public realm onto City Road.The building is inspired by early 19th century New York towers with three stages of tiered massing in response to the surrounding context heights and Conservation Areas. There is a consistent treatment of the facade materiality across the building with vertically expressed brick piers and a horizontal concrete banding wrapping the building. This treatment relates to the adjacent Victorian warehouse aesthetics and is accented by the use of glazed brickwork in the first two levels.At ground level the main entrance is angled away from City Road and is set behind a two-storey colonnade, providing secure access for both the office and residential tenants. The office lobby design contrasts with the calm external appearance through the use of organic GRG elements developed by interior architects Massive Design. An area of affordable office space is proposed at ground level running through the building and linking Shepherdess Walk to Wellesley Terrace. Restaurants and cafes activate the street frontage around the site and the internal lobby space. Externally, retained elements of the former St Luke’s Parish Workhouse are integrated with a new public space and sculptural bench around the existing London plane tree.Levels one to six comprise the office component of the scheme providing 145,000 square feet of office floorspace. Above the office, at Level 07, the building steps back to form a slender element which contains the residential accommodation. The set-back also generates a large landscaped roof terrace with accompanying residents lounge. All the residential areas are designed by the interior architects Bowler James Bridley.

IG Masonry Support was able to supply a range of its products within a tight revised timeframe on a new-build student accommodation development at National University of Ireland (NUI) constituent university in Galway.Founded in 1845, NUI Galway is ranked among the top 1% of universities and has been inspiring students for 175 years. NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching, and has colleges spanning arts and social sciences, medicine, policy and engineering.Designed by Coady Partnership Architects, IG Masonry Support worked with the contractor JJ Rhatigan on Phase 1 of the construction of Goldcrest Village, a major state-of-the-art student accommodation as part of NUI Galway.The 429-bed student residence was constructed to the north of the NUI Galway city centre campus, adjacent to the Lifecourse Science Building and the Science Research Building. Near the existing Corrib Village student accommodation, Goldcrest Village offers a total area of 12,500m2, with apartments of five or six bedrooms with en-suites, shared kitchen, dining and living rooms. Four buildings up to five storeys high enclose two courtyards, with the tallest near a pedestrian and cycle route that links the development to the main campus. Communal facilities and a reception are centrally located for the students to access.For this modern and vibrant build, IG Masonry Support’s products were specified due to an established existing relationship with JJ Rhatigan, a contractor which is well-versed on IG Masonry Support’s systems.ChallengeThe project’s main challenge was achieving the specified brick soffit in a short amount of time to a high-standard of quality and finish.Due to a large change to Building A’s facade, IG Masonry Support’s teams had to adapt quickly whilst the project was live. The project deadline did not change however, which meant manufacturing times were tight. A six-week job had to be turned around in five days without compromise to delivery or quality.Furthermore, the installation of IG Masonry Support systems was to take place whilst students were on campus. This meant that high standards of health and safety precautions had to be upheld and followed at all times.SolutionIG Masonry Support manufactured its B.O.S.S. (Brick on Soffit System) and Brick Slip Lintels to be installed on the buildings within the new Goldcrest Village development.The B.O.S.S. range is a lightweight prefabricated system that is faster to install than traditional hanging brick systems. Installed to a pre-fitted masonry support system, B.O.S.S. allows increased adjustability along three axes. Produced offsite, B.O.S.S. offers 90% time saving onsite and negates the need for mechanical lifting. B.O.S.S. also removes the need for brick-cutting onsite, resulting in a quality system that is checked before it arrives onsite.IG Masonry Support Brick Slip Lintels can be used over small openings to eliminate the need for additional masonry support. They are delivered to site as a one-piece unit, complete with brick slips attached, eliminating the need for specialist installation onsite.A simpler and easier install when delivered to site was a huge benefit on this project. Not only did the swift installation enable time and cost savings in terms of labour, it ensured a better-quality finish and met the desired specification. This translated into achieving the required brick patterns and soffit sizes which blended seamlessly with the surrounding brickwork.Going above and beyond even on a project with a tight timeframe, IG Masonry Support delivered Masonry Support from Level 2 of Building A. When this was installed, the contractors could determine the finished bond pattern of Level 1 B.O.S.S. units to inform the patterning of the levels beyond, ensuring the same quality finish was met.Throughout the project, IG Masonry Support’s technical division worked with the teams to ensure all products hit the mark on safety and quality.A striking student accommodation complex within NUI Galway, the presence of IG Masonry Support systems will help ensure students live in areas that are of the highest quality throughout the academic years.

With housing demand at an all-time high, the development of the site of the former Hare & Hounds public house in Guildford was an enticing proposition.Cutting-edge materials make light work of pub redevelopmentDeveloper Agilitee Ltd gained planning permission to build nine new homes on the Guildford site comprising three detached homes, a pair of semi-detached houses and a row of four terraced houses.With tight timescales to meet, Agilitee turned to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to accelerate the building process, utilising time-saving building materials and techniques including an energy-efficient Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) system. This uses polystyrene connected with a web system that allows the forms to be stacked and steel reinforced. The polystyrene forms are then built up on site and filled with ready-mixed concrete. The polystyrene and concrete combination provides a thermal mass, allowing structures to be heated and cooled more effectively.To make the exterior weatherproof and aesthetically appealing, Complete Rendering Systems (CRS), run by brothers Bradley and Ryan Halls, recommended weberwall brick for the final finish. This brick slip alternative which can be used to create a realistic brick effect across a range of different applications and substrates.Bradley and Ryan Halls have more than 20 years’ experience in rendering and plastering and the pair are no strangers to Weber products. Their high standard of work has been recognised by the Evening Standard which awarded CRS Job of the Year 2019 for its external rendering on a prestigious £9m home in Esher, Surrey.“We’ve worked with weberwall brick previously, which gave me confidence as I knew the system would be suitable for the scheme,” says Bradley. “It’s less bulky and much easier to handle around the scaffold. From a practical point of view, it also means that you don’t need forklifts around the site loading up pallets of bricks saving us space and time.”The planning authorities stipulated that the development should complement nearby housing. After presenting weberwall brick colour samples to the council, CRS placed an order for 400m2 of weberwall brick in Antique Red Multi to cover the detached homes front and back, as well as the front walls of the terraced houses.Chaminda Narayan, managing director of Agilitee, says: “I didn’t need much persuading as I was already familiar with weberwall brick. It looks good: uniform, neat. Having completed several ICF builds, we knew it would be a lot quicker than traditional brick. We were also able to add whatever brick patterns we wanted, such as quoins and a soldier course at the windows, so we didn’t have to compromise on our vision for the site.”The weberwall brick product comes in 12 colours and three different designs to accommodate common housing requirements: wall wrap, corner wrap and soldier wrap. This minimises the need for cutting and is one of the features that allows the product to be installed quickly and accurately.All three types of wrap were used on the development. CRS customised the standard soldier wraps slightly to meet the precise needs of each property. In total, around 280 linear metres of corner wrap was needed.The gable ends were then coated in render using weberend MT system finished in Winter White. Quoin details on the external corners between the render and brickwork were used to create a more traditional look.More than three times faster to apply than traditional brick slips, weberwall brick is easy to handle and apply, being remarkably lightweight. In fact, one sheet of 20 weberwall brick weighs the same as a single house brick.Work on the development started in February 2020 and, after weather related delays, is expected to be completed in autumn 2021, marketed under the name ‘Langford Close’.

The Burton Borough School development is a brand new sports hall for Burton Borough School in Newport, Telford. As this building will be used primarily by schoolchildren, it was especially important that it was built using a durable solution which can stand up not only against weather conditions, but is fully non-combustible.Ash & Lacy worked through Kynaston Contract Services with Pave Aways Building Contractors and TACP Architects to deliver for Telford & Wrekin Council a MechSlip façade employing Ibstock’s Himley Ebony Black brick. Developed in conjunction with Ibstock Kevington, MechSlip is a lightweight, mechanically fixed system that offers significant advantages including reduced installation times and associated costs, as well as being classified A1 (non-combustible) to EN 13501-1 fire testing standards by Exova Warringtonfire.This project shows some of the design versatility of MechSlip as well, with the projecting header pattern on the building’s front elevation being achieved by alternating between half bricks and full bricks to create a memorable impression which manipulates shadow well. MechSlip allows specifiers and architects to create distinctive façades thanks to the flexibility of different sizes of brick slips and choice of multiple colours and textures.As well as offering the reassurance provided by a mechanically-fixed design, MechSlip has been rigorously tested to the Centre for Window & Cladding Technology (CWCT) standards, for wind resistance, water tightness and impact resistance. The result is that it eliminates the weather dependency of traditional building methods without compromising on the choice of brick finish.

Innovative materials speed up construction. As with many construction projects scheduled in 2020, the council’s main contractor faced challenges arising as a result of both Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.Anglesey County Council commissioned new housing on the site of a former pub to provide much-needed social housing in the local area. As with many construction projects scheduled in 2020, the council’s main contractor faced challenges arising as a result of both Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.Within a couple of weeks of construction starting in February 2020, the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK. After a short break, housebuilding activity was allowed to continue, but the social distancing requirements slowed progress.The new Stad Marcwis housing development on the site of the former Marquis Inn in Rhosybol consists of two pairs of semi-detached houses; six three-bedroom houses; one four-bedroom detached house and a set of four low-rise flats.Anglesey County Council wanted to break up the elevations to add variety and create a more attractive appearance. Main contractor DU Construction suggested using weberwall brick, a brick slip alternative from Saint-Gobain Weber, which can be used to create a realistic brick effect across a range of different applications and substrates."We knew about weberwall brick as we’d successfully used it as a soldier detail above a window on a refurbishment project at Bryn Tirion in Beaumaris. This worked out very well in terms of both speed of application and finished appearance, so we recommended this solution to the council." - Mark Blackwell, director of DU ConstructionFortunately, weberwall brick and weberpral M monocouche render that the council specified are both manufactured by Weber in the UK, so these materials were delivered without any delays.Due to lockdown restrictions, members of the main contractor’s team were unable to travel to the Weber Training Academy in Flitwick to learn about weberwall brick. Instead, two members of Weber’s applications team travelled to DU Construction and held a COVID-19 compliant training day. As a result of this, the applicators were able to carry out what site manager Steven Hughes describes as “a very tidy job”.As well as hold-ups in supplies of some raw materials, social distancing regulations limited the number of people allowed on-site at one time. The construction team worked hard to make up for lost time, helped by the fact that weberwall brick is more than three times faster to apply than traditional brick slips.For the Stad Marcwis development, the council chose weberwall brick in Sanded Black with Grey pointing mortar. The brick effect was applied on three sides of each house up to window sill height and on both gables. From the ground floor sills upwards, the houses were rendered with weberpral M in Chalk, a through-coloured monocouche render which provides both decoration and weather protection.On the flats, weberwall brick was used on the full height of the entrance porches in conjunction with weberpral M monocouche render. Anglesey has a very high wind-driven rain index so the weberwall brick and monocouche render combination offers added protection against the elements.As well as the soldier wrap that had impressed DU Construction initially, weberwall brick comes in two other designs to accommodate common housing requirements: wall wrap and corner wrap. This minimises the need for cutting and is one of the features that allows the product to be installed quickly and accurately. DU Construction employed all three types of wrap on the development, using around 500sqm on the houses and a further 100sqm on the flats.All the housing has now been completed and a ten-year guarantee on the Weber materials gives the council peace of mind.“Stad Marcwis has attracted a lot of interest. Every day we have people driving past and enquiring about the homes and have had lots of admiring comments. I’m very pleased with how it’s turned out and, most importantly, our client is too.” - Steven Hughes, Site Manager

Project:West Coventry AcademyClient:Department for EducationContractor: Bowmer & Kirkland Architect: Strides Treglown Architects Value; £38.4m Location Coventry:Innovaré Completion Date Autumn 2023 Innovaré duration onsite 30 Weeks GIFA m²:12,099m² Framework:DfE’s Modern Methods of Construction Framework (MMC1) Innovaré System/ Solution:Psi-FAST panels included factory installed windows, insulation, and brick-slip cladding with a Passive Purple Coating to substantially improve airtightness.West Coventry Academy (WCA), which was procured through the DfE’s Modern Methods of Construction Framework (MMC1), is the result of a three-year research journey by Innovaré Offsite and a major investment by our partner Bowmer + Kirkland (B+K). It is the first of five pilot ‘net zero carbon in operation’ schools for the Department for Education (DfE) and used the panelised Psi-FAST solution to deliver a hugely energy efficient, offsite manufactured design. Delivering a PMV of 70%, Psi-FAST improves efficiencies by taking more construction processes offsite into our quality-controlled manufacturing environment. The factory fitting of vapour control, windows, and cladding enhanced the quality and integrity of important detailing whilst also accelerating the construction programme. Innovaré’s Psi-FAST panels included factory-installed windows, insulation, and brick-slip cladding with a Passive Purple Coating to substantially improve airtightness. The hybrid solution integrates Psi-FAST wall panels with roof cassettes and pre-cast concrete floors and stairs. Scope of works also included offsite manufactured volumetric plant rooms for the project which Innovaré designed and delivered in collaboration with our M+E specialist, DBS. Increasing Pre-Manufactured Value to 70%- a key driver for the DfE, the Innovaré building solution achieves thermal and airtightness levels required for net zero carbon in operation. This project exemplifies the development Innovaré has undertaken to advance the application of the Innovaré offsite manufactured Psi-FAST system. The result is a net zero carbon in operation building with high-performing acoustic attenuation combined with maximising natural light: ultimately providing an optimum learning experience for staff and students.

Unrivalled in scale in the UK as a hub of engineering and material science expertise, the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) embraces the refurbished, Grade II listed Oddfellows Hall, the MEC Hall and buildings on Upper Brook Street and York Street. Brick played a crucial role in creating the campus and, to find the perfect products to fulfil their aesthetic vision, the architects turned to Vandersanden.The new campus is one of the largest construction projects undertaken by any higher education institution in the UK. It will allow 1,300 staff and 7,000 students to work and study in spaces that enable connection, collaboration and concentration across the faculty.Working with Mecanoo, Penoyre & Prasad and Balfour Beatty Construction, BDP provided detailed design consultation services for the entire MECD project. The collaborative team completed the sensitive renovation and extension of Oddfellows Hall to accommodate a suite of conference rooms, academic workspaces and a restaurant.Originally built in 1857 and rebuilt in 1916, Oddfellows Hall anchors the new MECD to its formative past. Set back on the north side from the listed building, the modern extension presents a neat facade where Vandersanden’s Berit water-struck facing brick, which is white with a light texture, is coupled with areas of glazing and tile. “The approach to the scheme has been to add a twenty-first-century building of its time but in continuity with the existing language, using materials such as brick and glass,” explains Paul Owen, architect associate at BDP.Configured horizontally, the elements wrap around the façade of the extension to create a strong connection to both the north and south facades of the older building. The aesthetic is enhanced further by a combination of narrow brick piers and vertically proportioned windows. A defined brick plinth at ground floor level achieves additional visual interconnection between the old and the new.On the roof, the plant enclosure uses the same Vandersanden Berit brick as the façade, but the structure is set back from the parapet line. A hit and miss pattern allows for ventilation of the mechanical and electrical equipment inside as an elegant alternative to standard ventilation grilles.On Upper Brook Street and York Street, the new buildings are of solid brick that includes feature brick vertical and horizontal elements to articulate the façade and frame the window openings. Again, the brick is from Vandersanden; in this case, the company's Herning water struck brick with a dark brown-purple-blue multi-coloured appearance.“The technical advice the team at Vandersanden gave was incredibly helpful while the bricks offer great visual appeal. In the long term, they will age gracefully in combination with the existing material of Oddfellows Hall, ensuring the new extension sits well in its context,” says Paul Owen.For more information on the development go to https://www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk/science-engineering. For details on BDP visit, www.bdp.com and to find out more on Berit, Herning and the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, visit Together we build greatness | Vandersanden

Utilising the same bricks as were being laid by the bricklayers to the masonry walls, FastClad supplied the cladding to the balconies so that there was a seamless match.Collecting bricks from site to ensure that they were from the same production run, the slips were cut and bonded to our profiled backing board at our Leicester factory.These boards were then returned to site for mechanical fix to the balcony structures and pointed in a lime mortar to match that of the cement mortar being used by the bricklayers at an off-site compound.The balconies were then craned into position and fixed to the structure.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the greatest horticultural event. It is known all around the world for its fabulous floral displays, thought provoking and beautifully landscaped show gardens and for nurturing gardening trends and talent.Held in the most beautiful grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is guaranteed to inspire and wow everyone who visits.One such garden is the RBC Brewin Dolphin Garden designed by one of House & Gardens Top 50 Garden Designers of 2023, Paul Hervey-Brookes. This stunning Silver-Gilt show garden ‘draws creative inspiration from the way knowledge is passed down from generation to generation and interpreted for the modern world.’To assist with the longevity and sustainable features of this garden, landscaping expert and garden consultant, G K Wilson Landscapes, opted to use UltraScape eco-bed environmentally friendly bedding mortar and slipbond brick slip adhesive to install the beautiful Lunar Sand pavers and Dover Taupe porcelain wall tiles. For the finishing flourish, the paving was grouted using UltraTile ProGrout Flexible in Bahama Beige and Grey.In a Chelsea Flower Show first, garden designer and RHS ambassador for inclusivity and diversity, Manoj Malde married his partner in his own magnificently designed RHS and Eastern Eye Garden of Unity feature garden. This powerful and vibrant garden is inspired by Manoj’s Indian heritage and has inclusivity and sustainability at its heart. Alongside peat-free planting, the garden also embraced the use of reclaimed materials to create the limestone path and used UltraScape eco-bed environmentally friendly bedding mortar to install the limestone paving.Two further award-winning gardens to benefit from Instarmac’s expertise are Darren Hawkes’ Silver-Gilt Samaritan’s Listening Garden and Emma Tipping’s Gold Medal St George ‘Alight Gere’ Balcony Garden.UltraScape were honoured to have supported, and sponsored, each of these beautiful gardens.UltraScape has been manufacturing and providing the industry with high quality, specialist paving installation materials for over 25 years. Their proven and trusted range includes BS 7533 complaint bedding mortars, primers, jointing solutions and brick slip adhesive. UltraScape’s premium products are specified by contractors, architects, consultants and engineers for an ever-expanding portfolio of major schemes across the UK.Choose UltraScape’s proven and certified BS 7533 Mortar Paving System for the performance and assurance that comes with a UKAS seal of approval – you can’t afford not to!To find out more about UltraScape’s range of paving installation materials, please email ultrascape@instarmac.co.uk, visit ultrascape.co.uk or call their team of experts by ringing +44 (0) 1827 254402.

A first-time self-builder from Twickenham used his time on furlough to build a two-bedroom home in his back garden with weberwall brick.Around 11,000 self-build homes are built each year, and Sudheer Talluri is one of less than 10% who actually build the house themselves, without the help of experienced builders.Sudheer had already bought his 1950s former council house and had been living in the property for seven years before he applied for planning permission to build another home in the garden. Despite initial difficulties getting planning consent, he finally got the go-ahead in 2020.After being furloughed from his job as a telecoms engineer in June 2020, Sudheer decided to use this as an opportunity to kickstart the project.“I knew I wanted to build an environmentally-friendly home, so I went to the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon for inspiration,” explains Sudheer. “Having looked at all the options, I decided to use an Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) system. It offers great thermal benefits and can be finished using a brick slip system on the outside which helped me to meet the design requirements outlined in the planning permission.”Sourcing products that could be easily supplied while the country was in lockdown was a challenge in itself. Sudheer needed an external finish that would be in keeping with the existing property on the plot. He contacted Saint-Gobain Weber after learning about how weberwall brick - a brick cladding system which is supplied on mesh sheets - would not only address the planning requirements, but would also help to make the application of the final finish quick and easy.The ICF provided a solid base for weberwall brick, allowing direct application to the substrate using the rapid drying weberwall brick external adhesive, which Sudheer applied by pump to speed-up the installation further.Sudheer’s engineering background, determination, and help from friends, family and neighbours helped him to get the new house built in less than a year. Sudheer and his family have moved into the new house enabling them to rent out their own home. They are so pleased with the final result that they plan to extend into the loft space and add a further single-story extension at the back of the new house in early 2022.

The O2 in London is the world’s most successful music and entertainment venue. Project Mint was the development within the O2 dome of 80 new retail outlets to form a 400,000 sq ft designer outlet “Icon Outlet” for the owner and operator AEG. Designed by architect Callison RTKL, and with ISG as main contractor Lindner Interiors contributed to the construction of the fit-out with a scope of works included: 4,500 m2 SFS, 8,500 m2 of dry lining, 2,000 m2 of ceilings – including: Render, Timber Baffles, Metal Copper GRG. In addition, 4,500 m2 of Façade finishes including: Metal Rain Screen Cladding. Render Cladding, Brick Slip Cladding, Copper Cladding, & Glass Smoke Screens. With multiple finishes, specialist trades and products this challenging project has created an attractive public space that is truly an Icon that Lindner Interiors are proud to have been a part of. The Icon Outlet is now home to world famous brands such as Kurt Geiger, Levi’s, Osprey, Ted Baker, Tommy Hilfiger to name but a few.Completed WorksPartitions Wall and ceiling panels Plasterboard partition systems

At the heart of Manadon Park, the site of the Royal Navy's former Engineering College, The Quarters is a development of 85 homes by Burrington Estates on the outskirts of Plymouth, in Devon. Although blending harmoniously, subtle differences have been introduced to each of the homes and 40 plots feature elevational treatments in Vandersanden’s Roxton and Corum multi-coloured bricks.Burrington Estates has established a reputation for building high-quality, design-led homes in the West Country. Completed in late 2020, The Quarters enjoys a peaceful ambience with mature trees creating a leafy vista. Energy efficiency is at the forefront of the scheme: the homes benefit from smart central heating, high-performance windows, excellent insulation levels and integrated PV panels to selected plots. Externally, The Quarters has a contemporary feel with classical elements. Stone detailing is incorporated within the red or buff brick elevations of some homes; others have creamy, rendered facades brought alive with features such as brick cills and brick arched window heads. Extended brick plinths further define the aesthetic.The scheme’s design was inherited by Burrington Estates at the planning stage, explains Steve Fowler, the company’s technical director. “The consented scheme included brick treatments to certain plots. In line with our core values as a business, we wanted a brick which was superior in finish to a run of the mill ‘standard’ brick typically used by more mainstream developers”.Vandersanden’s Roxton and Corum bricks are both stock facing bricks with sanded-coated and creased structures that are ideally suited to residential schemes. Roxton offers an attractive, orangey-red, multi-coloured aesthetic for an authentic, timeless look. The yellow buff base colour of Corum is augmented by shades of grey to create a varied, multi-coloured and high-quality textured appearance.“The Vandersanden bricks provided the perfect aesthetic and finish for the homes at The Quarters and were superior to alternatives on offer at the time of specification,” explains Steve Fowler. “The finished product looks good and works well with other elevation treatments used on the development.”To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link

Over time bricks can discolour and lose their lustre because of the impact of wet weather, air pollution or efflorescence. The result can have a detrimental effect on a building’s visual aesthetic, compromising the architect’s design vision and reducing the value of the property for the owner. Brick manufacturer, Vandersanden is the first company to develop a viable, large scale coating solution to provide superior protection against efflorescence as well as secondary protection against the effects of pollution.Vandersanden’s automated coating formulation makes facing bricks water-repellent and resistant to the effects of air pollution and efflorescence, ensuring façades remain beautiful and untarnished throughout their lifetime. This innovative and environmentally sustainable process which also makes it easier to clean the brick, if dirt or damage does occur, has now been fully rolled out across the entire Vandersanden hand-formed brick range available to UK specifiers.Vandersanden worked with Belgian University, KU Leuven, to develop the solution which treats bricks with a special coating after the firing process. The process penetrates to a depth from 5mm to 15mm whilst retaining the original colour of the brick.The liquids contain no harmful substances or chemicals that can damage the brick or the environment and is automatically applied at Vandersanden’s manufacturing facilities in Belgium and The Netherlands.A coated brick has exactly the same pore structure as a non-coated brick and the number of pores and their size remain the same. However, as the walls of the pores are covered with a water-repellent layer, the water droplets are no longer attracted to the walls and will not be absorbed. As the pores remain open, the bricks also retain their resistance to frost.Applying the coating during the production process, eliminates the need to coat the bricks with an applicator once they have been installed, which is a highly specialised and expensive process. It also reduces the often laborious and costly task of prepping the facade for a coating and the regular maintenance required.“Creating beautiful facades that will stand the test of time remains crucial for Vandersanden,” says Jean-Pierre Wuytack, CEO at Vandersanden. "Thanks to our commitment to innovation in product design and manufacturing, we can ensure a lifetime of colour-safe brick performance for architects and their clients. We are proud of our coated solution which demonstrates how Vandersanden is the natural partner for architects who care passionately about creating the very best, most long-lasting aesthetic for their buildings.”Vandersanden coated bricks come with a 25-year guarantee and the company has worked hard to ensure these bricks can be delivered at the same cost as non-coated bricks.Vandersanden produces a vast array of high-quality bricks in different finishes and colours, ranging from reds and browns, to greys, creams and buffs that will inspire and enable the design and construction of beautiful buildings.To find out more, register for our RIBA approved CPD #2 "How to avoid brick stains and efflorescence" here CPD – Continuing Professional Development | Vandersanden

Providing the solution for EWI retrofit on non-traditional build housingHaving successfully completing the previous 2 phases, K Systems were approached to provide a specification for EWI installation onto two non-traditional build housing types: 5M and Caspon. Both archetypes are of timber frame construction with single skin brick infills at ground level and a mixture of hanging tiles or cladding on upper floors. Typical of non-traditional build housing, the technical team at K Systems had to pay particular attention to bespoke detailing to derive a suitable EWI solution to meet the client’s requirements.The hanging tiles and cladding were removed from the upper floor(s) and replaced with timber sheathing boards to allow for a uniform aesthetic and a striking contemporary finish.Delivering a robust, safe and aesthetic system solution to meet the project requirementsHull City Council wanted to improve the thermal efficiency of their housing stock whilst provide a durable and more contemporary aesthetic look for the project. A combination of K Systems M Silicone and K Systems M VBriQ was used to achieve a u-value of 0.28 using varying thicknesses of A1 non-combustible mineral wool (80mm to 150mm) to adapt to the variety of substrates typical of non-traditional build housing. The combination of acrylic brick slips and polymer enhanced silicone topcoats achieved an appearance that is durable and elevated the dated look of the estate to a more modern feel. Our team worked extensively with the appointed architect preparing bespoke detailed drawings for the various archetypes, particularly transitions between the brick and timber substrates, cills, verges, rooflines, gas boxes and below DPC. Weekly demand planning meetings ensured timely delivery of materials to the appointed contractor.We ensured the correct fixings were specifiedK Systems commissioned pull-out tests to determine the optimum fixings and washers to be used to anchor the EWI system to the different substrates. A combination of hammer fixings and screw fixings were specified.

Cocoa Studios is a new commercial building at the heart of The Biscuit Factory, a bustling business centre on the former Peek Freans Biscuit Town site in Bermondsey, London. Architectural practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris’s (AHMM) approach to the scheme referenced the historic warehouses of the area: narrow proportioned brick buildings with large-recessed openings and fine detailing. To achieve this design vision, Vandersanden’s 65mm Herning facing brick was chosen as an integral element of the building’s design.For 123 years, biscuits, such as the Garibaldi and the Bourbon, were manufactured in the Victorian factories on the site, which now consists of new build and refurbished buildings occupied by start-up businesses and small and medium enterprise businesses. The six-storey Cocoa Studios is L-shaped in plan and adjoins an existing building, completing an urban block and providing a new landscaped courtyard at its centre.AHMM examined the various options for the facade with building materials distributor EH Smith to ensure colour and texture requirements were met; it was also essential that the brick worked with a smaller than usual joint profile of 7.5mm. To achieve the batching measurements required when setting the building out, Vandersanden produced the bricks in a single firing to ensure the best possible consistency from the clay product.“We chose Vandersanden’s Herning brick because of its texture and variety of tones and colours. These complement its context while bringing its own distinct identity, helping add variety, interest and joy to the simple, well-proportioned volumes of the building,” explains Lon Luc, senior architect at AHMM. “The richness and depth of the appearance of the brick are especially apparent on the larger double height expanses of brick within the entrance hall interior that helps to emphasise the delightfulness of the space.”The dark brown-purple-blue multi-coloured Herning bricks define the building’s facade which is divided by deep vertical slots into a series of wide brick bays that follow the rhythm of the connected buildings. Within these slots are expansive window openings that are a minimum of one and a half bricks deep, with the heads and cill units produced using specials. The ground and first floor levels are delineated with a hand-laid, expressed brick-bond of soldiers, alternated with flush and projecting headers on a single course that are then stack bonded. From the second floor up, an uncomplicated stretcher bond emphasises the solidity and proportions of the bays; a recessed mortar joint adds a further delicate grain.“The facade detailing subtlety echoes the variety of brick patterns of the neighbouring Victorian architecture and follows the care and attention to detail of Peek Freans’ original design and engineering in a contemporary manner,” explains Lon Luc. “Every detail was carefully co-ordinated with the brickwork contractor, Grangewood Brickwork Services, and Vandersanden, along with EH Smith; the process included several pre-production visits to Vandersanden’s factory. The brick's quality, appearance and versatility contributed greatly to the aesthetic success of the project.”To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

Natural sunlight and space were two of the key objectives for this extension located in South London. The client, an artist, writer, and former fine arts lecturer, had recently moved to London from Oxfordshire to be closer to her family, and was looking to produce a peaceful, tranquil space to help improve creativity when at work.“I had no fixed ideas about what I wanted, but I wanted more space because it was very small, very dark and I just needed to breathe” Client via Evening Standard.Looking to update this Victorian house into a future proof property, Atelier Baulier Architects worked with the client to achieve the radical vision of a virtually half opened roof through the use of a rooflight. Our Multi-Part Flushglaze rooflight was specified at just short of 8 metres which immerses the entire extension in daylight making the 21 sq. m. space feel much larger, hoping to improve the client’s productivity and focus. The art studio is located under the doubleheight volume, enjoying even light levels throughout the day. The writing room takes the vantage point of the mezzanine above the bathroom and is accessed from the first floor level through an opening made in the gable.Keen to retain discreet detailing to ensure the rooflight framing wasn’t distracting from the design, the Multi Part Rooflight was specified with silicone joints, as opposed to aluminium balustrades, making the product much sleeker. To help daylight flood the room even further, the unit was specified with three Wall Abutments on the high left and right side. The Wall Abutments are not visible from the internal view, this helped to enhance the desired discreet detailing.As stated, the rooflight was supplied in three sections with the frameless silicone joints segmenting each section; the three sections were sized to achieve an equal split when viewed from underneath. This meant that the end sections had to be larger to account for the upstand width.“We aimed to maximise the potential of this unusual site. Rather than subdividing the space the programme is housed within one continuous volume, allowing the daylight to flow through.” Aurore Baulier, Director, Atelier Baulier ArchitectsWith the house being located in a conservation area, the extension naturally blends in with its outstanding surroundings. Brickwork is a major part of this Victorian cottage and its extension. The new volume is a wood-fibre insulated timber construction overclad with bricks slips, resulting in a much lower carbon footprint than a traditional masonry wall. On the interior, brick slips dress the walls continuing the pattern created by the whitewashed brickwork of the existing gable.Atelier Baulier Architects worked brilliantly to maintain the nostalgic look of the building whilst also transforming it into a contemporary home, with the use of a glass rooflight proving to be successful in adding a vast amount of light and space to the originally dark and gloomy Victorian house.

High end buildings require high end fittings and plastic air vents and plastic air bricks look out of place in so many quality constructions, extensions and upgrades.Contractors no longer have to "make do" with over sized imperial air bricks now we have our "Windsor" metric range.These stunning air bricks are copies of Georgian and Victorian, vertical slotted, air bricks made and cast in the foundry in West Bromwich, midlands to our own exclusive design. Like the metric plastic air bricks, our cast iron air bricks are interlocking to fit single, double and triple sized ducting and also Rytons periscope and rectangle/round adapters.

An award winning, 42-home cohousing development in Orchard Park, Cambridge, Marmalade Lane is recognised as a leading example of best practice. To bring the scheme to fruition, TOWN, with its partner Trivselhus and supported by Mole Architects, was selected as the preferred developer by Cambridge City Council and Cambridge Cohousing. Much of the scheme’s aesthetic appeal is due to the use of three Vandersanden bricks: Majestic, Nevado Grey and Old Windsor. Cohousing is a mutually supportive form of living that is well-established in northern European countries and which is gaining in popularity in the UK. At Marmalade Lane, in addition to self-contained, privately-owned terraced and apartment homes, the community shares many spaces and facilities. These include a ‘Common House’ at the centre of the development and a car-free street that is the social heart of the scheme – a place for people to socialise and for children to play.  Marmalade Lane is one of the largest examples of group custom build in the UK so developers TOWN and Mole Architects worked closely with the future residents through a process of co-design from the start. “With a menu-based approach to dwelling customisation, purchasers were able to select their chosen brick colour from the palette of the three Vandersanden bricks plus the option of a white painted brick facade,” explains Meredith Bowles, director at Mole Architects. “Giving residents who committed to live in Marmalade Lane early on, a choice of the brick facing used for their homes was important," believes Neil Murphy, founding director of TOWN. “It has both endowed the place with a strong sense of ownership and has created a streetscape that echoes the ordinary historic Cambridge streets with their patina of age. The choice of Vandersanden bricks, with their good texture and colour, really brings the scheme to life.” Although Marmalade Lane is on the periphery of Cambridge, the aim was to give the scheme a quality that is found in the brick colours of the attractive streets in the middle of the city. Over time the bricks of the old houses have become sooted so the palette includes a kind of sooty grey hue, the more striking pale yellow of Georgian homes and also the red brick from the Victorian terraces; there are also a reasonable proportion of buildings where people have painted the bricks. Essentially, Marmalade Lane is a concentrated version of this collective vision. Bowles believes the choice of brick at Marmalade Lane perfectly complements this vision. “It seems to have become a Cambridge style with new developments all around now using the same mix of hues. Vandersanden’s Majestic, Nevado Grey and Old Windsor provide the ideal range of colours and offer the quality and textures that perfectly echo the vernacular. “There is a challenge in Cambridge because the planners are keen that things are built to match the local bricks but these aren’t being made anymore. The brick factor we used introduced us to Vandersanden by providing samples of the company’s bricks that showed us a lot of possibilities. These perfectly fitted the local vernacular, the overall aesthetic and the budget. It’s usually particularly tricky to find suitable grey bricks because they’re mostly double fired, so they cost, more but Vandersanden had what we needed at an affordable price,” says Bowles. The brickwork at Marmalade Lane is comparatively simple, the one exception being a few bands of projecting headers that create stripes of shadow as the sun moves across the facade of one of the apartment buildings at the corner of the site. Two mortar colours were employed with a dark mortar for the Nevado Grey bricks and a lighter, sandier colour for the Majestic and Old Windsor bricks. The Nevado Grey bricks have been employed to bring cohesion to many of the key elements of the scheme, including the flat roofed structures that house the air source heat pumps at the front of each house, the bicycle and bins stores as well as the Common House. Bowles is enthusiastic about the Vandersanden product. “It’s terrific and quite unusual to find one company with such a strong and varied range of characterful bricks. Part of the scheme’s success was finding bricks that worked and had lots of character within a reasonably modest budget. There is something special about the surface texture, patination, irregularity and the sense of liveliness that the Vandersanden bricks offer. They evoke a handmade quality found in older bricks that makes them much more attractive than so many of the bricks made today.”To find out more about the bricks used in this project or see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link.  

An imposing boutique scheme of nine luxury apartments in Hackney, London, Bastion House is a modern take on a castle-like structure with its multi-faceted walls, tiered form and variously sized openings. The choice of Vandersandan’s Lima facing brick enhances this robust look while the brick’s light colour contrasts with the black mortar joints and recessed jet-black window frames and balcony soffits. Bastion House is built on the site of a two-storey, post-war house on Farleigh Road in a predominantly residential area that includes a variety of architectural styles and a range of building heights. The new building is five storeys in total but its scale and massing are carefully considered, stepping back at both third and fourth floor levels in response to the surrounding built form, while also ensuring that the crown of a street tree, immediately to the west of the site, remains unaffected. Creative brickworkGoldrose Sharpe, the developers of Bastion House, embraced the challenge of carefully detailing the brickwork which, along with the building’s unconventional form, helps it stand out. Specially cut bricks were employed to achieve the different angled corners - most corners of the building are not at a right angle. Brick soffit panels were designed to surround the balcony openings along with brick-faced lintels to create depth to the set-back windows. Relief panels employing a different brickwork pattern were also introduced at various points across the facades. When selecting the bricks for the project, the team at Goldrose Sharpe ordered samples from various brick suppliers. “We were exploring our options with light coloured bricks,” explains Maria Patton, project lead at Goldrose Sharpe. “The Lima bricks have this artisanal, handmade texture which is quite unique; they stood out compared to other brick samples.” The Lima is a stock brick consisting of a mix of different clays with a white base colour, grey accents and a sanded-coated and grained structure.Goldrose Sharpe purchased the bricks directly from Vandersanden.“Vandersanden was always very helpful with its customer service and the team there was good at explaining the technicalities of the brick,” says Maria Patton. “We had to send the bricks to be specially cut and made for the special angles and brick-faced soffits and lintels. They worked well to these variations.”An impactful facadeThe Lima bricks and the impressive detailing ensure Bastion House makes a bold statement. “We often notice people who walk past the building touch the walls out of curiosity,” notes Maria Patton. “We’re very happy with the final result and the overall look of the brickwork. The use of the Lima bricks made a real difference to the building’s appearance.”To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link

Marlborough Manor is one of Carrickfergus’ newest and most sought-after developments, with façades reflecting a traditional, Georgian-style design created by premium AG facing bricks whose hand-crafted aesthetics appeal to architects, house builders and professional designers alike. The ChallengeBuilt by HJ O’Boyle contractors in November 2015, the 16 homes making up the £2.5m Marlborough Manor development mark the first residential development by Rosemount Homes Ltd, an offshoot of Lagan Construction Group, with whom AG has enjoyed business relations for nearly 20 years.Befitting the aesthetic tone of the Georgian-style homes the development called for facing bricks with the hand-crafted appearance sometimes only associated with clay bricks.Key to the development was also attractive and comfortable outdoor living spaces. The SolutionThe Heritage range, with its rumbled edges and traditional, rustic finish was chosen by the contracting team – and they haven’t looked back since.The beautiful Heritage facing brick – in Fergustie Mixture – was matched with AG’s Rectangular paving in Creagh Peat Brindle colour which affords a smooth finish with clean lines and richness of colour plus great skid and slip performance. And, of course, it’s also renowned for its durability and minimal maintenance requirements. Architect Alan Bennett has been completely won over by AG’s high quality facing brick – “The Heritage Fergustie brick is a great product and one I hope to use in the future.”

The stunning state-of-the-art, multi-level, Better New Addington Leisure & Community Centre, designed by GT3 Architects for the London Borough of Croydon features buff brick cladding with 3D- textured detailing thanks to external cladding supplier Aquarian Cladding Systems.The project was part of the Southern Construction Framework and followed a string of work carried out by Willmott Dixon for the Borough. It was also home to the building contractor’s first Building Lives Academy, aimed at upskilling young people in the area and providing them with an opportunity to join the construction industry.Originally, another brick cladding system was specified for use, however due to the complexity of the stepped window frame detailing, the additional cladding support rail cost, the time it would take to install, and a lack of product warranty from the supplier, an alternative cladding system was sought to meet the programme and budget.To resolve the challenge, Aquarian and specialist cladding contractor Express Dry Lining, part of Aquarian’s Approved Installer Network, worked closely together to achieve an acceptable finish to match the specified material, which suited the local vernacular thus meeting the aesthetic, programme, and commercial requirements.Peter Head, Director of Express Dry Lining said: “The design and installation support of Aquarian helped us ensure that all stakeholders were supported throughout the process of material selection, buildability, component production and assembly to achieve a photogenic building free of defects which will last. This is one of those projects to be proud of for a very long time.” In addition, the solution had to be a cladding system that used brick slips which could also be produced as standard bricks to build landscaping planters and achieve a seamless ‘hit-and-miss’ brick feature in the façade. As an innovative, panelised, insulating brick cladding system, which has been successfully tested to BS8414 on five separate occasions and has an EN13501 fire rating of B, s1, d0, Gebrik was perfect, with Aquarian supplying 1126m2 to the project.To achieve the 3D features in accordance with the architect’s design brief, eighteen different panel and corner components were produced, 25% of which were bespoke and therefore project-specific.The expertise of Express Dry Lining in the setting out of the substrate ensured the 60mm thick ‘brick wallpaper’ is consistent across the entire façade with perp joint alignment across both the stretcher and stack bond panels. And their attention to detail in ensuring the system was cleaned down after pointing ensured the façade was completed on time and to everyone’s satisfaction. The finished project was completed six weeks ahead of the revised programme with Gebrik significantly contributing to the speed of construction and reduction in programme, leading to significant cost benefits elsewhere. The London Borough of Croydon is delighted with the quality of the completed building, with Councillor Oliver Lewis, cabinet member for culture, leisure, and sport, quoted as saying, “This is a stunning new centre with first-class facilities for everyone in New Addington to enjoy and be proud of.” Peter Head concluded by saying, “It is unlikely any other brick cladding solution could have been used as cost-effectively and efficiently as Gebrik to create a façade of such high quality.”

The East London Hotel is positioned in the heart of Bethnal Green, London. Since 2015, this vibrant area has experienced an urban renaissance, and consequently architect Maith Design wanted a facade that represented modenism but also complimented some the neighbourhoods more traditional post war architecture. Completed in 2018, the A2 Licata Therm Fire Safe facade was finished with an extruded staffordshire blue facing brick (3mm Acrylic Slip).

An eco-friendly development targeting the Passivhaus Low Energy Building Standard, Castle Hill House provides undergraduate accommodation for students of St Peter’s College, University of Oxford. To ensure the scheme sits comfortably within the historic environment adjacent to Oxford Castle, Design Engine Architects specified Vandersanden’s Chaucer Suffolk and Majestic bricks.The prestigious scheme provides 54 bedrooms on a challenging site. On one corner is Canal House, the Master’s residence with a large garden, on the other, the Law Centre. It is bounded by New Road, a main route into Oxford, and Bulwarks Lane; between the two, there is a one-storey level change in the topography.To address the level change, a podium was created across the site which houses a bike store, plant rooms, toilets and offices. On top of the podium are the two residential blocks with the front building standing three storeys above the podium and the rear four storeys, the building stepping up as the natural ground gradient increases. Between the two is a central courtyard with bedroom windows of both buildings facing across it. This space also allows connection to the main university campus on the other side of Bulwarks Lane. The scheme is in a conservation area that includes listed buildings and Castle Mound, a scheduled ancient monument. Quite a variety of materials are evident in the surrounding buildings but, within the material hierarchy, brick was the most appropriate and Chaucer Suffolk was an ideal match to the ashlar, ‘Oxford’ buff colour of Canal House and the Law Centre. Vandersanden’s Majestic brick matches the greyer rusticated base of Canal House, so was ideal for the podium that runs into the wall at the rear of the site. “We were struggling to find bricks of the right colours, particularly for the grey bricks where we were looking for a very specific match but, once we found Vandersanden’s Majestic, we didn’t look back, they’ve been incredibly successful,” explains Richard James, associate at Design Engine Architects. “The Chaucer Suffolk provided exactly the right buff colour, not only matching the existing stone of the surrounding buildings but having the texture and tonal variety that gives it a warmer feel.”A fairly natural mortar colour was used throughout for both brick types, helping to blend them together and add a little more warmth to the overall tone of the two bricks.A variety of brickwork details have contributed to the success of the scheme. Within the brick piers of the faceted facades are areas of hit-and-miss brickwork that leave out the headers. These allow the window panels in the bedrooms to be left open to create natural ventilation and also provide some rain protection and security. Panels of hit-and-miss brickwork have also been used to fill in and repair existing walls, including the old stone wall on New Road. A staggered zigzag pattern was employed to replicate the texture of the very rough old stone walls on Bulwarks Lane.The buildings follow the site’s irregular shape so a large number of ‘cut stuck’ brick specials were employed to deal with the changes in direction of the walls. Pre-cast, brick-faced lintels and support units were also used at various points across the facades.The development targets the environmental standard ‘Passivhaus Institute Low Energy Building’. Passivhaus buildings are characterised by especially high levels of indoor comfort with minimum energy consumption. This is achieved by significantly improving the building fabric in terms of thermal insulation and airtightness, thereby minimising energy loss to a level that minimum space heating is required. “We’re really pleased with the bricks, the colour match has been even better than expected and the quality of the brick is probably one of the best I’ve seen,” enthuses James. “They’re not the cheapest brick on the market but the effect and the quality is much greater than their expense. Vandersanden will be the starting point for future projects requiring this level of quality.”To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link

Michelmersh’s Charnwood factory speciality is producing handmade bricks in bespoke blends with matching special shapes, all made by expert craftsmen. As the project developed and evolved it concluded with 20 bays, with varying angles on plain and face folds requiring 1400 different mould types to form the wide array of bespoke special bricks, all of which were to be intricately made from plan. Brick distributor EHSmith felt that Charnwood was the only manufacturer capable of achieving excellent results due to its production team’s knowledge, understanding, experience, dedication and flexibility.

A combination of primer and non-slip, waterborne lacquer from Bona was used to renovate the oak floor in a food service area at Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa, Leeds. Bona Intense primer delivered a subtle grain enriching effect and Bona Traffic HD Anti Slip was chosen for its combination of high durability and low level slip potential that surpasses the HSE’s low level slip classification of 36+ when tested using the Pendulum (CoF) test. Floors finished with Bona Traffic HD can be put back into full use after just 12 hours – perfect when avoiding downtime is a key requirement.

Project:Broxbourne SchoolClient:Chase New HomesContractor:Mid GroupArchitect:Bond BryanValue:£28mLocation: Broxbourne, HertfordshireGIFA: 9,633 m²Completion: 2020NEEDNew school projects require high building performance and quick delivery. Broxbourne School, replacing a sold secondary school site, also includes a community sports and music centre. Offsite methods deliver airtight, thermally efficient buildings quickly, as demonstrated by Broxbourne School, thanks to the close partnership of the architect, developer, and contractors.SOLUTIONMid Group, Innovaré, and Bond Bryan, having collaborated on multiple projects, efficiently deployed offsite methods, including the Innovaré SIP System. Structural SIP walls were used for teaching wings and as an airtight wrap around the steel frame of larger spaces, with brick slip facades by Aquarian Cladding Systems. The design focused on optimal classroom conditions and suitable materials for each structure part.OUTCOME Precise project planning meant that the Innovaré installation teams were onsite for just 15 weeks The buildings feature exceptional thermal efficiency (U value of 0.2w/m²K) and airtightness (5m³/m²/h), surpassing DfE targets, reducing energy demand, and lowering operational carbon. Extensive use of structural timber reduced embodied and sequestered carbon. The project’s success resulted from close partnership, leveraging prior knowledge and resolving issues early

AWARD-WINNING DEVELOPER REAPS BENEFITS OF SPECIFYING MARSHALLS FACING BRICKS FOR WATERSIDE APARTMENTS The use of concrete bricks, supplied by Marshalls Bricks & Masonry, contributed to both cost and schedule control during the construction of a premium waterside apartment development in Birmingham as well as providing sustainability benefits too.Located on a former boat yard site adjacent to the famous Old Birmingham Canal, Ultima at Sherborne Wharf is a premium collection of 87 one and two-bedroom apartments in Birmingham city center.Developed and built by Crest Nicholson, the 10-storey new build was originally specified and approved at the planning stage as clay brick, but looking to meet budgetary and availability requirements, the design team approached Marshalls Bricks & Masonry to seek an alternative solution.With stringent planning guidelines to work to, Marshalls recommended a list of cost effective options closest to those already approved, together with physical sample boards for visual review.The design team selected two facing brick options from the Marshalls Sandstock range. This particular range has the appearance of a waterstruck stock brick but with the benefit of dimensional accuracy to ease construction.The preferred options were the Hampton Stock and Waddon Stock, which were submitted to planning and approved. Requiring a quick turnaround, from initial contact to delivery, 341,000 concrete bricks were delivered within just two months by Marshalls.Most of the apartment block features Hampton Stock, an almost buff red brick, created from using more muted tones of red and orange. This particular brick also features the occasional subtle black brick running sporadically throughout, which helps the brickwork tie-in to the building’s powder-coated balconies, windows and doors.Intermittently, between the storeys, the bricks are stacked vertically, adding subtle design detailing to the building.The scheme also benefits from a sustainability perspective. According to available Environmental Product Declarations, concrete bricks have a lower embodied carbon than clay bricks and are 100% recyclable. Embodied carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the extraction, manufacturing and transportation, installation, maintenance and ultimate disposal of materials. Reducing these emissions will be crucial to mitigate the industry’s impact on climate change.Commenting on Marshalls involvement, Julian Lee, Technical Director at Crest Nicholson said “We initially decided to go with facing bricks from the Marshalls Bricks & Masonry range as they enabled us to come within budget while still allowing us to get the colour we wanted for the site. After working with the concrete bricks, we found they worked really well with the added benefit of the sustainability access that comes with them. The Marshalls Bricks & Masonry team came to site to work with us, and the site bricklayers to overcome any questions or concerns. All in all, the building appearance with these bricks finishes well.”

PROJECTED BRICK DETAILING USING MARSHALLS CONCRETE BRICKS FORMS THE CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS OF THE TIMPSON UNIVERCITY.The retail service provider group’s new training centre near its head office in South Manchester.Designed by the Manchester office of award-winning architect practice tp bennett, the purpose of the new state-of-the-art building, known as The Nest, is to host training to 500 staff a year, including ex-offenders and those on day release.“We wanted to create the best training facility in the UK; a welcoming and comfortable building that inspires people to be their best within an environment that is fun, calm, spacious and collegiate,” explains Timpson Facilities Manager, Natasha Nelson.The single-storey, 9,258 sq foot brick-built building comprises a boardroom, training and meeting rooms as well as a breakout space and garden area. Originally, the project architect, whose intent was to add architectural interest using a projected brickwork technique, specified a white clay brick, externally.Working alongside the architect and main contractor John Turner Construction, brick expert and LBT Brick & Facades Ltd Commercial Manager Steven Leggott, specified Marshalls Castleton Stock facing bricks, he explains: “Originally the architect was looking to specify a white clay brick. I proposed some alternative options and the Castleton Stock brick came out as the preferred choice. It provided a competitive clay alternative – it’s a concrete brick that met both aesthetic and technical requirements.”THIS BRICKWORK DETAIL PROVIDES THE PERFECT BACKDROP TO THE BUILDING’S SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE SIGNAGE.Running the full length of the entrance façade, Marshalls Castleton Stock facing bricks add texture and relief. The bricks have been laid using a natural mortar to create a projected pattern from the ground up to a two-third height, with the bricks protruding 20mm. This brickwork detail provides the perfect backdrop to the building’s simple yet effective signage.The Castleton Stock facing brick is part of the Marshalls frogged, contemporary range. With an industrial chic feel and a smooth face, it works well when creating modern designs.TIMPSON UNIVERCITY SITE HAS SAVED 12.4 TONNES OF CARBON.What’s more, this particular brick is Green Guide rated A+, as Marshalls concrete bricks have significantly less embodied carbon than clay bricks – almost 49% less over their whole lifecycle. By selecting the Castleton Stock brick as an alternative to a traditional clay brick, the Timpson UniverCity site has saved 12.4 tonnes of carbon.Commenting on the finished building Timpson Group Facilities Manager Natasha Nelson said: “The building is a huge hit with our colleagues and external clients, from the minute you approach the entrance, the brickwork detail makes such a first impression - setting the professional tone for what’s happening inside!”