"radiation shielding fire bricks"

Product constituents: To meet UK fire standards the Access Panels manufactured have been tested by Warrington Fire and hold a 120-minute fire rating certificate.

Coopers Fire installed a large, multi-faceted FireMaster Concertina Closed fire curtain on floor 12. The client utilising floors 12 and 13 wanted to keep an open plan feel between floors to allow a more free flowing environment for the staff. To achieve this, a bespoke staircase was designed connecting the floors. The spiral staircase was a major feature on floor 12 and meant that staff were able to move freely between floors 12 and 13 without using the lifts.

London Brick wall panels in Sandy Brown were specified for this office redesign for their strength and natural characteristics. Our highly durable Texture panels are ideal for busy areas with high footfall so are perfect for the large wall in the social breakout space. In addition,Texture wall panels can support decoration and integrate features with ease, such as the television screen in this project. London Brick Sandy Brown also provides a perfect backdrop for the orange neon-lit sign. Throughout the design, the execution is impeccable with high quality fixtures and colourful furnishings bringing the office to life.

Brick manufacturer Vandersanden presents an enhanced series of seven engaging and informative CPD webinars including their newest CPD ‘Brick: circularity, sustainability and innovation’. The sessions are part of Vandersanden’s portfolio of learning and development tools, aimed at architects and specifiers, to help build their knowledge base and keep them updated on new techniques and innovations in brick manufacturing.Vandersanden’s informative CPD webinar series is designed to be concise yet packed with useful information to inspire architects to learn more about the creative design potential of bricks.Mathew Davies, National Specification Manager for Vandersanden comments:“Vandersanden is one of Europe’s most innovative producers of bricks and our CPD modules, many of which are RIBA approved, have already had great feedback from our partners at architectural practices. Following their response, we’ve extended our CPD programme, based on requests for more diverse and in-depth brick topics, and our new CPD on sustainability is proving particularly popular. We aim to make the sessions as interactive as possible, with plenty of time for live Q&A with team members during, and at the end of each session.”The webinar series consists of seven CPD sessions, which take place on the first Wednesday of every month. The CPD series includes the following:RIBA Certified CPD #1– Brick basicsThis CPD explores the origins and anatomy of brick, as well as covering the main brick types and commonly used configurations and bonding patterns. The CPD also discusses the influence of joints and mortar, accommodating building movement and important considerations when specifying brick.RIBA Certified CPD #2 – How to avoid brick stains and efflorescenceThis CPD explains about the discolouration issues commonly experienced with brickwork facades and the reasons behind the different types of staining that occur. The course then covers the preventative methods that can help avoid this efflorescence and the protective role that innovative coated bricks can play.CPD #3 The brick - From the fundamentals to inspired designAn introduction to the different types of clay brick and the range of sizes, colours, textures and finishes available to help create inspired building design. This CPD reveals some of the key technical considerations and will help attendees learn more about brick as a sustainable building product.CPD #4 The brick - Special techniques & innovationsThis CPD explores some of Vandersanden’s new brick innovations and how different manufacturing techniques are used to deliver their unique range of bricks. The webinar then looks at a number of project examples that demonstrate how these can be applied to create beautifully inspired building designs.RIBA Certified CPD #5 – Textured brickworkThis CPD demonstrates the texture effects that can be achieved when specifying and designing clay brick facades. The webinar explores how texture can be used to enhance building aesthetics and then looks at the main brick types, relevant bonding patterns and technical considerations.RIBA Certified CPD #6 – Movement in brickworkThis CPD shows how to accommodate movement in brickwork, and the possible causes and types of movement. It looks at where to position vertical and horizontal movement joints and discusses the technical considerations for cavity wall construction in relation to movement joints.RIBA Certified CPD #7 - Brick: circularity, sustainability and innovationThis CPD looks at how bricks are manufactured sustainably, the important role innovation plays in reducing the use of clay through the manufacture of thin bricks and manufactured brick slips, brick and the circular economy and innovations in brick sustainability including carbon negative bricks.Mathew Davies, National Specification Manager for Vandersanden concludes:“Vandersanden is committed to sharing our expertise and providing inspiration that supports our collaboration with architects and specifiers, this CPD series continues to help build our professional partnership community.”To register to attend and to find out more click on the 'View more' link

Upper Longcross is a development project by Crest Nicholson. The project involved the construction of new homes in Surrey. The development was designed to provide a mix of affordable and luxury housing, with a focus on sustainability and green spaces.Crest Nicholson’s commitment to sustainability was evident in the design of the Upper Longcross development. The homes were built to a high standard of energy efficiency, with features such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems. The development also featured extensive green spaces, including a central park and a network of footpaths and cycle routes. The Upper Longcross development has been widely praised for its innovative approach to sustainability and for providing high-quality homes in desirable locations.Michelmersh’s Hampshire Stock Dark and Light Multi bricks are instantly recognisable and assist the houses to stand out from their leafy scenery and help harmonise modern and more traditional facades. Freshfield Lane Lindfield Yellow bricks are also seen within the development.

Barry Fire Station / Altro case study

The cast iron flyscreen air brick has the advantage of protecting the property from insect and rodent ingress but can help stop flooding with this innovative and simple barrier. The flood screen is a cork gasket for our single and double flyscreen air bricks and is simply inserted in the air brick when flooding is likely or imminent in place of the fly mesh. Once the danger has passed the copper fly mesh is replaced and the cork flood screen stored away safely until require again. It is available with our 9x3 and 9x6 cast iron air bricks here

Award-winning global practice, WilkinsonEyre, specified bricks and brick slips from innovation-led manufacturer, Vandersanden, to emphasise the horizontal volumes and architectural context of the contemporary, new Graduate Centre at Queen Mary University in London. Zero®, a new brick system from Vandersanden, offers a contemporary joint-free appearance and was WilkinsonEyre’s material of choice for the external walls of this 80m-long, seven-storey ground-scraper. Instead of being pointed up to the face of the bricks, the mortar is set well back, with rainwater draining behind. The use of brick draws attention to the horizontality of the building’s volumes and blends with neighbouring buildings...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

Coopers installed FireMaster fire curtains with smoke control over the lift door openings on each of the ground and upper seven floors and two on the basement so a total of forty eight curtains. An important part of the design of the building on the ground and first floor was to subtly integrate the fire curtain headbox and side guides into the lift opening.

Our newest designed cast iron 225x225 air brick allows for an unprecedented free area of 28,000mm2. It is known as the MAX9 air brick and has recently been cast in Oxfordshire, near Cotswolds and is ideally suited to period properties looking for enhanced ventilation. Existing customers include Prime Minister Cameron for installation in Chequers as well as Jesus College Cambridge

Poundbury is an urban extension to the town of Dorchester. Developed over a period of nearly 30 years, and designed to a masterplan by Leon Krier, Poundbury has been an extraordinarily influential demonstration of the Prince of Wales’s vision for new mixed-use development. The development started in 1993 and is expected to complete in 2025.The development is notable for its use of traditional materials such as clay brick, distinctive architecture, and its mix of residential and commercial uses. It also includes a number of affordable housing developments, which is one of the key aims of the project; 35% of homes being built in Poundbury are affordable housing for rent, shared ownership or discounted sales.Since 2009 much of the development has been the responsibility of Ben Pentreath Ltd who has created a variety of architectural styles throughout the development which is based on what local housebuilders are able to do best. A high level of detail is notable throughout and will continue into future phases of the development, including the Urban Quarter, which will be more representative of London’s built aesthetic.Freshfield Lane’s ever-popular Lindfield Yellow, First Quality Multi’s and Selected Darks are in frequent use throughout Poundbury, where their combined characteristics help to reaffirm the grandeur of the project, while also providing a comforting, familiar sense of style. The lighter tones of the bricks help to add to the already noticeable sense of space created by the architects and help to settle the extremities of the expansion into the picturesque, surrounding Dorset scenery.Special thanks to Taylor Maxwell

Monier Road is a residential project designed by Pitman Tozer Architects in East London’s Fish Island neighbourhood. The development comprises of 16 houses and 7 apartments, constructed in two rows with a shared courtyard between them. The buildings are arranged in a stepped configuration, with the taller apartments on the east side and the lower houses on the west side, providing views across the site towards the River Lea.Monier Road uses an eyecatching combinatrion of Floren.be’s Vecchio and Vega Rustic clay bricks. The soft brown and pinks of the bricks allow Monier Road to maintain a distinct visual identity from other Fish Island regeneration projects.The Monier Road development has received critical acclaim for its innovative design and high-quality construction. It was shortlisted in the Housing Design Awards in 2017 and 2019 and featured in numerous architectural publications. The project demonstrates Pitman Tozer Architects’ commitment to creating sustainable and socially inclusive communities through thoughtful and well-designed residential developments.

An ambitious self-build project can provide the perfect opportunity to infuse a new home with creative flair, character and lasting appeal. Bringing together these attributes was front of mind for Luke Lawrence, an experienced builder and property developer, when imagining two adjacent family homes for a recent scheme in the affluent commuter town of Hornchurch in Essex. The prime location demanded something quite special and the finished project delivers with a development that marries an attractive, characterful aesthetic with a timeless, contemporary build, achieved with the help of Vandersanden’s multi-coloured Lithium facing bricks.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 

Geraint Thomas House in Crawley is a 9-storey new build development of 91 modern homes, designed to impeccably high standards by Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt and Claylens Mills with the additional aspiration of setting a future benchmark for other developments in the area.The apartments have been designed to meet the needs of modern families, with spacious living areas and plenty of storage space. Two-thirds of the apartments are available through shared ownership schemes, making them more affordable for local residents.One of the key features of the development is its incredibly detailed brickwork. The brick façades provide a striking contrast to the glass and steel of the surrounding buildings, and playful patterns create a distinct and detailed façade that stands further sets it apart from previously built local projects. Delicate shades of bronze are prevalent amongst the building’s rain-screen cladding and balustrades.A bespoke blend of Blockleys Sterling Grey and Black Wirecut bricks adds a premium sheen to a project that already oozes impressive aesthetics and cuts a unique shape into Crawley’s existing architecture. Geraint Thomas House was recently shortlisted in the Medium Housing Development at the 2022 BDA Brick Awards.

There are a total of 30 active SmokeStop smoke curtain barriers, 5 vertical FireMaster fire curtains and 2 FireMaster Concertina multi-faceted fire curtains installed within the university building offering protection from fire and smoke. With a large central atrium in the centre of the building, smoke control was a huge necessity on this project and therefore various bespoke engineered solutions were required to help solve the smoke and fire requirements.

Yeoman Shield FalmouthEX Wall Panels in Red, Stainless Corner Angles, Special Timber Pattress (covered in Black PVC), Duo Fender (Black with Red inner) and Stainless Steel Footrail were supplied and installed throughout the Mount Pleasant depot. D Fender and a Special Pattress Duo Fender along with HD100(H) High Vis Heavy Duty Corner Protection were installed in the van delivery and collection loading bay.

Belle Vue is a 5,700 square metre retirement community of 60 one and two-bedroom apartments in Hampstead, designed by Morris+Company. It’s surrounded by carefully landscaped gardens and manicured courts, with which it offers a communal environment for its residents.Inside the feeling of community is continued with a restaurant, cafe, library, spa, gym, lounges and activity rooms. All are thoughtfully considered to ensure the residents are catered for in all ways. Journeys throughout the project are open to communal areas as well for further social considerations.Due to Belle Vue’s surroundings, Floren.be’s Avorio brick was used to retain a similar, but a visually distinct homage to the brick structures in the multiple local conservation areas. The lightness and fluctuating tonality of the red Avorio allows the building to appear as light and airy externally as it is inside, due to its large windows, open plan layouts and community spaces.With a clientele whose average age is around 77, it’s insightful that Pegasus Life Pegasus Lifestory chose to hire from architectural practices who had no previous experience in the retirement sector. Modern sentiments are clearly visible throughout, but care and consideration are shown to its inhabitants where a calm environment is melded with the benefits of inner-city living.Belle Vue was recently shortlisted for the 2022 RIBA London awards.

In Rugby, 57 aerial masts and a radio station are the genesis for the beginning of a new town, centred around the recently finished Houlton School. The carefully considered design of the School by Van Heyningen & Haward (VHH), is the successful retrofit of a collection of historic, grade 2 listed radio station buildings. Its cost-effective evolution into a thriving, sustainable secondary school comes through the careful integration of the previous buildings and by choosing to use products that fitted soundly within the pre-existing vernacular.Adapting the original framework to today’s standards was a job that took years to come to fruition, careful application of steel frame and the restoration of the original brickwork has meant that the two main listed structures, Transmission Hall and Power Hall will become a place of learning for generations of students. Handmade clay bricks provided by Michelmersh were vital to the restoration of the project, where they were used to ensure the structures could be repaired and retained rather than rebuilt from the ground up.Throughout the project, various elements of the building's industrial past have been retained, with arched windows and high ceilings to ensure that the history of this nearly century-old building is revered, but not overpowering compared to its newly instated modern sensibilities.Houlton School recently won the Refurbishment Category at the BDA Brick Awards.

Close to the historic market town of Nantwich, renowned for its medieval timbered architecture, Chamberlain Developments in association with DEP Architects have created nine bespoke two, three and four-bedroom homes in the wonderful bucolic village setting of Acton. Eighty intricate Keystone brick slip feature lintels feature across the ground and first floor door and window openings on the phase two development.ChallengeThe new homes are sympathetically placed around the restored and converted traditional 18th century farmhouse, ancillary barns and outbuildings from the initial phase one development, situated near the 13th century St. Mary’s Church. The architecture plans specified a combination of bespoke brick slip flat gauge arches, parabolic arches and bullseye lintels, each requiring a flawless brick surround finish in keeping with the heritage sensitivity of the site.The plans received from T G Builders Merchant originally included brick slip lintels for the front and rear elevations only, however, Keystone’s team were able to offer Chamberlain Developments a solution for the other more intricate brick details and the specification was therefore increased to include additional brick slip flat gauge arches and bullseye lintels for the side elevations.SolutionKeystones dedicated technical team ensured each bespoke lintel was manufactured to size, shape and aesthetic requirements within the project build schedule. A consignment of bricks were collected from site, cut and bonded offsite onto load bearing lintels using a BBA approved construction adhesive. The weatherproof controlled environment helped to guarantee a high quality brick finish and eliminated delays onsite from disruptive weather conditions.The flat gauge arches were designed with a 70-degree brick skew and all lintels were suited to a wall construction of 325mm, 215mm brick height and 102.5mm soffit return, removing the need for skilled labour onsite. The prefabricated brick slip lintels were delivered to site ready for final pointing, with larger and heavier lintels including lifting hooks for an easier and safer installation.Testimonial“We have specified Keystone many times before and have always been impressed with both the company’s products and customer support. At our Church Farm development, the brick slip feature lintels played a key part in the design of the new build homes. They look fantastic and the excellent detailing ensures they blend seamlessly with the rest of the brickwork.”Richard BullockContracts Manager at Chamberlain Developments

One of the first residential developments created and offered for sale by Westminster City Council, Cosway Street, in Marylebone, London is a collection of 49 contemporary homes set around an attractive communal garden. Vandersanden’s Cayenne, Woodland Mixture and Lima bricks are integral both to the pre-cast Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) panels, forming the facades, and the traditional hand-laid brickwork lining the balcony spaces. This landmark building was inspired by the area’s Georgian terraces and Victorian mansion blocks. From the choice of materials to the precise proportions and the gentle curves of the scalloped panels, every element of the architecture has been considered to help stitch the scheme into its setting. David Miller Architects took over the project post planning approval. The design intent was to craft the building as if it had been carved from brick. A key decision was to employ pre-fabricated DfMA brick panels for the main facades, alongside traditional hand-laid brickwork for the inset balconies. Using this approach allowed the construction team to build quickly to a precise, high quality and efficient standard in a controlled manufacturing environment, using less energy and carbon and creating less waste. The idea was to split the building’s mass using the materiality, colours and textures of the three different bricks and the scalloped form of the panels to respond directly to the context of the site. The choice of bricks was incredibly important and had to meet the planning design intent explains Sundas Rohilla, project architect at David Miller Architects. “It was essential to ensure we were picking up the right tones of reds, yellows and greys from the existing buildings; Vandersanden’s Cayenne, Woodland Mixture and Lima do this perfectly. They also harmonise with the pigmentation of the concrete sills and copings, as well as with the window and balcony railing colours.” “We’d used Vandersanden products on a previous project for Westminster City Council and we’re now using them to deliver two other projects in the same area, Ashbridge Street and Ashmill Street. It comes down to the hues and the textures that the bricks offer and the company’s commitment to sustainability.” The mass of the building is reduced not only by the different blocks of brick colours but also by the gradation of the mortar colours across the façade. In all, there are five mortars with the darkest at the base of the wall and the lightest at the top. Using mortars in this way meant that there was no need to use different brick types to achieve the same effect, but it did mean that it was essential to have bricks of the right texture and consistency. The brick panels were pointed off-site in the factory. With such a complicated design, off-site construction meant that precise tolerances could be achieved, and the quality of the brickwork could be seamless. In all, 285 precast panels were manufactured by Decomo in Belgium to create 3.500m2 of finished facades. Dueto the façade’s differing curvatures, Decomo had to cut and bond the bricks to various sizes with 117 different shapes for each of the three brick colours. The bricks used by Decomo in Belgium exactly matched those being used on-site by the bricklayers, with Vandersanden working closely with the design team and directly with Decomo to manage this process. “Vandersanden was incredibly helpful and responsive from the start, providing samples and initial quotes during brick selection,” notes Rohilla. “The company’s approach to sustainability and collective wellbeing resonates with ours as an architectural practice. Knowing that Vandersanden has Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that are super open means that we can easily compare against other products. It feels like sustainability is really embodied into their culture.”  “Our experience with Vandersanden has been great and their products have helped us deliver top quality housing. Everyone involved is very proud of the building’s aesthetic and that is due to the bricks. It’s been a very good experience and we hope to keep working with them.”The design for Cosway Street was by Bell Phillips, realised by Osborne and David Miller Architects as their delivery architects. 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

Sugar House Island‘s Cooperage Yard is part of a transformative project just south of Olympic Park intending to create a distinctive urban environment that has been carefully designed to create a balance between work, life and leisure. Designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects it offers a stunning riverside view to its users.Set next to the Islands creative quarter, Cooperage Yard covers 8000ft2 over of the area. Its immediately recognisable sawtooth-shaped roof overlooks the river and courtyard. Natural light floods both floors of the building and a south-facing roof terrace offers further space for its inhabitants.Freshfield Lane’s Danehill Yellow bricks are immediately recognisable and offer a positive contrast to the tones of other nearby brick buildings. The tones are further complimented by shafts of natural light that penetrate the pathways between buildings. When combined, the colour language and open space create a sense of optimism between the structures.

DRU has installed 89 gas fires into Ebury Square, a development of luxury 1-4 bedroom apartments and 5 bedroom penthouses by Berkeley Homes in Belgravia, London. The fires were selected for their contemporary design, easy installation and high energy efficiency. They consist of single-sided and double-sided tunnel models. Berkeley Homes selected DRU because of their unique PowerVent® flue system. Due to the configuration of the apartments, the flues had to be extended up to 64 metres throughout the service ducts in the complex, with most of the fires having external PowerVent® terminals on the roof.

Located on the edge of Cambridge’s De Freville Conservation Area, Clare College’s St Regis site has provided accommodation for postgraduate students of the University of Cambridge for over fifty years. In recent times, the need for regeneration became clear and Freeland Rees Roberts Architects was appointed to design a new scheme. The practice worked closely with Vandersanden, selecting brick as the principal element of the attractive new facades.While the old buildings failed to fit into the surrounding urban context and lacked the facilities required, the new scheme provides more and improved student accommodation for the college together with market flats. To achieve this successfully in a residential area, it was vital to consider the massing and perceived scale of the buildings. Consequently, the volumes were broken down to feel more like a series of big houses than large residential blocks.Clearly of a confident, contemporary design, the buildings respect their surroundings, repairing and maintaining the rhythm of the street scene. In large part, this is due to the choice of bricks and the splitting of the facades into separate gables with slopping roofs. Vandersanden’s Majestic and Luna Apollo facing bricks were selected and contribute to the detailing of the facades.“There is plenty of life and colour variation in the bricks,” explains Alexander Hobohm, director at Freeland Rees Roberts Architects. “This assists in breaking down the overall massing of the facades and works well with the dark zinc of the roofs.”The bricks act to soften the appearance of the facades and link the context of the new and neighbouring buildings. The beige grey Majestic brick predominates with the darker grey Luna Apollo providing detailing. It forms the plinth that anchors the buildings while a soldier course of Majestic bricks above provides the transition to the main body of the walls. At the junction with the zinc roof, the detailing is subtle with the transition provided by stepped courses of the Luna Apollo. Panels of projecting brick headers are a further feature, introduced to add a textural quality that brings light and shade to the facades.“The brick’s colour, tone and texture were qualities that other manufacturers couldn’t offer,” says Hobohm. “Usefully, Vandersanden invited us to see a number of projects using the same bricks which was so much more helpful than relying just on sample panels.”Another contributory factor to the look is the choice of mortar. This was specified to create a natural, lime mortar-like appearance and was achieved by fully pointing and, after the initial set, brushing back; there are no struck joint lines.A defining feature of the front facade is the public art. The college commissioned a carving featuring swifts in flight, inspired by the birds that were in residence in the original buildings. Swift boxes have been integrated into the new facades to provide a home for these beautiful birds. Using hand tools and following trials, stonemasons carved some 5-10mm into the face of the brickwork to create the design. A breathable paint finish was applied to highlight the indentations - a single bird at the very top is gold-leafed.  For Hobohm, working with Vandersanden was a positive, supportive and proactive process. “It was very straightforward. Early on, Vandersanden supplied product and technical information, plus a batch of the two brick types, enabling us to create sample panels. The bricks helped deliver the project vision and the client is delighted. It’s now one of the college’s signature buildings and has already won several awards.” 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 

Bourne Estate is a Grade II listed building in the London Borough of Camden. The perimeter blocks face Clerkenwell Road, Leather Lane and Portpool Lane forming a strong uniformed frontage. Its spatial character is inward facing, with interior blocks detached and positioned in parallel rows with several areas of open space. Matthew Lloyd Architects plans were granted permission for the redevelopment of Bourne Estate. The scheme included the demolition and provision of 75 mixed tenure homes, with improved public realm and open spaces. Higgins Construction completed the £19.0m residential project using IG lintels bespoke flat gauge brick slip feature lintels.Challenge:Bourne Estate is an example of early London City Council residential housing estates built in the 1900’s. Matthew Lloyd Architects in partnership with Higgins Construction wanted to respond to the original architecture of the buildings, consisting of fine brick detailing, by emulating the pride and care shown in the old design within the new housing architecture plans. Planning permission stipulated for all materials and characteristics of the area to be retained and kept in good repair or replicated where no other alternatives are available.Solution:IG’s technical engineer designed 215mm high flat gauge brick slip feature lintels accommodating a series of brick spans; 910mm, 1360mm, 1472mm and 1585mm. All bricks were cut and bonded offsite onto the load bearing lintels.A consignment of bricks were collected from site to guarantee both quality and reliability in matching the surrounding brickwork. The ceramic bricks were carefully cut in a mitre fashion to conceal the red clay finish underneath and ensure that the ceramic finish on the mitre did not splinter which minimalised brick wastage. All the bricks cut were bonded in a rowlock pattern using BBA approved construction adhesive in a controlled environment without disruption from the natural weather. Each prefabricated single piece unit was delivered in line with the build schedule onsite. This reduced health and safety concerns by eliminating the requirement for skilled labour working from height for a prolonged period of time in a busy London area.Encompassing both buildings and landscape, the redevelopment strengthens the character of the conservation area through its careful design, by paying attention to the articulation of the facades. The contrasting brick types used on the project add to the new design creating pleasing views clearly defining key routes and boundaries.

The Stratosphere building in London, designed by Allies and Morrison, is a sleek and contemporary addition to the capital’s skyline. Its location in the Stratford area of London makes it a part of the vibrant cultural and business hub of East London.The building’s striking design is characterized by its distinctive saw-tooth facade, which is made up of a series of alternating angled and flat planes. The facade was inspired by the industrial heritage of the surrounding area, which was once home to factories and warehouses. The saw-tooth design also serves a practical purpose, allowing for maximum natural light to enter the building while minimizing solar gain and glare. The building’s interior spaces are designed to be flexible and adaptable, making them suitable for a range of uses from office spaces to residential apartments.The Stratosphere building uses Floren.be’s Sirius clay bricks. The deep browns help set it apart from its contemporary counterpart and also speak to the industrial heritage of the area.

Fire-rated mailboxes and fire-rated parcel lockers integrated in the same unit. Recessed into the wall.

Vandersanden has launched a new online interactive Inspiration Guide ‘Sustainably Attractive Facades'. The specially curated brochure has been designed to both inspire and inform architects about the variety of bricks that Vandersanden offers and their potential to elevate any architectural project.  Mathew Davies, National Specification Manager Vandersanden UK comments: “We wanted to create an indispensable reference tool for architects to deliver not only essential information about the numerous brick finishes and styles that Vandersanden offers, but to share inspiration from some of the outstanding projects that feature our bricks. The brochure offers a comprehensive guide to all our brick shapes, sizes and colourways. We’re confident we have a product that’s suitable for all types of facades and every architect’s vision.” Specifier CollectionsThe guide offers a curated preview of Vandersanden’s wide range of solutions for specifiers, offering insights into the extensive choice of brick types; from hand-formed to wirecut bricks and beyond. Architects will also be able to learn more about the inspiring colour range of bricks available, including bright whites, contemporary greys, bold blacks, rustic reds, soft buffs/yellows and creative pastels.  Project InspirationThe new Inspiration Guide provides architects with inspiration from an impressive range of projects that have featured Vandersanden’s bricks, in all colours and textures. Specifiers can learn from the architects of the award-winning tranquil Spa at South Lodge or the outstanding City Law School, which seamlessly combines both traditional and contemporary architecture. Whether the project requires bricks of a more rich and rustic aesthetic, or a crisp and contemporary finish, Vandersanden can bring to life any architect’s creative vision.Focus on SustainabilityThe new Inspiration Guide also offers insights into Vandersanden’s commitment to sustainability and its drive to develop sustainable products, manufacturing processes and services which have a limited impact on the environment and ecosystem. The company shares an overview of its efforts and results in terms of sustainability and the past year’s performance shows that Vandersanden is on the right track towards CO2-neutrality by 2050. On-going Innovation & DevelopmentVandersanden is a company that continually innovates and this new guide aims to share some of the latest innovations that the company has launched. These include the new Texture Generator, an online tool which enables architects, property developers and other specifiers, to design a facade by combining, different types of bricks and brick slips, colours, laying patterns and joint thicknesses. In total, the texture generator allows more than 1.1 million combinations to be created and compared. The new Inspiration Guide also includes a summary of Vandersanden’s engaging and informative CPD webinars. The sessions are part of Vandersanden’s portfolio of learning and development tools, aimed at architects and specifiers, to help build their knowledge base and keep them updated on new techniques and innovations in brick manufacturing. Created by a team of Vandersanden’s expert professionals, the guide offers an invaluable digital tool to assist specifiers throughout the whole architectural process. Request your copy of ‘Sustainably Attractive Facades', here Request your Inspiration Guide | Vandersanden

Built on the site of Warranty House, a now demolished office building, Middle Yard is a residential development located on Dudden Hill Lane in London. The regenerative development consists of 136 new homes set back from the road, creating a much sought-after sense of privacy and space. In addition to the 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, there is also a communal garden, pool and onsite gym for Middle Yard’s residents to enjoy.Designed by Union Developments and Lynas Smith Architects, the development was completed in 2022 and has been extremely popular amongst buyers, with multiple apartments being reserved before completion. The brick-centric homes align with the bricks’ proven record of high durability and low maintenance, and the location is extremely convenient for commuting into central London with multiple transport links extremely close by. The development is also close to a number of amenities, including schools, shops and parks.Middle Yard has provided much-needed new homes in northwest London. The timeless brick construction and eye-catching modern design have helped to regenerate an area of the city. Freshfield Lane’s eye-catching Lindfield Yellow bricks provide unmistakable character to the project and help settle it into the urban environment.

Native’s flagship boutique aparthotel in the bankside conservation area of Bear Gardens is an eight-storey scheme that involves the transformation of three of the five buildings located within the confines of the densely packed area. IG’s brick feature arch lintels feature on the front elevation of the former derelict 19th century Empire Warehouse that has been replaced and linked into a 75-room boutique aparthotel.Challenge:SPPARC in association with Southwark Council, Macro Investments and Native wanted to demonstrate that modern architecture can successfully cohabit with the historic collection of buildings informed by the industrial heritage that dominates the southern bank of the River Thames.A carefully considered restoration and modern intervention was required for a cutting-edge contemporary mixed-use development, offering an urban experience for its users but remaining sensitive to the colourful history, conservation area and surrounding developments.Solution:IG’s technical team designed eighteen brick feature arch lintels to accommodate metal paned and arched factory styled windows. A 2718mm opening span and 143mm rise was required for each prefabricated lintel, each including a 338mm high face brick and 223mm soffit return with either a 78 or 90-degree end skew.The massing arrangement across each floor ensures that natural light is maximised throughout the building with the intricate brick detailing prominent at street level appearing above impressive double height foyer windows. The offsite construction method used negated the need for skilled brickwork to be created onsite to achieve the decorative brick pattern at a raised height. This helped to reduce any health and safety concerns in a location surrounded by tourist destinations and narrow cobbled streets.The ground floor of the scheme provides mixed use units with the northern site leased by Bell English Language School and the southern site providing studios for the iconic Globe Theatre directly linking to their Sackler Education Building.The upper floors are lighter in composition, combining clear and obscure floor-to-ceiling glazing with rich bronze circular rods, creating a strong rhythm to the façade, and enhancing the appearance of the once-dilapidated buildings. The upper floors of the Rose Alley elevation have perforated bronze screens that offer privacy, referencing the loom patterns that were once manufactured in the original warehouse.

THE PROJECTThe Jackson fire rated project features freestanding mailboxes that conform to the BS476 Part 6 & 7. The small bank of fire rated mailboxes are installed internally in a residential building to securely store mail for residents. The mailboxes have the use of support legs which are secured to the concrete floor with heavy-duty fixings. Support stands are colour coded to match the same finish as the bank of mailboxes.Mailboxes that meet the BS476 Part 6 & 7 will satisfy the demands of fire protection in most cases, and provide an affordable alternative if the surface spread of flame and non-flammable materials are acceptable. The mailboxes feature an inward sprung flap, which is a standard feature across the fire rated mailbox range. An intumescent strip is placed on the internal side of the mail flap, which expands when the temperature increases and ensures that the flap is kept closed – stopping the oxygen flow into the mailbox and reducing the risk of fire spreading through the mailbox.An alternative fire rated solution is that mailboxes are manufactured to meet the BS476 Part 22, this group of products contain a series of features and benefits that result in a ‘one-hour integrity’ rating. As a result of the comprehensive collection of features, this product range is the premium option.PROJECT DETAILSProject Type: Private ResidentialProduct: Fire Rated 2 MailboxInstallation: FreestandingFire Rating: BS476 Part 6 & 7Accessories: Identification Nametabs/Support legs

Alma-nac's "House-within-a-house" is a fantastic example of a building retrofitted to adapt to new challenges. Sitting in a row of typical 1950's houses, the project gave an existing home a contemporary facelift while complimenting the surrounding buildings traditional London brick.12,670 Michelmersh bricks were used in the project to provide an economical and thermally efficient shell to the original building, which is nestled inside the outer structure. Elements of the project that may have ended up in landfill were reused where possible and the combination of reused concrete and the brick skin means an increase of thermal efficiency that could save 4 tonnes of Carbon a year.House-within-a-House recently won the "Individual Housing Development" in the 2021 Brick Awards, judges praised it's complementary nature to the area without "trying to mimic the naturally aged material".

Our range of products meant all of the fire curtain requirements were met and the fire regulations could be adhered to keep the occupants of the building safe. Coopers FireMaster Concertina is a great way to offer compartmentation between floors and was installed because there were no columns at the atrium to install side guides and there is no smoke extraction system on the atrium so functional gaps were not allowed.

Coopers FireMaster Concertina is a great way to offer compartmentation between areas like a kitchen and restaurant and able to divide up these two critical areas in a public building and act as a fire break. By installing the FireMaster Concertina meant it would provide the building with an approved, non-invasive means of fire protection that would satisfy the fire regulations as well as ensuring that the open plan design remained as intended. Compartmentation and Protected Means of Escape were required as part of the fire safety solutions.

Architect Tamas Deilinger and his wife chose a DRU Maestro 75 contemporary gas fire to be the main focal point in the living room of their classic town house It was installed by London fireplace specialists Acquisitions. They adapted the existing chimney, creating a larger opening for the fire and inserting the balanced flue all the way up to the roof. The Maestro 75 has the exclusive DRU Dynamic log burner, which generates high, dense, realistic flames underpinned by a comforting glow. The flame picture can be controlled with a smartphone or tablet using the unique DRU Eco Wave app.

Designed by SPPARC Architecture as a place for living and a space for learning, the 14-storey Music Box is a mixed-use development incorporating a campus for the London College of Contemporary Media and 55 residential units, including on-site affordable housing. The three-dimensional projecting brickwork pattern, which required special bricks glazed on all visible surfaces, reads like a sheet of musical notes across the page, providing relief, rhythm and interest. Those able to read guitar tab may recognise that the brick patterns resemble Eric Clapton’s guitar riff in Cream’s song ‘White Room’.

Woodcote House is the contemporary, carefully designed and sustainable replacement for what was previously a series of buildings that had fallen into disrepair amongst the beautiful scenery provided by the South Downs National Park.Designed by Design Engine and Paul Cashin Architects, Woodcote House consists of four large bedrooms, an open plan living, dining and kitchen area and fitted with bespoke joinery the interior is flooded with natural light. Huge windows that allow for picturesque scenes to filter into the internal spaces.Freshfield Lane’s First Quality Multi were used to provide a homage to the original brick buildings that sat on the site prior to development, as well as allowing the structure to impact the environment minimally.