"bricks"

Redesign and rebuild of Castle Hill outside Windsor Castle.

Filled with energy, vibrancy and excitement, our work at New Bailey in Manchester is a project to be proud of.Four different office and residential buildings and public realm initiatives in the development, totalling 278 works, have been completed. These featured Westfield granite paving and setts in the main areas (6,000m2 of paving and 2,000m2 of setts), Chinese granite setts totalling 1,000m2, Porphyry totalling 400m2 and Portuguese granite paving totalling 500m2.

Walton Court Gardens by BroadwayMalyan and Gillespies for Crest Nicholson is a substantial project offering 375 new homes in Walton-on-Thames on the site of the former Birds Eye headquarters. Walton Court pays homage to the site’s original building by echoing the prior site half hexagonal aluminium facade in its full-height angled facade, evoking the original pattern. The central “jewel” building is sat amongst the surrounding buildings clad in Freshfield Lane’s Danehill Yellows. Sunlight bounces from the centre building offering an ever-changing facade through shadow and light. Streets built for the project will be planted alongside new and existing trees to create harmony between the landscape and architectural vernacular. The project draws on influences from the Birds Eye master plan and retains its strong sense of geometry while ensuring that the site is pedestrian friendly and easy to navigate for its new residential community.

Developed by Willmott Dixon and designed by Corstorphine & Wright as part of Devon & Cornwall’s Police and Crime transformation plan, this state-of-the-art police centre and operational hub is the base for up to 450 officers across the area. The project was developed with the intent to improve custody areas for detainees and provide a comfortable, modern working facility for its staff. During the development of the project, suggestions were taken from custody sergeants to help create a better space for staff and detainees.To provide the facilities necessary for 21st-century policing, attention was paid to integrating assets such as a virtual court system, and technology to monitor the health of vulnerable detainees and allow for crisp, modern meeting spaces that cater for a multitude of police functions.Local suppliers were engaged with the project and through training schemes, the project has been able to offer valuable experience to apprentices. Utilising 314sqm of Solar panels also means this build generates a substantial amount of green energy.Blockleys Synthesis S14 was used to create a strong, dark belt around the building which then blends smoothly into vertical strips of glass and contrasting white facades.

London Brick White was recently installed in this bright and welcoming Bubble Tea Café in Newcastle. Its natural texture, high quality finish and durable nature made it the ideal choice. Having seen the sample, the designers knew this was a lightweight, durable panel solution with the right finish for the client. Our technical team produced panel layouts and communicated the most efficient layout to reduce waste and ensure the design was as cost-effective as possible. The panels were installed rapidly, resulting in a bright and welcoming space that's ready for business.

As the oldest building on Newcastle University's campus, The Armstrong Building has an iconic status. Grade II listed and steeped in history. A setting perfect for the Westfield Yorkstone, which was supplied to this project in the form of both paving and setts, in a multitude of plan sizes.

Newton-trained contractor Structural Repairs are leading national specialists in renovating, strengthening and repairing commercial and domestic buildings. However, in 2020 it was their own requirements that were the focus of their efforts, as they sought to renovate a historic railway arch in Windsor in order to create a new head office for the business.

The Pears Building by Hopkins Architects is a world-class immunology research and treatment centre built for University College London. With only 5 similar specialist immunology centres in the world (and the only one outside of the US), the Pears Building offers world-class expertise to patients. The Pears Building provides offices, multiple research wings to house over 200 researchers and a 35-bed patient hospital for outpatients or visiting academics.At the centre of the building is a large atrium with joins the wider building and its office space to the public-facing café and entrance area. Vast, open windows flood interiors with huge amounts of natural light creating a soothing, and uncluttered feeling. Materials selected for the building were done for their sustainable credentials, ease of maintenance, durability, and cost.The Pears Building was designed to avoid becoming a “monolithic” structure and sits well within the local area. During its construction efforts were made to retain as many existing trees on the site as possible to ensure the village-esque feeling of Hampstead is uninterrupted. As expected with forward-thinking institutions, the architects endeavoured to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating, which it easily achieved with its holistic approach to sustainability.The Pears building uses Freshfield Lanes First Quality Multi in its construction and has been commended for numerous awards and won the Public Buildings award at the Construction News Awards.

The Hive is a new creativity & innovation hub, built alongside the existing structures of Headington School and designed to ensure that creative thinking is established as the heart of a Headington Students education.Designed by LSH Architects, the 23,000 sq. ft building consists of sculpture studios, kiln room, photographic facilities, textile studios and 3 artist studios, with media editing suites and a Cinemax screening room also being included. Other facilities specifically suited to a range of creative outputs have been carefully and cleverly built into the project. To enable a sense of openness, high ceilings are used throughout the buildings and the gallery space is further enhanced to allow vast columns of light to permeate the area.Michelmersh’s Hampshire Red Stock Multi ATR was supplied via EH Smith and helped settle the building into the verdant, green backdrop and give the building a warm, comforting feel, as well as allowing the building to fit snugly within the landscape created by the surrounding buildings.

Vandersanden has installed their first wind turbine at their Lanklaar site in Belgium. The wind turbine will supply 10,000 MWh of green energy annually, equivalent to the energy consumption of 2,000 families. With this new sustainable milestone, Vandersanden aims to make their production processes and sector more sustainable. The family business continues to build a green future. In recent years, Vandersanden has invested in solar panels and the use of geothermal power to generate heat and electricity.  "At Vandersanden, we don't think in years, but in generations. That is why we find it extremely important to manufacture as sustainably as possible, for people and the environment, for now and later", says Raf Jansen, COO at Vandersanden. "Alternative green energy sources are the future. With our wind turbine, we are helping to build that greener future."Production of enough energy to power 2,000 householdsIn November 2021, Vandersanden started with the preparatory works on its premises for the installation of the wind turbine. All construction elements, such as the mast sections and rotor blades, were delivered in April and the assembly was completed in early May. Currently, the electrical works are in progress and the connection of the wind turbine to the electricity grid is being prepared... The wind turbine has a full height of 200 metres and will supply 10,000 MWh of energy annually. That is equivalent to the energy consumption of approximately 2,000 families. More than 50% of the energy generated will be used for Vandersanden's activities at its site in Lanklaar. Remaining energy will be offered to the grid as green electricity. "Not only do we want to make our own production process and our own sector greener, we also like giving something back to the community," Raf Jansen explains. "This is part of what we call Collective Well-being, offering our surplus production of green energy to the grid and where local residents can also enjoy clean energy."  For the full story, and to watch the video, here Renewable energy | Vandersanden

Originally used during Victorian and Edwardian period as sewer vents or "stench flaps", these cast iron vents with 100mm round spigots are making a bit of a come back. We've replaced the flaps (that used to allow air in but not out) with mesh so air flows freely in both directions and they've become quite a hit with specifiers ventilating basements and cellars and new builds. As well as sending a shipment to Abu Dhabi we've also had orders from closer to home - Travis Perkins, Midas, Bryen & Langley and 800 Group

Introducing the first new design, cast iron, coal hole cover made in the UK for more than 50 years . Based on 4 segmented circles traditionally used during the Victorian period, this design is right up to date and proudly displays our company name. Particularly important in todays modern society is the deep rebate that allows the design to "pop out" and help generate grip for pedestrians. The circumference has cutaways to prevent water pooling. Available in a bare metal finish to rust naturally and improve grip or painted black . Weighing in at over 5KG this cover will last a lifetime and be a feature within the paving for the public today and for future generations.

Architects at the Rathbone Partnership in South Devon contacted us in 2011 about a new feature in the garden of Buckfast Abbey. They had a creative and inventive plan to transform a section of the garden into a tranquil retreat for both the visitors and the monks. What a transformation! Our grilles are used to make stunning architectural features such as this bridge over the waterway channel and blend perfectly complimenting stone and water in a way that only cast iron can. Why not create your own lasting legacy in the grounds of a period or contemporary property ?

Coventry is a city of movements; for struggling workers, for women, for political reformers, for ravers, for refugees. The UK's motor city. The UK's bicycle city. A center of the UK's watchmaking trade. A City of Culture that uses its past to forge its future. Coventry Moves! Its Upper Precinct was a very concrete heavy city center, partly because of the style at the time, and partly out of necessity to ensure it could be re-built as quickly as possible after the Blitz damage. The project had access to a partial fund of £7.75 million from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) as part of the overall £11.8 million scheme. The package of works included; the installation of enhanced paving, street furniture, lighting, water features, planting, and the restoration of the historical Levelling Stone monument that was originally placed to commemorate the re-build of Coventry after the 1940-1942 enemy attacks. With the initial removal of the 'big green elevator' and huge concrete, once considered an eyesore, a clear view of the cathedral can now be seen, a view that has not been enjoyed since the 1970s. Almost every design element of this project included natural stone of some sort, making the relationship between the contractor Eurovia, the City Council, and BBS as the supplier, vital to complete each task on time and on budget. The circular shaped 'show stopping' water features created in a combination of both Italian Porphyry and Portuguese buff granite - a place where many people are often seen enjoying the weather. The benches and planters created in Portuguese buff granite, none of which barely had the same two pieces throughout, putting the pressure on BBS to individually CAD each and every one. The project covering the entirety of the Upper Precinct and continuing on Market Way, and Smithfield way, saw the complete removal of everything in situ and replaced with an unrecognizable scenery. All in time for Coventry Moves the City of Culture event.

A folly; an ornamental building with no practical purpose built in a large garden. Whilst aspects of this definition can be applied to describe Wolverton Hall Folly, it certainly contradicts the ‘practical purpose’ element with the most appealing of purposes. Wolverton Hall Folly is a retreat for contemplation, an office away from home, a place to entertain and somewhere to enjoy the views, sun and a good book. Can we therefore call this beautiful building a folly?

Almost ten years since introducing the CON4 100mm conservation we are now adding to our collection of conservation vents with the CON6 which is our biggest yet. With a massive 150mm diameter spigot and a free area that is 50% larger than the next size down, it's sure to be a hit with many property restorers looking to add plenty of ventilation with a stunning looking vent that will last a lifetime.

Before there was an open, 4" (100mm) diameter pipe that drained water from the back of this Devon farm house into the yard. Apart from an open pipe, which never looks good on a listed building, when it rained heavily there was water gushing out across the road causing havoc to any cars parked nearby. With the installation of the cast iron cowled conservation vent now the water is deflected downwards and the opening is no longer open to the elements and in eye line. With a choice of 100mm or 125mm spigots this cowled vent has many uses

Here is an email we received after a client installed the conservation cowled cast iron air vents to a London property in September 2022)...We recently did a project on an old coach house in a listed building. They wanted a/c but we couldn’t route water for the h2o unit and couldn’t have two big white plastic vents on the outside of the building.The solution was to combine your products, a pair of CON6 cast iron conservation vents. The clients are ecstatic. I thought I’d share as I’m sure a lot more people in old houses will be looking for a/c going forward.Sally Estad, Elstad Interiors, Chicago USA ( working on a property in Wimbledon, UK)

Following a year-long transformation, in September 2021, the ribbon was finally cut on the newly-pedestrianised Greenfield Crescent, in Edgbaston Village.Representatives from a host of nearby businesses came to watch CEO of Calthorpe Estates, Haydn Cooper, and Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe to officially open the streetscape.Working with Birmingham City Council, Calthorpe Estates, and McPhillips has seen a new streetscape created to help set Edgbaston Village apart, with high quality public realm areas, easier pedestrian access and reduced traffic.With a vision to create a greener, safer and more accessible Edgbaston Village, the newly designed area has new high quality granite surfaces, planters and planting, festoon lights and upgraded signage, which will enhance access to local businesses, bring to life an improved and more convenient leisure location for those living, working and visiting the area to enjoy.Granite included the BBS Toranja Rosa (pink), Gris Sombrio (medium grey), and Blanco (silver grey) all indigenous to Portugal where the stone was also cut to specification. Haydn Cooper, Chief Executive of Calthorpe Estates said, “We open Greenfield Crescent at an exciting time for Edgbaston. The transformation of Greenfield Crescent was a result of successfully working in partnership with Birmingham City Council to deliver a high quality public realm area, which saw Calthorpe Estates invest significantly in the project. Our ambitions have not stopped here – we are improving the walking route to the Edgbaston Village Metro station over coming months and are delivering a popular Artisan Market along Greenfield Crescent to make the location accessible for all.”Edgbaston Village is already home to a variety of award-winning independent restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, including the Michelin-starred Simpsons, The High Field and Loki Wine, which have just been joined by LUX gallery. Recent plans unveiled by Calthorpe Estates showed the potential for even more al fresco dining and shopping options in the area, all of which will be made increasingly accessible following the creation of the new Edgbaston Village Metro stop, set to open at the end of 2021 along with Chapter restaurant & bar and KIN Homes on Greenfield Crescent.

Conservation Timber windows and doors - Spring Sash

Built in 1986, Dukes Court was viewed as a symbol of Woking’s economic growth, offering 220,000 sq. ft. of premium office accommodation. These works will ensure Dukes Court continues to play an important role in the town’s future.The front of Dukes Court underwent an extensive remodelling, creating a landscaped pedestrianised public plaza and restaurant with outdoor seating. The building features an impressive full height living ‘green’ wall, which is one of the tallest in Europe. The building is arranged over five blocks which are accessed via three separate reception areas, leading to the flexible floor plates which all benefit from excellent natural light.Other features include:A larger than life statue of composer and suffragette Dame Ethel Smyth will proudly conduct passers-by in the centre of the pedestrianised plaza.New signage and pedestrian routes which will enhance the visitor experience.Relocation of main vehicle entrance from Dukes Street to Stanley RoadMaybury Road, Stanley Road and The Broadway junctions improvements.Granite from around the world (mainly the far east) included BBS Steel (mid grey) granite, Haze (silver grey) granite, Barzan (black) basalt, and Peppercorn (pink) granite.

We have over 250 different cast iron grilles available on our website in either bare metal or painted black. But don't let that put you off specifying cast iron because our website features products that are ready to be dispatched. Actually we can supply them in any colour you or your client requires. If it has a RAL number then we can do it. There's a charge and a week or so extra to bare in mind but if you're looking to make a statement or just to blend then get in touch...

The Stove and Fire Vent is the ideal interior vent to compliment a log burner or stove. The cast iron body is available in a polished pewter effect, which has been hand finished by us in our workshop or can be purchased bare metal for contractors or property owners to finish on site. The pewter finish stove vent will enhance any interiors. When the 100mm spigot is connected to an air source it provides 3000mm2 of free area for combustion air for a room fitted with a log burner or stove up to 10KW. Double up for larger appliances.

The Ecclesiastical cast iron floor grille isn't used exclusively in churches, cathedrals or abbeys. We've supplied these beautiful Scottish made gratings to a number of religious buildings across the country that's for sure but their main use is in "ordinary" period properties and listed buildings. Buildings with large heating pipes sunk into the floor with suspended walkways. Places like Stansted and Rotherfield Hall or National Trust, Mount Stewart Property in County Down and Halls in Melton Mowbray and Stoke on Trent. To make a real feature or for a sympathetic restoration why not take a look ...

When the refurbishment programme for an office block close to London’s Euston station was hit by an unexpected snag, the main contractors found an effective solution to keep the project on track.Brick-effect interior walls give office new lease of lifeThe building at 24-32 Stephenson Way was built in 1993 from reinforced concrete and last renovated in 2016. Construction firm Bryen & Langley was appointed as main contractor for the project, refurbishing the building’s second, third and fourth floors and adding a 5th floor. With the client seeking an exposed brick finish, old plaster had been removed from the internal walls, exposing a rough, uneven surface underneath. This meant a layer of plasterboard had to be added before the chosen finish could be applied.The cost of traditional brick slips made them an unappealing option so the client team sought an alternative. The company was impressed by the realistic brick finish of weberwall brick, a brick slip alternative from Saint-Gobain Weber, and specified it for the internal walls on all three floors. To complement the existing colour scheme, they chose 830m2 of weberwall brick in Antique Red Multi with pointing mortar in Buff. It was combined with exposed pipework at ceiling level to create a contemporary industrial look.“Our client was very keen for the offices to have on-trend exposed brick walls so I was happy to learn that weberwall brick could be used successfully on internal walls to create the appearance of traditional bricks.”Kyle Wall of Bryen & Langley is pleased with the results: “Our client was very keen for the offices to have on-trend exposed brick walls so I was happy to learn that weberwall brick could be used successfully on internal walls to create the appearance of traditional bricks.”Experienced applicator Complete Rendering Systems (CRS) was tasked with applying the product. Whether for external or internal use, weberwall brick is more than three times faster to apply than traditional brick slips and remarkably lightweight. (One sheet of 20 bricks weighs the same as one house brick).All the walls were prepared by the main contractor to create a sound, even surface to ensure the application of the weberwall brick went without a hitch.Bradley Halls, director of CRS, said: “I’ve used weberwall brick on external walls many times before and customers have always been really pleased with the high-quality outcome. Once plasterboard had been applied to the substrate, the weberwall brick went on quickly and provided the client with the brick finish they wanted.”“I’ve used weberwall brick on external walls many times before and customers have always been really pleased with the high-quality outcome"

Scope of work: 776m2 Brick Faced GRC Grade 18P intricate brick work achieved with Brick Faced GRC

The ChallengeLocated in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, Foundry Gardens is a development of two to five-bedroomed housing. It was important that this relatively low-density scheme fit the traditional vernacular of the area.The SolutionChelsea Smoked Red brick was chosen and used alongside white boarding and tile. The white boarding element has been used to emphasis corner and key buildings, detailing porches and canopies.Chelsea Smoked Red brick is a red, stock thrown, wire cut brick by Ecostock, the most sustainable stock brick available in the UK. It is a high quality facing brick with recycled content. The range carries BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification.The BenefitsThe choice of brick helps the development to seamlessly fuse the traditional with the contemporary.The project won the Large House Builder category at the Brick Development Association’s annual Brick Awards 2018.

The initial phase of a large-scale regeneration project featuring community sports facilities, office accommodation and an Enterprise Hub in Irvine, North Ayrshire, has been constructed with the use of 50,000 Carsington Cream bricks produced by Forterra in Measham exclusively for Taylor Maxwell. The construction on Quarry Road, Irvine, houses the office headquarters of a local leisure company and work spaces for Business Gateway, who aim to support local entrepreneurs and business start-ups, encouraging local employment. It provides a gateway into the development that will include local indoor and outdoor sports facilities and multi-use community spaces. The building was designed to mark the development entrance, draw people into the site and set the construction standard for the phases to follow. Andrew Martin, Sales Executive at Taylor Maxwell, said: “We were tasked with finding a suitable facing brick for Irvine Community Hub. With a budget to adhere to and a remit to provide a buff/cream coloured brick with a traditional appearance, the Carsington Cream Facing Brick was ideal. “This brick type is part of a commitment to certain product lines manufactured in the UK and mainland Europe that Taylor Maxwell makes to provide a ‘Select’ range of brick types. This provided Clark Contracts with a commitment on price and availability for a soft mud manufactured brick with the technical qualities needed for the Scottish climate.” Steven Nicolson, Forterra’s Area Sales Manager for Scotland, said: “The Carsington Cream brick is a handmade, low water absorbency brick that was used here to combine with the modern aspect of the building and to complement the surrounding buildings.” Nick Shepherd, Architectural Assistant at Anderson Bell + Christie, said: “Forterra and Taylor Maxwell’s Carsington Cream brick was used to contrast with the residential context and establish the building as a landmark. The tone of the brick was selected to harmonise with the timber cladding, as well as the timber louvres within the window openings which accentuate the texture of the brick.” Forterra nominated the project for the 2018 Brick Awards, in the Public category. 

Oakland Mews is a 21-plot residential development set within the village of Strumpshaw, Norfolk. Based on the site of a former factory, this high-quality development of detached and semi-detached dwellings delivers modern, spacious living, respectfully designed and crafted to the very highest specification using quality materials, including Hampton Rural Blend brick and Cradley Brick Specials, produced by Forterra.Aware of the site’s historic significance and agricultural location, the contractor, Total Build East Anglia Ltd, committed to using traditional materials and building methods that were in keeping with the area and delivered on its vision to bring an appealing and exclusive development to Strumpshaw.Total Build East Anglia Ltd consulted building materials supplier MKM Building Supplies Norwich to help find the appropriate bricks and tiles for the houses. It wanted a traditional red-brick style, which matched the look of a former factory that occupied the site previously and preserved the area’s heritage. Total Build selected the stock-thrown Hampton Rural Blend brick for the facing brick walls. The rustic red brick, tarnished with blackened flashes, perfectly complements the slate grey Cradley Brick Specials copings and cappings, and the dark timber cladding on the properties.Hampton Rural Blend is part of Forterra’s Ecostock range of pressed and thrown bricks manufactured at its Measham factory, which uses ground-breaking technology in sustainability and production efficiency to deliver advanced colour consistency, dimensional accuracy and quality.“An old factory used to be on the site of the development,” said Jason Hilldrup, Brick, Block, Tile and Architectural Masonry Specialist at MKM Norwich. “It was an attractive, traditional red-brick building, directors Andy Brown and Lindsey George of Total Build wanted to ensure the new development was in keeping with what had been there previously.“We reviewed some options together, looking for a brick that looked old and traditional, and they went for the Hampton Rural Blend facing brick and black-slate coloured Cradley Specials copings and cappings. The combination of the two flowed together nicely, and for the price and style, the bricks ticked all their boxes. The bricklayers and cream-coloured mortar choices have been great too. It’s come together really nicely, creating a fantastic site that has modern touches but keeps the traditional style.”

On the site of a former carpark next to a flyover, Kindred House has become a distinctive silhouette in the skyline of central Croydon.The build utilises over half a million bricks, consisting of Zircon, a white glazed brick and a brown brick, each chosen for their tone and colour variety, which helps create a sense of place and identity for the building.The building is characterised by brick reveals at a depth of three and a half bricks and provides a visual solidity that defines the character of the building.IG Masonry Support was the chosen supplier of masonry support and brick slip solutions for the award-winning project.SolutionIG Masonry Support’s easy-to-install Welded Masonry Support (WMS) was supplied in several variations, including special corner systems for each of the 24 levels of the building, including the parapet. Cast-in Channel was also supplied to the project, providing high adjustability and enabling quick and easy installation of the WMS systems.For the large entrance on the North West elevation, a mechanically-fixed Brick Slip Lintel, compliant with the new Fire Safety: Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, was supplied for a 2035mm opening. The Brick Slip Lintel was designed to suit a soldier course bond pattern with a face height and soffit return of 215mm.For the three brick-deep window reveals, mechanically-fixed B.O.S.S. (Brick on Soffit System) proved the ideal solution. 1242 individual units, in 593 variations were designed, manufactured, and supplied to the project to suit a soldier course bond pattern. A consignment of bricks was collected from site to be utilised on each unit and then once complete, units were delivered to the site, ready to be easily bolted to each Welded Masonry Support system.As well as creating a visually appealing finish, the depth of the window reveals on the Southern and Western elevations has been designed to provide inherent solar shading, mitigating overheating and avoiding the need for mechanical cooling, creating a sustainable benefit of the build.Kindred House is an exemplary build proven by winning the Large Housing Development category at the 2023 Brick Development Association Brick Awards and being shortlisted in the Mixed-Use category at the 2023 AJ Architecture Awards. 

The ChallengeThe designer of an exhibition at Tate Modern in London wanted to build a series of stools and benches out of bricks, but instead of using ordinary, rectangular bricks they wanted to use something more unusual.The live, public exhibition, called Endless Book Club, would see reading enthusiasts from notable book clubs sit on the brick benches and stools while discussing their chosen books, in the Turbine Hall of the famous art gallery.The SolutionForterra’s Cradley Heath facility provided over 500 special shaped bricks to create more than 20 seats as part of the exhibition.Cradley Special Brick has provided millions of non-standard bricks for refurbishments of listed buildings, luxury newbuilds and one-off projects including schools and leisure centres. Forterra have made more than 7,000 different bespoke bricks over the years for clients across the UK and as far away as Saudi Arabia and Scandinavia.The BenefitsBook clubs from the Royal College of Art and the Institute of Psychoanalysis took part in the event, which was produced by Self Publish, Be Happy.Bruno Ceschel, Director of Self Publish, said, “The brick seats are visually very striking and we’re thrilled with the results.”

The ChallengeNearly 400,000 Forterra-supplied bricks have been used to construct a striking new nine-storey block of apartments in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool.Phase 2 of Norfolk House, on Simpson Street, is made up of 100 affordable apartments aimed at young professionals and students, and its architecture creates a link between the Georgian red brick warehouses of the area and the modern aluminium and glass buildings in the city centre.PROJECT INFOPRODUCT DETAILThe SolutionForterra’s recently launched high quality Farmstead Antique facing bricks were manufactured at the firm’s Accrington brickworks, and Norfolk House Phase 2 was the first large-scale project to utilise them.Architect James Tartt said “The Baltic is a trendy, up-and-coming cultural quarter of Liverpool set in the city’s historic docklands, and we wanted the design and brickwork of this scheme to reflect the renovated warehouses of the area, some of which date back to the 18th Century.“To this end, we had sample walls constructed at the site in the early stages before building work began, where we tested different types of brick and mortar to ensure they matched the surrounding architecture as closely as possible. Forterra’s Farmstead Antique bricks were ideal for this job.”The BenefitsIan Shard, Commercial Director of Lancashire Brick, who specified the job, said, “We knew we wanted quality new bricks which matched the area, and using Forterra’s handy online Brick Matching app we were able to find the closest brick type possible for our clients.”Forterra nominated the finished project for the 2018 Brick Awards, in the Large Housing Development category.

The transformative effect of creative brickwork.A modern, five-storey building in London’s Fitzrovia that once paled in comparison to some of its more elegant neighbours is now arguably the street’s most striking resident.The Interlock is an outstanding example of what is possible when architect and clay brick manufacturer put their heads together.Forterra’s Technical team worked with architect Bureau de Change, drawing the building’s new façade brick for brick to ensure technical possibility and aesthetic ambitions aligned. It then fell to the team at Forterra’s Cradely Special Bricks facility to design and produce the bricks.Guided by 1: 1 templates the complex construction took three months to complete, as each of the 5,000 bespoke Etruria Clay Blue bricks was painstakingly laid to form the three-dimensional, interlocking pattern.We are proud to announce that The Interlock won three awards at the 2019 Brick Awards. The project won the prestigious Architects’ Choice award along with also winning in the Innovation and Small Housing Development categories.This project is a great example of a collaborative approach with our customers.

Leviat designed and manufactured the stainless steel support and restraint system for the brick façade on this attractive Town Centre development, voted Best Public Building in the 2014 Brick Awards.This award-winning project, designed by MICA Architects (formerly Rick Mather Architects), is located in a conservation area, home to some of the finest examples of Edwardian Grade II* brick and terracotta buildings in Newham, making brick the natural cladding choice.Brick features, including soffits, reveals and ribs, help give the building its unique character with each element being tied back to the main structural frame by special fixings from Leviat, designed to suit the specific load and cavity conditions at each location.

The ChallengeSituated in the Rye Lane conservation area in Peckham, South London, the four to seven storey mixed-use development in Rye Green – comprising 27 residential units laid out across six floors, with two retail units on the ground floor – would provide affordable housing for people in the community who are most in need.The scheme had to consider two elements, the first being the redevelopment of the frontage building (Rye Lane) with the retention of its façade, and the second being the six-storey (with set-back seven-storey) block to the rear, on the site of the existing fish warehouse.The SolutionThe architectural design of this residential development incorporates traditional and modern features with an existing brick façade.PROJECT INFOPRODUCT DETAILThe seven-storey block is rectangular in form and has been built with a striking yellow facingbrick with protruding red brick paneling. The contrast between red and yellow brickwork is exaggerated with the introduction of green glaze facing brickwork at street level. This change in texture and brick finish works well with the local vernacular.The new second and third floor additions are set back from the retained frontage.The design is simple and functional, and the specified fabric responds to the historic character of the conservation area.Three facing bricks from Butterley Brick were selected for the build. Arden Special Reserve, a red, light textured brick, and buff Village Harvest Multi – also light textured – were used as the facing material for the main body of the buildings. Wilncote Blue Smooth, a dark toned brick. was used to define the base of the buildings. The set-back top floor of the seven-storey block is clad in zinc shingles to reflect its roof-like character.The BenefitsThe high quality development, together with its associated external landscaping, has contributed positively to its place in Peckham.Butterley Brick offers a range of high quality facing bricks manufactured from locally sourced raw materials; the range carries BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification. The bricks contribute to thermal mass and can be recycled at the end of their use.

The ChallengeThe village of Ewerby sits within the heart of the Lincolnshire Fens, amidst a heavy farming community highlighted and punctuated by the local architecture.Historically, Lincolnshire villages produced their own, indigenous facing bricks from brick pits, and most farm buildings and tied cottages within this community are constructed from Ewerby Yellow facing brick. Together with local Ancaster limestone and handcrafted clay pantiles, this forms the pallet of materials that are considered indicative of the local vernacular architecture. As such, careful consideration needed to be given to the choice of materials used in building The Elms.The SolutionCombining existing detailing and colourings gave architects D.B. Lawrence Associates a strong initial concept for their first stage design process. Sourcing bricks and materials that blend with their surroundings can be challenging, but they were successful in achieving this for The Elms.A yellow stock brick sourced from Forterra was an important part of the concept. The brick was used alongside the use of local Lincolnshire limestone quarried seven miles away at Ancaster. Handmade clay pantiles were sourced to match existing roof tiles.The brickwork was constructed in English Bond to achieve the desired aesthetic and reflect the existing surrounding outbuildings.Complementary Stone quoins, cills and heads together with dog-tooth oversailing courses to the eaves and verges were also used.The brick chosen was Ardleigh Yellow Stock Brick from Ecostock. Ecostock is the most sustainable stock brick available in the UK. It is a high quality facing brick with recycled content. The range carries BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification.The BenefitsThe overall intention of the dwelling is to replicate a barn, and careful thought and detailing to the large openings have helped to create the desired effect.When approaching the village of Ewerby from Thorpe, the barn gives the impression of having been there for years, not months. The build has successfully fulfilled the requirements of the planners, and the client has contributed an inspiring development worthy of the village.