"bricks"

The Buckland Hospital, Dover is a community hospital that provides a range of local services. Main contractor Interserve PLC enlisted Industrial Construction (Sussex) Ltd to install the roofing and cladding package. Fixfast products were the first choice for ICS and the Facade Support range was an obvious need for this type of contract; coupled with the DrillFast® Stainless and Lacquered products, the external roofing and cladding was installed in the finest possible manner.The external walls use a range of materials - black brick and through-coloured render serve as a background for two types of cladding panels: white fibre cement panels and timber laminated panels manufactured from kraft paper and finished with natural timber veneers. The dark colour of the brick is used as a medium to enhance the crisp lines of the bright cladding as well as the shape and colours of the wooded bank at the rear of the building.

The architectural inspiration was exemplified in the bespoke design, characterised by a glazed white brick façade and an intricate arrangement of convex and concave curves. Collaborating closely with Jenner and the balcony manufacturer, Leviat's technical engineers played a pivotal role in delivering support systems that seamlessly integrated into the building's curved design while maintaining an unobtrusive presence. The specification of top-quality materials remained of paramount importance throughout the process.Given the intricate nature of this project where standardardised solutions were never going to be an option, early engagement with Leviat was essential. Leviat’s technical engineers, from both the masonry and structural connections teams, worked closely together to deliver engineering solutions that were compatible for both the design and use of Ancon Masonry Support and Ancon Balcony Connectors within the project scheme. These solutions were used across each of the elevations and as part of the brick façades and balconies.

This imposing Victorian semi-detached villa required complete refurbishment, both inside and out. As well as brick-cleaning and repointing, stonework repair and new fascias, an important part of the project involved replacing the traditional box sash windows with modern, energy efficient, secure alternatives.

When Belfast based architecture firm, McAdam Design, was sourcing external building and landscaping products for exciting new business hub, The Innovation Factory in Belfast, Tobermore exceeded expectations with the provision of Kingston facing brick for the building works and a variety of block paving products for the grounds.

Jacksons' Barbican Imperial vertical bar railings and double and single leaf gates were installed around the Catholic church with its freestanding bell frame - a significant local landmark. The fencing enhances demarcation provided by the existing shrubs, hedges, and low brick piers, and adds security.

The owners of Just Hard Metals wanted PREFA for their own offices in Sunderland. The specialists in traditional metal roofing and cladding chose a PREFA Siding.X façade in P.10 anthracite paired with bricks. The quality and aesthetics, as well as the desire for something with a wow effect, were the main driver on this project.

Refurbished and remodelled in 2021 to become the headquarters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in Edinburgh, was the McDonald Road Fire Station. We were pleased to work with Robertson Construction, Smith Scott Mullan Associates and HSR Building Services to supply Argeton terracotta and Corium brick cladding to complete the project.

Wienerberger’s glazed brick used to reflect the history and prestige of one of London’s most famous landmarks, the Savoy Hotel. The epitome of luxury and grandeur, the Savoy has played host to a who’s who of Royalty and Hollywood superstars over the years, with Marilyn Monroe known to have been a regular guest.

With several stops marked out on the future Crossrail route, new-builds on the rise, and an impressive range of ‘Outstanding’ schools, this culturally diverse borough of Ealing is becoming more popular than ever. To meet this popularity new-build property is on the rise however there is strict guidance on design of new buildings. Licata Building Systems in partnership with Build-Therm Services Limited were commissioned to specify and supply the façade systems for The Vale apartments. A prestigious block on Connell Crescent, The Vale was subject to planning guidance that insisted the block remained in-keeping with the more traditional neighboring blocks. The system installed is Licata FireSafe Brick slips. Using a 7mm extruded brick slip the system is one of the lighest systems available on the market. Coupled with class A2 fire performance and a U-value of 0.039W/mK, the apartments not only met all NHBC and local planning design criteria but provides the occupant a safe and energy efficient environment.

Project Type: Interior & ExteriorYear: 2019Location: FinlandContractor: Vertti Kivi / Honkatalot / Chips and BricksProductsRubio Monocoat Pre Colour Easy - Intense Black, Nordic White and Mint WhiteRubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C - Black, Cotton White and Super White

The proposed developments followed traditional timber kit design, consisting of an outer brick skin 50mm cavity, with an internal 140mm stud frame, and using mineral wool insulation minimum 20mm service void, finished with a plasterboard lining. The brief was to achieve air permeability less than 6m3/h/m².

This £40 million retrofit transformation of Brindley Place, a well-known site in the Westside of Birmingham city centre, raises the bar for sustainability and wellness in an urban regeneration and commercial refurbishment project. The ‘back to frame’ concept combines 10 Brindley Place with the adjoining 8 Brindley Place to create over 200,000 square feet of offices with serviced apartments and one of the largest floorplates in the city. Amenities include an on-site café, fitness facilities, a fitness studio and bouldering wall, storage for 100 cycles, electric vehicle charging points, and two communal roof terraces with impressive views. Associated Architects have created a bold new identity for the site. The façade was completely redesigned using 245,000 locally sourced bricks from a sustainable quarry. Each one was installed by hand to cover an area of 40,000 square feet. The system was constructed off an exterior steel frame consisting of a breather membrane, thermal insulation, fire cavity barriers, and helping hand brackets and rails. Grooves were cut into the bricks before they were slotted into these rails and mortar was then applied to all brick joints.The Leicester Grey Stock, Atlas Dark Grey, and Blue Glazed bricks selected complement each other and create a modern and distinctive aesthetic that responds positively to the renovated building’s Broad Street context. Floor to ceiling windows on the large floorplates complete the design, which blends impeccably with the nearby Metro line and adjacent development. The identity is also carried through to the interior styling. This interior, that boasts a striking double-height reception area, was developed in partnership with Willmott Dixon.In addition to its impressive appearance, the renovated Brindley Place also utilises smart building technologies to provide real-time energy monitoring. The building also has excellent thermal performance, achieved a high WiredScore and an excellent BREEAM rating. Occupier wellness is also at the heart of the new design. Indeed, Brindley Place was the first building in Birmingham to receive a Fitwel accreditation. In summary, this highly acclaimed urban redevelopment has both shifted perceptions of Broad Street as an address and set new standards for the reinvention of office space in the city. It has transformed the site and provides one of the most attractive and well-equipped office buildings in the country. 

The Southmere housing development is being built as part of a regeneration project, designed to revitalise the Harrow Manor Way area of South East London. New residences will be mixed tenure units, including both shared ownership and affordable rent units, within a range of attractive tower block and town houses.IG Masonry Support supplied products for buildings C1, C4 and C5, totaling nine blocks. The entire development is valued at £126m and IG Masonry Support’s product package for this development is the largest the company has supplied to a project since its inception. The introduction of new building regulations set out by Approved Document B meant the brickwork contractor needed to find products which met the conditions. IG Masonry Support’s B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System) met these standards, making them the ideal choice of supplier.ChallengeThe most obvious challenge for IG Masonry Support was the sheer scale of the project, as products were required for all nine blocks across Phase 1B. As a result, the timescale from order to delivery was tight. IG Masonry Support assembled a dedicated team of technical detailers and engineers for the duration of the build programme to provide full customer service and in-depth technical support.An inherent challenge of the project was the unique building design and intricate brickwork programme, which would be too irregular to use off-the-shelf products. The client would instead require bespoke products and innovative solutions to meet their specifications. For example, the recessed column feature meant that the columns were only half supported by the slab; therefore requiring a top bracket which was fixed to the slab to provide full support to the brick columns.IG Masonry Support has demonstrated its innovation through its use of the new Cavity Tray Brick Slip Lintel. This was designed specifically for the Southmere project and is now being specified and utilised on many other schemes to meet the new Part L Building Regulations. It also offers a quick and practical solution for brick soffit detail. The manufacturer designed a custom waterproof gasket fixing to prevent moisture travelling through gaps in the lintel and tray, while ensuring the aesthetic finish at the face. IGMS also created a bespoke Windpost design with special kinked plates to comply with the surrounding build work. Its B.O.S.S. units and arches were identified of a size and weight which could make installation difficult so IGMS adjusted the design accordingly to fix back the products.Providing technical drawings also presented a further challenge, as it was difficult to co-ordinate the brick bonds to ensure the brick soffits would perfectly tie in with the adjacent brickwork. Any brick bonds that didn’t perfectly blend were reported to IG Masonry Support and were quickly rectified and redelivered to site, to ensure the build programme remained on schedule.Additionally, the build programme was constantly changing due to being carried out during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Therefore, IGMS had to adapt to the evolving requirements. IGMS’ priority became producing products more quickly than anticipated at times in order to meet tight deadlines.SolutionOn the Southmere development, IG Masonry Support was able to provide bespoke designs with a quick turnaround. The client initially enquired about products in December 2019 and following a consultation and approval period for design, received its first order just six months later, which was remarkably fast considering the bespoke nature of the products. Considering the large quantities of product, IGMS prefabricated them to ensure a faster installation speed for the client.IG Masonry Support worked closely with customer Landmark Brickwork, main contractor Durkan and Four Point Architects throughout the build programme and all were highly impressed with the level of detail in the technical details provided by IG Masonry Support. They were also very pleased with the level of detail in quoting and the dedication of the team in collaborating, and delivering requirements.The Phase 1B brickwork programme specified a variety of brick types, which changed regularly throughout the numerous blocks. IG Masonry Support’s team were in constant communication with the relevant parties to ensure that the products blended correctly. Block C4, in particular, had an unusual bond pattern, so coordinating the brickwork required planning and engagement from the IGMS team.On the Southmere project, the client was highly impressed that IG Masonry Support was able to provide the desirable aesthetic finish, without comprising on the bespoke elements while working to tight, frequently changing timescales. The client was also pleased with IG Masonry Support’s commitment to the build programme and its dedicated technical team of detailers and engineers who attended design meetings every week.IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated products resulted in an overall reduction of labour on the project. The final invoice value to Landmark Brickwork was also within 1% of the initial quotation, allowing them to remain within the build programme budget. The provision of IG’s quality brickwork support solutions has led to an efficiently constructed modern housing development that will breathe new life into Thamesmead.

Circle Square is an exciting new neighbourhood in the heart of Manchester.Working with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, we developed a bespoke colour to reflect the Victorian heritage of the surrounding red brick buildings. We also worked with the specialist contractor to design the tile configuration which was incorporated into pre-fabricated offsite fully glazed units.

Handley Street is a small, residential development located within the central conservation area in the Lincolnshire market town of Sleaford.Originally an old, derelict office block, the site now provides six new, much-needed starter homes for the town. Each of the high-specification homes offers two bedrooms, underfloor heating, bi-fold doors to a private garden, and off-road parking, all within a few short steps to the town’s high street.Planning restrictions associated with the conservation area required the use of traditional materials, including timber, sliding sash windows, slate roofs, chimney stacks and brickwork that would match Handley Street’s older buildings, which are built in a vibrant orange brick featuring textural deviation and which was excavated locally.For the new properties, Forterra’s Butterley Breckland Multi Reserve was selected as a good match to the older brick. Varying bonds, that show stretchers as well as headers, have been introduced in the main facing brickwork, complementing the older properties nearby.

James Watt Dock is a development of 137 new-build one- and two-bedroomed flats for social rent. The homes, built over five blocks, will offer residents magnificent views over the historic dock and the River Clyde. Residents will also benefit from parking, amenity units, and a landscaped public space.PROJECT INFOThe site is a brownfield waterfront site adjacent to the Grade A listed Sugar Sheds, which are a unique example of Scotland’s Victorian industrial architecture. The sheds became the design driver, aiding the architects in establishing mass, orientation, position and material.Farmstead Antique, from Forterra’s Butterley range, with its tumbled and distressed multi patches, was selected for its similarity to the bricks used in the Sugar Sheds. It allowed the design of the new development to relate to the historic building while delivering a modern, clean-cut façade.With a water absorbency of only 7%, the brick also offered the high technical performance required owing to the development’s location on the Firth of the Clyde, a robust marine environment.

The International Rugby Experience in the Georgian Quarter in Limerick, which is in honour of the worldwide game of Rugby, combines culture with pleasure and is a real visitor experience. It was particularly important to the architects and builders that the building fits perfectly into the traditional cityscape: To guarantee authenticity, historical town houses in the traditional Georgian style were studied in advance. The architectural style was implemented in detail, using brick and concrete elements in the interior and exterior of the building.Lindner Group won its first major hollow floor project in Ireland with the contract for this floor trade. In collaboration with the architects from Níall McLaughlin Architects and the Irish business partner Cableplan, Lindner supplied the FLOOR and more® G40hollow floor. The special feature is the clinker bricks, typical of the Georgian style, which were laid on the floor system using a special laying method. Lindner also implemented access hatches in the floor for quick access and easy maintenance. Upon the architect's request, these flooring had a Satin Brush Finishing.

Weavers Quay and the Flour Building are two projects that form part of the Manchester City Council strategy managed by the Manchester Life Development company. Completed in 2019, the £28m development was designed by Buttress Architects and managed by main contractors Graham Construction. The building’s facade was completed using the Corium brick cladding system, installed by Range Roofing.

MJF Group completed the coating of Darlington Fire Station using RonaFloor HB200. The bays were completed using dark grey with the borders in brick red. Before the application of RonaFloor HB200, they were required to install a damp proof membrane and opted for our RonaFloor Epoxy DPM which can be applied to substrate with an RH of up to 97%.

The panels were selected to provide a strong and natural concrete external façade to this brand-new JD sports store on the main shopping strip in Belfast. The facade material needed to create a strong contemporary aesthetic adding stature to this new building sandwiched between two traditional buildings on either side, one with mainly brick features and the other all in stone.

An independent residential mental health facility, which houses 16 residents with long-term mental health illnesses, has recently been completed in Bedwas South Wales. To ensure the facility complemented the local area, OMI Architects specified Wienerberger's Anglesey Weathered Buff brick, as its patina and worn nature generate harmony with its surrounding area.

This project in North London was created with the intention of enhancing the housing stock of the location and providing a positive contribution to the texture, grain and building types within the conservation area. To achieve this appearance, Wienerberger's Marziale brick was used. Additionally, a carefully selected mortar, using white cement, lime and washed river sand and a subtle manipulation of the surface, was applied to enhance the quality of the brickwork.

This stunning contemporary home situated in Waterford features Kingston Facing Brick from Tobermore. MDP + Partners’ concept was to create an introverted house, using two separate forms. These blocks were defined in material and scale, to create a private garden that the home is centred around. The one-off build incorporates indoor/outdoor living by connecting the south-facing garden.

The regeneration of a former BT brownfield site, this 167-bed accommodation in Stirchley consists of 101 studios, a student hub, leisure facilities, a retail unit and an enhanced public space. Targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, this contemporary building comprises brickwork and terracotta tile detailing and features a stunning curved bull-nose brick façade due to the site being bounded by Pershore Road and Dogpool Lane.Following a tour of IG Masonry Support’s manufacturing operations in Swadlincote and Brick Cutting facility in Overseal, brickwork contractor Meath Build Ltd chose IG Masonry Support to design and manufacture the masonry support and brick soffit package for the development.ChallengeThe project’s unusual, curved façade was one of the defining challenges on this build as it would be extremely difficult and time-consuming to complete with traditional hand-laid brickwork. This design feature required IG Masonry Support’s unrivalled experience and ability to deliver complex brickwork with precision and efficiency.In addition, the use of a steel frame rather than a concrete slab introduced further complexities. This would mean that components had to be pre-set, with masonry support specially designed to fit around the steel frame structure.Furthermore, the masonry support had to be spanned to accommodate breaks in the wing plates around the piers.SolutionFollowing a site survey, IG Masonry Support produced a variety of solutions to overcome the design challenges presented during the development of this student accommodation. This required coordination and regular design meetings with all parties to avoid any clashes with other building elements and ensure the build remained on schedule.A1 fire-rated Brick Slip Lintels were required for the smaller openings on both the ground and first levels of the build (under 3.6m) while bespoke Curved Lintels were required to support the tiled finish on the curved façade. A1 fire-rated and carbon neutral B.O.S.S. A1 units in soldier course bond were required for larger openings on levels one to four of the building. Many of these were fabricated as smaller units to account for the curved façade design.On the curved run of B.O.S.S. A1, there were several high load areas with windows above and in-between the brick piers. IG Masonry Support therefore had to adapt its units to suit these loads and the tiled finish on the curved façade. Rather than the usual serrated lock washers, the bespoke lintels were designed and manufactured by IG Masonry Support with rear restraints which involved fabricating holes on the back of the lintels to provide more surface area and thus more space for additional mortar. This would ensure extra support for the extreme loads and double skin brickwork. These lintels also matched the curve of the façade.Through close collaboration with brickwork contractor Meath Build Ltd and the design team, IG Masonry Support provided technical and design assistance, and a range of bespoke brickwork solutions for the Pershore Junction’s unique curved façade detail. The company’s onsite expertise and offsite manufacturing capability proved integral to realising this stand-out architectural feature and its aesthetically pleasing finish.

A new education facility for Birmingham City University – STEAMhouse 2 - marries the restored frontage of a former Victorian industrial building with a brand new addition designed to promote interdisciplinary courses that bring together artists, scientists and engineers with input from industry.  The locally-listed red brick and terracotta façade of the 1899 Belmont cycle works was preserved after a disastrous fire gutted the building in 2007. That now fronts a new brick building the rear elevation of which boasts Corporate W20 windows in black plus two fire-rated Crittall windows and two fire-rated Crittall doors installed in a fire escape. Beyond this is a new four and five-storey building comprising workshops and teaching spaces. The new and reconstructed buildings are linked by an open central space, beneath a transparent roof, to encourage interaction between students and trainees attending the new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) – based university courses on offer.  The Crittall profiles are sensitive to the industrial heritage of the original building while complementing the 21st century ethos underpinning the STEAMhouse’s ambitions. 

The ChallengeA former industrial area along the south bank of the Union Canal in Merchiston, Edinburgh required transformation with the expected outcome of becoming one of the places to live in the city centre. A housing development was to provide a stylish addition to the already thriving growing community.The development consists of 11 stylish, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The apartments feature high quality engineered flooring, bespoke kitchens, designer bathrooms and fitted wardrobes, and each has a terrace or balcony enjoying open views over the canal.It was important that the building materials used were sympathetic to the local sandstone buildings.The SolutionThe original intention had been to use extruded bricks for the project, however, it was decided instead to use Forterra’s buff, stock thrown, Belgravia Gault Blend from its Ecostock range. A total of 55,000 bricks were used in the construction of Horne Terrace.The BenefitsBelgravia Gault Blend complemented beautifully the sandstone aesthetic of the buildings in the locality, while at the same time delivering great technical specification of low water absorption and low embodied carbon.

Magazine B is a series of Grade II listed brick sheds inRochester, Kent. Its unusual name stems from the fact it wasoriginally used as a Victorian military installation – ‘magazines’were buildings constructed to store gunpowder andammunition.Long left derelict, the site was acquired to convert into aseries of offices – and Southern and County Roofing wereengaged to fit replacement slate.

Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle quarter, south of the city centre, formerly a major industrial and warehousing site servicing the city’s successful dock economy, is now a well-known and popular venue for work, leisure and accommodation. Since 2007 the area has undergone considerable regeneration, creating a vibrant hub for digital and creative businesses, together with a flourishing night-time economy of night clubs, bars and restaurants. Alongside these developments the Baltic Triangle has doubled its residential population since 2010. A new £24m, 200 apartment building, designed by Tim Groom Architects is currently finishing construction on Blundell Street.‘Maintaining the Vibe’The striking red brick facades of many of the original buildings remain, imparting an energetic atmosphere, and the new apartment block was designed with the same objective. As one commentator put it 'We wanted to maintain the vibe'. For the aluminium feature panels on the façade the designers were looking for a finish with a warm appearance that would reflect and update the industrial heritage. These panels would sit alongside the buff brick colour of the new building. In Powdertech’s Evolution™ and Landscape™ ranges there are many shades with the appearance of rust, red brick and terracotta. The client selected Evolution, ‘Sandstorm’, a rust finish, to coat over 500 sq metres of 2mm folded and castellated aluminium panels.Benefits:The Evolution range has up to a 25-year guarantee for gloss, colour and adhesion.Colour, tone and texture are our passion, and we have the expertise to develop bespoke finishes.Evolution and rust finishes do not stain adjacent brickwork and pavementsPowdertech's rigorous non-chrome pre-treatment system offers the best preparation for architectural aluminium.Powdertech’s flexible plant can coat a wide variety of shapes and sizes of architectural metal work and fabrications.

This concrete gutter had been problematic for many years, with water ingress causing much damage to the flats beneath. The bricks to the parapet wall were blown and parts had to be rebuilt as part of the project. The liquid gutter liner was applied to the base and all upstands to the gutter, including the brickwork, to perform a 100% leak-free, seamless gutter. Products employed: Liquasil One and Non-Sag Sealer.

application area: commercial heatinguse type: industrial condensing boilersproject scope: preserve rectangular flue shape and maintain lined diameteradded value: quick and efficient installation with minimal downtime and disruption to the building structureBackgroundTwo new high efficiency condensing boilers fitted into the basement of a nine-story office block (Dublin Civic Offices, Ireland) using two separate brick lined chimneys that rose through the nine floors and exited on the rooftop.The brick chimneys posed a problem as the chambers measered 300mm x 450mm no standard 350mm flue liner would fit. Due to the pliability of Furnflex, the liner was able to take up an oval shape in the chamber giving it the full 350mm required. This building is an extremely busy high-profile office block therefore minimum disruption to day to day business was required.Statement of workFollowing an onsite survey, Furanflex was deemed the ideal solution to line both chimneys. The installations were carried out over two weekends, one for each chimney, with no disruption to the office operations. The project completed on time and within budget.

In the heart of Manchester, a new 5-storey campus has been completed to provide additional facilities for higher and further education students in the Creative and Performing Arts sectors at The Manchester College. We were delighted to work alongside SimpsonHaugh, Bond Bryan Architects, Willmott Dixon and Longworth Building Services on this significant project, supplying several thousand square meters of Corium brick cladding to complete the contemporary facade.

A dated conservatory area is transformed by Breezefree with a retractable glass roof and polycarbonate curtain walling. Nagan Johnson Architects approached Breezefree to refurbish a dated conservatory area as part of the fit-out of the Cuban restaurant group’s second site in London’s Smithfield district. The brief required a modern retractable glass roof, to replace the old lean-to rooflight, and translucent curtain walling, to replace the dilapidated brick walls and windows...

The 2022 Stirling Prize was won by Niall McLaughlin Architects for the Magdalene College Library in Cambridge. The exterior of the building combines glazing, timber, brick and an elegant QUARTZ-ZINC PLUS standing seam roof using the BBA certified Structural roof, which is a warm roof (non vented) system. The roof was installed by a VMZINC@WORK partner, All Metal Roofing thus making a 50 year warranty possible.

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.

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).

Twinnell House is an 18 storey residential block of flats in Bristol. SPSenvirowall system which consisted of 4,500m2 of 140mm grey EPS with an acrylic brick slip finish in red nuance and Staffordshire blue and a coloured render was supplied. Once installed, the u-value calculation went from 2.06 W/m²K to 0.23 W/m²K providing residents with a much warmer home and lower energy costs.