"bricks"

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 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 ...

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.

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.

400m2 of weberwall brick in Antique Red Multi was applied to 9 new homes in Guildford. 3x faster than brick slips, weberwall brick accelerated the building process for the developer.

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.”

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.

Innovative weberwall brick helped speed up this project in Anglesey. Anglesey County Council wanted to break up the elevations to add variety and create a more attractive appearance. Main contractor DU Construction suggested using weberwall brick which can be used to create a realistic brick effect across a range of different applications and substrates.

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.

The ChallengeThis prestigious three storey new build property in the village of Bilton was designed following close liaison with the local planning authority, in order to be sympathetic to other nearby homes.The SolutionCareful selection of the brick type was critical to this process, as the property needed a soft aesthetic to its front elevation, addressing the local authority’s concerns about the impact of the finished project while still meeting the client’s personal requirements.With this in mind the client selected Forterra’s Autumn Glow facing brick. This not only met all the criteria set by the local planning authority, but its enhanced durability designation allowed the brick to be used to create a seamless brick façade.Tom Holland, Managing Director of Holland Build, said, “We put forward several brick types to the planning authority as part of this two storey project, and a unanimous decision was reached that the Autumn Glow best fitted the design of the property, and was most in keeping with the local area.“I was already familiar with the Autumn Glow, having used it extensively on the construction of a luxury apartment building on a previous job, and never had any issue with them. They’re a good, solid facing brick, and extremely durable, and I’d recommend using them as a reliable stock brick.”The BenefitsGareth Rouse, Architectural Technologist for Forterra, said, “The Autumn Glow is a stock facing brick more tailored to the self-build market, due to its relatively soft aesthetic and higher-grade durability. It also contains recycled content and is the most sustainable stock brick available on the UK market.“It suited this project particularly well, complementing the timber frames used in the windows and doors and also proving ideal for the construction of the arch above the main entrance.”Although the main brickwork was intentionally kept simple, the client required a grand entrance that would draw visitors to the front door. Owing to the easily moulded nature of this particular clay type, special shaped bullnose bricks were utilised on the jambs of the main entrance, which then continued as tapered voussouirs into the semi-circular arch above. Simple, but effective herringbone panels were also introduced to draw the eye, breaking the appearance of mass stretcher bond brickwork.Forterra nominated the finished project for the 2018 Brick Awards, in the Individual Housing Development category.

The ChallengeAn Italian restaurant in central London wanted its ceiling to be the heart of a new design that would be a visual interpretation of contemporary Italian taste.The SolutionDesigned by Andy Martin Architecture, the intricate ceiling was constructed using 32,155 bricks requiring 55 different dimensions to be cut by hand to create a smooth, curved surface.Forterra’s plain Fletton bricks were found to have the necessary smoothness and hardness to accommodate the amount of cutting required.The colour of the bricks was modified by washing with a lime slurry to achieve a soft, elegant but rustic surface.The BenefitsVisually striking, the sculptural ceiling adds to the dining experience.The project was shortlisted in the 2017 BDA Brick Awards in the Innovative Use of Brick and Clay Products category. Fucina was awarded Best London Restaurant and Best UK Restaurant at the 2017 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

Crown House, Barking, LondonThis project consisted of over 550,000 brick slips, including bespoke headers, pistols, and reveals. A choice of two brick types was selected for this project, both from our core range of products, the Mystique and the Rustington Antique.Client - Thorp precastBrick Types - Mystique, Rustington AntiqueProject timescale - 6 monthsConstruction Method - Pre Cast Concrete

This mixed use development on the southern fringes of the Olympic Park utilised the Nexus® system to achieve flawless brick-faced soffits to the hundreds of door and window heads. Nexus is a two-part brick soffit system that combine a high integrity stainless steel brickwork support system with custom-designed prefabricated brick faced soffit units. Being 70% lighter than traditional cast concrete solutions, the Nexus soffit system is simply lifted and bolted into position by hand and, as the brick slip facing is manufactured from the same batch as the main brickwork, presents a perfect colour and texture match for flawless transitions.

The Challenge The Horsted development in Chatham, Kent, was to provide for a range of housing suitable for its suburban context. Incorporating a mix of two and three storeys, properties ranged from one and two-bedroomed apartments through to two to four-bedroom family homes with gardens, parking and garages, all set with an attractively landscaped setting of shared surface with pedestrian priority zones. The Solution The development incorporates 169 houses, 111 apartments, 9 coach houses and 63 affordable extra-care accommodation The design has been carefully crafted to create a relationship with the surroundings, with the choice of brick being key to achieving this objective. The combination of smooth red stocks and subtle and heavily creased soft mud bricks provide a pleasant aesthetic, alongside a combination of red, brown and occasional black slate roof tiles to give added variety. Chelsea Smoked Red brick from the Ecostock range was the brick selected for this development. Projecting Flemish bond panels and recessed soldier courses create modelling and depth within the elevations of each block and enhance the overall character of the scheme. The Benefits The site strikes a good balance between communal and private space, with the choice of brick adding warmth and connection to the surrounding environment. The brickwork contributes to achieving a high-quality finish. This project won the Large House Builder category in the 2018 Brick Development Association’s annual Brick Awards.

The ChallengeUntil recently, the Abbey Wood station in the London Borough of Bexley was a small Network Rail station serving the North Kent Line.A project to redevelop it would see it become symbolic not only for its regeneration effect on this part of London, but also as marking the geographical start of Crossrail, the most ambitious and advanced railway network in Europe.The SolutionThe new station, designed by Fereday Pollard Architects, would serve four new lines, including the new Elizabeth Line and South Eastern Rail Services. Ancillary design works include the implementation of an extensive urban realm strategy with Urban Movement, foot bridges and other structures along the 2km project.The design and vision for the station was successfully maintained through all the GRIP stages of this multidisciplinary project.Forterra’s Cradley Linear Bricks in a bespoke colour and size – 30,000 units over 22 different special types – were incorporated into the design. The warm tone of theses 50 x 300mm radial units complement the extensive use of exposed wood for the building’s interior and exterior.Neil McLafferty, Sales Manager for Forterra, said, “The bricks were based on the classic ‘smooth blue’ brick design for their distinctive colouring and size, but were also radial in shape.“This unique finish to the bricks, giving them each a slight camber, resulted in a slight curvature to the completed building, so that it resembled an amphitheatre. The blue bricks are also extremely compact and dense, ensuring they are robust and durable compared to standard bricks.”The BenefitsThe station design has created a new and vibrant architectural focus for Abbey Wood, and a greatly enhanced experience for those using the station.John Attwood, Architect at Fereday Pollard, said, “We opted for linear bricks as they emphasise the horizontal, for what is quite a high building in a residential area, making it more attractive. Using bespoke bricks brings the benefit of a more hard-wearing, robust material for this public building.“The slightly curved, cambered bricks were used specifically to interface with the timber used throughout the construction, while the blue brindle brick colouring also created a pleasing contrast with the timber.”

Mecure HotelThis was a particularly sensitive project due to the central location of the site in Oxford, we worked alongside the client and planners to find a suitable brick type which blended in sympathetically with the surrounding proerties.This was a new build project with bricks slip bonded directly onto fire-rated backing panels.Brick Type - Old English Buff MultiClient - Mecure HotelsContractor - Fern Plant Ltd

Originally an anonymous, almost forbidding, seven-storey office block constructed in the 1980s, York House on Pentonville Road in Islington is being transformed into a contemporary, light-filled co-working space fit for 21st century use.The original building frontage was set back from the road, but the addition of a new five-story front extension introduces an attractive double-height entrance with offices above. Using similar engineering bricks to the main, original building, the new construction allows light to flood in through the use of structurally self-supporting perforated brick lattice, angled at 45 degrees to gain stiffness. A cross-laminated timber structure sits behind while openable windows allow fresh air to circulate.At roof level, a new, cross-laminated timber structure, clad in a perforated zig-zag aluminium screen, echoes the front extension while softening the building edge.The brick selected for the project was a Blue Brindle Smooth – a high quality smooth brick that closely matched the masonry of the original building. The complexity of the lattice work structure required special shapes of brick and perforation to allow visibility through the bricks at the right points. Working closely with the architect, it took the team nine months of developing and testing to get the strength of the product right. Three lengths of brick were produced and used in the construction of the extension: 215s were used in the building of the chevron parapet, 345s were used on the parapet and alongside the entrance, and 440s were used to create the latticework on the main entrance.We are proud to announce that York House was highly commended at the 2019 Brick Awards in the Innovation category and is a great example of a collaborative approach with our customers.

The ChallengeTramways is a 402-bedroomed new build student accommodation complex for Chester University. It comprises 356 en-suite cluster rooms and 56 en-suite studios incorporating communal kitchens and living rooms.The development was to be split into five blocks of accommodation, with each block between three and five storeys in height.The SolutionForterra’s Dark Multi Smooth and County Multi Smooth bricks were selected for the project’s facing brickwork. Used alongside zinc wall cladding, these red bricks helped to create interest and variety in the external appearance of each of the five blocks.Part of Forterra’s Butterley range of bricks they are both smooth, wirecut bricks. While County Multi Smooth is a fully red brick, Dark Multi Smooth introduces elements of blue.The BenefitsThe juxtaposition of the metallic cladding with the red and blue facing brickwork ensures the Tramways development offers its own, unique architectural interest while at the same time complementing the local built environment of this part of Chester.

An architect designed, self-build house with annexe for a multi-generational family built to zero-carbon standards.The scheme’s design is influenced by the architectural vernacular of the area. The surrounding houses are a legacy of the Land Settlement Association scheme, with distinctive mansard roofs, steeply sloping gables and dormer windows, constructed in a simple red brick with terracotta plain tiles.The mansard is reflected in the new house with the roof extending down to form the walls. Instead of terracotta tiles, large format slate has been used to form a modern equivalent. The house is mainly slate tile; however, it was felt important to also reflect local brickwork. As such, brickwork was used for two huge brick-faced chimney stacks that rise through the gable.PROJECT INFOTo form a contrast with the very smooth grey of the slate, a textured red brick with slight colour variation was sought. White mortar lightens the brickwork while recessed mortar joints are used inside to provide shadow to each brick. Perforated brickwork surrounds the stone coping on both chimney stacks, adding visual interest to the building through both the materials and the shadows created by the brickwork perforations.The brick selected was stock thrown Hampton Rural Blend from Forterra’s Ecostock range. It has a rustic finish resembling handmade brick. Ecostock bricks are manufactured using the latest technology in sustainability and production efficiency, producing bricks with low embodied energy as well as advanced colour consistency, dimensional accuracy and quality.The structure incorporated huge amounts of insulation, a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system, and a solar photovoltaic array at the bottom of the garden, along with a ground-source heat pump. These installations will ensure that the house generates more electricity than it could ever use.

Located just off New York Street in Manchester city centre, Manhattan is a seven-storey development comprising 42 one and two-bedroom apartments. In a New York loft style, each property features floor to ceiling windows and private terraces set into a multi-level garden wall. On the seventh floor, there are duplex penthouses offering views over King Street and across the city. The ground floor also offers 2,000 sq ft of retail space.During several site visits, the original red brick was examined, and the requirements for a blue/black finish was discussed. Using KEIM’s Brick Colour Range, Nicola Young, KEIM’s Senior Colourist, conducted trial applications of KEIM Restauro Lasur, using different opacity ratios, to ensure colour consistency.Once the colour required had been achieved a specification was produced for a four coat KEIM Restauro Lasur system, comprising of two coats of diluted bespoke black base colour in a fairly opaque finish, followed by two further coats of a combination of two differing colours, more heavily diluted.The original red brick front façade of this five storey building was retained and enhanced to reference a more industrial feel. To fulfil the design brief, the client wanted to change in colour of the bricks to blue/black, without the bricks appearing painted.KEIM Restauro Lasur, a low pigmentation silicate colour wash, which acts as a stain that penetrates the surface of the brick, was used to change the colour of the façade, retaining the look and feel of the original bricks. KEIM Restauro Lasur is a breathable, colourfast system, which retains the original brick appearance and increases light reflectivity, whilst retaining a natural looking finish. The beauty of the KEIM Restauro Lasur system is that it can be used to achieve almost any effect without the surface appearing painted.

In the course of the restructuring and refurbishment of a multi-storey library tower (MST) for the School of Law and the linkage of the tower to the adjacent Peter Froggatt Centre (PFC) to form a new student hub at Queen’s University in Belfast, the architects TODD decided to use Wienerberger’s Lincoln Red brick to tie the scheme into its surroundings. Generally, the brick was laid traditionally, but brick slips secured to a proprietary backing board were also used to form soffits and glazed into the curtain walling on the PFC façade.

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

Through the integration of pioneering materials, the build was designed to strike a balance between contemporary design and historic style. The product behind the concept was Wienerberger’s Smeed Dean London Stock brick – chosen for the project to complement the architectural character of traditional brickwork that has been used throughout the capital, including prestigious landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. The brick is composed of a truly unique combination of materials; local chalk, brick earth, town ash and clinker preserved from the fire grates of Victorian London – giving it its celebrated look and finish.

Barbican House shows that you can take a structure with an old and tired facade, and bring it into the new millennium by adding a contemporary rainscreen, combining both modern and traditional materials.The FastClad brick slip element was manufactured using a mix of red/brown and grey Petersen bricks supplied by European Building Materials, delivered to site and installed by the main contractor.Working closely with Marek Wojciechowski Architects, the brick slip rainscreen integrates with the metal rainscreens and windows to create a stunning new facade to what is now a high end residential and commercial development

Structural Repairs’ office space was beautifully and seamlessly integrated into one of Windsor’s iconic train station arches. This newly built office space boasts from its impressive structural logistics and boldly featured decorative and themed memorabilia at many of its cozy corners.Via a combination of the fire grit machine, TORC system (seen in the images and videos), water by pressure and a DOFF system, the carbon accumulated in the brickwork was removed. These methods, especially the DOFF system, work with high-pressure stream and extremely high temperatures.Brick cleaning is an arduous and labor intensive process by which a brick masonry, also known as a layer of brick which has been laid on the wall’s outermost surface, is cleaned. Brick cleaning is required at various different stages of a building’s life, and with our arch, a cleaning was more than overdue to restore it back to its original condition!

Ancon designed and manufactured the complex stainless steel brick support and restraint system behind the complicated façade of the award-winning LSE Saw Swee Hock Student Centre. The attractive masonry façade uses 175,000 handmade bricks to form both solid and perforated areas. The Ancon stainless steel system comprises special inclined MDC type brick support angles fixed back to 30/20 cast-in channels and bespoke rolled hollow section Windposts, featuring surface-fixed channels to accept wall ties, positioned at mullion locations strategically hidden within the perforated brickwork.

The Tree House is a new build two bedroom house in London Ealing. Using primarily three exterior materials: grey brick, black timber and anthracite metalwork, the palette is simple where the rough brick contrasts the sharp black detailing. The simplicity and rawness of finishing is carried through to the internal fit out where brick walls, bespoke ash joinery, terrazzo tiles and delicate metal balustrades contribute to a comprehensive and confident vision. The Gira Esprit Linoleum-Plywood design line complements the interior design with its natural materials perfectly.Architect: Fletcher Crane ArchitectsPhotography by: Lorenzo Zandri

The Dunleer Housing Development, Co. Louth, is one of six sites being developed by John Sisk and Sons using AG facing brick.The Ravel Grange development was built in a single phase and consists of 80 social houses – mainly 3 bedroom two storeys and a small number of bungalows. Woodward brick in Edenmore Smooth was chosen due to its clean crisp edges and subtle tonal range.It is part of a project spanning across 6 sites, with 1.8million bricks. Various Woodward colours and finishes were selected across the sites. Availability, consistency, and competitiveness were some of the key attributes for choosing AG.