"concrete reconstructed stone bricks"

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.

Transforming your child's school environment is truly amazing! Imagine a place where learning and play come together, where education expands beyond the classroom walls into inviting open spaces. We, alongside our partners, strive to bring this vision to life.Creating safe and modern school environmentsEnvision your child in a modernized school setting designed not only for learning but also for inspiring play. Picture them exploring, engaging, and growing in this enriched environment.This primary school reconstruction project in Slovenia was led by our local channel partner, Igras Igrala. It is a testament to our successful track record in creating high-quality, safe spaces for children. Our philosophy revolves around crafting modern school environments that promote well-being through inclusive and inspiring play experiences.We are fully committed to working collaboratively to turn this vision into reality because we firmly believe that every child deserves an exceptional place to learn and play. Let's come together and shape tomorrow's learning environments today!

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

MARSHALLS BRICKS & MASONRY DELIVERS SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR THE MERLIN RISE DEVELOPMENTMarshalls Bricks & Masonry’s Mayfair Vintage facing bricks have been used by housebuilder Backhouse on its Merlin Rise development to achieve a high-quality, reclaimed brick aesthetic that also aligns with the sustainability goals of the business.In line with the company’s sustainability aims, Backhouse chose to use concrete facing bricks rather than a conventional clay alternative. Unlike clay bricks, concrete products do not require firing and as a result, only a small amount of additional energy is used in the manufacturing process. Concrete bricks are net absorbers of CO2 due to their continuous carbonation over their lifetime. Therefore, across the total lifetime of the product, concrete’s carbon footprint is as little as 49% that of traditional bricks.BY SELECTING THE MAYFAIR VINTAGE BRICK AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A TRADITIONAL CLAY BRICK, BACKHOUSE HAS SAVED 93 TONNES OF CARBONCharles Phillpott, Senior Buyer at Backhouse said: “We are focused on creating places that are sympathetic to their location, respect the existing environment and we are serious about how we work with existing communities. Placemaking is at the very core of our developments and we constantly strive to use sensitive methods of construction and materials. Marshalls’ range of facing bricks not only allows us to choose from a range of colours and finishes, it also means we are incorporating an element of sustainability into the homes we build by the very materials we select. This makes our sustainability goals easier to achieve and is at the heart of what we want to do as a business”.Kevin Cafferty, Commercial Director at Marshalls Bricks & Masonry said: “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the products we are so passionate about actually in-situ and forming part of someone’s home. The Merlin Rise development is testament to Clifton Emery Design and Backhouse; they have designed stunning and sustainable homes. We hope to see more of this sympathetic approach to design from other house builders and architects”.The Merlin Rise development was Highly Commended in the Development of the Year category (20-100 units) at the British Homes Awards 2021 and was shortlisted for the 2021 AJ Architecture Awards, Housebuilder Awards and Building Awards.

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

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

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

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.

Woodlands is a high-quality retirement scheme of 17 luxury apartments by PegasusLife, now part of Lifestory, in exclusive Canford Cliffs, Dorset. Designed by Snug Architects, the building’s striking, contemporary form is crafted to include a carefully specified combination of whitewashed, vertical timber cladding, glazed balconies, bronze-coloured windows and white Antro facing brick slips from leading brick innovator, Vandersanden. “It was the team at PegasusLife that first suggested using Vandersanden brick slips,” explains Mike Worthington, director at Snug Architects. “The very stylish Antro brick complements the whitewashed timber cladding and the bronze metal colour of the windows very well to provide an incredibly mature material palette.” Within walking distance of the beach, Woodlands stands on Flaghead Road amongst age-old pines. The building’s architecture was inspired by its setting and, although bold and contemporary, relates harmoniously to the scale of the surrounding housing. The structure was conceived as a three-storey modern brick envelope with a basement car park that has lift access. Woodlands was built using a reinforced concrete frame construction. Instead of traditional brickwork, Gebrik Brick Cladding Panels featuring Vandersanden’s Antro brick slips were supplied by Aquarian Cladding for the project. These were constructed off-site and installed straight onto the building frame. By using Gebrik panels, the aesthetics of the building were maintained as originally designed while minimising on-site works. A further advantage was that the build programme was more efficient than with traditional construction as the building was watertight more quickly, so interior spaces could be fitted out in tandem with work to the exterior. To complete the facade, Antro brick pistols and splayed/canted brick specials were employed with the bricks wrapped underneath the soffit of window and balcony openings. Vandersanden’s Antro stock facing bricks have a sanded-coated and creased structure. They are a mix of different kinds of clay forms and made with 100% natural resources; the loam that forms the most important base material dates from the Ice Age. By using specific sand types for the surface covering, the desired colour is achieved. Mike Worthington says: “The Vandersanden bricks are good quality and provided the basis for a beautiful and mature materiality for this retirement living development which we were delighted with. They’ve weathered very well and we’re regularly complimented on the scheme and asked who supplied the bricks. We’re very proud of it.” Canford Cliffs is an affluent suburb of Poole with a significant population of retired people. PegasusLife is a retirement living provider on a mission to fundamentally re-think retirement living in the UK. Unsurprisingly, Woodlands was shortlisted for the 2017 RIBA South West Awards. Further details on Snug Architects are available at https://www.snugarchitects.co.uk. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

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

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.

For its architecturally striking Orwell House scheme in Bethnal Green, London, Bell Phillips Architects (BPA) has specified hand-formed, multi-coloured Antro bricks from Vandersanden, the brick maker renowned for its innovation, craftsmanship and sustainable manufacturing practices. Antro provides just the right balance of colour, texture and contrast for this affordable housing project, designed by BPA for London Borough of Tower Hamlets and forming part of the Berthold Lubetkin-designed Dorset Estate, originally constructed in the 1950’s and 1960’s.Comprising 20 flats in total, Orwell House is a new, wedge-shape, in-fill development, just off Colombia Road, to the North-West of the Borough. BPA’s imaginative design for this six-storey building features balconies and a roof terrace that look out across Ravenscroft Park with the steel-framed volume of Orwell House contained by Vandersanden’s multi-coloured greyish brick envelope. On the two shorter sides, this brick envelope is fronted by balconies clad in pink, glass-reinforced concrete (GRC) panels. This bold chequerboard patterning echoes the tones and patterns used by Lubetkin to animate facades on buildings across the existing estate.Completed in July 2020, Orwell House is a Finalist in the Housing Awards 2021. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

Award-winning Surrey-based firm, Fletcher Crane Architects, has specified Vandersanden’s 65mm Antro facing brick for interiors and exteriors at Tree House, an impressive, new, contemporary home in Ealing, West London. Located in a conservation area and constructed on a 12 x 12m former garage site, bounded by rear gardens, Tree House is a two-bedroom property that stands assertively against the characterful and repetitive villas in the street. Fletcher Crane has designed the home as an articulated series of volumes in a split-level arrangement of rooms around a central spine. The kitchen and living room sit on the upper storeys to make the most of natural daylight while the two bedrooms are submerged within semi-sunken floors.Boldly deployed and celebrated for the texture, variation and interest they provide, Tree House’s components are a fundamental part of the Fletcher Crane vision. Inside and outside the home, extensive use is made of three principal materials to create a naturally appealing, raw palette of black ash timber, tubular metalwork and multi-coloured Antro brick from Vandersanden.The load bearing Antro brickwork is exposed and flush-jointed with traditional lime mortar to create a unifying, almost monolithic appearance. ‘Baubuche’ structural timber joists span the brick structure, while, in the basement, the in-situ concrete frame is left bare. The central staircase is encased in ash timber panelling which is set against more curved Antro brickwork and sharp metal balustrades. Outside a sunken planted courtyard is accessed using stepped Antro brick planters and a paddle stair constructed of black cobble setts.“We like the texture, the tones and the variety that the Antro brick gives us at Tree House,” says Harry Reid, Architect at Fletcher Crane Architects. “Vandersanden offers a significant range of these light multi-coloured bricks, both in white and grey hues which are very attractive for this type of project. The company supplied us with a number of sample options for comparison and contrast, and we duly selected Antro as our brick of choice. We’re delighted with it, particularly in how the Antro brick combines with the lime mortar, and other components at Tree House to create the overall feeling of an intimate yet generous home that’s filled with light and rich in materials.”Antro is created from a combination of different clay forms which yield a grey base colour, then coated with specific sand types to bring a grained, creased texture to the brick. The clay structure evokes darker and lighter tones out of the base grey along with shades of white in the overall final appearance.For more information on Fletcher Crane Architects go to https://www.fletchercranearchitects.com/. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' linkCredit: Photography by Lorenzo Zandri © 2021

Setting an aesthetic benchmark at the heart of the regeneration of London’s Royal Docks, Oasis Academy Silvertown is a new Department for Education school created by architects Rivington Street Studio. The landmark building serves 11-16 year olds and achieves a BREEAM ‘Excellent' rating while its striking appearance owes much to the use of Vandersanden’s Perla bricks.At the heart of an emerging community in West Silvertown, the Oasis Academy is an all-inclusive secondary school for 600 students on a constrained .25-hectare site. Arranged as a multi-storey ‘superblock’, the building incorporates outdoor social space at different levels and a full-sized sports pitch on its roof.The warm white Perla brickwork and large openings relate to the existing and new residential properties and the monumental listed Silo D nearby. The building’s thick external walls are folded to provide a layered façade in response to the elements. A double-height colonnade to the North Woolwich Road acts as a visitor entrance and engenders a civic quality to the building while also allowing for generous pedestrian movement and a deep threshold between the public domain and secure school environment.The site is surrounded by a mix of red brick residential properties, derelict industrial land and vast stretches of master-planned residential and commercial properties. “We wanted the Academy to stand out from this landscape,” explains Éimear Murphy, associate director at Rivington Street Studio. “Vandersanden’s white Perla bricks give the building a monumental quality, highlighting that it’s for the community and is not an apartment block.”Taylor Maxwell, the brick supplier, suggested Vandersanden’s Perla brick for the project. “What we really liked about Perla is that it’s not only a white brick, with no variation in the colour, but it has quite a rustic, handmade texture that gives it a warm feel rather than a shiny and engineered surface finish,” says Murphy. There were various challenges to creating the brickwork details. The sharp angles associated with the brick fins on the side elevations meant there were a lot of brick specials so these were scheduled with plans drawn through the fins at every other course at the different levels. The contractor then cut the bricks to the schedule. This was made possible because the Perla bricks are exactly the same colour all the way through. For the canted reveals of the double-height colonnade to the main elevation, brick slip panels were used. Rivington Street Studio worked with the brick subcontractor to develop a bespoke detail and different mock-ups were trialled. The brick slips are seamless in appearance, matching with the full bricks used elsewhere. The canted reveals to the windows on the south elevation were envisioned through extensive 3D modelling and the Perla bricks again proved highly versatile during construction.To achieve a homogenous feel to the building, the mortar was matched to the brick. From a distance, the structure resembles a white cube but, as you get closer, the surface detail of the mortar joints and brick texture starts appearing. At different times of the day, the building’s appearance changes as patterns of light and shade move across the texture of the bricks. "The Vandersanden bricks are incredibly high quality and the through colour simplified the construction process because the bricks could simply be cut to suit the building’s geometry, enthuses Murphy. “Another important factor was the excellent consistency of the batches as this was essential to achieving the building’s monolithic, one-colour look.” To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' linkProject photography Simon Kennedy & Rachel Ferriman

Architect: Guy Hollaway Architects Main Contractor: Buxton Building Contractors Installer: Colorminium Stone: Jura Beige Guy Hollaway Architects designed the competition-winning scheme for the new concert hall at Benenden School near Cranbrook in Kent. The project, completed in 2021, delivered a new combined concert hall; school hall and music department. The new school hall has a capacity of 750. The Concert Hall includes a 150 seat recital hall and digital media suites. This development, the largest in the school’s history, achieves the combination of brick and natural stone, in the form of Aztec Rainscreen with stunning success. The honed Jura Limestone angled soffits give the windows a superiority as well as realising more light into the building. Areas of the large panel 1200x450mm rainscreen achieve a modern look on this prestigious development.

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

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.

Manufacture and installation of bespoke white concrete kitchen worktops and concrete cladded central island. The large format concrete panels were wrapped around the central island with 3D concrete tiles completing the design. All worktops and tiles were fitted using mechanical and chemical fixings.

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

On this fast turnaround project we worked closely with Apteriors; Interior Design and Furniture Specialists and McLaren Construction to manufacture and supply outdoor concrete furniture for new multipurpose recreation and study area for New Regent’s College in London. Living Concrete supplied 4 large Let’s Dine Concrete Tables and 12 concrete cube seats with oak cladding which were assembled on site and finished with a specialist sealant. Product Spec: Let’s Dine Table Size: height 70cm x length 200cm x width 100cm Finish/ Colour: Mist Hand-cast GRC concrete Indoor and outdoor use

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

On this fast turnaround project we worked closely with Clarke Penman Architecture to manufacture and install polished concrete kitchen worktops and splash-backs.Concrete worktops are extremely strong and durable and designed to withstand busy family use. These were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The worktops were cut to fit various kitchen appliances and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof.Spanning over 6 metres, separate large BTX concrete panels were carefully assembled on site and fitted with brass sink and taps by our experienced team. The finished effect is a modern, industrial look that complements client’s design style and blends perfectly with the raw plastered walls and concrete floors, which together create a truly unique and highly functional kitchen.

The Living Concrete team provided design consultancy and were selected to project manage the delivery of a new kitchen for a celebrity chef.The glass fibre reinforced concrete central island, table-come-workbench was manufactured using our special GRC BTX concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. We used our unique eco concrete mix technology with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The individual elements were precast in our workshop for assembly on site and then hand polished and treated with a specialist sealant. Large format GAP wall panels with concrete caps in Mist Rough finish completed the design.Living Concrete’s worktops and tables are extremely strong and durable and can be used indoors or outdoors. By using the best of modern technology, we have created a contemporary and elegant space that demonstrates how concrete can be both good looking and functional.

Project: Manufacture and installation of 10 bespoke concrete pendant light fittings for newly refurbished London gym and changing rooms. Materials used: Hand-cast concrete sphere shaped lamp shades with hand applied metallic internal finish and stainless steel fittings. We were asked to manufacture 10 bespoke extra large sphere-shaped concrete pendant lamps with hand applied metallic internal finish and stainless steel fittings. Product Spec: Size: diameter 47cm, shade height 28cm, maximum suspension height 120cm Weight 6.25kg Finish/ Colour: Rough finish – GREY Cable / cord : Herringbone brown linen Ceiling rose : Concrete GREY Colour temperature: 3000k LED WARM WHITE

Project Overview:Reducing the visual impact of guttering systems on the design of buildings is always a challenge for designers and architects. One solution is to use these systems as an architectural feature in themselves. The Justice Court collection of retirement homes in Cromer is one such case. These beautiful red brick and stone buildings have an aluminium guttering system combining the gutter, fascia and eves functions together with fascia panels above and below the large bay windows. The design intention was that these aluminium elements should resemble the feature stone band running across the building and to become a design statement in their own right. A close match to the shade and texture of the stone was required, and a consistency of colour throughout to emphasise the clean lines of the guttering & fascia system.The SolutionPowdertech Corby's Landscape range is a collection of high performance polyester powder coatings with shades and textures reflecting those found in our natural surroundings. Powdertech worked with their client to find a close match to the stone on the building. The amount of material to be coated required two batches so it was essential to have absolute colour consistency between batches. The total area coated was approximately 250m2.On the finished building the guttering, soffit and fascia look as though they are made of stone, providing a most pleasing effect. At Powdertech we were delighted to demonstrate our expertise for colour and texture matching. The final result vindicates our passion for this aspect of our work.BenefitsThe Landscape collection of powder coatings bring the warmth and texture of natural elements to the technical benefits of an architectural systems.There are currently eight Landscape ranges with over 40 shades. Customised shades can also be made. Landscape provides an ideal solution where the design calls for a highly specific colour tone to blend or complement natural surroundings.

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

Project: Manufacture and installation of bespoke 3D GRC cladding panels in Tempest Grey colour and Silk finish Client: Morgan Lovell Materials used: Panels were produced using BTX GRC high performance concrete in 3 meter length and only 20mm thickness. Bespoke 3D BTX GRC high performance concrete cladding panels were installed by Living Concrete to the famous 10 Old Bailey entrance. The panels were 3 meters in length each but only 20mm thick. Panels were double fixed to a steel frame and sealed in a Silk finish.

Project: Manufacture and installation of concrete worktops at the office canteenClient: Everybody’s Music ManagementMaterials used:  Bespoke BTX GRC 2500 x 65 x 30 mm precast and hand polished concrete worktops in Silk Mist finish.Three large concrete panels; each 2500 mm long and 650 mm wide with side returns; were installed by the Living Concrete team in the communal office space at Everybody’s Music Management offices in North London.The worktops were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The worktops were cut to fit various kitchen appliances and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof. Concrete worktops are extremely strong and durable and designed to withstand high level of use.

Project: Cast GRC concrete bespoke floating steps and concrete tiles for private residence in CobhamMaterials used: GRC concrete with hydrophobic agent and stain proof finishThe Living Concrete team were commissioned to design and create 180 square metres of large format exterior concrete tiles to surround the pool area, patio and paths of an exclusive private residence in Cobham.Working closely with the client, we drew up plans which also involved a cascade of floating steps to create seamless access on what was quite a difficult tiered site. Having assessed all the practical and logistical issues, we worked out a tight schedule of measuring, landscaping, pre-cast and on-site casting and, finally, staged installation of all the elementsas well as laying the pool area and surrounds, we undertook on-site casting of fair-faced concrete garden walls in our Storm-coloured plain Rough finish.This project had many challenges in its design and execution and covered a large external area on different levels incorporating very heavy concrete elements – creating this stunning feature.

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

Project:  Refurbishment and restoration of 6 flights of concrete stairs and landings at Pennybank Chambers, London     Client: Emrys Architects, DDC LTDMaterials used:  MicroConcrete coating in Grey colour and Satin finishThe Living Concrete team were commissioned by Emrys to refurbish and restore an old concrete staircase. This was followed by hand application of Microconcrete coating with Anti-slip agent around the cast iron step threads which were cast in brass finish.  MicroConcrete coating is especially suitable to this type of artisan restoration and it is ideal for tougher environments such as stairs, shop and office floors, bars, hotels and exteriors with no need for joins or breaks. It can be applied over existing materials which reduces the time needed for application and maintenance.

On this redevelopment project we worked closely with McLaren.Excell Architects to manufacture and supply bespoke concrete kitchen worktops and concrete cladded central island in a newly renovated penthouse flat at a warehouse in Shoreditch.The glass fibre reinforced concrete central island, splash backs and worktops were manufactured using our special GRC BTX concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. We used our unique eco concrete mix technology with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The individual elements were precast in our workshop for assembly on site and then hand polished and treated with a specialist sealant. Living Concrete’s worktops are extremely strong and durable and can be used indoors or outdoors. By using the best of modern technology, we have created a sleek contemporary look that demonstrates how concrete can be both eye catching and functional.

Stone: LUNDHS Antique® - honed surface.The freestanding kitchen island acts as a natural focal point in this open plan kitchen and is perfect for both food prepping and entertainment. The combination of the blue cabinetry and Lundhs Antique surface is a great match.

The Living Concrete team are highly experienced at working with leading designers to create bespoke furniture for beautiful spaces. That’s why Charlotte Crosland came to us to discuss the design, manufacture and installation of this stunning outdoor kitchen and entertainment space, housed in a purpose built oak building at her client’s Great Missenden home.We cast a number of items including work surfaces, kitchen cupboards with shelving and drawers, fridge enclosure, BBQ, cast in sink with copper fittings and seatWe used a unique eco concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption and the smooth Silk Mist finish was treated and sealed with Satin Stain protection to make it damage proof. Our high-performance concrete doesn’t corrode or degrade, making it a long-lasting, practical choice that will keep its good looks. It’s fireproof too – a major advantage inside the home, but equally so in an outdoor oak-built structure such as this.

Overlooking the 4,000 gently rolling acres of the historic Kedleston Estate in Derbyshire, the two five-bedroom houses by Greenbuilt Homes are strikingly contemporary in their design. Key to their success is the careful specification of materials, with Vandersanden’s Lithium hand-formed, facing bricks creating facades with an appealing softness, unity and colour. Greenbuilt Homes has gained a competitive edge through well-conceived architecture, high specification and the use of quality materials. The houses on Kedleston Road, are super energy efficient and won Best Small New Housing Development at the LABC East Midlands Building Excellence Awards 2019.To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

On this high profile development project the Living Concrete team worked to very tight deadlines installing 580m2 of self-levelling FluidConcrete flooring throughout the house. FluidConcrete has a smooth, Polished-Concrete-like finish, that makes it perfect for a modern, minimalist design that can be easily combined with materials like wood and ceramic and it is also suitable for under-floor heating. It can be applied to interior surfaces, with no need for joins or breaks.The large format bespoke Plain and Corner concrete panels were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The panels were cut to fit around the staircase and walls and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof.The finished effect is a modern, spacious look that complements client’s design style and creates a truly unique and highly sophisticated space.