Outstanding projects emerged from a record number of entries to this year’s Brick Development Association awards programme

Buildings.

Supreme Winner, Public Award and Outdoor Award: Story’s Field Community Centre & Nursery, Cambridge

Architect: MUMA

Brick manufacturer: Wienerberger

Brickwork contractor: Anglian Brickwork

“Perhaps the greatest accolade to Storey’s Field Centre is the fact that it has, in a very short space of time, been adopted as the heart of the community. Fulfilling the brief, the finished article is far more than the sum of its parts and represents a valuable amenity for local residents, who will certainly take pleasure from the use of this high-quality community space. From an architectural perspective, the building works on many different levels. It has a simple concept that gives due regard to the combination of internal and external spaces, supported by a confident selection of materials and their meticulous detailing. The conjunction of a communal building and a nursery has been dealt with skilfully and the building as a whole makes good use of its position. The brick is very attractive; the colour, tone and texture adding interest and character to the new urban realm. This project was designed and executed to an exceptional standard.”

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Individual Housing Development Award: Red House, London

Architect: 31/44 Architects

Brick manufacturer: Ketley Brick Company, Wienerberger

Brickwork contractor: Studio PL

“An inventive and considered building, Red House is successfully nestled in a row of Victorian houses, whilst standing out as a great example of a modern interpretation of a terraced house typology. Strong in concept, the house fully realises the site’s potential, complementing its neighbouring buildings despite its bold differentiation. The quality of the red brickwork is very good and the matching colour of the mortar is successful, communicating solidity and creating a striking façade to define the end of the terrace. The exterior of the building is bright and colourful, but the interior was designed to be deliberately minimal, ready for the buyer to make their own; the owner’s high praise suggests this was the right approach. This is a unique development, the detailing and overall execution of which is excellent.”

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Small Housing Development Award: Gospel Oak Housing, London

Architect: Burd Haward Architects

Brick manufacturer: Wienerberger

Brickwork contractor: Boxmoor Construction

“The use of cleverly designed and well executed brickwork across this project has produced buildings of considerable quality. These carefully detailed buildings function very well in the context of their respective sites. In some cases, they unobtrusively improve the context, in some they carefully balance and match. A high level of creativity has been brought to the concept design and site potential well realised. The three buildings, between which there is a good level of consistency, sit nicely within their surroundings. Much care has been taken in establishing a level of detailing, achieved mainly by the imaginative use of brick bonding, which makes for a puzzling and pleasing complexity. These are finely crafted homes which have, if anything, raised the tone of their respective environments.”

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Large Housing Development Award: Royal Albert Wharf, London

Architect: Maccreanor Lavington

Brick manufacturers: Ibstock Brick, Wienerberger

Brickwork contractor: City Brickwork

Contractor: Galliford Try

“This is a carefully articulated series of buildings around generous public spaces that animate one of East London’s disused docks. The materiality of the different buildings generates distinct characters for each of the buildings, which are in keeping with the industrial past while bringing colour and finesse to the area. The project is housing-led but is also animated by artist studios, cafes, shops and gallery spaces. The project works exceptionally well in relation to the dock. Its surroundings are somewhat still under construction but the scale, accessibility and urban design sits well with the masterplan. The massing and relationship of building to open space feels highly appropriate in the context. The choice of brick and ceramic is interesting and varied. The three different brick mixtures all work well together as an ensemble and a green glazed, pro led brick is used for decorative effect, along with ceramic nosings. Detailing and execution are excellent and contribute to an exemplary response to brief.”

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Large Housebuilder Award: Countryside Properties

Development 1: Horsted, Architect: Clague Architects

Brick manufacturer: Forterra Building Products

Development 2: Heywards Heath, Architect: Omega Partnership

Brick manufacturer: Forterra Building Products

“Comprising two separate developments, the overall masterplan of each responds to the existing typology of housing in their respective areas and strikes a good balance between communal and private space. The Horsted site provides a range of housing in its suburban context, from apartments, houses, coach houses and affordable extra- care accommodation. Foundry Gardens also offers a mix of dwelling type and relatively low density. The latter uses slopes to good effect against the somewhat undulating Sussex countryside backdrop. The choice of brick is appropriate within its context: a combination of smooth red stocks, subtle and heavily creased soft mud bricks, provide a pleasant aesthetic, alongside a combination of red, brown and occasional black (slate) roof tiles, which give added variety. The quality of brickwork is generally very good and contributes to achieving a high-quality finish.”

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Urban Regeneration Award: Silchester Housing, London

Architect: Haworth Tompkins

Brick manufacturer: Wienerberger

Brickwork contractor: RI Brickwork

“This is a beautifully detailed, subtle project that forms a case study for densification at the foot of existing residential towers. The project brings a human scale and sensitivity to the streets around Latimer Road, which shows the extent to which developments can improve the existing streetscape. The development successfully densities an existing site for social housing, which includes a 20-storey brick-clad tower a few streets away from Grenfell Tower. The proposal brings the scale of the mews house to the base of the existing tower, which is a huge improvement for the area. The project is very sensitive, subtle and well- considered. It feels robust and classic and is expected to age well. There are a number of unusual brick details, which cleverly break up the facade. The selection of brick feels highly appropriate and the quality of the brickwork is excellent, particularly as it would appear the bricklayer had to contend with a large number of complex variations.”

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Commercial  Award: BBC Television Centre, London

Architect: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Brick manufacturer: Coleford Brick & Tile

Brickwork contractor: Lyons & Annoot

“A thoughtful and well-conceived development that successfully rehabilitates Television Centre into a mixed use residential, office and retail development. Of note is the high-quality detailing and well-used, landscaped public spaces. The contemporary design and light open spaces contribute to this scheme’s success. Thoughtful and tasteful, the development responds well to the existing fabric and integrates the new additions carefully and with respect. The public spaces are full of people and the landscaping is well executed. This is a highly functional space. This is a complex site and a beast of an existing building with which to contend, but the project deals with these constraints in a professional manner. The design is considered: curved facades, square protruding balconies and lots of glass, complement each other well against the brown brick element of the scheme. The brickwork is clean and uniform and the finishes look robust and tidy; evidently a high level of control was exercised during installation.”

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Education Award: Marlborough Primary School, London

Architect: Dixon Jones

Brick manufacturers: Ibstock, Michelmersh

Brickwork contractor: Lesterose

“Marlborough School provides state of the art school accommodation together with a strong civic presence. The proposal hugely increases density on the site while at the same time providing much larger and brighter play areas and communal halls than before, through a clever sectional concept. The sectional concept for the school is extremely intelligent and very creative. The stepped terraces have been carefully landscaped and are very much used so that the school feels like a whole connected community, really alive and energetic. The London stock brickwork and elevational treatment of the school contrasts with the dark brick of the office building on the same site so that they do not feel part of the same language, which is appropriate given their entirely separate functions. This also helps to break down the mass of the block. The brick is finely detailed and references local precedents without being deferential.”

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Refurbishment Award: Walthamstow Wetlands, London

BArchitect: Witherford Watson Mann

rick manufacturer: Ketley Brick Company

Brickwork contractor: Global Brickwork

“This project is a very skilled work of refurbishment on an industrial building. The Wetlands centre dignifies and respects the industrial heritage of the site and transforms its extraordinary setting. The building’s new roof line and tower – with cues taken from a historic chimney there – act as distinctive markers in the industrial landscape. The potential of the site could barely be better realised; the project transforms the Wetlands experience. The interior and surroundings of the building allow for different public and educational uses at different times. The brick choice for the tower is very well informed; the hard, brown brindle brick has a soft sheen to it that looks sometimes dark and other times slightly reflects the sky. The choice of brick in the refurbishment element also complements the lovely pink existing brick. Across both old and new elements, the quality of detailing and execution is extremely high.”

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Innovation Award: Coate Street, London

Architect: Urban Mesh Design

Brick manufacturer: HG Matthews

Brickwork contractor: A R Hook Brickwork

“This project uses brick construction to create an innovative effect, juxtaposing glazed bricks and mirror-polished steel, that enlivens the streetscape. The site was a narrow yard at the rear of Hackney Road. The project makes very good use of this high street hinterland, contributing positively to what is a very mixed, urban street with residential and commercial buildings. Brick is used in an inventive way primarily through the application of mirror polished stainless steel to headers in the context of protruding stretchers. These mirror polished elements have the effect of reflecting the sky, animating the brickwork and generating a surprising effect of dematerialising the wall. For a modest and relatively simple process, it is strikingly effective. The brick choice feels appropriate. It is highly unusual in the context of London, but it works well because of the mixed and urban nature of the street; bold enough to stand out but does not feel forced. The quality of brickwork is high.”

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Craftsmanship Award: Harpsden Wood House

Architect: Jonathan Lees Architects

Brick manufacturer: HG Matthews

Brickwork contractor: Fusion Brickwork

“The client’s relentless pursuit of perfection for Harpsden Wood House, challenged the architect and brickwork contractor to produce a catalogue of fine brick details, the likes of which are seldom seen all in a single project: triple and double header arches with creasing tile details, corbels, chimneys and careful in ll work to masonry; matching coursework to the existing building and intricate work to the chimney stacks; brick paving, stone trims to steps and dwarf walls, assembly of prefabricated stone to form columns and arches; all of which has been carried out with meticulous attention to detail. The quality of the brickwork and the skill with which the items have been created is impressive. It is one thing to have the opportunity to work in this sort of environment but quite another to have the skill to deliver. This project demonstrates exceptional quality of craft.”

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Specialist Brickwork Contractor Award: Anglian Brickwork

Project 1: Storey’s Field Community Centre, Cambridge

Architect: MUMA, Brick manufacturer: Wienerberger

Project 2: The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge

Architect: Nicholas Hare Architects, Brick manufacturer: Ibstock Brick

“The two projects submitted by Anglian aptly demonstrate the range of skills they can bring to bear on brickwork contracts. Between the Storey’s Field Centre and the David Attenborough building projects, Anglian evidence a wide repertoire and high level of skill. Both developments are meritorious in themselves and fit well into the surrounding areas. The choice of the brick in both projects is convincing. The potential of each site has been realised and in both cases the designers have brought a high level of creativity to the final solution, which on both counts has been executed brilliantly. The quality of the brickwork in both projects is high despite the fact that each project presented different technical challenges: the application of a brickwork veneer to an existing building and, the completion of a new build with a number of demanding brickwork details. In both cases Anglian fulfilled the brief and represented good value to the client.”

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Worldwide Award: Brickweaving Apt no 7, Iran

Architect: SStudioMM 

“Located in Damavand, a small, old city close to Tehran with a landscape of mountains, the project is sited amidst residential areas steeped in brick history, making the material an obvious choice for this four- storey apartment, which translates the city’s material interest into contemporary accommodation, in a form and at a cost appropriate to the local economy. The project uses brick playfully but within a simple parametric, structured plan that draws inspiration from a DIY culture and shies away from the off-site prefabrication prevalent in the locale. The design has in fact contributed to an online open source database of similar works, with the intention of sharing this practice and facilitating similar development in an area restricted by economic means.”

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Architects’ Choice Award: Creek Road, Greenwich

Architect: BPTW Partnership

Brick manufacturer: Ibstock Brick

Brickwork contractor: Bouygues

“The project on Creek Road is well constructed and creates a dense housing scheme in the centre of Greenwich. There are particularly nice elements to the rear facade, specifically the extension of the existing church, and the interesting row of individual houses, which demonstrate nice aspects. The choice of brick for the extended warehouse and the first part of the development is particularly pleasing both in terms of material quality and its application. The quality of construction and in particular the brickwork, is very good. The project realises the site’s potential, producing a great number of good quality housing units for the housing association client.”

Commendations

The 2018 Brick Awards judges were:

Hilary Satchwell: founder and director, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design

Andrew Taylor: director and head of planning, Countryside Properties

David Cole Adams: brick expert and retired architect

Fiona Scott: founder and director, Gort Scott Architects

Jelena Cousins: founder and director, Cousins & Cousins

Lee Marley: managing director, Lee Marley Brickwork

Michael Driver: brick expert and affiliate lecturer, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge

Miranda Macclaren: director, Morris & Company

Nicola Kelly: commercial director, Skanska

Pat Furr: former managing director, Carlton Brick

Tatiana von Preussen: founder and director, vPPR architects

Tom McGuire: managing director, Grangewood Brickwork