Every year the Brick Development Association (BDA) Brick Awards showcase the exemplary clay brick architecture from across the UK and beyond. The awards attract the entry of exemplary projects from leading architects, housebuilders, developers and contractors, across 17 hotly-contested categories. It benefits from an exceptionally well-credentialled judging panel. As such, it has established a reputation as one of the industry’s most respected and well-attended events.
As one of leading names in brick, Wienerberger is very invested in the awards through both entries and our sponsorship of the prestigious Innovation Award.
The Awards took place on Thursday 10 November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London and we were joined by a number of architects from the shortlisted projects together with some of our key customers. The great news is we won five awards.
First up is the Small Housing Development category and the Gardenmore Green development in Dunmurry, Belfast. Designed by Hall Black Douglas Architects and using our Staffordshire Blue bricks, the development consists of a series of two storey detached and semi-detached housing typologies which reference and are sympathetic to, the surrounding residential context.
Here’s what the judges said:
“The creativity of the project is thought provoking, the houses are interesting and have been carefully crafted.”
Next we move on to the Medium Housing Development category with the winner being The Gables in Crosby Liverpool, an RIBA National award winning development of 30 new family houses for Musker Developments located on a redundant former factory site located in a primarily residential area in Crosby, Liverpool. The scheme combines affordable and open market homes in a mix of two, three and four bedroom units. Featuring our Con Mosso bricks, it was designed by DK Architects.
Here’s what the judges said:
“Very clever design to allow space despite the density of buildings”
Next up is the Large Housing Development with GoodLuck Hope on the Leamouth Peninsula, London. The construction includes both traditional build and prefabricated construction. The buildings are designed to reflect the historic context of the site and are finished to a high quality. As you can imagine on a build this vast, a range of our bricks were used - Pampas, Blue Velvet, Platinum White, Hampstead Yellow. The development was designed by both Allies and Morrison and TODD Architects.
Here’s what the judges said:
"Excellent example of where a well curated menu of selected bricks can work together very successfully at the hands of architects who care about the overall streetscape and sense of identity within such a rich tapestry of old industrial land and buildings.”
As you can see, this meant Wienerberger had a clean sweep of awards across the housing categories which is a great achievement.
From homes we move on to the Public Building category and our next success which was The Alder Centre based at famous Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. Built using our Marziale bricks and designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the external space is thought of as ‘A Secret Garden’, coming from the children’s book. An important feature of the design is the brickwork walls that continue out at the edge of the garden to define and secure it.
Finally, in terms of awards, the Specialist Brickwork Award was won by Lee Marley Brickwork. The project that won this award is one that many of you will see on your TV screens as it’s the E20 BBC Eastenders site. Bet you didn’t know it was built using Wienerberger bricks.
The Innovation category, which is sponsored by Wienerberger, looks to celebrate projects that demonstrate an innovative use of clay bricks or clay products either in design or application and this year’s winner has had quite a bit publicity recently. It’s the world famous Battersea Power Station. It is believed that the brick selection was one of the most thorough processes of its kind ever undertaken, introducing new methods for brick selection within the conservation world. A worthy winner I’m sure you’ll agree.
Over the coming months, we will be working with all the winners to produce case studies which we’ll use to showcase our products for others to see the potential of what can be built using great design and quality materials.
In finishing, at Wienerberger we’re building beyond what we know to be possible today, and rethinking how we create value for our customers and partners, our people and our communities. Working with our partners and architects, supporting and entering the awards is our opportunity to celebrate and showcase our customers’ projects, shining a light on the complex workmanship and high-quality products used.
