DESIGN

DESIGN 

from IBSTOCK BRICK 

Spring 2016 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 

In this issue: Elder &Cannon, 

AndersonOrr, STAC Architecture, 

Patel Taylor,Associated Architects, 

plus detailing brick soffits and 

Ibstock’s Swanage Brickworks

Nando’s restaurant, Hove, by STAC Architecture

DESIGN 

from IBSTOCK BRICK 

Ibstock Brick Ltd 

Leicester Road, Ibstock, 

Leicestershire, LE67 6HS 

t: 01530 261999 

f: 01530 257457 

e: enquiries@ibstock.co.uk 

www.ibstock.com 

Ibstock Sales Office: 

0844 800 4575 

Design &Technical Helpline: 

0844 800 4576 

Sample & Literature Hotline: 

0844 800 4578 

Special Shapes and Brickwork 

Components Sales Office: 

0844 736 0350 

©Ibstock Brick 2016 

Published by Ibstock Brick Ltd 

4 Spring 2016 –IbstockUpdate 

6 The Curzon Building,designed by Associated Architects, 

anchorsBirmingham City University’scampus 

12 Ingenious walls wovenfrom brickand oak featureinSTAC 

Architecture’sNando’srestaurant in Hove 

18 Laurieston 1 in Glasgow,byarchitects Elder &Cannon and 

Page &Park,reconsidersthe tenement type 

24 The Lawns CourtyardHousing in Barking by Patel &Taylor 

evokesthe spirit and form of the almshouse 

34 AndersonOrr Architects’ Foxcombe Lodgeemploys linear 

brickwork to emphasise modernity and relate to context 

38 Detailing deep underslung soffits 

42 SwanageBrickworks is thriving through continuing along 

tradition of manufacturing handmade bricks 

46 Ages of BrickCompetition

Ibstock 

Update 

STATE-OF-THE-ART 

BRICKFACTORYGETS 

PLANNING PERMISSION 

GREEN LIGHT 

Ibstock is set to bring an 

additional100 million bricks per 

year to theUKconstruction 

market, having secured planning 

permission to proceed with the 

development of anew state-of-theartmanufacturing 

facility at its 

existing site on Leicester Road in 

Ibstock. 

As well as boosting employment 

opportunities in the area, 

Ibstock’smulti-million pound 

investment will make asignificant 

contributiontosatisfying 

increasedUKmarket demand 

for bricks.Ibstock’s ability to 

manufactureanadditional 100 

million bricks annually at the site 

using local clayreserves will 

be equivalent to the quantity 

required to build approximately 

15,000 homes each year. 

As well as meeting the growing 

demand for bricks, the extended 

productionfacilitywill generate 

50 new jobs to supplement the 

340-strong Ibstock workforce in 

the area, helping to provide longtermand 

sustainableemployment 

opportunities in the region. 

Andrew Halstead-Smith, group 

marketing manager at Ibstock, says: 

“Our Ibstock site has a200-year 

history of brickproductionand 

throughout this period the 

company has continued to invest to 

ensurethe ongoing quality of our 

market-leading brick products. The 

new facility willbethe world’s most 

modernbrick factory, using the 

verylatest technologies to optimise 

production capability and reduce 

energy consumption. It is an 

exciting development both for 

Ibstock and thesurrounding area, 

helping to generate new 

employment, secureexisting jobs 

andenable us to upscaleour 

production to meet the increasing 

demand for quality,UK-made 

bricks.” 

The new factoryisexpected to start 

production by February 2017. 

Above 

Ibstock’s Leicester site. 

Below 

Nexus soffit at Haworth 

Tompkins’ Peabody 

Silchester Estate project. 

MAKINGLIGHTWORK 

OF BRICK SOFFITS 

Creating brick-faced soffits and 

lintels could become simpler and 

quicker,thanks to anew lightweight 

stainless steel-based system from 

Ancon Building Products and 

Ibstock Kevington. ‘Nexus’ 

combines aspecially developed 

Ibstock Kevington lightweight 

brick-faced stainless steel unit with 

Ancon’s MDC stainless steel bracket 

anglesupportsystem. The system 

offers easier handling coupled 

with maximum adjustability, both 

vertically andhorizontally,for quick 

and simple alignment on site. 

4 •IBSTOCK DESIGN •SPRING 2016

The new system offers significant 

benefits over traditional cast 

concrete alternatives –cutting 

weight by morethan half, which in 

most cases will allow the brick-faced 

units to be installed without 

specialist lifting equipment, and 

savinginstallationtime–makingit 

particularlyappropriate for fasttrack 

or time-limited projects. 

Individual Nexus unitsare designed 

and prefabricated off-sitetosuit 

different soffit dimensions, even 

moderndeep soffits,sothereisno 

cutting required on-site. They are 

simplyoffered up to the pre-fixed 

and pre-drilled Ancon MDC 

supportsystemand bolted into 

position. The design allowsunits to 

be simply adjusted for alignment 

and, onceinposition, the brick 

facing is pointed. 

permanently fixed to thehighgrade 

stainless steel Nexus system 

using aBBA-accredited bonding 

system. Nexus has beentested for 

long-termdurability by Lucideon, 

the independent materialstesting 

and analysis consultancy. 

Ibstock Kevingtonsalesdirector, 

Warren Dean says, “Nexus is an 

exciting new development that 

bringstogether the experience and 

expertise of two major companies – 

each market leadersintheir own 

area. Theadvanced design will not 

only make it easierand quicker to 

specify and install modern brickfaced 

soffit and lintel features in a 

rangeofdifferentbuilding 

applications, but the two-part 

design means it will be far easier to 

achieve perfect alignment with the 

main brickwork facade.” 

INVESTMENT IN NEW 

MIDLANDS CUTTING 

CENTRE AT IBSTOCK 

BRICKWORKS 

Ibstock has opened astate-of-the-art 

cutting centreatits Chesterton 

brickworks as partofanongoing 

investment programme. The 

installation of the fastest slipsawin 

the UK –capable of processing 

8,000 bricks aday –has resulted in 

doubling of productionatthe site, 

and increased staffnumbers. 

Ibstock’s Chesterton site specialises 

in custom-made bricks from the 

Ibstock Kevingtonrangeofspecial 

shapes and prefabricated 

solutions, including Faststack, 

Fastwall,arches and underslung 

soffits.Iain Durrant, operations 

director at Ibstock Kevington, says: 

“Our Chesterton factory is well 

placed to supportthe supply of 

our specialsacross the UK. Many 

construction professionals are 

seeking ways to speed-up build 

timescales, and the investment 

supports our range of products 

andsolutions that can can do just 

that. Chesterton is one of the most 

efficient factories of its type in the 

world and the new cutting centre 

addstowhat it offers to meet 

demand across construction.” 

Nexus unitscan be fabricated using 

almost any brick or masonry, with 

thechosen product being selected 

and precisioncut, generallyfrom 

the same batch as the mainfacade 

to ensure aperfect visual match. 

Variousbrickpatterns can also be 

specified to match individual 

project designs and styles. 

Further details and technical 

specifications for the Nexus® 

system areavailable download from 

www.ancon.co.uk/Nexus. 

All system components arehigh 

quality and engineered for 

economy and durability,with slips 

IBSTOCK DESIGN •SPRING 2016 •5


Anchoring 

Birmingham 

City campus 

Forming anew ‘front door’to 

Birmingham City University’s 

City CentreCampus, 

The Curzon Building has been 

completed by Associated 

Architects’.The imposing scale 

of the project is tempered by 

the finesse of its detailed 

design, whichincludes 

extensiveuse of brick. Photos: 

Martine Hamilton Knight. 


Visible from the West CoastMain Linerailway as it 

approaches Birmingham, and on the easternaxis 

of the new City Park, The Curzon Building is the 

second phase of Birmingham City University’s 

extension of its CityCentreCampus. The building 

is designed to be a‘front door’ for the university 

and to formadistinctive landmarkatthe eastern 

end of the park, inlinewith the aspirations set out 

in Birmingham’s ‘Big CityPlan’. 

This 22,000 square metrebuilding acts as astudent 

hub for the campus, providing facilities including a 

library, catering, student services and astudent’s 

union, incorporating the grade-two-listed Eagle & 

Ball public house. It alsoprovides accommodation 

for the Faculty of Education, Law &Social 

Sciences, and Birmingham City Business School. 

The building’s two wings of accommodation, 

following Cardiganand Curzon Streets, arelinked 

by asix-storey glazedatrium. In accordance with 

thecity masterplan, the building has five occupied 

storeys on Cardigan Street and six on Curzon 

Street at the end of thepark. Atwo-storey element 

of larger footprint contains the student hub 

around asecondaryatrium engaging the public 

house. External space to the east is accessiblefrom 

within the building to extend the use and 

enjoyment of the canal environment. 

Low-energy targets aremet by ahigh-performance 

envelope and by engaging the thermal mass of the 

structure. Mixed-mode ventilation with opening 

windows ensures excellent internal conditions with 

user control. Abiomassboiler and adiabatic 

cooling help achieveaBreeam Excellentrating 

and Energy Performance Rating of A. 


D-P2-0M-061 

250 

Roller Shutter 

Eagle & Ball PH 

7 

Left 

The entrance portal, 

reaching to six storeysin 

height,establishes the 

buildingasafocal point 

forthe campus. 

Right 

The CurzonBuilding is 

located on the north-east 

side of Birmingham city 

centre, adjacenttothe rail 

line as it approachesthe 

recentlyrevampedNew 

Street Station. Ground 

and second floor plans. 


52.5 

85.0 

Brickisused extensivelytoface the principal 

elevations, formingawhite brick wing to the south 

and acontrastinggreybrickwingtothe north. 

Both wings followasimilar compositionoflarge 

brick pierstothe ground floor incorporating black 

brickworkand largeglazedareas to thesetbacks. 

Upper floors arecharacterised by regular setback 

baysand an alternating patternofpunched 

windowopenings. A1200mm thick band of 

vertical stretcher bond is used to formaconsistent 

detailaround the parapet. This wasconstructed 

using acombination of traditional brickwork and a 

brickslip system. The same slip system was also 

utilised internally to visuallycontinuethe external 

facade into the central atrium. 

6 

06 -Parapet /Curtain Wall Profiled Panel Detail - Grid O12/13 

1 : 10 

3 

03 -Wall / Curtain Wall Detail -Grid O 12/13 

1 : 10 

Left 

External envelope section 

detailsshowing brick 

facings. 

Right 

The structural gridis 

expressedinthe brick 

facadesbyrecessed 

panels, some of which 

areblind, whileothers 

incorporate windows 

and spandrels. 

In contrast to the moreuniform appearanceofthe 

brick colours to the main building, reclaimed stock 

bricks and lime mortar wereused to reconstruct 

areas of the dilapidated grade-two-listed public 

house. Working closely with the conservation 

officer,carewas taken to rebuild in thespiritofthe 

originalbuilding, replicating the brick bonds and 

detailing aroundopenings. 

Akey external design element is asix-storey white 

brick-clad arch facingonto the park. The arch 

incorporates a40-metre-long brick slip-clad soffit 

and frames an angled glass facade with richly 

coloured redterracotta shading fins. Responding 

to the client’s brief andthe aspirations of the city 

planners, this grand gesturedeliversabig visual 

impact to the end of the park, and forms aclear 

‘front door’ for the university. 

5 

05 -Wall /Curtain Wall (deep cill) Detail - Grid O 12/13 

1:10 

2 

01 - Precast Soffit /Curtain Walling Detail - Grid O12/13 

1:10 

4 

04 - Typical Wall /Slab Edge Detail -Grid O 12/13 

1:10 

1 

00 - Recessed Wall / Curtain Walling Detail -Grid O 12/13 

1:10 


BUILDING 

The Curzon Building, 

Birmingham City University 

BRICKS 

IbstockOyster White 

IbstockRavenhead RedSmooth 

ARCHITECT 

Associated Architects 

MAIN CONTRACTOR 

Wilmott Dixon Construction 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Martine Hamilton Knight 


Architectural 

Ingredients 

STAC Architecture’snew 

restaurant forNando’sin 

Hove, East Sussex,makes local 

references in both its design 

form and its materials. Dark 

linear brickwork evokes the 

colour of beachpebbles, while 

extensiveuse of oak references 

ashipwreckthat resulted in its 

timber cargo floating ashore. 

Together both dark brickand 

oak areinventivelycombined 

in decorativewalls and panels 

throughout the interior spaces. 



The concept for the design of the new restaurant 

for Nando’s in Hovestems from the memoryofa 

shipwreck offthe Dorset coast in January2008. 

Following thesinking of the Ice Prince, much of 

its cargo of morethan 2000 tonnes of timber 

eventually washedupalong the south coast, 

resulting in random but striking formations, 

most notablyatWorthing beach. 

STAC Architecture’s intention was to recreate 

some of the movement and organicnatural 

forms whileacknowledging the memoryofthis 

spectacular event. The decision was taken to work 

with unfinished character oak externally, which 

will weathernaturallyovertime,paired witha 

black brick that is reminiscent of the black pebbles 

strewn across the coastline. 

Left 

The ‘fan’oftimber planks 

forms adistinctivecanopy 

that marksthe restaurant 

entrance and shelters an 

outdoor seating area. 

Right 

Traditionalclayand oak 

‘bricks’ are stacked to 

form internal walls. 

Timberisemployedinthe 

project in reference to a 

2008 shipwreckafter 

whichtons of lumber 

were washeduponsouth 

coast beaches. 

After extensive research to find the optimum brick 

for the project, STAC came across Ibstock’s Linear 

collection. Thinner and longer than standard 

bricks,this gave amorecontemporary character to 

the exterior walls. The brick also features small 

depressions along the external face, as if ‘eroded’. 

The Black Impressionbrickwas usedalongside the 

natural blue UmbraSawtooth and copper glazed 

UmbraSawtooth,and in conjunctionwith 

thousands of bespoke oak‘bricks’ to create various 

featuresthroughout the restaurant. 

Externally the LinearBlack Impressions wereused 

in stack-bond format with bespoke corner bricks. 

Internallythey wereused to create an entrance 

draft lobby.“We had abit of fun with the lobby and 

created acompound curved brick wall–this can 

be experienced from both sides and it is nice to see 

the manufacturer’s stamp on the rear of thebrick 



internal 

external 

GIA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

whenone arrives”, saysSTAC’sPaul Thrush. 

The stacked brickwork incorporates curved 

reinforcement bars fixed at the base and head as 

well as being resin bonded to one another.This 

meant traditional mortar joints could be avoided, 

and provided acleaner,more contemporary 

appearance. The ends of the lobby wall are 

complemented by oak bricks of varying lengths to 

provide fixing points for the frameless glass doors. 

GIA : 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitors entering the main restaurant space are 

presented with afeaturewall madeofthousands of 

saw-tooth bricks, some copper glazed, that areused 

in conjunctionwith CNC’doak bricks.The oak 

bricks arethe same size as the saw-tooth but have 

anegativetoothrather than the bricks’ positive 

angled face. Together they create azig-zag wall that 

formsastriking backdrop to the restaurant. 

Above 

Floor plan and entrance 

lobbyisometric. 

Left 

The entrance lobby 

features open brickwork 

andtimber blocks. 

Right 

The architecthas 

exploited the modular 

natureofthe bricks to 

design a‘swollen’wall 

that projects into the 

lobbyspace. 


BUILDING 

Nando’sRestaurant,Hove 

BRICKS 

IbstockLinear BlackImpression 

IbstockBlue UmbraSawtooth 

IbstockCopper Glazed UmbraSawtooth 

ARCHITECT 

STAC Architecture 

CoNTRACToR 

The FrenchGroup 

PHoToGRAPHERS 

Jonathan Banks (Photobanks), 

James Parsons 


Learning 

from the 

Tenement 

The Laurieston Gorbals district 

of Glasgow once consisted of 

streets of tenements that were 

torn down in the 1970s to be 

replaced by system-builthighand 

low-rise estate blocks. 

Flawed sociallyand in terms 

of thermal performance, these 

blocks arenow being replaced 

by new buildings whichdraw 

on some of the merits 

of the original tenements. 



Amajor £22m development of 200 affordable 

homes forms the first partofthe regeneration of 

theLaurieston area of Glasgow.Workingwithin a 

larger masterplan by Page &Park, the architect 

of this phase of the development, Elder & 

Cannon, was asked to design 88 units, including 

the prominent southernmost flatted block and 

two housing terraces. 

According to Elder &Cannon, the key challenge 

was to create asustainabledevelopment that 

rationalised the eccentricities of the southernsite 

edge –responding to the railwayline,the busy 

environmentofCumberland Street and theedge 

condition to the new park –and create an 

‘object’ building of an appropriate statureto 

formagatewaypartnership with afuture 

building on the south-west corner of the 

masterplan. 


Left 

The Lauriestondistrict 

wascleared in the 1970s 

as partofthe Laurieston- 

Gorbals Comprehensive 

Development Area with 

multi-storey towerblocks 

and some low-rise 

terraces replacing the rundown 

tenement buildings. 

The newLaurieston 

Transformational 

RegenerationArea, one of 

eight designated in 

Glasgow,incorporates 

much of the Laurieston- 

Gorbals CDAarea. 

Right 

Constructional cross 

section though typical 

block. 


The block was envisaged as acontemporary 

interpretation of the traditional four-storey 

Glasgowtenement, where identity is derived 

from control of detail, scale, proportionand 

materiality.Its success, saysElder &Cannon, 

is reliant upon the continued inclusionof 

the primaryarchitectural elements, well 

proportionedwindows,balconies, porches and 

appropriate quality to the primary materials of 

buildings and landscape. 

In response to the proximity of the railway, the 

block breaks to formtwo new entrycourtyards 

and L-shaped legs of accommodationwhich 

enclose alargeramenity courtyard. The northeasternleg 

responds to the street and new public 

space created, accommodating maisonette 

homes withflats above. The south-westernleg 

responds to the southerlyaspect, generates a 

landscape buffer to Cumberland Street and 

addresses the garden and play area to the west. 

The blocks containawide mix of flats from onebed 

up to six-bed arrangements to meet the mix 

requirements requestedbyNew Gorbals Housing 

Association, rationalising these into aunified 

formthroughcareful planning. 

Left 

Ground- and second-floor 

plans showingthe open 

courtyard arrangement. 

Right 

Bricklends an overall 

coherence to the scheme 

while allowing for 

individual variationof 

windows and balconies. 

The project has achieved 

an Ecohomes ‘verygood’ 

andenergy use will be 

monitored duringits first 

twoyearsofhabitation, 

with feedbackgiven to 

tenants. 

The courtyardterraces to the north areoccupied 

by two-and three- storey homes arranged as 

linear blocks addressing shared surface courts 

with amenityspace to the rear.The houses are 

three- and four-bed units. They adopt asimilar 

materialityasthe main block and prioritise 

rigour,scale and proportionasdevices to control 

and order the elevation. 


BUILDING 

Laurieston Phase 1, 

Glasgow 

BRICKS 

IbstockNevado Geel Gesmoord 

Steenfabriek Facade Beek 

Silverstone Daas Backsteen 

ARCHITECT 

Elder &Cannon Architects, 

Page\Park Architects 

MAIN CONTRACTOR 

McTaggart Construction 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Andrew Lee 


The 

Almshouse 

Reconsidered 

Patel Taylor’s sensitiveproject 

provides low-rise, small-scale 

homes forthe elderly, each 

with asmall courtyardand 

opening onto acentral 

communal space. By relocating 

tenants from largerfamily 

homes,The Lawns will also 

help Barking &Dagenham 

rebalance its housing provision. 




Right/below 

Cross sectionsand plan 

variants of the one-and 

two-bedroom houses. 

Left 

The chimneyprojection 

and baywindoware 

intended to evoke 

domesticity; site plans. 

Architect Patel Taylor was 

commissioned by Barking 

&Dagenham to develop a 

housing typology suited to 

the needs of the elderlyon 

twovacant sites.The brief 

wastodesign one-and 

two-bedroom houses that 

were affordable while 

being owned and managed 

by the borough. 

Architect Patel Taylor was commissioned in 2012 

by theLondon Borough ofBarking &Dagenham 

to develop ahousingtypologyfor the elderly 

community on two vacant sites. The design 

approachfor The Lawns project draws on the 

rich traditionofhousing forthe older people, 

and in particularthe English almshouse. Key 

elements of this type have been applied to create a 

development that has architectural character while 

also aiming to meet the needs of the elderly today. 

Patel Taylor identified twoaspects of classical 

almshouses. First, thehousing surrounds a 

communal garden or landscaped courtyard.Inthis 

projectthe landscaped courtyards comprise simple 

areas of lawn andmature specimen trees. Second, 

the architectureisofanintimate human scale. 

The dwellings aretypically only oneortwo storeys 

and aregivenadomestic scalebythe window 

configurationatground-floorlevel,which forms 

aconnection to the communal spaces. 

As in aconventionalalmshouse layout, the 

communallandscaped garden at the heartofthe 

development is surrounded by mostlysingle-storey 

accommodation, creating asense of community 

and encouraging ‘ownership’ of the public space. 

“As amanifestation of placemaking, the 

configuration of the development seeks to bring a 

sense of place to an area otherwise lost in urban 

anonymity”, saysPatelTaylor.“The landscape 

design integrates high quality materials and small 

scaleplanting to soften theboundaries between 

the communal and private gardens. In extracting 

the key architectural components of the 

almshouse model,wedeveloped atypology that 

interpreted their traditionalcharacter in a 

contemporarymanner.” The houses were 


air 

ply 

and 

rds, 

for 

vel4 

n 

ergy 

e 


designed to be compact in mass and scale, with an 

L-shaped plan arranged around asmall private 

courtyard. These aretypicallysouth-facing with 

walls punctured by atimbergate andtrellisto 

provide residents with avisual connectiontothe 

gardens while retaining privacy.“The single bay 

window andchimney create an impressionof 

domesticity within, and help to identifythe 

individual homes”, say the architects. 

The project contrasts hardexternal elevations with 

softer interiors “to suggest security whilst dissolving 

physical boundaries between dwellings to promote 

asense of community”.The houses arewell 

insulated and areconstructed of traditional, high 

quality and robustmaterials.They achieve Code 

for Sustainable Homes Level 4and have integrated 

photovoltaic cells for each dwelling. 

Left/right 

The Lawns is among the 

first capital-funded local 

authority elderlypersons’ 

housing to be builtfor a 

generation, so the borough 

waskeenthatitshould set 

ahigh benchmark for 

futureprojects. All the 

residents have downsized 

from largerproperties, 

whichinturn has released 

largerhouses back to the 

council.The homes are 

builtwith futureneeds in 

mind, so all arefully 

accessible, allowing 

wheelchair userstohave 

full use of their home and 

ensuring abetter quality 

of life fortheir entire 

tenancy. 


Above 

Exploded isometric. 

Right 

Aprecedent forPatel 

Taylor is Jorn Utzon’s 

FredensborgHousing, 

Denmark (1963), 

comprising 63 L-shaped 

homes forthe elderly. 




BUILDING 

The Lawns CourtyardHousing,Barking 

BRICKS 

IbstockWest HoathlyMedium Multi 

Bat Boxtype B 

ARCHITECT 

Patel Taylor 

CONTRACTOR 

Lakehouse Contracts 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Peter Cook 


Parallel Lines 

En Suite 

Bedroom 2 En Suite 

Bedroom 5 Master Bedroom 

Kitchen 

Breakfast 

Family Room 

Dining Room 

22.39 m² / 

FFL-130.40 

Drawing Room 

The contemporary lines of 

alow-energy dwelling near 

Oxford, designed by Anderson 

Orr Architects, aretempered 

by the buff-coloured linear 

brickwork that resonates with 

moretraditional buildings in 

the vicinity. 

Left 

Long section, ground- and 

upper-floor plans. 

Right 

Cross section; garden and 

entrance frontages.The 

projecting single-storey 

winghouses agarageand 

guest/music room. 

En Suite 

En Suite 

Bedroom 3 

En Suite 

Bedroom 4 

Dressing 

UP 

Linen 

WC 

Gallery/ 

Reading Space 

Master Bedroom 

En Suite 

Bedroom 2 

En Suite 

Bedroom 5 

Balcony 

Garage 

Plant 

Cup'd 

Guest Bedroom/ 

Music Room 

Lobby 

WC 

Utility 

Larder 

Shower 

Cup'd 

Cloak 

Study 

Entrance 

Kitchen Breakfast Family Room 

Drawing Room 

Dining Room 

sliding pocket doors 

sliding pocket door 

sliding doors 

sliding doors 


Entrance 

FFL-130.40 


Anderson OrrArchitects’ brief for Foxcombe 

Lodge wastocreate an exemplar, low-energy 

familydwelling.The design aimwas to minimise 

the visual impact on both the adjacent lane and 

wider context and formasensitive relationship 

withneighbouring properties. The maintwo-storey 

rectilinear structureisorientated on anorth-eastto 

south-west axis, whileasingle-storey element, 

perpendicular to the principal form, houses a 

garage and guest bedroom/music room. 

The elevations aredesigned to contrast and 

complement rather than replicate the traditional 

appearance of the neighbouring buildings. 

The principal materials areIbstock Linear buff 

brickwork, grey aluminium windows and 

composite rainscreen cladding. Large elementsof 

glazing to the north-west and south-east are 

recessed to reduce overheatinginthe summer. 

Vertical louvresatfirst-floorlevel also reduce 

overheating as wellasproviding privacy screening 

to the bedroom and bathrooms. 

The ground-floor living spaces link to the garden 

throughlarge glazedopenings which arealso 

recessed to minimise solar gain. The front 

entrance is flanked withinatwo-storeybay by a 

rainscreen-clad element that houses the staircase. 

At first floorlevel,the master bedroom suite and 

four other bedrooms areseparated by doubleheight 

voids overthe entrance and dining room, 

andlinkedbyagallery/reading space. All 

bedrooms haveen-suite bathrooms and Juliet 

balconies, whilealinear balcony offthe master 

bedroom overlooks thegarden. 


BuilDing 

Foxcombe lodge, oxford 

BriCKs 

ibstocknatural linear Cream 

arChiteCt 

andersonorr architects 

ContraCtor 

lamburn geekie 

PhotograPhY 

gavin Fraser 


Technical: 

Suspended 

Brickwork 

Deep reveals andsoffitsare an 

increasingly popular design 

featurethat can addextra visual 

depthand dimension to masonry 

facades. Whilecreatingthese 

effects can be significant to the 

aesthetics of abuilding, they can 

also pose structuralchallenges as 

theloadofthe wall above must be 

maintained across the opening 

whileseeming to be unsupported 

by structure. 

Whilefull brick systems are 

appropriate for occasionalor 

small openings, prefabricated 

soffit systems, often employing 

brick slips, can offer anumber of 

advantages, especially where the 

openings arelarge or numerous. 

Nexus® is anew two-partsystem, 

developed by IbstockKevington 

and Ancon, that combines ahigh 

integrity stainless steel brickwork 

supportsystemwithprefabricated 

brick-faced units that can be lifted 

and bolted intoposition by hand. 

Itallows for full adjustment so can 

assureperfect alignment. The 

system is significantly easier to 

handlethan precast concrete 

systems. Typically the system 

reduces the weight of the soffit by 

morethan half, which in most cases 

willallow thebrick-faced unitstobe 

installed without specialistlifting 

equipment. It also provides 

significant savings in installation 

time, making itparticularly 

appropriate for fast-track or timelimited 

projects. 

Individual Nexus®units are 

designed and prefabricated off-site 

to suit the soffit dimensions so 

thereisnocutting required on site. 

The Nexus® panes can be 

manufactured to suit differing brick 

sizes, bonds and orientation, for 

example 240x115x48mm vertical 

bond on the front face carried 

ontothe soffit. They aresimply 

offered up to the pre-fixed and 

pre-drilled Ancon MDC angle and 

then bolted into positionusing 

T-bolt fixings in acontinuous 

channel.The two-partdesign 

allowsmaximum adjustability, 

both vertically and horizontally, 

for quick and simple alignment 

on site. 

Below 

NexusSoffitUnit 65x215mm 

with headerbond. 


Installation 

The Ancon MDC Nexus® 

supportsystem is 

securedtothe opening, 

ensuringfixingbolts are 

fully torqued.The 

Nexus® brick-faced unit 

is then attachedtothe 

pre-installedsupport 

system by finger 

tighteningthe bolts. 

Vertical and horizontal 

alignments canthen be 

madebeforethe bolts 

arefullytightened to 

the correct torque.The 

joints can then be 

pointed to matchthe 

adjacentbrickwork. 


SPECIFICATION 

CLAUSES 

Ancon MDC NEXUS 

Bracket Angle Support 

System 

Ancon MDC Systemsare 

tailored to suit each 

project,and arebased on 

the cavitysizeatthe 

supportand the 

unfactored masonry load 

to be carried. Anconwill 

design an economical 

configuration of channel, 

bracketand angle. 

Specification guideline: 

MDC NEXUS/type /cavity 

/unfactored masonry load, 

eg MDC NEXUS/75 /5.6 

Ancon will design a 

standardsystem to suit a 

75mm cavityand carry 

5.6kN/metrerun of 

masonry (unfactored). 

Nexus® Unit 

Brickormasonry slips 

permanentlybonded direct 

to agrade 304 stainless 

steelunit usinghigh 

strength adhesive.The size 

of the unitand bond 

pattern of the slips to suit 

project requirements. 

TECHNICAL 

SPECIFICATION 

Steelwork:Highgrade 

stainless steel, 

manufacturedinAncon’s 

BS EN 1090-1 approved 

factoryand CE marked. 

Brickslips:25mmthick 

and manufactured 

in accordance with 

BS EN 771-1a(BS 4729) 

and CE marked. 

Adhesive: Metolux 

Metofix 3-1 epoxy 

adhesive. 

PRECAST CONCRETE SYSTEM 

MasonrySupportSystems can be 

designed and manufactured to 

suspend precast, prefabricated 

masonryunits. This system 

removes the build of complicated, 

time-consuming masonrysoffits 

from atightsite schedule. These 

offsite manufactured units require 

amechanicallifting device when 

bolting to the underside of a 

masonrysupportangle. 

Below 

Precast Soffit Unit 65x215mm 

withheaderbond. 


Installation 

The Ancon MDC support 

systemisattached, 

ensuringthe fixingbolts 

arefully torqued. The 

precast masonry unitis 

then lifted mechanically, 

supported and fixed to 

the pre-installed masonry 

support systembyfinger 

tighteningthe bolts. 

Vertical and horizontal 

alignmentismade before 

tighteningthe bolts to 

thecorrect torque, and 

pointing completed to 

matchthe brickwork. 


Profile: 

Ibstock’s 

Swanage 

Brickworks 

The Swanage Brickworks has a 

tradition of handmaking bricks 

that dates back to 1865, and today 

the Ibstock factory employs 15 

handmakersatits Godlingston site 

on the north-west outskirts of the 

Dorset town. 

The individually unique bricksare 

made in arangeofcolours, sizes 

and textures, and they areused in 

awide range of building types. 

Typically,the most readily 

available sizesare 50mm, 65mm 

and 68mm, but other dimensions 

can be manufactured to order. 

Additionally, imperial-sizedbricks 

are available for useinrestoration 

and refurbishment projects, 

especially those in conservation 

areas and where listedbuildings 

areinvolved. Moreover,nonstandardsizes 

can be appropriate 

when matching existing brickwork 

or to create unique or novel 

bonding patterns. 

Afull range of manufactured and 

cut and bonded special shapes are 

available for all Swanageproducts, 

including bespoke blends. 

Matching up with existing shapes 

is alsooffered by Swanage, which 

can be particularly importantwith 

refurbishment projects,where 

intricate ornamental details 

requireaccurate replication. 

Swanage products can alsobe 

matched up withthe brick-cutting 

services of Ibstock Kevington to 

provide prefabricated arches, 

underslung soffitsand other 

factory-madebrickwork detailsfor 

usewith conventionalmasonry. 

Sigificantly the Swanage Brickworks 

also offers abespoke blending 

service for situations wherean 

appearance other than that offered 

by standardoff-the-shelf bricks is 

required. Typically this might be 

helpful inmatching existing 

historicbuildings or in creating a 

new blend for asignificantor 

prominent project. 

Swanage Brickworks also makes the 

grey glazed headers that have been 

partofthe vernaculararchitecture 

of the WealdencountiesofKent 

and Sussex for centuries. Normally 

used alongside plain redstock or 

handmade bricks, the headerscan 

be incorporated in avariety of 

bonding patterns, such as English 

and Flemish bonds, or as afeature 

to create aparticular effect, such as 

the diamond patternfeatured at 

College House, Shiplake College, 

Henley-on-Thames, by Nichols 

Brown Webber.Swanage grey 

glazed headersare also often used 

to match adjacent brickwork for 

conservation or planning reasons. 


Right 

Swanagebrickshave 

been specified formany 

prestigious projects, from 

Douai Abbeylibrary and 

archiveinReading (David 

Richmond &Partners), to 

(bottom, left to right) 

ShiplakeCollege, Henleyon-Thames 

(Nichols Brown 

Webber), the Fulton 

Building,SussexUniversity 

(ADP Architects), Cane End 

House Orangery,Reading 

(Plan Architects), and 

the Fitzjames Teaching 

&Learning Centreat 

HazlegroveSchool,Yeovil 

(Feilden Fowles). 

Swanagebricksfeaturein 

manyprojects at Sussex 

University.For the Fulton 

Building,the Falmer blend, 

a60:40 ratio of finesanded 

brownand light 

multiSwanagehandmade 

bricks, waschosen to 

matchthe adjacent listed 

‘Boiler House’.AtYeovil, 

Feilden Fowles worked 

with Ibstock’s Swanage 

factory to develop 

handmade redbricks and 

glazed blackheaders to add 

depth to the Flemish bond 

(ph: David Grandorge). 


Left 

SwanageBrickworks in 

the 1980s; special shapes 

from the factory today. 

Right 

The Swanagefactory 

specialises in creating 

bespokeorpurpose-made 

blends forspecific 

projects or to meet a 

particular colour,texture 

or sizerequirement. 

The Pavilion Portico at the 

Oval,designed by Adam 

Architecture, features 

ablend of handmade 

SwanageLight and 

Restoration Redimperial 

bricks laid in English 

garden wall bond (ph: 

Morleyvon Sternberg). 

Below 

Brickwork panels 

illustrating some samples 

of the unlimited blend 

options available from 

SwanageBrickworks. 

Left to right:Swanage 

Blend A, D, E, F(with 

glazed headers), G and C. 



Ages of Brick 

So you think you know your bricks? 

Test your knowledgebyanswering the questions 

below and email them to: design@ibstock.co.uk 

A£250 prizewill be awarded to the entrant with 

the most correct answers. Closing date: 3rdJune. 

In the event of adraw, awinner will be picked 

at random from the highest scoring entries. 

The winner’s name, and the answers, will be 

published in the next issue of IbstockDesign. 

1 In which city is this bay window? 2 Hadrian built it, but what is this rotunda called? 3 Built for a Baker, but which Scandinavian architect? 

4 A church in Berlin, but who is its architect? 5 And who was the architect of this chapel in a park? 

6 Which Russian-born architect designed this wall? 7 Who designed this office for a Basingstoke brickmaker? 8 In which city is this expressionist church? 

9 Where in France is this brick cathedral? 10 In which city is this prototype shopping centre?

The Curzon Building, Birmingham City University, by Associated Architects (photo: Martine Hamilton Knight) 

To sign up foryour personal copyofDESIGN magazine, please e-mail design@ibstock.co.uk indicating if you would prefer to receiveaprinted or digital copy

The Lawns Courtyard Housing, Barking, by Patel Taylor (photo: Peter Cook) 

Laurieston 1, Edinburgh, by Elder &Cannon and Page/Park (photo: Andrew Lee)

DESIGN

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