PHPD reviews the 2018 Brick Awards, which has now been celebrating the best use of brick in the built environment for over forty years.
Brick is probably the best known building material in the UK – for centuries the material has been used to create stunning homes and buildings. Since the 1980s the very best of brick designs and craftsmanship have been recognised by the industry at the Brick Awards. This year the numerous entries were judged by a panel of leading architects and other professionals from across the construction sector.
Commenting on the standard of entries and eventual winners Hillary Satchwell, Brick Awards Head Judge 2018, said: “What really impressed me about the winners was the quality and consistency of the buildings and the way brick wasn’t just incidental but at the heart of what they are doing and how they work in their surroundings.
“I was really pleased to see great buildings in all areas of the country and particularly working with very different budgets, as winners. We need to be able to design and build things well in all locations and with all types of challenges. This list of winners really isn’t just about shiny things with huge budgets.
“These are buildings that aren’t just designed well but they are also built well. These winners are great demonstrations of what can be achieved and set the bar high for others.”
Supreme winner
The title of Supreme Winner fell to Storey’s Field Community Centre & Nursery in Cambridge. Designed by architects MUMA, the 100-place Nursery is arranged around three sides of a landscaped courtyard – a brick paved cloister that provides a sheltered play garden for the Nursery children.
Andrew Taylor, 2018 Brick Award Judge said: “Story’s Field has created a heart for the new development at North West Cambridge. The attention to detailing both inside the building and outside, including the outside courtyard area, is breath-taking and is far in excess of what is normally seen in public community buildings.”
Red House picked up the award for Individual Housing Project. Situated on terrace-lined street it features matching red brick and red mortar. Gospel Oak Infill Housing won the prize for Small Housing Development for its small project of five new homes in Camden. The award for Large Housing Development was collected by Royal Albert Wharf – a high quality and sustainable residential led, mixed use development.
Commenting on the awards Darren Bowkett, Operations Director of Ibstock Brick, noted: “Each year the standard of entries for the Brick Awards improves. As the market leading brick manufacturer we are delighted to be associated with the celebration of brick as a modern building material. We would like to congratulate everybody involved with the award-winning projects for their success in showcasing how brick can be used within creative and contemporary architecture.”
A selection of the winning entries
Individual Housing Development: Red House
Small Housing Development: Gospel Oak Infill Housing
Large Housing Development: Royal Albert Wharf
Large Housebuilder: Countryside Properties
Urban Regeneration: Silchester Housing
Craftsmanship: Harpsden Wood House, Fusion Brickwork
Specialist Brickwork Contractor: Anglian Brickwork
Architects Choice: Creek Road
Supreme Winner: Storey’s Field Community Centre & Nursery
