Michelmersh won 9 coveted brick awards, including the Supreme Award at the Brick Awards ceremony on November 6th. Joined by its integral partners, astute architects and dedicated contractors, the Michelmersh team were filled with gratitude and pride to be involved with such a variety of beautiful award-winning buildings.
The Michelmersh Group excelled in a huge sweep of awards to win an astonishing 9 out of the 16 categories, including Sustainability, Refurbishment, Innovation, Commercial, Urban Regeneration, multiple housing categories, the Supreme Winner award and more to showcase how Michelmersh’s range of clay brick is the ideal choice for specifiers and architects. Seeing clay brick celebrated as the façade product of choice amongst a wide range of architectural vernacular helps to validate the industry’s strengths in promoting clay brick which offers the best value, great longevity and inspiring sustainable credentials.
The 48th annual BDA Brick Awards involved 16 industry-leading judges taking on the vast task of whittling down hundreds of entries to the final 18 winners. Michelmersh had 29 shortlisted projects, received 8 category wins, 1 commendation and the coveted Supreme Award with the following inspirational projects:
- Forest Road by Gort Scott – Medium Housing Development
Forest Road is an affordable housing project for first-time buyers with 90 one-bedroom homes on offer. The triangular site is distinctively modern and uses a beautiful blend of Floren’s Vecchio and Tartufo bricks.
- Brabazon by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) & Grant Associates – Large Housing Development
A new neighbourhood skirting the edge of Bristol, Brabazon uses a host of Freshfield Lane’s Selected Dark and Selected Light bricks in the 303 newly built homes. The project works towards the goal of bringing communities together while the site’s layout inspires a more active lifestyle.
- Norton Folgate by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Stanton Williams, Morris+Company, DSDHA and East Architecture – Urban Regeneration
Norton Folgate is a unique blend of Georgian and Victorian architecture in the heart of London, a collaborative effort between the architects, Blossom Yard and Studios uses a blend of Freshfield Lane Danehill Yellow & Lindfield Yellow Multi bricks while 15 Norton Folgate uses Floren’s Gothiek clay bricks.
- Berners & Wells by Emrys Architects – Commercial
Proudly standing in the heart of Fitzrovia, Berners & Wells offers top tier accommodation on both Berners and Wells Streets. Whilst Berners Street offers glazed facades and arches, Wells Street takes on a more traditional appearance with Charnwood brick being used to facilitate the introduction of a two-story roof extension that seamlessly blends in with the existing structure.
- Ice Factory by Buckley Gray Yeoman – Refurbishment
A former industrial building masterfully adapted into a workspace, retail space and restaurants over 5 floors. Ice Factory’s eye-catching saw-tooth roofs and industrial aesthetic are brought together with a host of Charnwood brick blends, metalwork and huge open windows.
- HyBrick Bench by Unknown Works and the London Science Museum – Innovation
A project of monumental effort born out of the world’s first hydrogen-fired bricks by Michelmersh’s innovation, sustainability and production teams, the HyBrick Bench offers a glimpse into the future as the gold standard in sustainably manufactured brickwork. Designed by Unknown Works, the HyBrick Bench is part of a decade-long exhibition to highlight clean energy and future materials to support a more sustainable future. Read here for more information on HyBrick.
- Islington Wharf by Ryder Architecture & Cara Group – Specialist Brickwork Contractor
A major renovation project in Manchester’s Piccadilly Basin, Islington Wharf uses Michelmersh’ Blockleys Black Smooth brick alongside other manufacturers’ products in the building which looks to transform the area with modern, captivating facades with a collection of waterside homes.
- Aspen Wood by Gilling Dod Architects – Sustainability
Aspen Wood offers a glimpse at a project that has been imbued with sustainable aspirations from the earliest stages of design. Solar shading is used for guest comfort and to flood the site with natural light. Adaptable features were included to mitigate the effects of climate change, and high-performance, resilient materials, such as Blockleys Sterling Grey, Pennine Buff Wirecut, and Windermere Grey bricks, were used in the project’s construction.
- Norton Folgate by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Stanton Williams, Morris+Company, DSDHA and East architecture, Landscape Urban Design Ltd – Supreme Winner
The Norton Folgate project deservedly won “Supreme Winner” at the BDA awards with its transformative and diverse range of architectural approaches and styles. Not only does Norton Folgate bring life back to the area, but it also offers a beautiful example of the merits of clay brick.
Attending on the evening, CEO Peter Sharp was happy to praise the winners:
“We are delighted to announce that we have been recognised in 9 of the awards at this year’s event. These achievements reflect the significant contributions our products make to the UK’s built environment, from residential to public and commercial projects, championing the sustainability, innovation and aesthetic appeal of our materials. It is also testament to the dedication of our many partners, the fantastic architects we are lucky enough to work with and the craftsmanship and quality brickwork installed by so many great contractors.
The recognition of our projects across 9 categories further underscores our commitment to building with quality, longevity, and an enduring architectural heritage in mind. Our team’s passion and expertise shine through these award-winning projects, setting benchmarks that will inspire and endure for generations to come.”
Being acknowledged by our industry peers is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented employees. This recognition reaffirms our role as leaders in producing quality clay products that inspire sustainable architecture, where every project is crafted with an eye on the future. We are excited to continue shaping spaces that are not only functional and resilient but also reflect the beauty and richness of British and European architecture.”
