Within the heart of the small town of Eston, a newly developed retail unit is set to be built, sensitively inspired by the surrounding area’s mining heritage. With help from Bimstore and local scavenging, SPACE Architects were able to source the ideal brick materials to pay tribute to the historic location.
Though they might appear small and inconsequential to the average person, bricks are the literal building blocks that support an architectural project. When it comes to bricks, every small decision, from the type of clay and surface texture to the choice of mortar and bonding, is made for a specific reason.
Once a decision is made on materials, Bimstore can be used to optimise understanding of the product and ease the transition from planning to production. Bimstore ignites the passion of the next generation of architects, providing them with all the necessary details to make informed decisions about specific building products. This is beneficial for real-world projects, which enrich communities through thoughtfully crafted spaces.
Jade Atkins, a Part I Architectural Assistant, spoke about the significance of brick choices on a recent Council project. The project, in Eston Middlesborough, focused on building new retail and HGV units in a former mining town. Jade and fellow Architects were determined to reflect the village’s mining heritage through their modern build, honouring local history through a thoughtful selection of materials.
Brick was selected as the main material for the build, due to its historical uses in social housing and traditional buildings. Three variations of brick were chosen, with Ibstock’s Olde English Grey selected to encapsulate the aesthetics of the Yorkshire mining town, and Townhouse Blend to provide a modern contrast. Together, the contrasting clays bridge the gap between new and old, perfectly capturing the nature of Eston and its occupants.
Bimstore is a useful site for architects to refer to, once they have sourced their building materials, such as bricks. Ibstock are a popular choice for architects, acting as the UK’s leading brick supplier, having been established over 200 years ago. Ibstock’s accompanying Product Literature report includes copious, in-depth detail about sustainable brick production, as well as an abundance of information about different brick types and colours such as red bricks, buff bricks, blue bricks etc.
wienerberger, is another recognised brick manufacturer that provides clay facing and specialist engineering bricks, offering Object User Guides and Technical Data Sheets for each product. This is incredibly useful in practice, as specific details are easily accessible for architects on demand.
“Bricks sell themselves if they’re used properly.”
The variety of decisions that can be made when it comes to brick selection cannot be understated. The choice of brick or clay colour, combined with the choice of bonding mortar, can completely transform any build. According to Jade, “Bricks sell themselves if they’re used properly.” She discussed how cheaply made bricks can appear flat and lifeless on a building's face, while bricks with visual imperfections and blemishes on their surface give a structure more depth and personality.
Similarly, Jade emphasised how bonding can make or break a building. Careless designs can lead to banding of brick shades, which appear visually displeasing. These observations influenced Jade’s decision to co-design a beautiful community hub using mixed bricks, with detailed bonding and elevation, to perfectly capture the generational essence of Eston.
“I’ve learnt so much about bricks on this project, that I was completely naive about before. Different bonds and brick types can break things up without changing the material.”
The mortar used for bonding the bricks can also significantly alter the building’s visual appearance, bringing the bricks to life or creating subtle shadowing effects. On this, Jade said, “I’ve learnt so much about bricks on this project, that I was completely naive about before. Different bonds and brick types can break things up without changing the material.”
Overall, the brick decisions made on this project were deeply inspired by the humble local identity of a former industrial town like Eston. Bricks were not just used as a building material, but as a narrative device that speaks to the past while also reflecting modernity. With useful tools like Bimstore, the next generation of architects is being empowered to make choices that are rooted in both practicality and meaning, transforming vision into reality.
Walls
by Bimstore Curation
