Baggeridge Brick’s architectural consultant, Nic White, looks at how a radical project in Manchester has transformed the face of masonry

Commercial and residential buildings aren’t what they used to be. Long gone are the days when architects merely constructed conventional looking premises, today the boundaries are being pushed more than ever before in the design trends and contemporary themes are becoming commonplace across city skylines.

Nic White, architectural consultant from Baggeridge Brick believes that it’s these themes, derived from a plethora of visual influences that have, and are continuing to play an integral part in shaping the look of new buildings across the UK.

Material Role

He says: “New corners are certainly being turned in building design to help shape the changing face of UK cities. What many people don’t realise, however, is that the materials also have a leading role to play in the final appearance of a building.

“Glass and timber have been prevalent in a variety of different designs over the last five years but more recently, masonry has been revived and I’m pleased to say that brick specifically is firmly back on the design agenda with a vengeance.

Islington Square

“One scheme that has welcomed bricks and mortar with open arms is the Islington Square project in Manchester that was designed by cutting edge architects, FAT and constructed using four different varieties of Baggeridge bricks, the florid red dragfaced, Kingsbury smooth cream and original blue sovereign stock..”

Islington Square is a 23-unit social-housing project in east Manchester that was designed for Manchester Methodist Housing Association as part of Urban Splash's New Islington project which replaced the Cardroom Estate with trendy canal-side apartments and community facilities.

Unlike traditional forms of designing buildings, local residents had their say on what they wanted from the new scheme both on the inside and out.

“The final exterior of the building is eye catching to say the least,” said Nic. “It has a stage-set facade with giant brick patterning, mock ornamental gables, cloud-like profiles and false windows, which looks unlike any other residential building I’ve ever seen in my architectural career.”

Inside, the ceilings are relatively high, and most rooms have windows on two sides. There are generous first-floor landings, open kitchen-dining areas with patio doors out to the back, energy-efficient heating systems, nothing particularly radical or unconventional. The residents also selected their own paint colours, balcony designs and fittings.

“In the architecture stakes, Islington Square has pushed the boundaries of design and taken it to a whole new level, so much so that it actually compares well with unique and highly individual buildings that are located in cities such as Miami and Las Vegas.

“What’s more, the project has given bricks and mortar a new lease of life and has thrown them back into the design spotlight.

“As the primary brick supplier we were delighted to have assisted in such a radical building that is far from being purely functional but actually provokes a reaction - something that architecture should do.”