structural elements Darbishire Place House of Trace
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Brick, the hero of our built environment
Just because a material was developed 9,000 years ago does that make it old fashioned? Apparently not, as brick is enjoying something of a renaissance. The Brick Development Association explains further
environment, brick remains weatherproof for generations, needs no maintenance and its colour does not fade over time. Given the unarguable performance of the material, the
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choice to use anything else will generally be made on aesthetic grounds and the sheer variety of options naturally leads to experimentation. Year after year surveys are produced reinforcing brick as the
preferred building material for house buyers across the UK, but we can also see evidence of its use for the positive advancement of urban design. A great example of this is located in the heart of Clerkenwell,
East London. The Turnmill building is a seven storey structure comprising offices amongst a context of ornate brick warehouses and directly opposite the old Sessions House. The choice of brick colour in this structure echoes the hues
o those of us who work in the industry the continuing popularity of brick is not surprising on the grounds of pure functionality. Ideally suited to our damp marine
of the stone of the old Sessions House. The quality of the brickwork detailing is exceptionally high, this coupled with the selection of the thin linear brick and the slender column design gives a modernistic framework using a traditional material in a uniquely innovative and attractive manner. This building is a testament to the successful and fruitful relationship between designer and developer. The subtlety of the building and its deceptive simplicity and avoidance of visible movement joints show the depth of thought in the design of this building. Although extremely welcome, architectural landmarks
will only ever account for a relatively small percentage of the brick used in our urban environment. It is the overwhelming preference for brick in domestic architecture that accounts for its ubiquity in our living environments. The Darbishire Building, designed by Niall McLaughlin
architects, is a fine example of a well-executed residential development, firmly rooted within the London Vernacular. The Whitechapel-based social housing block offers a reinterpretation
Continued overleaf...
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