Details
Location - Cambridge, Great Britain
Architect - Walters & Cohen Architects
Brickwork Contractor - Caxton Brickwork/SDC Builders Ltd
Brick - Sidgwick Blend, bespoke blended mix
About the project
The new building knits itself among those designed by Basil Champneys 100 years earlier and creates a new frontage for the College on Sidgwick Avenue. The rational, elegant design balances solidity with transparency: generous glazing alternates with full-height brickwork panels where a ‘hit-and-miss’ element weaves seamlessly into the texture, detail and interest of the elevation. Particular attention was paid to the brick facades of the other buildings at Newnham, looking at the mortar and bonding, the colours, textures, rhythm, articulation, decoration and other details that make this site unique.
Adopting the Arts and Crafts tenet of ‘truth to materials’, the contemporary hit-and-miss detail in handmade brick complements but never mimics the Champneys buildings. The success of the facade relies on the detail of the design, quality materials, and highly skilled craftsmanship.
Sponsored by Ibstock
For over 200 years, we have worked with architects, builders, merchants and the wider construction supply chain to build the face of Britain. We are innovators, designers, makers and engineers who provide a diverse range of smart, efficient, and effective building products and solutions.
Everything we do revolves around our valued customers. Through our customer relationships, and supported by great brands and expert technical design services, we enable the creation of homes, places and spaces for us all to live and work better.
WE ARE Ibstock. WE ARE at the heart of building.
