5 Frederick’s Place

Location: London

Brick Manufacturers: Ibstock PLC / York Handmade Brick Company

Brick Names: Kingston Handmade Restoration Red, Kingston Handmade Heather Red / Chetham Blend

Architects: Stanton Williams / Sonnemann Toon

Brickwork Contractor: Grangewood Brickwork Services Limited

Judges Comment:

"Interesting and exciting masonry features, not very often one sees a well-executed tapestry bond!"

5 Frederick’s Place is based in the heart of London, near Bank Underground Station. This refurbishment project involved the demolition of two buildings and the erection of a seven-storey structure consisting of both retail and commercial spaces; and the erection of a purpose-built archive. The client is The Mercers Company, they are focused on being a ‘philanthropic force for good’. In the last five years they have awarded £49.7 million to over 400 organisations across their people-focused programmes and funding areas.

Grangewood Brickwork works involved the supplying and laying of blocks, bricks, mortar, lintels, ties, masonry supports, wind-posts systems (Wembley Innovation) and further related sundries required to meet the brickwork and blockwork package.

Within the scope of GBSL works, brickwork was carried out on all levels of the buildings’ façades. Blockwork was installed in the basement, ground floor, and also on gridline three for all the floors. Masonry support has been installed across all floors, and Wembley innovation systems have been installed in the basement and gridline three for all floors.

The combination of different types of clay bricks in the building’s construction adds character and appeal, drawing the attention of the public. The blend of bricks creates an alluring façade that speaks to both tradition and modernity. It’s an effective way to add personality to an architectural design, captivating the public.

Grangewood Brickwork chose their highly qualified site manager, Ernestas Urbonavicius to manage this project. Responsible for the overall daily works, he directed his operatives to ensure that all of them were working at their highest level. Some were assigned to 5 Frederick’s Place which included the construction of a tapestry wall and three hand laid arches at the ground floor entrance. Others were focused on 4A+B Frederick’s Place, where the main detail was the window reveals across three levels.

Inspired by the Mercers’ Company origins in textile trading, the textured brickwork on the façade of the archive at No. 5 Frederick’s Place is a ‘woven tapestry’. Selected bricks are projecting and thus emphasise the ‘warp’, while the recessed joints highlight the ‘weft’ in ‘woven’ brickwork draped to the ground. The texture is the most intense at the top and disperses as it drops to the ground to invite visitors into the archive. The tapestry brickwork enhances the building by introducing intricate patterns and textures to its façade. It adds visual interest and depth, making the building more memorable to viewers. The arrangement of bricks creates a dynamic surface that changes character throughout the day. The hand laid arches below the ‘tapestry’ add further detail to the building’s façade, which when viewed by the public will be more aesthetically pleasing.

The window reveals have enhanced brickwork by adding depth and visual interest to the exterior of 4A+B. These recessed areas around windows create shadows, drawing attention to the façade and adding architectural definition. On top of this, window reveals also serve a practical purpose by helping to manage water runoff and protect the structure from moisture infiltration.