One of the York Handmade
Brick Company’s most acclaimed projects has been shortlisted in the prestigious
2022 RIBA Stirling Prize.
York Handmade, based at
Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, provided more than 300,000 bricks
for the magnificent new Magdalene College Library at Cambridge University.
The library is one of six
projects in line for this year’s Stirling Prize, the highest accolade in
architecture. It is awarded for the UK’s best new building of the past 12
months.
The contract was worth
£300,000 for York Handmade, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the
UK.
The architects for the
new library at Magdalene College are London-based Niall McLaughlin and the
winner of the Stirling Prize will be announced on Thursday October 13.
David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, commented:
“It is a tremendous honour to have played a pivotal role in creating a building
which has been nominated for the Stirling Prize. There is no more significant
or coveted prize in the architectural world.
“We were so proud when we were asked to provide our
bricks for such a prestigious project. Magdalene has a rich cultural heritage
and this stunning new building reflects this.
“The finished building is absolutely magnificent and
provides a wonderful place for Magdalene students to work. It is one of our
flagship projects over the past few years and we are proud of what we have
achieved.
“Our specially chosen and manufactured red bricks and
specials complement the unique surroundings and fitting in in with the
College’s architecture and landscape.
York Handmade was selected primarily for the colour
and the character of its brick, but also because of the company’s ability to
manufacture a wide range of intricate specials and sizes to fit in with the
design specified by the architect.
Mr Armitage explained: “We supplied no less than 40
different sized or special-shaped bricks for this scheme and the quality of the
brickwork is outstanding. We must pay tribute to the contractor and especially
Julian Redpath, who is the site manager for Cocksedge Building Contractors Ltd.
“Julian supervised the project throughout in a highly
professional manner, ensuring great diligence and care was taken with all the
brickwork. This is a classic example of how brickwork should be done and how to
avoid staining and efflorescence. “One of the most significant features of this project
was the substantial number of bricks and specials supplied for the internal
walls. This really was a very special brickwork project,” he added.
Tim
Allen-Booth, associate with architects Niall McLaughlin, explained: “Our design for the new library was
for a bold, modern building, while also having a settled quality that fits with
the mediaeval character of the original college buildings. The character of the
new brickwork is central to this aim.
“We chose York Handmade’s bricks for
their texture, range of colours and ability to produce the range of special
shapes and sizes required. The colour mix was developed in close collaboration
with York Handmade’s team. The end result echoes the tapestry-like quality of the
college’s mediaeval walls and is a key part of both the interior and exterior
of the new building.
“We greatly enjoyed our
collaboration with York Handmade on this project, both in the quality of the
finished bricks and the design development process. We hope to work with them
again in the future.”
Mr Armitage added: “This commission
continues our strong relationship with colleges and university buildings at
Oxford and Cambridge. We have provided bricks for Christchurch College in
Oxford, as well as Oxford’s Said Business School, and Jesus College, Cambridge.
“It is an immense
privilege to be associated with such important buildings and projects in
historic and sensitive environments. It is also testament to the renaissance of
brick as the building material of choice for significant and prestigious developments.”
The new library now houses
Magdalene’s extension collection of books, records and archives, while creating
modern teaching and study spaces, together with an art gallery. It is the
college’s most ambitious building project in recent history.
David Armitage concluded: “I would
also like to thank Ted Ward, our hard-working brick sales agent, whose contacts
and commitment secured us this prestigious contract.”
For further information, please contact Robert Beaumont
of Robert Beaumont Associates on 01423 323139 or 07710 127713 or at robert@minskiplodge.co.uk