The award-winning York
Handmade Brick Company has provided thousands of high-quality bricks for a
stunning new London mixed-use development.
This lucrative commission
was worth £200,000 for the Alne-based firm, one of the leading independent
brick-makers in the country.
York Handmade’s
specially-manufactured bricks are a pivotal feature of the exclusive Lancer
Square development in the heart of Kensington.
This flagship 146,000 sq
ft building is one of the largest and most prestigious residential, office and
retail developments in the West End to be completed early next year.
Lancer Square is managed on behalf of Malaysian
developer, Bellworth, by development managers CIT and has been designed by
London architects Squire & Partners.
It is split into four blocks, three on one site hosting
36 prime residential apartments and a separate block on Old Court
Palace with 14 affordable homes. It also comprises a new Grade A office
building with shops and cafes on the ground level and a public courtyard.
Guy Armitage, the managing director of York Handmade,
commented: “This was an incredibly prestigious project for us and a great
honour to provide so many bricks for such a landmark building in the heart of
London”.
He explained: “It was crucial that the bricks we provided
fitted in seamlessly with the magnificent Kensington Palace, designed by Sir
Christopher Wren, which is just a few hundred yards away.
“Altogether we provided 150,000 bricks in two
different colour blends, one red and one brown. Their colour and size reflects
Kensington Palace perfectly.”
Christian Fink of Squire & Partners said: “Our design
for Lancer Square is a contemporary interpretation of the architectural
character found within the Kensington Palace Conservation area.
“Drawing inspiration from the site’s horticultural
past and its royal neighbours, the textured brick façades and vertical window
proportions create connections with Kensington Palace whilst celebrating
traditional and contemporary craftsmanship.
“The two-tone brick selection was inspired by the
varying brown and red brick found at Kensington Palace. Combined with full
height windows, horizontal stone banding and brick columns, the historic design
of the Palace has been translated into a contemporary elevation,” he said.
York Handmade has recently completed a number of other
high-profile commissions in London. These include: London Bridge Place, The
Shard, Carmelite House on the Victoria Embankment, One Molyneux Street,
Highbury Stadium and Highgate School.
Guy Armitage added:
“Our acclaimed work in London means that our reputation as a premier brick
supplier in the capital for both residential and commercial developments is
gathering its own momentum. We are currently working on two other exclusive
developments, one in Mayfair and one at Kings Cross, so the future looks
bright.”