As a building material that spans the ages, brick can be used to create buildings that reflect the past as well as represent the here and now. This design aspect is very much in vogue with mixed-use developments, which are breathing new life into long-redundant areas of historical interest in UK cities. Marta Oramus, Senior Project Engineer of IG Masonry Support explains why the regeneration of these spaces into a visitor experience par excellence featuring attractive shops, bars and restaurants, offices and multiple level living areas, is an exemplar of how brickwork can be used to ensure stunning new commercial ventures retain their historical ties.
Neglected and rundown urban areas are undergoing rapid transformation with brick becoming a crucial bridge between architectural heritage and contemporary design. Cities evolve and as historical districts undergo regeneration, architects face the challenge of creating modern spaces that reflect local character and enhance their historical context. Brick’s versatility allows these new developments to achieve this delicate balance, enabling buildings to both respect their surroundings whilst expressing contemporary architectural ambitions.
This architectural harmony is particularly vital in transforming urban areas, where modern mixed-use developments must integrate seamlessly with established streetscapes. Through thoughtful brick detailing and innovative design approaches, new buildings can sit effectively side by side with their Victorian or Georgian neighbours while maintaining a distinct modern identity. The advancement of offsite construction has been instrumental in this process, with hygrothermally-tested brick slip soffit solutions allowing designers to combine traditional aesthetics with contemporary engineering precision.
The intricate detailing that brickwork enables is like no other and can be utilised to ensure a brick-based building sits perfectly within its surrounding environment. Brick detail in the form of brick soffits, deep reveals and flying beams continually make for stunning exteriors, enabling truly unique detailing to be created.
With these designs in high demand, offsite manufactured brick slip units fill a huge gap in the market. Intricate designs are no longer in the domain of skilled craftspeople; they can be created in the quality-controlled, efficient environment of a factory, without the need for any lengthy and costly fabrication onsite. This evolution in brick manufacturing has proven particularly valuable when it comes to urban regeneration.
Nowhere is this transformation more evident than in Manchester, a city that has successfully balanced architectural heritage with contemporary ambition. Almost unrecognisable from its drab incarnation of the early 1980s, Manchester’s regeneration has been made possible by rejuvenating old industrial buildings, as well as attracting the investment to create new residential, commercial and cultural landmarks.
Greengate Colliers Yard Cortland
Testimony to this transformation is in the Greengate area of Salford and close to Manchester city centre. Colliers Yard is a stunning new development featuring new homes across three meticulously designed towers, each with detailed brick podiums ranging from four to five storeys high. Built by main contractor Renaker and specialist brickwork contractor PLF Ltd, and designed by Denton Corker Marshall, the centrepiece is Cortland, a 50-storey tower comprising 559 luxury apartments, including a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, and a broad mix of shared amenities.
The project presented a series of unique challenges that demanded innovative solutions and technical expertise from IG Masonry Support. The design of the building featured an exceptionally wide 460mm cavity which could not accommodate standard fixing solutions. The corners of the building also presented structural challenges, necessitating bespoke solutions to ensure stability and aesthetic consistency. The perimeter brickwork needed to support substantial loads, specifically two floors of masonry at 14 kN. Additionally, the design had to account for and avoid concrete edges of piers running up the building, adding another layer of complexity to the support system design.
An offsite brick solution
To address the challenges, IG Masonry Support provided a full package of solutions including Welded Masonry Support, B.O.S.S. A1 (A1 fire-rated Brick on Soffit Systems), Brick Slip Lintels and brick cutting. The wide cavities required standard fixing solutions to be redesigned with IG Masonry Support incorporating bespoke dropper brackets and Top Hat systems to help accommodate the cavities at the corners of the building and support the B.O.S.S. A1 units.
Continuing from the bespoke solutions mentioned, these systems also had to account for supporting the perimeter of the brickwork’s high-bearing loads. The Welded Masonry Support systems had to follow the profile of the columns of the corners of the building and support two floors of masonry at 14kN. The concrete edge that the fixings were attached back to required rigorous design testing. Careful consideration was taken to address the complex design of the corners, with several FEAs (Finite Element Analysis) carried out.
Once the design for the initial floors of masonry support was approved, it could be replicated for the remaining floors, as each level was either similar or identical to the others. This repetition streamlined the construction process significantly.
Peter Tsang, Associate Architect at Denton Corker Marshall, commented: “IG’s innovative approach to addressing our unique design challenges, particularly with the wide cavities and complex corner structures, was impressive. Their bespoke solutions, including the Dropper Bracket and Top Hat system, allowed us to achieve our desired aesthetic without compromising on structural integrity and the technical team’s support throughout the project was invaluable.”
IG Masonry Support also provided extensive brick cutting services for the project, processing 12,442 bricks in total. This involved cutting standard stretcher and pistol bricks from Wickford Antique Brick stock to precisely fit the masonry support systems. This meticulous cutting ensured each piece integrated seamlessly with the support framework, maintaining the building’s aesthetic and structural integrity.
Colliers Yard stands as a compelling testament to how a traditional material such as brick can be reimagined within new developments. The successful integration of bespoke masonry support systems and meticulously crafted brick feature details bridges the gap between historical masonry techniques and the pace of modern construction demands. By not only delivering the robust performance and fire safety requirements required by high-rise construction, the high-quality brick façade creates a visual connection to Manchester’s rich industrial past.