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 Brick
Ibstock Brick is able to offer a market leading range of brick products and systems thanks to the extensive knowledge and experience of Ibstock Brick, the UK’s largest brick manufacturer, and Ibstock Kevington, the leading provider of brick special shapes and prefabricated masonry components. All backed by a range of value-added services designed to support your project from concept to build.