Details
Location: Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London
Brick Manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
Brick Name: Freshfield Lane First Quality Multi - HyBrick
Architect: Unknown Works
Brickwork Contractor: Lyons & Annoot
About the project
Judges Comment:
"A demonstration of how hydrogen-fired clay bricks can reduce the carbon footprint of the clay brick industry, paving the way for further innovations in sustainable brick production."
”Innovation is the process of bringing about new ideas, methods, products, services, or solutions that have a significant positive impact and value. It involves transforming creative concepts into tangible outcomes that improve efficiency, effectiveness, or address unmet needs.”
The Brick Bench utilising Michelmersh Brick Holdings HyBrick product epitomises all the above. Clay brick is a product with a truly remarkable life cycle benefit but what about if brick manufacturers were able to improve the initial embodied carbon on an A1 to A3 process with very little changes to the manufacturing process. The Brick Bench built by Lyons & Annoot at The Science Museum in a subtle way of highlighting that clay brick doesn’t have to change form, or structure, or style but can change its environmental impact in such a positive way, and remain the product of choice for developers and architects no matter what level of the building process is looked at.
The Michelmersh Group is excited to showcase it’s world’s first 100% hydrogen-fired brick at the London Science Museum in the form of a unique, one of a kind HyBrick bench at the London Science Museum. Working closely with Lyons & Annoot, the HyBrick bench was created for the London Science Museum as part of its Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery. The exhibition displays opportunities for how the world can generate and use energy more sustainably to limit climate change with the HyBrick highlighting a possible future for low carbon brick manufacturing as they demonstrate between 81-84% less carbon emissions from three firings vs natural gas.
Lyons & Annoot took to the project with immediate gusto creating a unique, modernist bench. The bench was carefully constructed on site by one of Lyons & Annoots expert bricklayers, amongst other creations for the exhibit including a steam bent bamboo bench and a timber bench with cnc cut imprints.
HyBrick is an physical example of how product innovation can create a real solution to the challenges facing the clay brick industry and when combined with wider emission reduction efforts, is a manifestation of the sustainable potentional of clay brick.
The HyBrick project was part of a collaboration between a panel of expert partners, and after an introduction by Hydrogen Sussex, the consortium includes Limpsfield Combustion, Net Zero Associates, the University of Brighton, Greater South East Net Zero Hub, FT Pipeline Systems, Geopura and Safety Monitors, this represents the conclusion of the project.
Sponsored by Wienerberger Limited
wienerberger UK & Ireland is building for what’s next - empowering the construction industry to create a sustainable future. As a united group of specialist businesses, we deliver innovative, high-quality building products, systems, and solutions for the entire building envelope, including walls, roofs, heating, and water management.
Our extensive portfolio - including bricks, cladding, roof tiles, solar systems, ventilation, membranes, rainwater systems, plastic piping, plumbing, and underfloor heating - is enriched by expert technical services and unwavering customer support. We dedicate ourselves to building enduring partnerships, supporting exceptional careers, and placing sustainability at the heart of everything we do.
Driven by foresight, collaboration, and a passion for progress, we listen to our customers’ challenges and deliver solutions that stand the test of time, supporting them in creating safer, smarter, and more sustainable communities for generations to come.
As a leading brick manufacturer, we support specifiers in realising design intent through a portfolio that balances aesthetic freedom with long‑term performance. Our extensive range - spanning crafted wirecut, soft mud and premium architectural bricks - offers nuanced textures, tonal depth and precise dimensional consistency to suit both contemporary schemes and sensitive heritage contexts.
Backed by robust technical expertise and early‑stage design collaboration, we help specifiers navigate structural, regulatory and sustainability considerations with confidence. Underpinned by significant investment in decarbonisation and material innovation, our bricks enable architects to deliver buildings that are timeless, resilient and aligned with a lower‑carbon future.
As part of wienerberger - a global leader in solutions for the built environment - wienerberger UK & Ireland unites FloPlast, Pipelife, Maincor, Building Product Design, and Wienerberger Ltd under one banner.
