Lambton Park

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Brick Manufacturer: Wienerberger Limited

Brick Names: Metro Mayfair Stock, Milano

Architect: Pod

Brickwork Contractor: Miller Homes

Located 9 miles north of Durham City centre, this wonderful development is situated on the estate grounds of Lambton Park, the ancestral seat of the Earl of Durham, with heritage stretching back to the 11th Century. 

In 2015 approval was given to re-develop the Park and planning consent granted for the 70 new homes that form this award submission.
Drawing from the historic buildings on the estate including gatehouses and Bournmoor Church, the design reflects this rich architectural language replicating and re-inventing the polychromatic brickwork patterning and detailing.

From the pre start meeting a close working relationship was formed with the main contractor and brick cutting specialists to assist in developing the numerous bespoke details on the project. Each detail was constructed and tested at full working scale in the site compound, assessing ways to refine and test the aesthetic, such as the mortar joint, the projection at eaves level etc. 

The key brickwork details are listed below; 

• Surrounding each entrance door are single and double cant bricks, these were cut and glued up to three times to achieve the precise nature of the detail
• English garden wall bond was introduced across the development on each façade at a 1 in 5 ratio, bricks were cut off site to accommodate the header course.
• Introduction of contrasting polychromatic brickwork banding at plinth and first floor level, creating a feature with the header course.
• Layered protruding brickwork at eaves level, assisting with supporting the rainwater guttering. Each one of the three brickwork courses protrudes 30-60mm ultimately forming support for the rain water goods.
• A small overhanging dry verge detail was introduced with the three course below of protruding brickwork extruded to support the slate.
• Polychromatic brickwork to all boundary walls – the brickwork arrangement was closely linked to the existing dwellings around the park. Extensive drawings were produced and meetings held to understand how each contrasting arrangement was presented with the varying level change across the site.
• Contrasting brickwork arch windows to feature gables, this detail has been replicated on the chimneys as a 'tax' window. 

It has been wonderful to work with the Wienerberger tumbled brick throughout this process, its unique quality has allowed brickwork detailing to underpin each design decision and ultimately the direction of this development.