Details
Location: Chichester, West Sussex
Brick Manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
Brick Name: Hampshire Stock Dark Multi
Architect: Open Design Studio
Brickwork Contractor: West Sussex Brickwork
About the project
Heron House is a replacement dwelling designed to provide an exemplary ‘brick-special’, contemporary home for family living. Brick is used as both structure and primary architectural expression, with emphasis on physical and visual connections to the garden and surrounding countryside.
The building responds to the site through careful consideration of the existing topography, maximising garden space, and an east–west orientation. Strong roof forms drive a sense of light to internal spaces, a central mass brick spine wall organises space across both levels, and a brick loggia provides a careful threshold to the garden.
Constructed with thoughtfully chosen Michelmersh brick, light mortar and a red zinc roof. A range of masonry techniques have been employed, underpinned by a simple stretcher bond, supported by secondary bonds, and crafted details to articulate key elements of the building. These varied details are used to emphasise the three-dimensional quality of the scheme, creating depth, texture and shadow across the monolithic façade.
A triple band of soldier stack runs the full circumference of the dwelling. Breaking the vertical mass, defining the edge of the external loggia, and demarcating ground and first floor. This is repeated in the garage where the bottom course aligns to a horizontal datum.
The brick loggia establishes a base to the composition, extending across the south-facing elevation, providing solar shading and external seating.
A double layer hit and miss screen offers entrance privacy, security, and mottled light. Sitting just proud of the glazing, this allows a secure way to provide passive stack ventilation, drawing through the hallway and ultimately to the openable rooflights over.
Brickwork has been applied fundamentally to support the use, function, and performance of the dwelling. Developed through key interfaces including chimney, window reveals, cills, lintels, and ground floor loggia. A deeper than usual masonry cavity allows recessed glazing; darker frames reinforce solidity and depth.
The brickwork spine wall, chimney stack, and loggia play a key role in the passive operation of the house. The masonry provides thermal mass in tandem with the loggia to allow winter sun to penetrate while remaining cool in summer.
These passive strategies underpin a rigorous technical approach. Improved airtightness and thermal performance is achieved through traditional masonry combined with contemporary closed timber panel construction.
Internally, the material establishes continuity and warmth, with full-height masonry elements defining key spaces, circulation routes, and separation within the house. A fireplace forms a central focal point within the main living space, introducing a moment of detailed brick articulation via the use of header and stack bond variations, creating verticality and housing a doubled sided log burner and log store. These brickwork elements are complemented by natural stone flooring, precise openings, and deep reveals. Brighter colours are playfully introduced at upper levels, adding moments of contrast and surprise within the material-led interior.
Inspired by local vernacular and historic building traditions, Heron House combines traditional materials with innovative design approaches to create a contemporary home that is both deeply rooted in its context and expressive of craft.
