Leon House

Location: London

Brick Manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC

Brick Names: Freshfield Lane, First Quality Multi

Architect: Gibson Thornley Architects

Brickwork Contractor: Woodhurst Brickwork Ltd

Leon House is a 48-unit affordable residential development in Charlton for Pocket Living, designed to deliver high-quality homes on a constrained brownfield site while responding to the scale, character and materiality of its neighbourhood, demonstrating how affordable housing can achieve both architectural quality and long-term sustainability.

The surrounding area is characterised by masonry architecture, and brick was selected as the primary building material early on. The ambition was to create a building that feels permanent, familiar and anchored in its context while providing the durability required for affordable housing. Our chosen brick, Freshfield Lane First Quality Multi, is a clamp-fired stock facing brick with rich red multi-tones and hues of orange, purple and brown. Its sand faced texture and earthy character bring warmth and tactility to façades whilst expressing their contemporary architectural language.

The building is arranged as two articulated brick pavilions around a shared entrance core, breaking down the overall scale of the development and creating a more domestic relationship with neighbours. The architecture is at once distinctive and local, seeking to give affordable housing the material dignity and permanence traditionally associated with London’s civic architecture.

Brick is used not simply as a cladding material, but as a crafted architectural surface that defines the scheme’s identity. A disciplined stretcher bond is used across the primary façades, while a robust English garden wall bond is employed within the landscape elements to create continuity between building and public realm. The façades are articulated through projecting brick piers, soldier coursing and a distinctive bird’s beak detail formed from two plinth bricks, creating depth and texture across the elevations. Stepped sawtooth brickwork at the entrance creates visual interest and draws residents into the building. Wetcast concrete cills, spandrels and lintels provide contrast and refinement, while the core’s precast fretwork references the decorative stone bays of nearby Charlton House, establishing a dialogue across time.

Significant design development and on-site testing was undertaken to refine the expression of the brickwork. Multiple joint profiles were reviewed through full-scale mock-up panels before selecting a 3mm raked joint, allowing the rustic texture and tonal variation of the brick to come to the fore. The mortar colour was chosen to complement the brick’s varied tones and enhance the depth and legibility of the façade.

The quality of the brickwork relied on close collaboration between architect, contractor and bricklayers, with careful attention given to coursing, interfaces and, tie and movement joint locations to ensure precision and consistency throughout. Complex detailing using standard specials form brick piers across the entrance core and fourth-floor terrace level, subtly breaking down the massing.

Brick also contributes to the environmental performance and longevity of the scheme. Thermal mass is enhanced using high-performance brickwork and precast concrete façades, helping to moderate internal temperatures and improve thermal comfort. This is supported by a highly insulated building envelope, with walls achieving a U-value of 0.12 W/m²K, reducing heat loss and operational energy demand. Beyond operational performance, brick was selected for its durability, low maintenance and long service life, making it particularly suited to affordable housing designed to endure for generations. 

Leon House transforms a challenging site into a resilient piece of city fabric and demonstrates how a restrained and economical palette can achieve richness and character through careful detailing, craftsmanship and the expressive use of brick.