More than one million clay bricks define Dock 5, a residential development between the River Irwell and Ordsall Lane in Salford. Combining wienerberger UK’s Heritage Blend with Ibstock’s Ivanhoe Cream, the scheme uses contrasting brick colours and carefully articulated elevations to bring a townhouse character to a substantial riverside development.
Designed by Falconer Chester Hall for ForLiving, Dock 5 comprises three blocks rising from six to eight storeys. The development provides a mix of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and duplex homes, with car and cycle parking on the lower ground floor.
Fully handed over in November 2022, Dock 5 was the first development completed within a wider regeneration masterplan that includes neighbouring projects at Bridgewater Wharf and Merchants Wharf.
Creating character through contrasting brickwork
With more than 15,500m² of brickwork across a relatively compact site, a central architectural challenge was to give the buildings a balanced presence while showcasing their masonry features.
The response centres on alternating Heritage Blend and Ivanhoe Cream across the elevations. Changes in brick colour distinguish sections of the façades, breaking down their apparent scale and creating the impression of individual residential frontages.
This approach establishes a townhouse community feel, demonstrating how the selection and arrangement of clay brick can influence the character of a large development. The two brick types provide variety while maintaining a consistent material connection between the three blocks.
Juliet balconies reinforce the vertical proportions of the façades and emphasise corners where lounge areas are positioned. Projecting window surrounds give these corners further definition, adding depth and interest to the elevations.
Delivering more than one million bricks
Including the brickwork to window reveal returns and piers, the project required more than one million bricks. Delivering this volume of masonry within a constrained footprint called for careful planning and coordination.
ForLiving appointed Bridgestone Construction Limited to deliver the design and construction package, with Falconer Chester Hall responsible for the architectural design. Bridgestone subsequently appointed Tate Brickwork Limited to undertake the masonry package, building on the companies’ successful working relationship on previous projects.
Site logistics presented a particular challenge, with limited construction space alongside an established residential community. Regular collaboration meetings between the client, contractor, stakeholders and supply chain helped coordinate the works and manage these constraints.
A shared riverside setting
The three blocks surround a private central terrace, providing a shared space for residents to meet and socialise. The varied brick elevations form a townscape backdrop, extending the architectural character of the street into the heart of the development.
Along Ordsall Lane and the River Irwell, the combination of contrasting brickwork, balconies and projecting window surrounds creates an active and varied frontage. Its location also places residents within reach of Manchester city centre and Salford Quays.
As an early completed project within the area’s wider regeneration, Dock 5 demonstrates the role clay brick can play in shaping a residential neighbourhood, using colour and detailing to connect substantial buildings with the scale of everyday life.
Project details
- Project: Dock 5
- Location: Salford
- Architect/designer: Falconer Chester Hall
- Developer: ForLiving
- Brick manufacturer: wienerberger UK, Ibstock PLC
- Brick: wienerberger’s Heritage Blend and Ibstock’s Ivanhoe Cream
- Brickwork contractor: Tate Brickwork Limited
- Main contractor: Bridgestone Construction Limited
Brick Bulletin | Feature 315
