We're thrilled to invite you to Brick Works Sheffield, an exclusive evening hosted by the Brick Development Association in partnership with IG Masonry Support.
Join us on Thursday 14th May 2026 at The Hide, for an evening filled with networking, insights, and celebration of clay brick architecture. This is a unique opportunity to connect with industry peers and explore the latest in brick innovation - we look forward to seeing you there!
What's Included?
Event Details
Venue: The Hide, 30 Scotland Street, Sheffield, S3 7AA
When: 5.30 PM - 8.30 PM
Join Marcus Emmerson, IG Masonry Support, and Matthew Seddon, Brewster Bye Architects, as they present Saxton Lane, a 20-storey residential development delivering 204 apartments in Leeds.
The Saxton Lane development supports the city’s ambition to significantly increase the provision of high-quality, sustainable housing. Located on a brownfield site, the project transforms previously underused land into a vibrant new community, contributing to wider regeneration efforts and addressing growing local demand for affordable living.
The scheme comprises a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments, all designed to meet NDSS standards, with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and accessibility. The building is fully electric, incorporating low-carbon technologies including photovoltaic panels and heat pump systems, while a significant proportion of homes are designed as accessible and adaptable dwellings.
Architecturally, the development responds to its urban context through a contemporary residential form, complemented by a 15th-floor amenity space and landscaped garden that enhances resident wellbeing and creates a sense of community at height. Through its considered design and sustainable approach, Saxton Lane demonstrates how large-scale residential developments can balance density, quality, and environmental performance in the modern built environment.
The Charles Street development for Sheffield Hallam University is a landmark academic building that brings together teaching, social and civic functions within a highly contextual urban response. Situated within the Cultural Industries Quarter conservation area, the scheme negotiates a complex setting of historic lanes, listed buildings and contemporary city infrastructure, consolidating multiple facilities into a single 9,500m² hub for the Faculty of Development and Society.Â
Central to the architectural concept is the use of brick as both a contextual and expressive material. Rather than replicating the surrounding historic fabric, the design reinterprets it - using brick to establish a dialogue with the adjacent Grade II listed Butcher Works and the wider industrial character of Sheffield. The selected dark multi-tonal facing brick reflects the varied hues of neighbouring heritage buildings, allowing the new structure to sit comfortably within its context while maintaining a distinct contemporary identity.Â
The brickwork is highly crafted and deliberately articulated. Patterns of projecting headers and specially manufactured single and double cant bricks introduce depth, shadow and texture across the façade, breaking down the scale of the building and responding to its massing. These techniques elevate brick beyond a simple cladding material, turning it into a key design driver that enhances visual richness and human scale. The use of bespoke brick units - developed in collaboration with manufacturers - allowed for precision in detailing and durability, ensuring the façade could accommodate both structural demands and expressive intent.Â
Importantly, the brickwork also mediates between old and new. While the front of the building adopts a more contemporary language, the transition toward the conservation area is marked by increasingly intricate brick detailing and finer grain articulation. This gradation reflects a sensitive urban strategy, using materiality to bridge contrasting contexts and create a cohesive streetscape.
Beyond its aesthetic qualities, brick plays a role in reinforcing the building’s sense of permanence and robustness - qualities aligned with both Sheffield’s industrial heritage and the university’s long-term ambitions. The result is a building where material choice is integral to identity, performance and place-making. Through Charles Street, brick is reimagined not just as a contextual reference, but as a contemporary architectural language capable of expressing depth, craft and continuity within the city.
East Bank Urban Village will breathe new life into an underused part of the Hull, unlocking its potential and turning it into a vibrant residential-led neighbourhood. The scheme will look to deliver up to 850 homes in a mix of high-quality apartments and townhouses. The initial phase will focus on affordable housing, with future phases introducing build-to-rent (BTR) homes. With a mix of housing types, alongside green spaces, commercial areas, and revitalised heritage assets, East Bank Urban Village will support a diverse and inclusive community for individuals, families, and households at all stages of life.
The plans also include reinstating the riverside walkway, improving connectivity with new walking and cycling routes through the site, and creating space for shops, cafés, and local businesses. Drawing on the character of Hull’s historic Old Town, East Bank Urban Village will be a neighbourhood that reflects the city’s heritage while offering a contemporary, connected lifestyle in the heart of the city.
