As the Tate Modern opens its doors to the public, The Brick Development Association celebrates 40 years of the Brick Awards with exemplar brick buildings from throughout the decades.
The Tate Modern has unveiled its new extension, a pyramid-like tower housing cavernous gallery spaces, ahead of its official opening. The 200ft (65m) structure, boasting panoramic views of London, is part of a £260m revamp of the world-famous art museum undertaken by architects Herzog & de Meuron.
Billed as the UK's most important new cultural building since the British Library, the new 10-storey building, known as the Switch House, includes three new gallery levels and a panoramic roof terrace.
The windows and the viewing terrace appear as "cuts" in the surface which is clad with 336,000 bricks that mirror the look of the original building. Swift Brickwork Contractors Ltd, one of the UK’s most respected Masonry Contractor were appointed for this extremely complex masonry project.
Mike Walsh, Managing Director of Swift Brickwork Contractors Ltd comments: “We have seen a noticeable return by architects and engineers in the choice of brickwork and masonry as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative over glass and steel as a cladding option for new buildings and particularly commercial buildings. We were absolutely delighted to be chosen to work on such an iconic building which further reinforces what is possible with masonry and underpins its future as a modern cladding option.”
In the spirit of celebrating brick buildings, the Brick Development Association (BDA) has decided to take a look back over the brick buildings which have inspired us over the past 40 years, since the inaugural Brick Awards began.
One of the earliest projects to be given a Brick Award was the Lyde End housing development in Bledlow, Buckinghamshire, which was designed by the Aldington & Craig practice and honoured in the 1978 ceremony. The brick specification was economical, and the houses are made of bricks which would not normally be considered aesthetically fit for facing, as some were unevenly burnt and distorted.
Last year was all about the Supreme Winner, the Whitworth art gallery in Manchester. The long-anticipated extension greatly increased the capacity of the gallery. Brick is used as an ornamental narrative device and with exceptional detail.
The level of finesse in the brick detailing coursing jointing and patterning demonstrates a resurgent craft approach to building that is worthy of celebration with the judges unanimous in naming the gallery as the Supreme Winner.