Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios wins the Supreme Award with its sympathetic refurbishment of Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings in Shropshire.
Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings in Shropshire by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has been named Supreme Winner at the 2023 BDA Brick Awards. Putting this 225-year-old Grade 1 listed building ‘back to work’ after 30 years of dereliction required comprehensive repair, retrofitting and bold insertions. The pyramidal malt kiln has been repurposed as a dramatic new entrance with vertical circulation providing access to the upper floors.
Daylighting and heating analysis necessitated the reopening 110 former windows, as well as the introduction of solar glazing and the provision of adequate conditions for natural ventilation. Exposed masonry jack arches, combined with ventilation units over new internal glazed partitioning, ensure a comfortable working environment, while retaining the building’s historic character. A fixed budget and high aspirations for sustainability and design quality required close collaboration across the project team.
The project also won the Sustainability and Craftsmanship categories.
This year’s jury was chaired by Gerard Maccreanor (Maccreanor Lavington) and included Amy Napier (Napier Clarke Architects), Ian Shard (LBT Brick & Facades), Sarah Firth (Haworth Tompkins), and Scott Cromack (Croudace Homes). The award winners are:
Supreme Winner, Sustainability Award, and Craftsmanship Award: Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, Shropshire
Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Brick manufacturer: Northcot Brick
Brickwork contractor: Croft Building and Conservation
“The introduction of new brickwork into this existing building is an example of well-executed craftsmanship. The heritage skills programme and light-touch conservation approach used to repair and convert this internationally important building is a significant accomplishment.”
Architects’ Choice Award: Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, Liverpool
Architect: Ellis Williams Architects
Brick manufacturer: Forterra
Brickwork contractor: McCrory Brickwork
“The design team adopted a bold strategy of stacking the theatres and acoustically separating them in order to give external space back to the local area. A very impressive building on every level.”
Contractors’ Choice Award: Kensington Palace Orangery, London
Architect: Purcell Architects
Brick manufacturer: Bulmer Brick & Tile Co
Brickwork contractor: Swift Brickwork Contractors
“A fantastic example of traditional hand-brick carving and colour matching with the original Orangery façade. The project demonstrates tremendous craftsmanship and was unanimously voted for by the UK’s leading brickwork contractors.”
Individual Housing Development Award: Red House, Twyford, Dorset
Architect: David Kohn Architects
Brick manufacturer: Ibstock Brick
Brickwork contractor: Ken Biggs Contracts/4R Building
“A delightful and unexpected take on Philip Webb’s Red House of 1860 that abounds with fun and unexpected details. Wherever you turn you are met with a joyful and unique view, but the house is also immensely practical and robustly detailed.”
Commended: Manber Jeffries House, Willesden Green, London
Small Housing Development Award: Becontree Estate, Dagenham, Essex
Architect: Archio
Brick manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings
Brickwork contractor: Daniel & Co Brickwork
“Designed with such affection, this project takes every opportunity to add joy to everyday life on Becontree Avenue. The building and the quality of its brickwork is a thoughtfully conceived contextual response that restores pride in the local house-building traditions of Becontree.”
Commended: Alben Works, Birmingham
Medium Housing Development Award: The Tannery, Holt, Wiltshire
Architect: Mitchell Eley Gould Architects
Brick manufacturer: Forterra
Brick Contractor: Stonewood Partnerships
“A really thought-provoking development that has been so successful with homeowners. And why not? Everything about this scheme exudes intelligence and engagement with the brief.”
Large Housing Development Award: Kindred House, London
Architect: Pitman Tozer Architects
Brick manufacturer: Wienerberger
Brickwork contractor: EBK Building Services
“The bold choice to hand-lay bricks off scaffolding delivers high-levels of finish and control to what is a deep and highly articulated façade.”
Commended: The Chocolate Works, York
Urban Regeneration Award: Queen’s Quay, Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire
Architect: MAST Architects
Brick manufacturers: Michelmersh Brick Holdings, Ibstock Brick
Brickwork contractor: CCG (Scotland)
“A very impressive building with crisp lines of functional brickwork. It is well designed and executed, providing much needed social housing in a challenging area of Glasgow.”
Housebuilder Award: Taylor Wimpey
Project 1: Ockley Park, Hassocks, West Sussex
Architect: Taylor Wimpey
Brick manufacturer: Ibstock Brick
Project 2: Tudor Park, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire
Architect: Taylor Wimpey/BM3
Brick manufacturer: Ibstock Brick
“The company delivered excellent performance in 2022 against a changing market backdrop. It also demonstrated a continuing commitment to act on climate change and develop net zero targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2045, ahead of the UK’s 2050 target.”
Public Award: Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Worcestershire
Architect: Napier Clarke Architects
Brick manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings
Brickwork contractor: Balfour Beatty
“This project serves as a prime illustration of the skilful use of clay brick within the built environment.”
Commended: Springfields Hospital, London
Education Award: White House School, London
Architect: vPPR Architects
Brick manufacturer: Ibstock Brick
Brickwork contractor: KD Brickwork (UK)
“A very neatly designed building that serves to enhance its older (and varied) neighbours in what is a broad street of mixed styles. It is cleverly planned both internally and externally.”
Commended: Eton Sports and Aquatics Centre, Windsor
Refurbishment Award: St Mary’s Convent, Wantage, Oxfordshire
Architect: Hall McKnight
Brick manufacturer: Wienerberger
Brickwork contractor: Hugh J O’Boyle
“This scheme has a magical quality, taking what was an underused building and creating a crafted and sensitive refurbishment that sits gracefully within the local sandstone context.”
Commended: Leighton House, London
Innovation Award: A Brick Tribute To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Brickworks Museum, Southampton
Architect: Richard Dyer
Brick manufacturer: Ketley Brick Company
Brick contractor: Ketley Brick Company
“This wonderful and innovative work highlights how clay bricks can add dimensionality to any façade. The bricks themselves are crisp, clean, and solid with little or no blemishes. This enables the light to run over the relief giving the appearance of a slowly moving face. It is a truly fitting piece, blending tradition with innovation – something the late Queen excelled at during her long reign.”
Commercial Award: Globe Point, Leeds
Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Brick Manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings
Brickwork contractor: Thorpe Precast
“A contemporary and beautifully-crafted building that fits sensitively within the local historical context. It draws heavily on the vernacular, while also embracing modern methods of construction. The high-quality detailing of the brickwork, combined with the contrasting aluminium profiled crown and curved glazing, result in a well-proportioned and confident landmark building.”
Commended: Featherstone Building, London
Specialist Brickwork Contractor Award: Lyons & Annoot
Project 1: 56 Shepherds Bush Green, London
Architect: Flanagan Lawrence
Brick Manufacturer: Ibstock Brick
Project 2: Gateway West, London
Architect: Gort Scott
Brick Manufacturer: Non-UK
“The submission from Lyons & Annoot was exemplary, covering the whole range of management concerns in detail, and presenting a business that takes exceptional care of its staff and is rewarded with loyalty and performance.”
Worldwide Award: International Rugby Experience, Limerick, Ireland
Architect: Niall McLaughlin Architects
Brickwork Manufacturer: Michelmersh Brick Holdings
“The museum celebrates the game of Rugby through brick. A combination of three types of handmade clay brick are used to achieve a façade that both complements and reinvigorates Limerick’s historical city centre.”
Commended: Dingshu Vocational School of Pottery, China
