MBH PLC is delighted to receive this year’s Best Public Building, Brick Award for East Ham Customer Service Centre & Library, at the ceremony held in London on Wednesday 12th November. The winning project showcases the manufacturer’s newest handmade innovative product I-line, a slim line modern brick to compliment striking contemporary designs. This extensive regeneration is designed by Rick Mather Architects, with the Civic Centre comprising only phase one of the total listed Town Hall complex in East Ham, London. The Centre brings together a range of council front line services for the community under one roof, combining library, and local service centre functions into a one fit-for-purpose building.
Scale, materiality, and rigorous detailing
Rick Mather Architects said, “Brick is being re-discovered by a new generation of architects, and the 2014 Brick Awards showcases a range of beautiful and innovative brick buildings. Architects are aware beyond the traditional use of brickwork, that brick material gives the designer control of both creative and disciplined detailed solutions with enduring results. The Customer Service Centre & Library is an exercise in scale, materiality, and rigorous detailing.”
I-line can define new builds, harmonise with older brickwork, bringing a modern vision to renovations and be as individual as every building deserves. Employing this long, thin brick module into the design of the Centre, presented the arrangement of large brick planes framed by expanses of glass allowing for vertical and horizontal course articulation across the façade.
This project intends to reinvigorate the town centre of East Ham by London Borough of Newham’s decision to return its core team back to its original home after years of relocations. The specific siting of the Centre was carefully considered as the catalyst for a host of new routes and interlinked public spaces, emphasising the relationship between the Civic Campus and Town Centre. The Architects have shown great perseverance in their design, attracting civic presence (befitting the clients brief), whilst offering a natural fit with the neighbouring Edwardian built environment.
East Ham Town Hall conservation area is home to some of the finest examples of Edwardian Grade II listed brick or terracotta buildings and therefore a natural material choice for the architect. To complement the surrounding re-pressed Victorian bricks, a hand thrown Leicestershire red was selected in two differing tones to a ratio of a 60-40 mix. The colour choice offers a bold and balanced palette to the existing subtle reds, oranges, and purple tones of the historic context.
The Brick Development Association, Brick Awards judges’ comments stated, the “Customer Service Centre + Library is a well-designed building which sits well in its immediate context, and provides a valuable resource for its neighbourhood. The quality and use of brick detailing is high and consistent throughout and its solid structure is beautifully put together and well executed. Vertical brick ribbing on the buildings external facade creates an interesting aesthetic and contributes to the overall beauty of the project. The architectural quality is powerful in terms of spatial and light manipulation.”
