The Michelmersh Group saw a selection of products utilised over six RIBA regional award winners in 2024, highlighting the Group’s success as the choice for innovative, eye-catching, modern buildings across a range of architectural styles and purposes. From one of the most iconic commercial ventures in the UK to an intimate but utterly unique individual housing development, Michelmersh products were prominent and proudly on display across the built environment.
Black Country Living Museum – RIBA West Midlands Award 2024
A gorgeous public space that oozes modern charm amongst an area of historic significance, the Black Country Living Museum’s new entrance building is a two-storey, multi-purpose, visitor centre, café, shop and office. Designed by Napier Clarke Architects, the entrance building stands alone in its modernity but respectfully compliments the exhibits it leads to. A metal cladding roof and balcony dining area dominate the first floor, and Freshfield Lane’s Selected Darks offer a warm entranceway, which weaves wonderfully into its immediate environment to smoothly transition into the lush surrounding area.
Battersea Power Station Phase Two – RIBA London Award 2024, RIBA London Conservation Award 2024
One of the UK’s most prominent recent restoration projects, Battersea Power Station had languished as a derelict artefact for over half its lifetime until Wilkinson Eyre Architects undertook an extensive restorative project to bring one of London’s most iconic buildings back to life. Testament to the longevity of brick, the skyline of London can continue to encompass this architectural marvel, which now contains high-end homes and retail outlets. Revelling in its heritage, Battersea Power Station has been truly recharged as a significant cultural asset. Michelmersh’s Blockleys brand was selected to provide over 500,000 bricks and 20,000 special-shaped bricks to compliment the redevelopment with 5 Michelmersh products creating a unique blend for the project.
Simon Square, Edinburgh – 2024 RIAS Awards
A truly eye-catching housing development in Edinburgh’s historic southside and superseding an old builders’ yard, Simon Square is a wonderful example of sustainable architecture that showcases modern sensibilities in an environment full of traditionalism. A collection of six new flats all warmed through a combination of timber and bright open windows, Simon Square politely imposes itself on the area by taking a unique approach with Blockleys Wrekin Buff bricks and rendering over them with a white lime “slaister”, which smooths out the brickwork while allowing for the shape of the brick to shine through.
The Department Store Studios – RIBA London Award 2024
A new, four-storey mixed-use building in Brixton which takes note of its surrounding projects and leads the area into the 21st century. The Studios is a natural edition to The Department Store, an already highly sustainable development that supports local businesses to expand the talent of young entrepreneurs and cater to the local community. Internally, the project uses raw materials to help ingrain an elegantly simple aesthetic and externally the site uses a beautiful handmade brick by Michelmersh’s legacy brand Charnwood to blend into the area’s native palette, while also innovating in the use of brick to create a an identity of its own. A one-off, snapped header bond was conceived by the architect, Squire+Partners, which was then skilfully realised by contractors from Lyons and Anoot, creating a subtle texture to the building and adding to its unique appeal.
Fish Island Village – RIBA London Award
A wonderful example of urban regeneration at its finest, Fish Island Village sits on the site of a former waste processing depot and now finds itself the home of nearly 600 houses and 5,000 meters of commercial space. Adopting guidelines to ensure a harmonious flow of intent between the three architectural practices responsible for the project, Fish Island Village endeavours to retain a confident, cohesive setting while incorporating modern and sustainable living spaces. Freshfield Lane’s Danehill Yellow bricks were selected to retain a practical link to the site’s historic aesthetics and the development was retained to six or seven stories to ensure the site felt unencumbered by overdevelopment.
Michelmersh takes pride in leading the way in producing and supplying top-quality bricks for another group of award-winning projects. The Group is dedicated to merging a steadfast commitment to sustainability with the production of exceptional materials whilst making a positive impact on the local built environment. These RIBA award-winning, exemplary projects not only highlight excellence in design and construction but also underscore the significance of creating environmentally conscious and sustainable spaces that will stand the test of time while ensuring clients are thrilled with the final result.
