Northcot Brick completes a hat trick of self build awards

Northcot Brick, one of the UK’s foremost independent brick manufacturers, has received a third prestigious ‘Build It Award’ for the quality of its brickwork, topping its previous wins in 2013 and 2015.

The awards, recognising the best products, services, projects and innovations available to self-builders and renovators, named Northcot as outright winner of 2018 ‘Best Brick Home’ category for ‘The Orchard’, a stunning Arts & Crafts house, which combines traditional craftsmanship and brick detailing with modern energy and environmental performance.

The judges said: “This wow-factor project stood out for its playful use of a traditional building material, creating a fun and quirky new home on a narrow infill plot.”

Northcot’s silver grey bricks and matching specials, which have finely variegated orange, red and silver tones, were made by hand to give an irregular artisan appearance and texture and then laid in a both stretcher and traditional Flemish Garden Wall bonds.

According to the owner, Will Anderson, the traditional character of Northcot’s handmade bricks were crucial to the exquisite design and individuality of his home.

“The Orchard was inspired by the desire to create an authentic Arts and Crafts home, alive with the beauty of traditional and richly detailed materials. The chromatic subtleties of Northcot’s silver grey handmade bricks, with their delicate combination of orange-red tones dusted with fine grey sand, were integral to the uniqueness and sheer visual pleasure of this labour of love,” he said.

Renowned for their craftsmanship, Northcot’s master brickmakers use traditional benchmould techniques that have hardly changed over the centuries and still fire in one of the country’s last remaining coal-fired kilns in order to achieve their distinctive qualities.

Michael Brown, MD of Northcot Brick, commented: “We are delighted to have received our third ‘Build It’ award. Such an accolade is a testament to the continued value of traditional craftsmanship and the importance of fine brickwork in the architecture of this country.”

Northcot bricks are manufactured to British and European standards, including F2 rating for Frost Resistance BS EN 771-1: 2003 and are hand checked to ensure consistency of quality throughout before dispatch.

For more info on Northcot Brick, download its latest brochure by clicking here, telephone 01386 700551, fax: 01386 700852 or email: sales@northcotbrick.co.uk