Brick Works 2019

Hosted at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, the Brick Works evening event provided in-depth case studies from three firms showing examples of contemporary brick architecture.

Stuart McGrath, Associate Architect from OMI, presented Baker Place: an apartment development in Hulme, Manchester. The scheme places strong emphasis on the well-being of residents through a focus on daylighting, landscape, generous private and communal external spaces and sustainability.

The scheme comprises 67 apartments across three buildings, ranging in height from four to five storeys, arranged around a landscaped communal courtyard.

Apartments have been carefully considered to make them not only wheelchair accessible, but also generously sized and with high levels of natural lighting. Spacious, highly glazed central stair and lift cores open out onto the street and the courtyard, increasing legibility whilst providing opportunities for chance encounters between residents.

The material selection is borne out of a desire to create a cluster of mellow buildings that sit comfortably within this natural setting.  As such the external wall material is a ‘stoney buff’ coloured brick, which provides a gentle contrast to the retained trees.