Brick-clad nomes

While the humble brick makes the ideal material for walls and floors, both inside and out, exposed brickwork can add instant character to a home of any age, as these projects from throughout the UK demonstrate...

A whiter shade of pale

Named after the rolling white cliffs that line the Kent coastline, Chalk is a newly built single-storey house composed of a striking palette of white glazed bricks and oak cladding. Standing on Broadstairs' coveted North Foreland Estate, the house's design was inspired by California Modernism and is arranged around a wonderfully private garden.

Teresa and Anthony Ralph, of TG Designer Homes (www.tgdesignerhomes. com), employed a bricklayer to construct the brick-and-block house on concrete strip foundations. Selecting the white external bricks was crucial, and the Ralphs realised that a matt finish could end up appearing yellow. They also wanted to avoid having to paint the house in future, but finding a pure white glazed brick without variations took time.

“The bricks needed a final acid wash to remove any mortar streaks or marks, which was quite labour intensive for the bricklayers,” says Teresa. “The result is well worth the effort, though, as they reflect the light and cast amazing shadows.”

Perfectly formed

“Our Victorian terraced house was cramped and badly connected to the garden, but extending into the side return wasn’t practical,” explains architect Matthew Wood of MW Architects (www.mwarchitects.co.uk). “Instead, we decided to build a small extension, popping out from the rear to create a new kitchen diner.”

The simple 7m² extension was designed to wrap around the kitchen, with an ultra-thin roof, brick detailing and reclaimed chain downpipes adding interest to the exterior. Materials were chosen to develop character and patina over time. The robust but attractive Staffordshire Blue engineering bricks contrast in colour and texture to the existing house and are smooth enough for inside walls and out on the patio.