Bold, Contemporary & Modern – the Lignacite Roman Brick

Lignacite’s Roman Brick – its smaller than a block, larger than a brick and available in our full range of over 50 colours, textures and finishes, created to offer a contemporary and modern design feature for Architects and Designers.

Why choose our Roman Brick?

The Roman Brick is either cut from our standard size block, or formed in a special block machine mould, we can therefore offer this format in all of our colours and texture combinations to create a large variety of different effects. Polished and Planished finishes allow crisp, clean lines, whilst splitting or shot blasting the product creates a softer more weathered appearance.

How it is made?

As with all Lignacite products, Roman Bricks are manufactured from a range of different aggregates and incorporate a high percentage of recycled materials such as shell block, re-cycled glass and mother of pearl.

Build Benefits

The units measure 440mm by 65mm, one third of the size of a traditional block, thereby allowing designers considerable flexibility and scope to create a unique look. The unit weighs less than 7kgs, a third of the weight of a traditional block, meaning no HSE issues during the build whilst using this product.

Being twice the length of a conventional brick, they can be laid more quickly, the Roman Brick also doesn’t ‘swim’ making it easier to lay and thus show a saving.

Versatility

Whilst creating a contemporary look, the use of Roman Brick can also facilitate new buildings to blend into more traditional settings.

Custom-Made

Our aim is to work alongside designers to create unique products that compliment individual projects. This can include using the recycled aggregate from an existing building on a site, through to incorporating almost anything from natural sea shells to luminescent powder coated glass.

Where it is has been used

This product has been used to great effect in a number of projects across the country including the Athlete’s Village in the Olympic Park, Blackpool’s Chapel of Love. More recently they have featured in the following projects.

University of Buckingham

Architect: Feilden+Mawson

Using Blackstone Weathered Roman Brick

The £8m University of Buckingham’s Academic Centre, situated at the Milton Keynes University Hospital, was completed in February 2018. Designed by Feilden+Mawson architects from their Norwich office, Partner in Charge and Lead Designer Philip Bodie, deployed Lignacite’s Roman Blocks within the design’s elevations.

What the Architect had to say: ‘We had previously used the block at our King’s Lynn Innovation Centre and loved it,’ said Philip, ‘so decided to use it in greater quantities at the Academic Centre to provide a strong tonal contrast to other materials used on the facades.’ Philip Bodie - Feilden+Mawson

Feilden+Mawson were highly impressed with not only the product but feedback from their client, contractor and the brick-layers directly. In addition, the main contractors, Beard, reported that the procurement process from Lignacite to site and laying advice was excellent.

The Roman block’s proportions, colour and texture provide the building with a feel of permanency and robustness and Feilden+Mawson has stated that they would happily use it again on future projects.

Photographs by kind permission of Paul Studd

Kings Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC)

Architect: Feilden+Mawson

Using Blackstone Weathered Roman Brick

The £6m medical facility located at the Milton Keynes University Hospital campus, seals the teaching and learning relationship between the university and the NHS Trust.

What the Architect had to say: ‘We were delighted with the results the Roman Bricks gave us at a previous project, the King’s Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC) and decided to deploy it again at the Academic Centre for Buckingham University.

Lignacite’s dark grey Roman Brick brings a perfect contrast to the white Sto render and was deployed in a higher volume than at KLIC due to the superb quality and contemporary feel it brings to the palette of materials. The concept of the building, two apparent forms lightly separated by a glass atrium, was to recognise the coming together of the university and the NHS trust in one facility. To reinforce this effect, we ensured that the roman brick was evident not only externally but partially internally as well. It is hoped that the relationship between the two main users will prevail for decades to come which is another reason why we wanted the longevity of the Roman Brick. The joints are recessed accentuating the linear feel of the brick and great care was taken by Lignacite and the contractor, Beard,1 when installing them. We love the colour, texture and pin sharp arises and the fact that corners can be formed at virtually any angle. Feedback from the client and users of the building has been very positive and the appearance and quality feel of Roman Bricks have been mentioned on many occasions.’ Philip Bodie - Feilden+Mawson

Cumbria Archives - Carlisle

Architect: Austin Smith Lord

Using Snowstorm Split and Blackstone Planished

The Cumbria Archive project involved the creation of a state-of-the-art archive for north east Cumbria public records offices and the restoration and renovation of the Grade II* listed mansion, Lady Gillford House at Petteril Bank.

The archive building generates its own style and confidence and represents the quality aspirations of the project and the rejuvenation that the project brings to the site as a whole. Though it is a large building it is sited on the footprint of a demolished factory to minimise the effect on historic landscape. The form was designed to sit as low as possible in the landscape and light-coloured materials were used on the elements facing the existing residential properties. English Heritage was closely involved in creating a building design which combines an innovative and striking

balance of old and new.

Rathbone Market Phase 2 - Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration

Architect: CZWG Architects

Using Snowstorm Polished with Recycled Brown Glass and Flint

This second phase of Canning Town’s Rathbone Market redevelopment comprises 165 new homes, 12,000 sq ft of retail space, a new community

building and two new public squares, one of which will form the centrepiece of the finished scheme and permanent home for Rathbone Market, and the other a new landscaped entrance to the existing subway beneath the Newham Way.The proposals improve pedestrian links within the locality and realise

significant environmental benefits.

CZWG Architects chose to use Lignacite’s Roman Brick, a much tougher cladding material of polished concrete blockwork for the ground floor areas. The Roman Brick material provides inherent strength and a smooth tactile surface at the point at which people come into close contact with the building.

East Village / Athlete’s Village - Olympic Park

Architect: dRMM

Using Original Planished Snowstorm with recycled glass

Lignacite worked in collaboration with dRMM to create a new and unique Planished Roman Brick that incorporated recycled glass. Initially in green but ultimately using brown glass. The bottles were ‘sourced’ at home by Lignacite’s thirsty workforce. The resulting masonry skin has been used in the walls and floors of the Olympic Village.

Now known as East Village, this is London’s first Olympic legacy village and newest neighbourhood on the doorstep of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is an entirely new residential area for London and provides 2,818 high quality, well designed homes for thousands of individuals, couples and families. East Village in its new guise continues to win awards, the latest being on the 5th of February 2014 picking up two prestigious awards at The London Planning Awards – Best New Place to Live and the Mayor’s Award for Planning Excellence.

This product’s highly decorative yet durable manufacture and finish, combined with it’s good looks and sustainability continues to stand the test of time on this London landmark.

Tower Festivals Headland Tower - Architect: dRMM

Using Planished Snowstorm with recycled glass

The Tower of Love, perched on the Blackpool seafront was designed by dRMM and incorporates Lignacite’s planished Roman Brick, a product developed in collaboration with the architect.

The concept was to create a civic space that framed couples between the ocean and the Blackpool Tower, as they exchanged their marriage vows. At ground level a restaurant connects promenade and horizon views.

Festival House has outwardly pitched walls, exaggerating its scale from all angles.The engineered timber construction is set on a plinth. The Roman Brick has been used as cladding to protect the walls from the Atlantic weather.

Samples of particular blocks and Swatch Guides showing all our Architectural Facing Masonry and commodity block finishes can be requested via our websites. Design guidance booklets, specifications and datasheets can also be downloaded from the Technical Library on our website.

For more information about a Lignacite CPD visit our website, www.lignacite.co.uk or call us on 01842 810678 or email us on info@lignacite.co.uk and we will happily discuss the CPD and additional services.

www.lignacite.co.uk

Telephone: 01842 810678

Contact: Harrie Wynne-Golledge