Part of the long term Master-plan for the Selwyn College site, Phase 2 was recently completed during 2009. Utilising 150,000 Saxon Multi handmade bricks, the new accommodation block is linked to the 2005 phase 1 administration block.

Designed by Porphyrios Associates the new Ann’s Court building forms part of a 5 phase vision for Selwyn College, once complete, it will create two new courts inside the college grounds. The remaining phases being the library, further accommodation and finally the auditorium.

For further information on the new buildings at Selwyn please visit:

Porphyrios Associates

Selwyn College

The Gillespie Centre, Clare College’s newest addition to the memorial site, has been awarded an RIBA award by the Royal Institute of British Architects as one of the best 100 buildings produced in 2009.

Designed by north London based Van Heyningen and Haward Architects, the new 6.3 million courtyard completed in early 2009 has fought off stiff competition to win the prestigious award. A combination of Coleford Grey handmade bricks (70% Vauxhall Grey and 30% Gloucester Grey blend), and Cedar timber cladding, combine to give the finished buildings a clean uncluttered appearance.

The new conference facilities opened officially by The Duke of Edinburgh, received the RIBA award for its ‘high architectural standards and for making a substantial contribution to the environment’. Built over three floors the state-of-the-art conference facilities have been built to the highest standards of sustainability, using solar panels and a Ground Source Heat Pump for efficient heating and cooling.

For further information on the new Clare College building please visit:

VHH Architects

Clare College

A stunning new build situated in a sensitive conservation area in South London, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary detailing.

Designed by Knox Bhavan Architects and constructed by R. Durtnell & Sons the building uses Cotswold Buff handmade bricks and several bespoke specials. The curved surfaces of the building were created using a header bond with the accent panels produced using a special saddleback brick with a stop-end version to finish the edges of each section.

For further information on this individual property please visit:

Knox Bhavan Architects

Durtnell & Sons Ltd

The transformation of the existing 1932 Royal Shakespeare Theatre started for Coleford Brick & Tile in 2007. Many samples later the first new bricks and specials were being thrown in August 2008 with the first deliveries to site in January 2009. Over 168,000 bricks and 14,000 specials were hand thrown for the theatre, which is due for completion in 2010.

The focus of the transformation of the already iconic theatrical site was to improve the public spaces both inside and surrounding the theatre. A new 1,000 seat auditorium designed to improve the audience experience and the addition of a theatre tower with viewing platform are just some of the many features of the new design.

For Further information on the RSC transformation please visit:

Bennetts Associates

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

A new £6 million residential and commercial mix development in the heart of the West End. Completed in January 2010, the Squire and Partner designed scheme replaces several houses built on the typically narrow Soho plot.

The scheme uses a series of brick party walls to suggest a similar series of narrow plots but here ordered to create a new rhythm.  A solid brick end wall, punctuated simply by horizontal slot windows, reinforces the building’s terraced-street character.

A successful mix of substrates, the Cotswold Buff handmade bricks sit comfortably with glazed bricks inspired by the victorian glazed tiles used on many tube stations and public houses, both softened by the warmth of the wooden shutters. The blend of materials combine to create a striking addition to the existing Soho market streets.

For further information on this project please visit;

Squire and Partners

Just Facades

Work continues at Stratford’s RSC theatre with the latest additions to the multi million transformation arriving on specialist haulage with the assistance of three individual County Highways Authorities.

The two massive Precast panels produced by Thorpe Precast, each weighing 17 tonnes were finally craned into position on North & South face of the viewing towers ‘lantern’ on the 30th September 2009.

Each concrete panel is faced with Coleford Handmade bricks, replicating the bespoke blend used to create the tower. Indeed, the precast panels now appear ‘as one’ with the existing brickwork on site with new and old construction techniques blending seamlessly together.  The panels were completely factory finished with all pointing and coping parapet details in place prior to installation.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre transformation reached an important milestone this week when the 20 tonne viewing platform was lowered into position using a 300 tonne crane. Click below to visit the RSC main site and view a short film showing the historic event. 

View film

Coleford has begun the huge task of delivering bespoke handmade bricks and specials for the grade II listed Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon.

English Heritage have praised the architects Bennetts Associates for creating a modern design without ruining the existing historic features. Originally designed by Elisabeth Scott and opened in 1932 the new £100 million development is due to re-open in summer 2010. Further information regarding the progress of the project can be found at the RSC site.

Architects impression of the finished theatre viewed from the park.

The Stratford Blend

The 160,000 and 10,000 specials required will be produced in a Bespoke Blend now fittingly titled the ‘Stratford Blend.’ The blend includes; Saxon Multi, Flashed Wessex, Ironstone & Smooth Forest Royal.

 While the main site is already attracting a large amount of publicity, Coleford Brick & Tile, as the primary brick supplier, have recently been visited by the BBC to film short news reports on the manufacture of the bricks. See BBC report.

A cut-away rendering of the new Theatre showing the auditorium and tower.

61million redevelopment to lift the already inspiring Ashmolean Museum to a world-class building.

Designed by world renowned architect Rick Mather the new building will totally replace all but the original 1845 grade II listed Cockerell building. The new development will provide a further 39 galleries doubling the display space of the former buildings. Also included in the design is a dedicated Education Centre and Conservation facilities.

The transformation is well underway and currently on target for it’s prestigious re-opening in Nov 2009.

Architects detail rendering showing the new gallery space and the location of the new building in relation to the existing Cockerell building.

Aerial View of the Ashmolean showing an artist's impression of the new building

The building will use the Coleford Cotswold Buff brick in a bespoke 240 x 110 x 40mm size.

For further information on the design and progress of the project please visit the Ashmolean Museum site.

To strengthen Coleford’s commitment to environmental management and to enure our compliance with ever changing environmental legislation we are entering into the first steps of joining the Green Dragon Scheme.

Green Dragon Scheme

Green Dragon is a manageable way of achieving a recognised UKAS Accredited and Independently inspected Environmental Management System (EMS).

The scheme incorporates the following key principles of Environmental Management:

    .  Continual Environmental Improvement

    .  Compliance with Environmental Legislation

    .  Pollution Prevention

    .  Communication of Environmental Issues

Coleford Brick & Tile fully understand the need for a recognised environmental policy which will reinforce existing relationships with both customers and suppliers.

Vist the Green Dragon site.