Borough Yards is a modern development built by Wates Group and designed by SPPARC.

Borough Yards, designed by London-based architect SPPARC and built by Wates Group for developer MARK, is a new shopping and dining district that includes transformed and re-purposed railway arches, viaducts and warehouses, five new buildings, a cinema, an art gallery, two new office buildings. Borough Yards weaves its way from London's Borough Market to Clink Street. IG Masonry Support is no stranger to working with brickwork contractors, having designed and supplied a number of complex prefabricated brickwork elements in the past, including Welded Masonry Support (WMS), Brick Slip Masonry Support, and its B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System).

 

The Challenge

In this landmark conservation area, the brickwork for the new buildings needed to complement the existing brickwork on the repurposed viaducts and warehouses but also present its own unique character. That's why IG Masonry Support manufactured and supplied a range of prefabricated components that met both the wider considerations around planning in this conservation area and all fire and building regulations. With our help, the new buildings fit in perfectly with the existing architecture while still maintaining their own individual style.

The design for building four was quite complex, requiring a unique 'floating' brick feature with a jagged design. By utilizing IG Masonry Support's brick slips, the team was able to achieve the distinctive angled soffit design they were going for. Not only does this offer a beautiful and historic aesthetic, but it's also a modern solution that is easy to install.

 

The spearheads on building two were a separate challenge, but thanks to IG Masonry Support's close collaboration with the contractors and the architect, an accurate and sufficient design was possible. Installed at four different points on the building, these innovative spearheads - never seen before - were made with glass-reinforced concrete in between.

Customizable to the architect's design, the Brick Slip Systems and Masonry Support are prefabricated units manufactured offsite and delivered with bricks mechanically fixed and bonded to them.

 

Trevor Morriss, Principal at SPPARC, explained that "realizing our vision with masonry was a fundamental part of our design ethos. It was essential that the new buildings successfully coexisted with the heritage fabric. We wanted to ensure that each of the buildings had its own unique character while also harmonizing with the surrounding area. Working with IG Masonry Support and their range of products allowed us to realize these features. The detailing around the masonry is the fundamental part of this scheme. Working with IG Masonry Support was an absolute pleasure." We found their technical advice and can-do attitude essential to realising our ultimate vision for the product. Thank you for your help in making our dream a reality!

 

The Solution

The bespoke elements for building four pushed the boundaries of what was possible with IG Masonry Support and its products. Through technical collaboration, the jagged design features were achieved with angled soffits, ensuring a solution that met the architect’s specific requirements.

IG Masonry Support exceeded expectations with its Welded Masonry Support system and versatile B.O.S.S.+ (Brick on Soffit System), creating a seamless match with the surrounding brickwork. This allowed for the building to maintain its original design while still being structurally sound.

 

The B.O.S.S.+ is a lightweight prefabricated system that is faster to install than traditional hanging brick systems. It is installed to a pre-fitted Masonry Support System, which allows increased adjustability along three axes. B.O.S.S.+ is produced offsite, so it offers 90% time savings onsite and negates the need for mechanical lifting. It also removes the need for brick-cutting onsite, resulting in a quality system that is checked before it arrives onsite. This fire-rated unit is suitable for use on residential buildings that are over 18 metres above ground level. It is BBA-certified and mechanically fixed, meaning it complies with the Building Regulations 2010* Approved Document B: Fire Safety.

 

The 70 per cent weight-saving system is not only versatile, but offers ease of installation and reduced installation time. The bespoke solution negates the need for mechanical handling and onsite labour, which were significant benefits of this mixed-use development in particular.

As an integral part of the street scene and conservation area, these stunning new buildings sit side-by-side with the historic viaducts and warehouses.

 

References

1) Borough Yards

2) IG Masonry Support

3) SPPARC 

4) Wates Group