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Glenn Howells Architects (GHA) has completed Brick House, a special edition typology of three- and four-bedroom mews houses. The project is Phase 1 of the Port Loop masterplan in Birmingham for Urban Splash, in partnership with Places for People and Canals and River Trust (CRT). Located just 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre and circled by a kilometre of historic canal, Port Loop is a brand-new community with an urban island at its heart.
The architects developed a robust design language that responds to its environment; a mix of blended red multi brick and dark blue brick, handmade on site, reflect the industrial heritage of the area and paving treatments of the canal. Slender white concrete surrounds echo the white detailing of the Victorian housing stock while helping to bring light into the rooms.
The houses’ front doors are inset to provide shelter and a greater sense of depth and threshold to the facade. To the rear, ground floors have large sliding glazed doors to open up the living space to the garden. Rainwater goods are inset into the facade, and on elevations where no down pipes are required the inset remains, breaking up the elevation and helping to articulate the terrace and property boundaries.
The internal layouts are open and free flowing, with generous living spaces. High ceilings, tall windows and glass doors flood the homes with natural light. Upstairs living spaces feature Juliet balconies with French doors with large windows that provide peaceful views over water or green space. Several dwellings feature second floor terraces and garden terraces, allowing the residents to enjoy the water and greenery from their own outdoor space, taking advantage of the scheme’s distinctive location.
Inspired by the community neighbourhoods in Denmark, the project team had a shared vision to surround the homes with green spaces. This resulted in the 37 mews houses being built around a landscaped communal garden designed by Grant Associates and the Port Loop park that residents can access through their back doors, further promoting community interaction in the new neighbourhood.