A vision for later living realised
Set within one of Lichfield’s conservation areas, the multi-award winning Chapter House by Pegasus, part of Lifestory, is a later living community providing homes for up to 38 over 60s. Drawing inspiration from the historic morphology of the locale, it’s uses brick as the dominant material to provide character with its rich textures and colours.
Hear from the developer behind Chapter House, Lichfield
We talk to Jack Shields, Assistant Development Manager at Lifestory. We’ll get his thoughts on the challenges of achieving harmony with adjacent medieval architecture and Vandersanden’s support throughout the project.
The rich warmth, textures and colours of the Vandersanden bricks provide the visual and physical quality we were looking for…
Describe Chapter House?
Set within one of Lichfield’s important central conservation areas, Chapter House is a later living community of 38 homes for people over 60 by Pegasus, now part of Lifestory.
What was your design vision?
The design vision draws inspiration from the form of Lichfield’s walled gardens and the original cloistered design of the demolished medieval friary which once occupied the site.
How does your choice of brick complement your design vision for this project?
Brick is the dominant material and was chosen for its rich texture and colour.
To achieve exactly the right aesthetic, our architects, Proctor & Matthews worked closely with Vandersanden to develop the brickwork details to fit the building within its historic context.The main facing brick used was Vandersanden’s Aalborg, with its water-struck, rich red texture, inspired by the traditional ‘Lichfield brick’.
This brick was a special product created in collaboration with the Architect and is based on a brick normally manufactured for Germany. These bricks were bedded in either natural coloured or black, grey mortar depending on their location and was used for the entrance facade and walled element which wraps around the site.
Additionally, contrasting Vandersanden Creme bricks are used in the central courtyard to help bounce light around the space.
Why did you choose Vandersanden?
The rich warmth, textures and colours of the Vandersanden bricks provide the visual and physical quality we were looking for.
What special brick innovations can you draw attention to in this project?
Both bricks are elegant, narrow 50mm high, an innovation that helps to minimise the mass of the overall development and help it to fit seamlessly within its grounds.
How would you sum up your experience with Vandersanden on this project?
Our experience with Vandersanden was incredibly positive. We were really impressed by the helpful and prompt assistance we received from the Vandersanden team. Proctor and Matthews Architects were already aware of Vandersanden from previous projects, and the company’s support throughout the project was invaluable.
Thanks Jack, for taking the time to talk to us and of course for choosing Creme and Aalborg bricks by Vandersanden for your project.
Facing brick used – Crème 034A0
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it doesn’t always give you the full story. Sometimes you just need to see it for yourself, hold it in your hand and feel the texture to be truly inspired.
Project information
- Project – Chapter House
- Location – Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK
- Architect – Proctor and Matthews Architects
- Developer – Lifestory (previously Pegasus)
- Contractor – Gr8 Space
- Year of completion – 2018
- Bricks used – Creme and Aalborg
- Brick size – 50mm
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