Belgrade Plaza

A key design challenge for the Belgrade Plaza project was to respect the existing civic identity while incorporating new contemporary features that reflect the city’s evolving urban character. As a growing student town, Simpson Haugh were also keen to speak to the energy of this vibrant, youthful population therefore, four facing bricks were selected and blended to produce a dynamic and rhythmic facade. 

The L-shaped student accommodation block features Ibstock’s Mellow Regent brick; an orange soft mud option that creates a uniform, statement facade. Its warm tone links Coventry’s more traditional architecture with the modern design used on the nearby Belgrade Plaza apartments. 

For the neighbouring City Club apartment block, a more dynamic look was achieved using a mix of Ibstock’s Bevern Dark Multi Stock, Crowborough Multi Stock, and Staffordshire Slate Blue Smooth bricks, expertly installed by Caxton Builders. At varying window intervals, the Mellow Regent is again used to call back to the student accommodation structure and wider environment.

Crucial to the apartment block facade is the careful blending of the three specified bricks, which have also been graded from bottom to top. This means that the lower levels of the build feature a higher percentage of the two brown bricks – the Bevern Dark Multi Stock, and Crowborough Multi Stock – while their use is decreased as you move up the structure until mostly Staffordshire Slate Blue Smooth bricks are featured. 

To achieve this complex brickwork design, a facing brick specialist had to be involved. From selecting the initial bricks to specifying the exact blends for each level and then ensuring they were delivered on time and ready for installation, LBT Brick and Facades worked tirelessly with the entire project team to take the initial design idea and turn it into a reality.