Impressive views, inside and out

This exclusive contemporary home on the Kings Cairn development, East Lothian, UK makes its first impression last. By using the same facing bricks for the primary façade material as well as within the internal spaces, the architects have managed to create a consistent feeling and design language – from driving up to the development all the way until the moment you are relaxing on the couch.

A lasting impression in Kings Cairn

Creating a modern home that at the same time ensures a pleasant living atmosphere for its owners presents a challenging task. In this case the client asked for a contemporary build with a warehouse aesthetic, incorporating external and internal brick elements.

“Brick isn’t commonly used in Scotland, and the flush pointing technique used on the brick exteriors gave the finished elevations a monolithic feel more akin to traditional Scottish natural stone.“ - Rory Gibson, architect.

Beige warehouse aesthetic

Collaborating closely with brick supplier and the client, Rory Gibson Architects opted for the Terca Marziale, a bright, beige-coloured brick that perfectly complemented the desired warehouse-style look. In order to integrate the bricks into the interior spaces, the Marziale bricks, originally used for external purposes, were converted into brick slips, thereby creating striking features within the indoor living areas of the home. The architects successfully achieved a smooth blend with the facing bricks, enhancing the contemporary warehouse ambiance.

Metal cladding was installed on the first floor, creating a striking contrast to the façade's lighter brick colour. The seamless integration of the Marziale brick in the internal and external spaces resulted in industry acclaim: the project was nominated in the Brick Development Association Brick Awards' Individual Housing Development category 2023.

Standing out while blending in

Architect Rory Gibson: “The wienerberger Marziale brick’s soft and varied colour and texture gave the house a special, handcrafted look that fits perfectly with what the client wanted. Brick isn’t commonly used in Scotland, and the flush pointing technique used on the brick exteriors gave the finished elevations a monolithic feel more akin to traditional Scottish natural stone.

Using the brick made the house distinctive yet integrated with its surroundings, achieving the desired modern warehouse aesthetic. Bringing brick inside worked well too – it added character to the rooms. We’re absolutely delighted with the finished product.”