Projects

Valentine Place

Project name

Valentine Place
Location

Blackfriars, London
Client

Foundation Developments
Developer

Crest Nicholson London
Architect

Broadway Maylan
Brick

Petersen D46 & D97
Application

Laid in a staggered bond with corbelling and specials to articulate openings and corners, creating a textured, sculptural facade.
Project status

Completed
Recognition

Civic Trust Awards 2024: Regional Finalist

Description

Located in London’s SE1, Valentine Place mixed-use development comprises high-end specification offices, ground-floor retail and private residential units. Designed by Broadway Malyan, the project transforms a former warehouse site into a contemporary and contextually rich scheme, reactivating a prominent location within Southwark’s urban grain.

The Architectural character is defined by its crafted façades, which feature a bespoke blend of Petersen D46 and D97 bricks. A defining feature is the corbelled brickwork – a technique where each course is offset to project slightly from the course below. This creates a staggered, textural rhythm across elevations, producing varying depths of shadow that shift throughout the day. The result is tactile, visually engaging skin that references both traditional masonry craft and modern architectural composition. This corbelling technique, also seen in projects like Medina House, helps lend mass and sculptural quality to otherwise flat façades.

Internally, the high-quality material palette continues, supporting the development of commercial function and residential comfort, while externally, the street-facing elevations deliver a strong civic presence.

Requirements

EBM worked closely with the design and delivery teams to develop and implement the corbelled brick façade. We supported the specification of the custom brick blend, provided technical advice on detailing, and coordinated the manufacture of a variety of bespoke specials to accommodate the stepped geometry. Our knowledge of advanced laying techniques and visual performance helped ensure the corbelling retained its integrity and richness across commercial and residential elements.

Location

Key challenges

1/ Designing and supplying complex specials to achieve staggered corbelled effects

2/ Maintaining clean visual lines while integrating structural and weathering constraints

3/ Harmonising contemporary expression within a dense conservation context

Highlights & Achievements

— Civic Trust Awards 2024: Regional Finalist
— One of the first central London applications of the D46 and D97 Petersen brick blend
— A standout example of corbelled brick craftsmanship in modern mixed-use development