|
| Project Name: |
Kings Court |
| |
| Brick Manufacturer: |
Pine Hall Brick Company |
|
www.americaspremierpaver.com |
| |
| Brick Distributor: |
Church Brick South LLC |
| |
| Architect: |
Alberto & Associates |
| |
| Landscape Architect: |
Knolltop Nursery |
| |
| Associate: |
Remington & Vernick Engineers |
| |
| Photographer: |
Jay Baccili |
|
Alberto & Associates |
| |
| Competition Entered: |
2009 Brick In Architecture Awards Competition |
| |
| Awards Won: |
Bronze |
| |
| Project Description: |
The town of Haddonfield attracts visitors from around the region to its charming Colonial-era buildings that define its central, pedestrian friendly main street. Anchoring one end of this walker’s paradise, an 11,000 square foot plaza dubbed “Kings Court” draws crowds to its shaded seats and popular shops. The residents and visitors relaxing in Kings Court today enjoy a number of recent upgrades and repairs, thanks to a public/private cooperative renovation of the plaza. The renovation replaced all of the previous paving (concrete and mortar-set brick) with a combination of dry-set clay brick and bluestone. This solved both functional and aesthetic problems, including poor drainage and cracking pavement. Seating, lighting, and landscaping improvements were also made. From architectural details to brick sidewalks and historic lighting, the experience of walking in Haddonfield connects residents and guests with a shared heritage. Following its renovation, Kings Court Plaza both extends and enhances the existing historic character of downtown Haddonfield. |
| |
| Green Building or Sustainable Design Principles used in this Project: |
In addition to the many inherent sustainable qualities of clay brick, slight adjustments in form and ingredients in the brick can create additional environmental benefits. An example of this is the use of special “green, water-recharge” brick for sections of the plaza in order to increase permeability. Each brick is shaped with notched edges and laid on a permeable base to allow water to filter into the ground. This reduces ground water runoff and recharges aquifers while preventing unnecessary pollution of the waterways.
The brick used throughout the rest of the plaza ranks high on many measures of sustainability. Both the brick and the bluestone (PA Flagstone) used are produced within the 500-mile limit set by the LEED green-build rating system. Using local materials saved significant energy in transportation alone. In addition, because bricks are derived from the natural materials in the earth, they avoid the volatile off-gassing caused by other industrially-produced products. Brick requires no harsh chemicals to keep it clean, reducing air and ground-water pollution. From a long-term sustainability perspective, perhaps brick’s most important characteristic is durability. Brick does not warp, rot, peel, or fade. Termites and other insects cannot damage it. Unlike many modern materials and inventions that may offer short-term benefits but require frequent, energy-consuming renovations, brick endures, often outlasting even the designers and workers who installed it. Due to the enduring strengths of clay brick, the design team is confident that the improvements made at Kings Court will be enjoyed for generations to come.
|
Notice: Photographs owned by the Brick Industry Association (BIA) may be downloaded for non-commercial use only.
Such non-commercial use must include the copyright notice "© Brick Industry Association".
All photographs that are not owned by BIA are the property of the designated owner and may not be downloaded
or duplicated in any way.
|
|
