Lignacite’s Roman Bricks were chosen for the second phase of Canning Town’s Rathbone Market redevelopment.

The project comprises of 165 new homes, 12,000 sq ft of retail space, a new community building and two new public squares. One of these forms the centre-piece of the finished scheme and permanent home for Rathbone Market, and the other a new landscaped entrance to the existing subway beneath the Newham Way.

Lignacite’s Roman Brick was chosen as a tough cladding material of polished concrete blockwork for the ground floor areas. The Roman Brick material provided inherent strength and a smooth tactile surface at the point at which people would come into close contact with the building.

The Roman Brick has been used extensively at lower levels, including the entire subway entrance area and for the street planters. It was also used to clad one of the 12 storey tower blocks.

The chosen ‘Roman Brick’ has been made incorporating recycled brown glass and flint, adding interest and colour to the matrix and highlighting the colours of the rainscreen cladding above.