Kaimhill Housing Development

Brick types: New Ivanhoe Cream
Factory: Eclipse
Project location: Aberdeen
Project type: Medium Housing Development (26 and 100)
Architect: Aberdeen council
Contractor: Bancon Construction

The Kaimhill housing development in Aberdeen is a compelling example of how considered design and material specification can elevate affordable housing and create places that people are proud to call home. Delivered by Bancon Construction in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, the project forms part of the Council’s wider initiative to provide high-quality, energy-efficient homes that respond to local needs.

This carefully designed development has brought new life to a previously underused brownfield site, delivering 36 modern homes (a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties) designed to suit individuals and families alike. With a focus on quality, durability and placemaking, the development needed materials that could deliver both long-term performance and architectural interest.

Two distinctive Ibstock bricks were chosen to define the external character of the homes: New Ivanhoe Cream and Cheddar Golden.

The New Ivanhoe Cream brick offers a warm, buff tone with gentle colour variation and a lightly textured finish. Its subtle, traditional appearance provides a unifying base across the development, creating a sense of cohesion and timelessness while sitting comfortably within the local context.

To contrast and complement this, the Cheddar Golden brick was introduced as a feature element across selected elevations. This brick stands out not only for its rich golden colouring but also for its distinctive sawtooth face, a textured surface with a repeating angular pattern. This adds depth, visual rhythm and a sculptural quality to façades by casting dynamic shadows throughout the day. It’s a subtle but effective architectural detail that brings a contemporary edge to the development and avoids repetition across elevations.

Together, the two bricks work in harmony to bring both visual cohesion and variety to the streetscape. Their combined use allows for architectural articulation without overcomplication, ensuring each home feels unique while remaining part of a unified whole.

Beyond aesthetics, both bricks offer excellent performance. Manufactured in the UK to the highest standards, they are ideally suited to Aberdeen’s often harsh coastal climate, providing durability, weather resistance and thermal mass. Their low-maintenance properties also support the Council’s sustainability ambitions by reducing the long-term upkeep required.

The result is a thoughtfully designed, high-quality development that exceeds expectations of what affordable housing can look and feel like. The clever use of brick texture and tone elevates the homes’ visual appeal while ensuring practical, lasting performance for residents.

Ibstock is proud to have supported Bancon Construction and Aberdeen City Council in delivering this flagship project. Through the use of New Ivanhoe Cream and Cheddar Golden bricks, the Kaimhill development demonstrates how brick can be both enduring and expressive, a material that supports modern construction while enriching the built environment.

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