Built by Jacques Construction to the highest specification, the three storey property sits on a sloping plot, and was designed to be a comfortable home for a growing family.
Jaques Construction is well used to building dream homes. Whether it’s a barn conversion, a ‘knock down and re-build’ project or a completely new build, the company has produced some brilliant living spaces. So when Joe and Becky Jaques decided to build a new home for themselves and their family in Reigate, it was an obvious move to choose Jaques Construction – particularly as the founder and CEO David Jaques is Joe’s brother.
Searching for a family home, Joe (who is the eighth generation of the family to run the famous traditional games company, Jaques of London) chanced on a site with planning permission for a single dwelling. Although the proposed chalet bungalow wasn’t what he and his wife were looking for, they bought the land and applied for permission to build Jack’s House, a detached 5-bedroom home, instead. Objections were raised, but eventually overcome, and, more than 12 months after the initial application, planning permission was granted for the 5 bedroom home to be built.
Joe and Becky wanted the house to be true to the Georgian style they both loved (at least on the outside – the interior is very contemporary) so the choice of brick was crucially important. Jaques Construction recommended using Imperial Bricks – the housebuilder had used our products on previous projects and knew it would be possible to select the exact shade and size required to give the new house an authentic Georgian finish.
We set up several sample boards to be taken to site to compare with the stone and slate options already selected.
David Jaques says: “We needed to use the best bricks we could and we also wanted to offer great value. The sample boards were excellent. We chose the 68mm Reclamation Soft Red blend, a handmade brick with a characterful aged finish.”
Reclamation Soft Red is a popular brick for use in restoration and conservation projects, as well as new builds that require a traditional style. It is imperial sized, 9 x 4¼ x 2¾”: the same size as the bricks originally used in the 19th century. Imperial’s Reclamation Soft Red bricks undergo a special ageing process to give an identical appearance to genuine reclaimed bricks. They have a soft texture with slight creasing or ‘smiles’ on the face and are perfect for high-end projects such as Jack’s House; they look just like the Georgian originals but meet all modern standards – frost resistant, available in imperial or metric sizing, reliable quality and with a sustainable supply from stock and none of the wastage associated with reclaimed bricks.
The 40,000 bricks used on Jack’s House were laid in a Flemish bond, delivering a beautiful elegant exterior with a heritage feel.
The result is a stunning Georgian style property, which echoes the period when the Jaques (games) company was first founded – just as the client wanted.
