York Handmade Brick Company has supplied over 40,000 specially manufactured brick slips and 30,000 paving cobbles for Lo Dze, a brand-new hotel development in the heart of Martigny, one of Switzerland’s most historic towns.
Lo Dze is now open, situated 30 metres from the main square in Martigny, and consists of two separate buildings around a central courtyard which is open to the public.
Above ground it comprises Borsari, a boutique hotel with 50 rooms and the Kitchen 180 (Lo Dze is exactly 180 km away from the very centre of the Roman cities of Lyon, Milan and Zürich), which services La Saucithèque bar, Le Cercle restaurant and Café Alphonse, the courtyard and terraces.
Below ground Lo Dze features a vast Roman bathing experience, Les Bains Publics, in a space that was formerly Les Caves Orsat, a 19th Century winery.
This contract, one of the most prestigious in York Handmade’s 37-year history, is worth £65,000 and is an endorsement of the company’s recent decision to invest £1.5m in brand-new machinery.
John Cretton, of QDS Leisure, who hasterminded this project, explained why he chose York Handmade to supply the bricks.
“I was looking for a brick that was handmade with the right colours and the right size. The massive nature of the architecture, one side of the street facade is windowless apart from a half-moon opening on the ground floor, meant that the brick had to be visually strong. Overall, it was a winning combination of colour, form, texture and cost.
“The result is superb. The exterior at once conveys the mass of the objects and the history of the town as well as the extraordinary material quality of the underground Roman Baths, Les Bains Publics. York Handmade’s products gave us that and a bonus to boot – a building that stands out from the pack; no one just walks by Lo Dze.
“We have used York Handmade’s pavers to complete the public areas in the project, denoting areas that are both for circulation and al fresco dining. The brick slips cover the buildings that sit on the main street side of the project, linking the building architecturally with its baths and the town’s Roman heritage.
“The hotel is now open and is proving very popular. There’s no doubt that the baths, the hotel and the restaurants are now a catalyst for the town, linking its future to its important Roman and early 20th century pasts.
“Martigny was an important Roman town, the last town to the north built by the legionary architects. It had three Roman bath houses. We have built the fourth. Interestingly, pottery and other remains from Roman Britain has been found in Martigny. The concept for the hotel was first developed over 10 years ago. Now that dream is a reality.”
Mark Laksevics, Sales & CPD Manager for York Handmade, said: “This is a very prestigious project for us. It has been a tremendous boost for our factory and a great honour to contribute to a pioneering and innovative development in such an historic town.
“I have been proud to work closely with John Cretton of QDS Leisure for the past two years to ensure that our bricks are perfect for this development. The result is amazing and is a magnificent showcase for our bricks.
“A shout-out should also go to Tiffany Thomas, our hard-working and extremely efficient Sales Office and Logistics manager, who ensured that all our bricks arrived safely and seamlessly in Martigny on time.”
David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, continued: “These are crucial times for us at York Handmade. We have invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how we make our bricks.
“Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency.
“This has proved to be a transformational move, by far the biggest and most significant in our history. Our revolutionary new manufacturing line combine three different types of brick – the Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks.
“For this very special project, we have supplied 327x102x50mm Hunsingore Blend bricks, which have been cut into brick slips. They have helped to make the new hotel visually stunning and blend in seamlessly with the other historic buildings in the town.”
