PROJECT

Sidcup Storyteller

CLIENT

London Borough of Bexley

ARCHITECT

DRDH architects

CONTRACTOR

Neilcott Construction Limited

FACING BRICK

NATURE7 Brick K

Photo's: © David Grandorge

Sidcup Storyteller, a striking new public building by DRDH Architects, plays a central role in the revitalisation of Sidcup’s historic high street in the London Borough of Bexley. With a total area of 1,932m² and a budget of £7.7 million, this mixed-use project brings together civic, cultural, and residential functions in a bold yet finely crafted architectural statement.

Occupying a highly constrained plot—just 11 metres wide and 68 metres long—Sidcup Storyteller acts as a hinge at a key crossroads within the town centre. Its carefully resolved massing and nuanced geometry address the urban setting with sensitivity and clarity. The building combines a ground-floor library and café with co-working spaces, a suite of three cinema screens, and community facilities on the upper levels. Above, nine residential apartments provide cross-funding for the civic functions, while their presence contributes to the building’s urban continuity.

At street level, the building is designed to invite public engagement. The café and library open directly onto the pavement through generous glazed openings, while a recessed entrance within a cylindrical drum gives the building a recognisable civic presence. A glazed, tower-like gable facing the high street echoes the cinematic heritage of the area, referencing the art deco cinema that once stood opposite.

Internally, the spatial configuration reflects the complexity of the programme. The ground floor comprises a sequence of double-height public spaces defined by an expressive concrete frame, while timber-lined anterooms provide circulation and support spaces. The vertical circulation core, marked by a central stair, resolves the plan’s geometry and acts as the primary point of orientation. These interior arrangements are both sculptural and functional, contributing to the building’s civic identity.

The role of the brick

Materiality plays a key role in Sidcup Storyteller’s architectural impact, and the choice of facing brick was pivotal in articulating both form and meaning. Given the narrowness of the site, DRDH Architects sought a small-format brick to reduce wall build-up and support an efficient construction envelope. The N7 brick K, with its slim 75mm depth, provided the ideal solution—minimising material use and enabling a self-supporting façade while delivering a 30% carbon reduction in the outer leaf.

Beyond performance, the N7 brick K offered a tactile, richly nuanced material expression that aligned with the architects’ aspirations for a non-mechanical, hand-crafted appearance. The brick’s capacity for clear glazing was exploited to dramatic effect on the tower-like, north-facing high street elevation. Here, the glazed surface captures light and recalls the faience façades typical of early 20th-century cinemas, offering a subtle but powerful reference to the site's history. The sheen of the glazed face, visible in oblique street views, adds visual depth and a sense of permanence.

Cohesive material palette for visual integration

The brickwork is complemented by carefully calibrated materials: tonal flush mortar enhances the seamless surface expression; precast concrete string courses and signage elements subtly reinforce the horizontal articulation; while dark aubergine-toned metalwork used in window frames and curtain walling provides contrast and definition. These elements form a cohesive palette that reads as a unified family of materials, helping to visually integrate the complex hybrid programme within a singular architectural language.

Recognition

Sidcup Storyteller has garnered widespread acclaim, receiving the RIBA London Award 2025, Civic Trust Award 2025, AJ Civic Building of the Year 2024, and LABC London Public Building of the Year 2024, as well as the Pineapple Awards Building of the Year 2024. In this project, the use of N7 brick K was not merely a technical choice—it was integral to shaping a civic landmark of rare texture, clarity, and urban generosity.