Moda, Makers Place, Birmingham with precast quarry tiles
Architects - Ryder Architects
Client - Moda Living
Contractors - Sisk and Thorp Precast
Products - bespoke 200mm x 2oomm light multi quarry tiles with a dovetail key on the reverse, bespoke round edged quarry tiles with a dovetail key
Photography - EH Smith Architectural
Moda Living’s new 722‑home neighbourhood, Makers Place, transforms a long‑neglected corner of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. Once an underused car park, the site now forms a vibrant residential community rooted in the area’s industrial heritage. Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter has a rich industrial history with more than 40% of the UK's jewellery production coming from here and the existing buildings are dominated by Victorian brickwork.
Ryder Architects have used brick as the primary material to connect the development to its surroundings, creating a modern architectural language that feels authentic to the Jewellery Quarter. The scheme comprises three buildings: two brick‑built residential blocks and a striking 39‑storey glass tower. The brick buildings draw directly from the Quarter’s craftsmanship traditions, using texture, depth and detail to create façades that feel both familiar and distinctly contemporary.
A key feature of the design is the stepped brick detailing that frames the inset windows, adding rhythm and shadow to the elevations. Between these brick elements sit recessed decorative panels made from Ketley bespoke quarry tiles, chosen in clay tones that harmonise with the surrounding brickwork while introducing a refined, crafted texture.
These quarry tile panels were precast by Thorp, who laid the 200 × 200 tiles on the diagonal to create a subtle geometric pattern. This diagonal orientation ensures the panels stand out as a crafted detail, even though the brick and tile colours blend seamlessly across the façade. To support the precast process, Ketley manufactured the tiles with a special dovetail key, enabling Thorp to achieve a secure mechanical fix within the concrete units.
The panels are finished with bespoke bullnose quarry tile cills—also produced with the dovetail key—providing a crisp, durable edge that reinforces the handcrafted aesthetic.
