Hargood Close, Proctor and Matthews' supported housing development in Colchester, has been shortlisted in the Best Housing Development category of the 2013 Brick Awards.

The Brick Awards are awarded annually by the Brick Development Association, and are made to recognise excellence in the use of brick across a range of building types. At Hargood Close, we were influenced by historic almshouses in Essex which, like our contemporary interpretation of this housing model, use brick as the principal building material. We were also able to make imaginative use of brick around the development - for instance in a series of highly textured brickwork panels. These take the form of a projecting bond on some elevations, while elsewhere the panels are peforated to provide a dappled light as well as ventilation.

The 2013 Brick Awards will be presented in London on 14 November.