How Certus™ helped deliver a façade that looked impossible
We brought together the team behind Leven Road at Taylor Maxwell in London, to tell the story of a building that looked like it shouldn’t have been possible….
Collaboration over concession
Leven Road is a riverside scheme in Poplar comprising three radiused residential buildings whose façade looked, at first glance, like an architectural wish that reality simply couldn’t deliver. Complex geometry, difficult ground conditions, strict regulatory requirements and a tight programme all pointed to compromise – until the team chose collaboration over concession.
Our panel brought together David Gonzalez of Taylor Wimpey, Duncan Marley of Lee Marley Brickwork, Samuel Willis of BM3 Architects and ACS’s Matt Freeman – each contributing to a candid, practical conversation about how this impressive scheme evolved from ambition to delivery.
The story of Leven Road
The first film follows Leven Road’s journey from concept to site. The challenges, the decisions, and the moments where partnership changed the outcome.
David, Duncan and Samuel each bring their own perspective to the scheme. What the design could not compromise on, what site conditions demanded, and how the team reached a solution none of them would have arrived at alone.
About Certus™
The second film turns to Certus™ itself. An A1 non-combustible, mechanically fixed brick slip façade system, developed, tested and delivered at scale to give project teams the technical evidence and design support they need from concept through to installation.
Protecting design ambition
It was an insightful and thoughtful discussion, with a recurring lesson. Bring contractors and suppliers in early, test ideas collaboratively, and use innovation to protect design ambition rather than dilute it.
Find out more about Certus™ here.
Article originally published on 23rd September 2026