"cladding"

The Pôle d`Échange Serra is located directly opposite the Luxexpo exhibition and congress centre in Kirchberg, Luxembourg. The area combines a new bus terminal regional buses and city buses, a Park & Ride car park with around 600 parking spaces and two office buildings with a total area of approx. 8,000 m². With the help of charging points for electric cars, a small kiosk and high security measures at the bus station, the project aims to make the switch from car to public transport more attractive. Lindner Group was involved in the development of the office space. The originalcontract covered the floor and partition trades, including the installation of the NORTEC raised floor with fitted carpet and the use of timber and glass partitions. These were complemented by matching door systems and wooden wall claddings. Due to thecustomer's high level of satisfaction with Lindner's services, the order was quickly extended during the interior fit-out work: As a result, Lindner realised impressive Ecophon acoustic baffles for the meeting rooms. In addition, mobile partition walls should now find their way into the 4th and 7th floors. The room height of over 5 m on the 7th floor made the installation challenging: However, thanks to the static design and subsequent execution of a steel construction clad with plaster, the connection of the 4m high partition wall could be carried out without any problems. Another highlight of the interior fit-out are the wall absorbers in the meeting rooms, which also serve as acoustic pictures. The perforated CPL panel was created in cooperation with Topakustik using a new production method. The perforation pattern corresponds to a Morse code, which stands for the Luxembourg national anthem.

As part of a multi-million-pound development aimed at enhancing the overall shopping experience, Maple undertook the creation of a decorative architectural panel facade. This transformative project was executed in collaboration with Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre, focusing on the redevelopment of their new 601-space multi-storey car park.The primary objective was to augment parking capacity at Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre by 25%, emphasizing the dual purpose of functionality and aesthetic appeal. The design aimed to make a distinct architectural statement, contrasting with the steelwork of adjacent structures while ensuring stability and a visually striking appearance. Given Maple's established reputation for pioneering innovative architectural façades, the collaboration was a natural fit for this ambitious undertaking.Teaming up with contractor McLaughlin & Harvey and architect Cooper Cromar, Maple played a crucial role in bringing this impressive five-floor development to fruition.The centerpiece of the project was a 'living art' façade for the new car park, featuring a curved timber-clad steel enclosure inspired by nature. Enhanced by captivating landscaping and boardwalk frontage, the design sought to harmonize with the environment.The construction of this intricate feature façade involved the use of sustainable materials, including 700m2 of Corten steel cladding, 1,100m2 of vertical timber fins, and 1,200m2 of curved timber fins spanning 75m.Through the thoughtful combination of these materials, Maple successfully contributed to the creation of a visually stunning car park exterior that met both the aesthetic and structural requirements of the project.The Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre car park development served as a testament to Maple's proficiency in designing, manufacturing, and installing architectural facades for landmark buildings, employing sustainable construction materials and showcasing their commitment to excellence.

Installed alongside some interesting brass architectural detailing, TECHNAL aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling has been specified and installed at Heathervale House, transforming the outdated office development. Situated in the centre of Tunbridge Wells, Heathervale House is a commercial property that has been used as an office space for decades. Originally clad in brick, slate and hung tile, the building had shown signs of disrepair, looking tired and dilapidated. To bring it back to life, the building owner developed plans to undertake a wide scale refurbishment and extension of the property. Following a feasibility study, the building was handed across to design-led architectural practice MortonScarr. From the outset, MortonScarr recognised how important updated glazing systems would be in improving the aesthetics and performance of the building, both internally and externally. Previously, Heathervale House had featured small, brown-framed windows, which limited how much sunlight those inside the offices received throughout the day. The entire facade of the three-storey building was re-clad with concrete tiles, with interesting projecting brass window boxes also incorporated. The window boxes, which feature TECHNAL systems, added visual relief to the building externally, whilst maximising internal vistas for the occupants. TECHNAL also assisted on a large rear extension, a new glazed lift to the front and two additional fully glazed storeys on top of the existing roof. Flooding the new office spaces with daylight, the large glazed expanses are shaded by two-storey bronze louvres. As a result the newly fitted office now brings in much more natural light than before.

An extension to a 16th century cottage, Holton Lodge in Halesworth, has utilised Catnic Urban to beautiful effect. This stunning property extension blends the old with the new to create a huge modern kitchen extensionA cost effective alternative to zinc, Catnic Urban steel standing seam roof and cladding met the desired aesthetics – with the quick fit system offering a fast and problem-free installation.Hilary and Robert Garner wanted to open up their existing kitchen with a build that used full height glazing to flood the area with light and give them an unobstructed view of their garden. In response, architect Tim Hannon, from Brooks Architects in Leiston, designed a contemporary extension that provides a stunning focal point, reconnecting the inside to out.“After we were convinced that Catnic Urban could achieve our desired aesthetic, our next concern was that the roofing and cladding could be exactly matched to the window frames and that the colour would stand the test of time. Again, we were assured of the system’s colour matching and stability credentials by everyone working on the project and we’re overjoyed with the result. Catnic Urban has really given the project the wow factor.”Hilary and Robert GarnerHolton Lodge ownersThe vaulted roof was designed to bring drama to the space, with a ridge that was purposely higher than the roof of the main house, so visitors are instantly given a glimpse of the striking design as soon as they approach the house. An overhang provides a covered outside eating area and works to reduce solar gain, with the sleek lines of the standing seam continued down the side of the extension, which is wrapped in matching cladding. Typical of the area, the design also includes a lean-to roof on an area that houses the utility room and cloakroom.“I’ve worked with Catnic Urban on a number of projects and particularly like the fact that it is fully recyclable at end of life. The ease of installation also instils confidence that there will be no problems at fitting stage and the technical support offered by the Urban team is also excellent, with a good level of technical detail provided on abutments and ventilation, so that all the work is neatly finished.”Tim HannonBrooks ArchitectsCatnic Urban steel standing seam roofing and cladding in Anthracite Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra was used across the project, recommended by project contractor Kerslake Construction Ltd, as a cost effective alternative to the zinc roof initially specified, when cost became a concern. “If a customer wants the look of zinc without the price tag, I recommend Catnic Urban”, said Jon, “and in most cases as soon as people look into the product they switch, as it looks great, achieving really smooth, clean lines that flow beautifully.”Catnic Urban’s recommended contractor Steel Roof Installers UK was commissioned by Kerslake Construction to install the roof, as they have worked together on similar projects in the past. After attending a training course back in 2010, owners Chris Bates and Andy Morris were soon turned onto the benefits of building with Catnic Urban and now exclusively work on Urban projects.Catnic Urban (previously known as Colorcoat Urban) is a fully supported standing seam system designed, manufactured and CE marked in accordance with BS EN 14783:2013. Quick build times are possible with neat crisp finishes to complement design and build choices. Manufactured from Tata Steel’s Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra®, and also available in Colorcoat Prisma®, Catnic Urban is a cost-effective alternative to traditional copper and zinc standing seam roof systems. Seven times lighter than tile equivalents, it is easy to handle on site and quick to fix compared with traditional roofing products.

For the new distribution centre at Schiphol Trade Park along the A4, living walls have been realised with MobiPanel, the living wall system from Mobilane. With a total surface spanning 750 m2, the facades of the new distribution centre is greened with the latest generation vertical green from Mobilane.Sustainable and innovative distribution centreA lot of attention has been paid to the appearance of the new distribution centre. With the design of Dedato Architecten, sustainability has not only been taken into account on the inside, but also sustainability at the outside of the building has been taken into consideration by including nature-inclusitivity. Dick Venneman, architect and owner of Dedato Architecten tells: “It is a building with its own characteristic appearance, a landmark from the highway. The building is in its materials friendly and accessible. The different surfaces in the facade gives it a human approach. The living walls and the vertically placed solar panels tells something about the sustainability of the building and plays a role in the preservation of biodiversity in the area”. In addition, the MobiPanel living walls makes the environment more sustainable and improves air quality. The installation of the living walls was carried out by Mobicare in collaboration with Zoontjens Boomprojecten. In addition to the living walls, Zoontjens also installed two large roof gardens with various trees, shrubs and 2,600 MobiRoof ECO sedum cassettes totalling 650 square metres.Distribution centre 2.0 Schiphol Trade ParkThe building spans 30.000 m2 of which 3000 m2 is available for offices. Under the distribution centre, there is a car park spanning 7500 m2 with space for 270 cars. The construction of the new distribution centre began in 2020 and is delivered by Dijkham Bouw BV. “From the environment, wellbeing and to prevent a paved environment, for the design it has been chosen to implement living walls, green roofs and ground level. We are very satisfied about this procedure. The execution is very good, the communication was good”, according to Marcel Smeets – Coordinator at Dijkham Bouw BV. The distribution centre was developed by Minerva Development. Minerva Development is an independent developer with years of experience in the development and realisation of business premises. “Since Schiphol Trade Park has set the goal of becoming one the most sustainable logistics centre, as developers we were very happy to take on the challenge. Next to all other facilities such as solar panels, we have opted for a lot of greenery in the design. Not only on the facades, but also in the surroundings of the building and on the roof. We are very happy with the end result and proud of the fact that because of the living walls, this is by far the most beautiful DC in the area. We are very curious about what the result will be over a few months when everything is in bloom”, Bob Lukassen – Minerva Development.Latest generation vertical greenFor greening the distribution, it was chosen for the new living wall system MobiPanel from Mobilane. MobiPanel is an innovative, sustainable and lightweight system for living walls. It is a modular and circular system consisting of omega profiles and pregrown plant cassettes (40 x 40 cm), provided with an automatic irrigation and drainage system. The plants in the cassettes receive water through capillary action. MobiPanel can be installed on flat or curved walls and is suitable for different types of walls, including certain types of sandwich panels. For the facades of the new distribution centre, sandwich panels from Cladding Point have been used. “With Mobilane, as a global expert with many years of experience, we can continue to lead the way in innovation and sustainability. Cladding Point and Mobilane are ready for the future together”, Frank Janssen – Managing Director at Cladding Point. Cladding Point’s Design+ Carrier sandwich panels contribute to the highest BREEAM category.Client: Minerva DevelopmentArchitect: Dedato ArchitectenConstruction period: 2021Installation: Mobicare

Project: Manufacture and installation of 200m2 of oversized bespoke GRC GAP wall panels. Client: Harris Partnership Architects, Kirkland & Bowmer, Muse Developments, Nexus, STC Project scope: Installation of 200m2 of 20mm x 3500mm x 1500mm GRC BTX concrete wall cladding panels in Tempest Grey colour to new and existing masonry walls and steel frame. The oversized bespoke GAP concrete panels with mitred edges were manufactured using GRC concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. The panels were fixed with anchor bolts and specialist adhesive to ensure extra secure installation and later polished and treated with specialist anti-graffiti coating.

Leviat designed and manufactured the stainless steel support and restraint system for the brick façade on this attractive Town Centre development, voted Best Public Building in the 2014 Brick Awards.This award-winning project, designed by MICA Architects (formerly Rick Mather Architects), is located in a conservation area, home to some of the finest examples of Edwardian Grade II* brick and terracotta buildings in Newham, making brick the natural cladding choice.Brick features, including soffits, reveals and ribs, help give the building its unique character with each element being tied back to the main structural frame by special fixings from Leviat, designed to suit the specific load and cavity conditions at each location.

Bespoke wall protection from contract interior specialist Gradus is creating a fun and attractive atmosphere at a state-of-the-art new medical facility, while also ensuring excellent hygiene and low maintenance costs. Evelina London Children’s Day Treatment Centre, part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, has been built to provide more life-changing care for children and young people with rare and complex conditions. Overseen by Morgan Sindall, the project saw Gradus collaborate with Art in Site - a London-based studio of artists, designers and strategists – and ADP Architecture, to create a wall cladding solution with integrated art that helps the hospital’s young patients to heal, learn and thrive.

Downer Designer helps contractors and specifiers design and cost rainscreen framing systems.A next-generation, dedicated, free-to-use platform for the real-time development, creation and costing of rainscreen cladding framing designs has been launched by leading UK manufacturer Downer Framing.Downer the original Helping Hand framing solution was one of the first rainscreen cladding framing systems on the UK market. BBA approved, tested to the extreme and officially Made in Britain, in its factory near Hastings, it set the benchmark in 1988.Now the company has launched Downer Designer – a free-to-use online tool which enables contractors, installers and specifiers to outline their project-specific rainscreen requirements to generate optimised framing designs. All of which is stored and managed in their own personal online account.Users simply enter the information they know, along with any detail-specific needs for new build or refurbishment projects in the commercial, education, healthcare, retail, leisure and transportation sectors. The technical team at Downer Framing will then provide: static and thermal calculations (up to 10 static calculations per project element), relevant costs, optimised component and fixing configurations, and NBS specification. All of which can be printed off or saved as a pdf. The user process can take as little as 10 minutes, and the Downer Technical team aim to have a Project Pack ready within just 24 hours.The interfacing software which Downer Designer connects with is created by a team of specialist structural engineers. The user-friendly platform enables contractors, installers and specifiers to optimise even the most complex rainscreen framing projects from the very first instance, saving the design team not only money, but time and inconvenience.Information required ranges from building height, cladding area, wind load references and construction type, through static calculations such as product type, panel thickness and weight, horizontal fix centres, and facade/soffit, to cavity depth, rail lengths and cantilevers, substrate, stud grade and centres, wall build up and target U-values.Juan Barato, Downer Framing’s Technical Manager (part of Architectural Panel Solutions - a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of rainscreen systems and solutions) reflected: “While we focused on building our framing systems portfolio, we also realised we needed to help our customers design and price those systems, so Downer Designer was developed to do just that in the quickest and easiest way possible. Trials have proved we have got the balance just right.”Downer Designer enables framing specifiers to access a dedicated space to cost their framing projects quickly and easily. Downer Designer brings everything a customer could potentially want into one place. All new Downer Framing systems can be selected and costed in real-time, with optimised quotes aimed to be returned by our technical team within just 48 hours!

Location: New Road, Hoxton, London N1 6JAProject Type: Private, Shared Ownership & Social Rent Housing Development Cost: £40mProducts: Aluminium Vertical Solar Shading, SFX Fascia & Soffit Cladding to Terraces & Balconies, Weatherstruck Wall Copings, Curved Weatherstruck Wall Copings, Square Rainwater Pipes, Bespoke Rainwater HoppersFinish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 8080 Matt Metallic BronzeFire rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018). Client: LB of Hackney & Countryside Properties Plc Architect: Child Graddon Lewis LtdMain Contractor: Countryside Properties Plc Sub Contractor: Roweaver Developments Ltd

Italia-Corten was recently specified as a wall cladding on a new house in Wells-next-the-Sea, one of the loveliest towns on the Norfolk Coast . The iconic eighteenth century maltings, granaries and a network of narrow streets, alleys and yards have ensured that Wells has preserved its historic character as a manufacturing town and the corten louvred panels sympathetically blend with the heritage of the surroundings. Ian Bramwell, director of award-winning Mole Architects, who was in charge of the project, described the result as ‘fantastic’.The panels were hooked to stainless steel brackets which were designed and fabricated by Lang+Fulton to provide a hidden fixing. Prior to installation, the panels were pickled off-site to speed up the initial rusting of the corten and to reduce any consequential staining.

Designed by Grafton Architects, Town House is a mixed-use teaching facility at Kingston University. The interior is arranged around a series of interlocking, open plan spaces, where Junckers’ solid hardwood flooring features as part of limited materials palette. Junckers’ 140mm Textured Nordic Oak Classic flooring clads the treads and risers of the imposing staircase in the triple height courtyard, as well as providing a hard-wearing floor surface for seating areas. Junckers’ oak flooring promotes a healthy indoor climate. All-natural, solid hardwood is free of chemical substances which adversely affect indoor air quality. Junckers has completed EPDs for all its floors to aid specification for sustainable and net zero carbon projects. 

Fortress Works is an exemplar of how a historic warehouse can be reimagined and reworked to create a fresh, new and inspiring space in London’s Kentish Town.Designed to appeal to progressive small-medium enterprises, the building is arranged over three levels, with a contemporary two storey extension that features Proteus HR 1.5mm Corten steel cladding.Proteus HR Corten panels were specified because it enabled the architects, Buckley Grey Yeoman, to achieve the maximum panel size to closely follow the glazing module of 1500mm. Proteus Facades precision fabrication abilities and the unique panel configurations allow for relatively small return folds to the panel edges. This allowed panels with a 1475mm face panel and 1490mm module, maximising the Corten sheet width of 1500mm.

TrägerHAUS, an award-winning exclusive new home by HAUS Collective, is designed to take into account every aspect of the external envelope’s design to ensure consistency of form, quality and optimum aesthetic appeal.Whilst the scale and main volume of TrägerHAUS may not be apparent at street level, careful consideration of the materials for the home’s outward-looking elevation and main entrance. Key to this was the decision to utilise an elegant side sliding sectional garage door by Rundum Meir. The door’s manufacture in Siberian Larch ensures consistency with property’s other timber cladding elements which perfectly complement the Caithness stone masonry. Fully automated for ease of opening and closing, the garage door operates with the smoothness and reliability that reflects the level of quality which runs through the whole building.

Trespa® Building Materials Clad Prominent New England LibraryThirty minutes south of Boston, Massachusetts sits the premier Tufts Library, originally founded in 1879. The town was in need of a new library building and determined they would demolish the old structure and start fresh. Building a new library became an opportunity for the town; the building would become the focus of The Landing district within Weymouth, a central area in town in the midst of revitalization. Specializing in education and library design, Tappé Architects was chosen to design the community’s new library and neighboring park. Principal Chris Blessen shared the important role that the new library would serve. “The goal of the design was to create interior and exterior public space to anchor the community.

Grantley Hall is a dashing 17th-century stately hotel, bringing Gstaad glamour to the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Offering 47 exquisite bedrooms alongside Michelin-starred dining, the hotel has recently reopened after a four-year long and multi-million pound refurbishment. Bedrooms are decorated in elegant muted tones; soft shades of cream, gold and grey; button-back velvet armchairs; marble-topped bespoke furniture; and upholstered bedheads. There are shelves of modern hardbacks, televisions hidden behind paintings, decanters of damson gin, touch-button lighting, and even a bathrobe menu. Bathrooms are marble-clad, all with a beautiful freestanding bathtub and vast walk-in shower.Bathroom design and Supplier: Ripon Interiors

NORclad supplied all the Siberian Larch external timber cladding for the refurbishment of the Tides Reach Hotel, a mixed-use facility which incorporated the remodelling of the existing structureSituated in the mouth of the Salcombe estuary in South Hams within an area of outstanding natural beauty.NORclad Brunnea preservative treatment provides a formal warranty on the product for 30 years against rot and fungal decay (out of ground contact), all materials also had factory applied fire treatment to Euroclass B-s1-d0 (s1 Smoke Production – d0 Flaming Droplets). This was applied under ISO 9001 factory-controlled conditions. Products specified, Treatment Services applied under ISO 9001 factory controlled conditions.

One Wood Wharf designed by Herzog & de Meuron and standing 205m tall, this building was designed to be the landmark structure within the expansion of Canary Wharf. The bottom 2 floors of this 58 storey tower are clad with Jordans Whitbed Portland stone. Albion Stone at our modern Portland factory fabricated almost 1000 bespoke curved radial pieces to form the façade to the main entrances. Each of these pieces of stone which are curved both internally and externally to tight tolerances align exactly with the soffits which hang in excess of 1 metre from the structure. These four quadrants to the building form the main entrance and showcase the beauty of natural local Portland stone, its heritage and the beauty of the material integrated into a modern design.

As part of the Building Schools For The Future Programme, Broxap were awarded the contract to supply shelter elements on this prestigious new build school at Newham, London. There was a requirement for an outdoor area beyond the classrooms with a specified decked area and shelter arrangment. Broxap produced a design to client specification featuring a bespoke monopitch version of the Newcstle Senior Shelter. This was clad in UV reducing Multiwall polycarbonate and submerge fixed into the ground, the decking element was then added beneath and around the shelter columns.The shelter is minimal and unobtrusive yet protects the decked area from the elements and provides UV protection to pupils beneath.Other shelter elements contained within the school provide by Broxap included a run of Castleford cycle shelters complete with Sheffield cycle racks.

StoVentec Glass rainscreen cladding has a prominent position at the new Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) in Dudley. The RAL 3028 red coloured glass panels were installed by Metclad using Sto’s sophisticated sub-construction. This invisible yet indispensable supporting structure forms the structural link between the façade and the substrate and enabled the individual StoVentec Glass panels to be installed and secured easily to provide a bright, colourful façade for the building’s main signage.The VLRNIC was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (DMBC), the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (BCLEP) in partnership with the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) and Coventry City Council. The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and the driving force behind this multi-purpose centre which offers a host of unique facilities including a Rail Development and Test Site, Engineering Laboratories, Serviced Offices and an Events Suite. BBA accredited, StoVentec Glass panels are suitable for internal and external use, for new build or refurbishment projects and can be installed within high-traffic areas as the system has passed all industry standard soft-body and hard-body impact tests to CWCT standards. You can choose from a wide range of colours, either single-colour, multi-colour or metallics with a gloss, reflective or matt finish. Design: WSP UK Client: The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation Sto Applicator: Metclad Sto Expertise: StoVentec Glass A2 rainscreen cladding, RAL colour 3028 Photo credit: BCIMO & Daniel Graves Photography

Canadian hospital chooses Altro for new MRI suiteIssueThe Centre Hospitalier Hôtel-Dieu D’Amos short-term hospital in Quebec, is part of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) of Abitibi-Temiscamingue. The hospital is a designated regional trauma centre and its main regional vocations are orthopaedics and vascular, plastic and maxilo-facial surgery.Since 2001, the region had an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service via a mobile unit that moved from centre to centre, that reached the end of its useful life a few years ago. In 2021, the hospital became the home to the region’s first fixed MRI scanner.ApproachMaterials in the room must not interfere with the powerful electromagnets, while also being aesthetically pleasing, as the procedures performed could be quite stressful for many patients.As the region’s only fixed MRI, capable of performing 6,000 exams per year, this project required protective wall cladding with superior and long-lasting durability. Materials had to be non-porous, hygienic and easy-to-clean. Due to frequent wheelchair and stretcher traffic, a high impact-resistant surface was also a very important criterion.SolutionMLS Architects selected Altro Whiterock wall designs. The hospital was familiar with Altro Whiterock, having used it in other areas of the hospital. They especially liked that Altro Whiterock wall designs combine the durability, hygiene and resilience of Altro Whiterock wall cladding, with natural looking patterns. These helped enormously with the warm and comforting ambiance that they desired. The Altro walls system easily replaces the typical laminated particle board typically used in applications such as this, all while offering a more durable surface finish and a longer lasting product guarantee. Altro Whiterock Satins in Mint was used in the bathroom and changing area.

Fireshield® vapour permeable membrane, which is designed specifically to improve the fire protection behind cladding has been chosen for a new Science Centre at Bevington Primary school in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London.The project includes a brand new Science Studio, plus before and after school club buildings.SIP Build UK was appointed as frame subcontractor for the project and chose the Fireshield membrane as part of the SIPS panelling system. Chris Duckworth from SIP Build UK explains: “We chose Fireshield as it provided the project with a number of really important benefits. Fireshield is a high-performance breather membrane which enables us to achieve the requirements in terms of fire protection without compromising on vapour control.Fireshield was also ideal because it is easy to use and allowed us to achieve the requirements in one process, using just the membrane, rather than the typical approach of two, cement board and a membrane.”Fireshield is the culmination of leading research to produce a vapour permeable membrane with a intumescent coated surface, which has a unique composition that actively reacts to help protect the materials underneath. The intumescent coating helps protect the substrate by reducing the risk of fire taking hold and significantly reduces the formation of droplets and smoke.The BBA Certificate awarded to Fireshield confirms that it has enhanced performance in relation to reaction to fire classification, will reduce the risk of interstitial condensation, and will have a life equal to that of the building in which it is installed.Fireshield complies with BS5250, BS4016 and NHBC requirements for vapour permeable walling underlays. It is installed and fixed to the substrate in the same manner as standard breather membranes using mechanical fixings. Applications include both commercial and residential buildings including apartments and student accommodation, as well as Rainscreen cladding and applications over 18m high (11m in Scotland).

We were brought in by Middlesbrough Council to complete the roof refurbishment of Abingdon Primary School.Systems in useExcel®Starcoat® ROverviewWe had originally worked with Middlesbrough Council to complete Abingdon Primary School’s first phase of the roofing in 2015, and were asked to review the remaining flat roof areas to bring them in line with the previous phase.ChallengesWith this being a school, all works had to happen outside of school terms, so works began at the beginning of the summer holidays and had to be completed before the start of the September term. This on its own posed challenges to make sure that all roofing works were completed on time so as not to disrupt any of the children’s educations. Logistics were crucial, as was collaboration between Axter, NT Sweeting and Middlesbrough Council.There was also the issue of combustible areas around the perimeter of the building with some cladding details and some windows that could not be detailed in a traditional torch on application.SolutionsWorking closely with Middlesbrough Council from the outset, we surveyed the roof area and ensured the new waterproofing and previously completed phase were compatible. We also liaised closely with NT Sweeting to make sure all products were available and delivered to site on time to avoid unnecessary delays to the roofing works.Our Excel reinforced bitumen membrane system was specified for the main roof area; the membrane is manufactured with the unique Alpa polymeric binder, making it our most technologically advanced RBM system.Axter’s Starcoat R cold applied liquid bitumen PU resin was used to detail combustible items picked up in our report, including interface to windows and cladding abutments in line with Safe2Torch guidelines, which eliminated all fire risk.

Barratt Developments, the UK’s largest housebuilder, has built a unique flagship zero carbon home concept featuring Hardie® VL Plank. The home is called the Zed House and will be occupied and monitored to assess its performance.It is the first new home in the country built by a major housebuilder to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125% . Last year Barratt announced that all their new homes will be zero carbon by 2030 and this flagship concept house is the first step in achieving that. For this project Hardie® VL Plank was chosen in Anthracite Grey in a half wrap to create a great contrast against the brickwork. The seamless interlock of Hardie® VL Plank cladding epitomises architectural modern design and creates a stunning look for any home.The home has been developed as an industry showcase home to demonstrate what is achievable, particularly from a mainstream, volume housebuilder. There has been a collaboration with over 40 leading industry partners from across the housebuilding, sustainability and technology sectors, all helping to broaden knowledge in zero carbon living with the lessons learnt from the construction being shared across the industry. Incorporating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) such as closed panel timber frames with highly insulated cladding. Less maintenance due to our ColourPlus™ Technology means that our products deliver a high-quality, consistent finish to facades that will stand the tests of time. Our unmatched technological innovation makes our product generations ahead in performance meaning our products are impact, fire, insect resistant and weather resistant. Therefore, as the world continues to look towards sustainable solutions for the future we continue to invest in the on-going development of composite cement products recognised as being durable, low maintenance and energy efficient.

Dallochy House owners Mark and Jenny Sykes had always dreamed of building their own home. And after house-hunting for a number of years in Aberdeenshire, realised they would have to make their dream come true to get a property that ticked all their boxes! They were searching for a new home which would be warm and easy to heat, in their local village and in the catchment area for a good school.  Paul McWilliams from Annie Kenyon Architects, orientated the house to optimise south facing solar gain, with expanses of glazing from Rationel to make the most of the views, and stilts to accommodate the sloping topography. The couple incorporated stone from the former cottage on the site, into the gable-end of the new build.  “It has been a very happy and stress-free journey,” say Jenny who chose James Hall Joinery as main contractors. “I cannot rate the professionalism of Paul and James highly enough. We expected stress, hiccups, problems but James project managed everything so smoothly that he took the stress out of the whole process.”  “We chose Rationel windows for a number of reasons. James Hall recommended them to us having used them on several other builds. He was able to provide photos of windows, doors and testimonials. Their distributors ADW have a showroom, at Sauchen, which was very convenient for us to visit and it was particularly helpful to see so many products on display. We were impressed with the quality, the choice available and could tell that the investment was absolutely worth it. The colour choices were to our liking, as was the option to have alu-clad external finish onto the natural timber frames.  We think the windows just look really good with the cladding and stone work and of course allow you to appreciate the views.” 

The new office development for the New Gorbals Housing Association in Glasgow features a variety of aluminium fenestration solutions. Together these have helped create a light and airy workspace and an impressive centrepiece for the wider regeneration of the area.Located on Crown Street, the new commercial office building is complemented by a new civic piazza and has been designed by Page & Park Architects. Flexibility and adaptability were key focuses for the overall design, with the incorporation of daylighting and natural ventilation strategies to boost wellbeing, and large glazed facades to better connect the building with the local community.The welcoming main entrance has been created using Senior’s slimline and thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and SPW501 aluminium commercial doors. The fenestration package also includes Senior’s SPW600e aluminium windows which were used throughout. The ground floor glazing has been recessed to provide privacy to the internal work spaces whilst complementing the overall ‘open’ design of the scheme. In contrast, the first-floor glazing protrudes slightly to maximise views of the surrounding city. Senior’s products were fabricated and installed by Scottech for main contractor CCG.The office environment includes both large areas for group work and smaller, more private booths and is centred around a large timber-clad atrium. The use of internal and external glazed partitions and windows helps balance the space, providing links with both the other areas of the building and the outside. The fenestration package has also been designed to provide those using the building with multiple aspect views and daylighting, whilst avoiding overheating and glare from the summer sun. To further complement the overall façade design which features dark grey zinc cladding, and to boost the durability of the aluminium frames, the windows, doors and curtain wall systems were powder coated.

OVER 3000SQM OF SOTECH OPTIMA IPC RAINSCREEN CLADDING HAS BEEN USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOURNEMOUTH GATEWAY BUILDING (BGB).Working closely with anodising partner United Anodisers, the Optima Interlocking Plank finished in anodised Anolok regency gold, natural and Anolok bronze, the rainscreen cladding forms a prominent part of the building, situated on the St Paul’s site – next to the St Paul’s roundabout on the Wessex Way; a key location on the main route into Bournemouth.Aluminium is one of the most durable and versatile of metals, anodising enhances aluminium and its environmental virtues. It is exceptionally recyclable, requires minimal maintenance and has proven lifetime performance. Due to the nature of the anodising process and the tight quality controls on both the aluminium and the surface treatment, anodising has a homogeneous (matching & consistent) appearance. Anodising enhances the natural qualities of aluminium further; it permits a strongly contemporary finish with incomparable corrosion and abrasion resistance.At five to seven stories high, the building provides a strong visual gateway to the Lansdowne Campus and a landmark entrance to the town.The building, which accommodates the institute’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (HSS) delivers a unified base for the faculty education, research and office activities and provides 10,000 square metres of space for the Faculty and the wider BU population.The BGB is designed to be environmentally-friendly with a number of carbon-reduction measures. The full team behind the build is committed to an ‘excellent’ rating for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) certification.The building opened officially in October 2020, but access is currently limited to staff and Postgraduate Research (PGR) students while they familiarise themselves with the building.Special thanks to TAC Projects for choosing Sotech to deliver on this project, which was overseen by Kier Construction with architectural firm Atkins.

The tile cladding at Lina Stores not only revitalizes the space but also demonstrates Terrazzo Tiles' capability to merge functionality with style in high-stakes commercial environments. This project underlines our expertise in delivering tailor-made solutions that meet both aesthetic desires and practical needs, setting a new standard in restaurant design. Terrazzo Tiles is proud to showcase our role in the aesthetic and functional transformation at Lina Stores in King's Cross. This distinctive restaurant cladding project spanned an area of 50 square meters, employing bespoke tiles that seamlessly blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Eclectic Material Selection The project utilized a trio of sophisticated materials, each chosen for their texture and colour palette, to create a visually captivating environment: Pistachio Cement Tiles: These tiles bring a vibrant yet earthy feel to the space, ideal for creating a welcoming atmosphere. London Light Grey Terrazzo: Known for its subtle elegance, this terrazzo offers a light, clean look that enhances the brightness of the interior. Treviso Honed Terrazzo: With a smoother finish, this terrazzo provides a refined contrast to the more textured elements within the space. Strategic Design Impact Situated at Brill Place, the strategic use of these tiles at Lina Stores emphasizes our commitment to enhancing commercial spaces through high-quality materials. The bespoke size of 150mm x 300mm was specifically chosen to accommodate the unique architectural elements of the restaurant, ensuring a precise and aesthetically pleasing application. Sustainability and Durability In line with our dedication to sustainability, each material used in this project, from the Pistachio Cement to the Terrazzo varieties, is sourced and manufactured to minimize environmental impact without compromising on durability. These materials are especially suited for high-traffic areas, offering both resistance and easy maintenance, crucial for the restaurant setting.  

In partnership with leading global investment firm KKR, Regal London recently completed a strategic new site at 340a Clapham Road, SW9, situated between Stockwell and Clapham North. Previously a brownfield site (tool hire depot), the site has been completely transformed into a vibrant mixed use, residential-led development, totalling 94,740 sq ft and will deliver 62 one, two and three-bedroom apartments spread over nine floors. The ground and lower ground floors also comprise approximately 18,250 ft2 of flexible commercial space. Planning permission was granted in June 2017 following a collaborative working relationship with the London Borough of Lambeth and the project reached its completion in 2021.With a high quality and contemporary design, both of which are hallmarks of Regal London schemes, the development perfectly complements the surrounding streetscape of new build and period properties, featuring a subtle interplay of façade materials including brick, aluminium and glass installed by Buildtherm Services. Ideally located for commuters, an established network of transport links is within easy reach of the development, with Stockwell Underground Station just 0.2miles away, as well as Clapham North Underground Station and Clapham High Street Overground Station both within a short walk. A thriving social and leisure scene is also nearby, led by the bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as a selection of amenities, in situ along the lively Clapham High Street and its surrounds.The undeniable kerb-appeal of this luxury residential development is testament to the design capabilities of the modern methods of construction used throughout the build and the quality of workmanship involved. The architect’s ambitious concept design called for a modern and sleek interpretation of the surrounding vernacular to satisfy planning requirements. The vision is clearly represented by the multiple challenging interfaces; including large expanses of glazing, cantilevered balconies and rooftop garden spaces which represented an important consideration within the design of the main structure and supporting steel frame systems. In order to comply with the latest building regulations for residential buildings over 18m in height, topping out at 9 storeys, Regal London also needed to ensure that all façade materials met with the requirement for non-combustibility, with a minimum EN13501-1 rating of A2, including the balconies.Over 3000m2 of A1 rated NaturAL-X brick cladding has been installed across several new elevations, with the architect having selected 3 different brick finishes to satisfy planning requirements, specifying subtle and muted tones including a textured dark, smooth off-white, and glazed white. As well as varying the colours and textures of the brick cladding, hundreds of bespoke cut and bonded return bricks were manufactured to suit the angular interfaces at balcony levels. The project design also called for elements of flexibly orientated brick coursing, with soldier courses, stack bonded and soffit return sections featuring at ground level and interspersed within the columns and beams stretching across the front elevation. The adaptability of this BBA certified innovative brick cladding system allows for modern interpretations of brickwork design to be easily integrated using standard components, without any requirement for additional structural support and with the added reassurance of all relevant system testing.Set back from the main brick façade, the top two floors featuring luxurious penthouse apartments are clad in VariAL-CF2 Concealed-fix 3mm aluminium cassettes, with a powder coated finish produced to Qualicoat standards. This CWCT tested, A2 rated rainscreen system is designed to accommodate large format vertically orientated modules, as well as complex details such as soffits, verges and goalpost details; making it eminently suitable for the balcony fascia areas too. Concealed fixings located in the panel joints are colour coated to match the panels, delivering an uninterrupted aesthetic. With long-term maintenance in mind, VariAL-CF2 allows for individual panels to be demounted, removed and replaced if required, without causing any detriment to the surrounding areas.

Many years ago, on a site in Misterbianco, Catania, where the ancient, very active during the first two decades of the twentieth century, Monaco furnace used to stand, there now stands a modern multi-purpose centre created to bring a moment in time back to local residents.Designed by the Mimesi 62 studio of Florence, the new building offers large spaces lit up by light that passes through large glass windows and enhanced by the use of porcelain stoneware surfaces that are all different but that all match and perfectly harmonise with the destination of use: the 5,000 m² of the outdoor areas have been clad with the Plan collection, with a natural effect, in Black 30x60, while the discreet elegance of Format Black 45x45 has been used indoors.Photographs by Alfio Scigliano.

Fistral House is a former care home site redeveloped in a building block with a selection of eight 2 to 3 bedroom apartments and 2 penthouses in a private, new build development overlooking the world-renowned Fistral Beach. The building features stone cladding on the ground floor, a crisp white exterior on the second and third floors, and corner glazing on the luxurious penthouse apartments. With views of the seascape and nearby golf course, it is a short distance to Newquay’s seven beaches and is ideally located for exploring Cornwall.Cellecta HEXATHERM XFLOOR 250 was specified by CSA Architects due to its high resistance to compression and closed cell structure that provides unrivalled resistance to water absorption, making them ideal for residential applications.Legacy Properties was awarded this 1,200m² contract to construct this development in Newquay.

The refurbishment of the car park was one of the first steps in the regeneration of New Covent Garden Market; a project which is projected to take 10 years at a cost of £2 billion.Appropriately for a flower and fruit market, BDP designed a green wall facade. Lang+Fulton’s Stereo-3 panels were chosen to clad three elevations of the 7-storey car park, sections of which will become covered in ivy.The design incorporated an aluminium box section framework and feature panels as well as open spaces to create added interest. In total Lang+Fulton supplied 422 grating panels in various sizes up to 2510mm high to cover an area of 1296m2. The grating panels were framed at the top and bottom with bent over lugs for fixing to the aluminium uprights. 

The team at Vtec loved being part of this BREEAM excellent Scottish University project, which involved the refurbishment of several 100-year-old historical buildings and the reconnection with a local community remote from the main campus for the first time in over a century. The challenge was to connect these buildings together while respecting the different construction methods and materials they were originally built with.Vtec’s SupaSlat ceiling in bespoke SupaSlat 6 design in FR Solid Oak and FR Laminate was specified for its beauty and warmth, bringing together the various textures and dated constructions of the space comprehensively and sympathetically.The design also included cladding a structural bridge that connected two buildings together, ensuring it remained functional and accommodated the irregular angles involved. Explore how we solved this to create perfect symmetry.

An award-winning, luxury home in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, 4 Views is designed to make the most of its location, also makes its own bold statement thanks to an imaginative combination of materials, including lass, timber and bricks created by the innovation-led, manufacturer, Vandersanden. A remarkable new build with a distinctive architectural design from Winchester-based firm, AR Design Studio, 4 Views incorporates Dark Vandersanden Morvan brickwork which creates tonal contrast with cedar cladding and floor to ceiling glass doors and windows to set this home apart, giving it a balanced, calm identity, at one with the landscape.To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

The unique and stunning curved blue glass cladding specified for the new hospital posed several design challenges. The insulation used needed to provide high thermal performance, be able to conform the curved surface and be completely non-combustible since the building is in excess of 18m. SuperFOIL Insulation was approached to provide replacement insulation that would meet all fire safety standards and which could be applied without requiring changes to the exterior or interior design of the building. After careful consideration as to what would be the most suitable solution, we supplied 5,500m² of our non-combustible SFNC insulation. SuperFOIL SFNC is the only insulation of its kind to be certified by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) as European Class A1 Non-Combustible, which is the highest possible rating of fire safety.

The unique and stunning curved blue glass cladding specified for the new hospital posed several design challenges. The insulation used needed to provide high thermal performance, be able to conform the curved surface and be completely non-combustible since the building is in excess of 18m. SuperFOIL Insulation was approached to provide replacement insulation that would meet all fire safety standards and which could be applied without requiring changes to the exterior or interior design of the building. After careful consideration as to what would be the most suitable solution, we supplied 5,500m² of our non-combustible SFNC insulation. SuperFOIL SFNC is the only insulation of its kind to be certified by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) as European Class A1 Non-Combustible, which is the highest possible rating of fire safety.