"external wall accessories"

Stone effect PPC expertly applied to secret fix aluminium System for the picture frame to match the original intent of stone cladding. This picture frame element brought with it a very complex geometry as it set the location for all the cheek walls and soffits for the recessed balconies’.Finish: Y4312I Portland Stone

Multiple teapoint sinktops and cafe servery counters as well as cabinets and panelling were supplied to the UK Headquarters of Sony Computer Entertainment.Integral upstands were specified to all wall junctions for easy of cleaning and to ensure good levels of hygiene and durability. All sink bowls are seamlessly integrated.

GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops were put to good effect in this smart domestic kitchen.A curved breakfast bar forms the centre piece of the design but there are worktops to two of the perimeter walls. Extra deep edge profiles were specified and, of course, sinks are fully integrated within the worksurface.

Wapping Hydraulic Power Station has been renovated as part of the Wapping Project Arts Programme.Architects, Grimshaw and Partners specified stainless steel sanitaryware by GEC Anderson in the lavatory areas. Fittings include wall mounted stainless steel wash troughs and stainless steel trough urinals.

Owner of interior design company Studio Fortnum, Rebecca Wakefield is no stranger to being briefed on all manner of interior design and architecture. Specialising in understated, modern, relaxed living spaces, Rebecca’s portfolio is a stunning array of calming wall colours, comfortable areas to relax and thoughtfully considered artwork.

Creating a Passivhaus home Balancing sustainability and style, Sort Trae is the culmination of a retired architect’s vision for a home and creative space that blends into a South Yorkshire hillside. HEM Architects helped the client to bring this dream to life, using Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation to achieve the incredibly high Passivhaus standards for energy efficiency. Low carbon and high comfort The client envisioned a sustainable build using Passivhaus, a voluntary standard for designing and building properties with very low energy consumption, that offer high levels of comfort for their occupants. To achieve this, the levels of air tightness and thermal performance far exceed those mandated by building regulations. FrameTherm® Slab 32 was friction-fitted within the 140mm thick timber frame walls on the first floor, while DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 was used to fill the stone-clad masonry cavity walls on the ground floor.  “We try to specify fully filled masonry cavity walls where possible, sometimes up to 200mm wide, to maximise the use of mineral wool insulation. It pays dividends for the client”, explained Liam Seaman, Architectural Technologist for HEM Architects. Thermal performance is critical to the Passivhaus approach. The FrameTherm® Slab 32 provided a calculated U-value of 0.137 W/m2K in combination with the black timber frame wall and cladding. For the masonry cavity wall on the ground floor, a fractionally higher U-value of 0.138 W/m2K was achieved using thermally broken wall ties and DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32. This has contributed to Sort Trae’s exceptional thermal efficiency. Because glass mineral wool is flexible and fibrous, slabs knit together and adapt to minor imperfections in the substrate. This tight fit contributed to an overall air change of 0.54 ach (air change per hour), comfortably below the Passivhaus standard of 0.6 ach, meaning the property is air-tight while still providing good ventilation. Sustainable practices Liam explained his reasons for choosing Knauf Insulation, “The alternative products are often oil-based and the application of these is outweighed by the environmental impact of their production and lifecycle.” Both FrameTherm® Slab 32 and DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 are manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation’s unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. The binder is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders. Knauf Insulation’s glass mineral wool insulation contains up to 80% recycled content, mostly glass bottles and jars. It is also compressed so more product can fit per pack or pallet, and less packaging is used. This means there’s more product per truck, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road, and less packaging per m2 of insulation. Achieving the Passivhaus standard In collaboration with HEM Architects and other suppliers, the client has created a stunning home and an inspiring set-up for her loom-weaving workshop. “It is general practice for us to specify Knauf Insulation as standard because we find the product information available to be really clear and useful”, Liam added. Knauf Insulation’s practical, detailed product information made it HEM Architects’ first choice to achieve the Passivhaus standard for thermal performance. 

The original Ironmonger Row Baths site was built in the 1930s with swimming pool and traditional style bathing house of hot rooms and cold plunge in the basement. These facilities were completely upgraded in 2012 with saunas and steam rooms added.  In January 2022, the basement spa was destroyed by a fire. A complete restoration of the area was required of the builder’s work, fabric and services and Sauna360 UK was honoured to be commissioned to design and install all wellness areas. In January 2024 the "bathing house" re-opened to a wonderful reception.There has been a transformation of the area and a feeling of space, tranquillity and relaxation. Huge full height tiles adorn the walls throughout. Longitudinal floor tiles subtly take the eye to the glass fronted Salt sauna at one end and the backlit image and relax zone the other.  On arriving from the changing area the guest has a choice of contemporary facilities of saunas, aroma steam rooms, feature showers and ice to the left or traditional hot rooms, cold plunge and massage slabs to the right with large relaxation areas in the centre.  In the contemporary zone there are two large saunas: The Juniper Sauna This sauna  is operated at 75-85C with automatic infusion for a medium humidity. To the front a Juniper wall provides a beautiful detail with its own natural spicy aroma.  Behind the benches, and hidden within the wall, are Infra red panels. These allow the room to be operated in separate sessions at a lower temperature 40-45C with the benefits of IR bathing.The Salt Sauna The Salt Sauna is hot (85-95C) and dry like a traditional Finnish sauna and provides the ideal environment for the large salt wall. The impressive sauna has the height for a third bench in the hottest zone. The glass front allows the backlit salt wall and attractive finishes to be viewed from outside and the feeling of space appreciated from within. The Aroma Steam Room This opulent room has copious amounts of steam infused with seasonally changing essence. The stunning, large format, dark marble tiles are paired with subtle underbench lighting to create a relaxing ambience. Inclined backrests are used for ultimate comfort.Salt Inhalation Steam Room Contrasting beautifully with Aroma Steam Room, this thermal experience infuses the area with a mint or lemon essence to complement the automated salt spray within the steam environment for enhanced inhalation benefits.Completing the area are two Feature showers with warm and cool programs using essence plus a Cool room with ice feature and icy mint spray.Infrared Benching In the central area there is a long Recliner bench in ergonomic ceramics with gentle Infra red heating plus an expansive relaxation zone.Hot Rooms In the traditional zone there are the Hot Rooms. A series of interlinked rooms in large ceramics with increasing temperature as you get further in for the ultimate thermal experience.Drench Bucket & Plunge Pool Outside the hot rooms one will find a drench bucket cleansing shower and a large Plunge pool. The plunge pool now includes a unique heat recovery system which uses the heat removed from the plunge pool water to provide heat to the existing learner pool.Massage Slabs & Footrests The traditional zone also has twin heated Massage slabs for wet massage treatments by the spa therapists. The area is completed by additional heated benching with heated foot rests, below the backlit feature wall.

Architect: AtkinsInstaller: Vitec Ceilings and PartitionsProduct: Gustafs Linear RibA small but perfectly executed project at 75m2, the new Bracknell Forest Council chambers at the Times Square building in Berkshire is clad with Gustafs Linear Ribs to the ceiling and feature wall.The plain white ceiling ribs are organised into multiple square rafts across the space installed in alternating directions and interspersed with traditional ceiling tiles, lighting, and vents.The split feature wall which stands either side of the speakers’ podium and main panel desks is made up of a mixture of natural Oak and Bamboo veneer and painted ribs installed with irregularly positioned 45° angled joints.The ribs were delivered oversized and cut to size on site, the mitre joints were also cut on site by Vitec and joined using extra-long installation clips to keep the joint inline and give the illusion of a dip-dyed rib.

The interior fit-out of the POST Headquarters is the largest contract to date for the Lindner Group in Luxembourg.Lindner installed the FLOOR and more®, FLOOR and more® comfort and NORTEC hollow and raised floor systems with modern carpeting. The glass partitions Lindner Life Freeze 137, Lindner Life Pure 620 and Lindner Life Stereo 125 as fire protection glazing in EI60 provide an elegant separation of the offices. The wooden partition wall Lindner Logic Timber with long-lasting varnish, on the other hand, acts as an antagonist to the transparent glass elements.Perfectly matched to the partition walls, the associated doors were also made of wood or glass.Completed WorksPartitionsPartition Systems GlassLindner Life Freeze 137Lindner Life Pure 620Partition Systems Full PanelLindner Logic 100 TimberCalcium sulphate panelsFLOOR and moreFLOOR and more comfortNORTEC

The new building and the renovation project impress with generous outdoor spaces and appealing architecture. The Lindner Group played a major role in the interior fit-out.For a modern look, a combination of glass and wood was chosen – the Lindner Life Stereo 125 Glass Partitiontherefore meets wooden doors and wooden partitions.These were complemented by wall claddings and partitions made of metal: Thanks to their magnetic properties, these can be easily used to organise documents and design elements, what makes them highly functional.Furthermore, Lindner installed a custom-made counter cladding as a special solution for the sliding window as well as a raised floor for the technical rooms in the basement.Completed WorksPartitionsPartition Systems GlassLindner Life Stereo 125Partition Systems Full PanelLindner Logic 100 TimberLindner Logic 100 MetalWall and ceiling panelsLindner Free MetalFloorsChipboard panels LIGNA

Gloucester’s dock area today provides a vibrant retail, leisure and residential district. The transformation of the derelict dock area started in 2009. As part of the multi-million pound redevelopment, known as Gloucester Quays, Tata Steel has supplied a wide range of its building envelope products to build the Morrisons supermarket.A solution incorporating Tata Steel’s Trisomet® and Trimapanel® insulated roof and wall cladding systems was chosen to build the Gloucester Quay’s supermarket for Wm Morrisons.Close involvement with the cladding contractor helped to deliver the robust detailing criteria and the air-tightness requirements. Longer length Trisomet® insulated panels supplied with Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® were installed on the roof area to reduce end laps and increase the speed of the installation, and for the wall elevations a combination of Trisomet® and Trimapanel® insulated panels were supplied manufactured from Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® pre-finished steel.

Accoya cladding supplied by International TimberArmadilla create luxury experiential garden buildings. They currently focus on two core markets, hospitality and education, providing a self-contained environment for the users. Armadilla offer a smaller ‘Pod’ or the larger ‘Wave’ design but both options are ‘eco smart’, meeting the sustainability ethos of Armadilla.The garden buildings meet industry-leading insulation standards, have low energy air source heat pump technology and mechanical ventilation heat recovery. The smaller design, The Pod, can run off a one 13 amp electricity source.By endorsing the concept of the ‘Circular Economy’, all elements of Armadilla products can be recycled, repaired or reused. This is why Accoya is the perfect material choice for the external cladding, with a 50 year warranty. Accoya is a new introduction for Armadilla, justifying their product as world-leading for its sustainability and durability.Armadilla were awarded the 2020 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.

Peregrine Bryant were appointed to design a scheme for Stationers Hall to improve access and rationalise the internal layouts to enhance the building as a function space. The building, located near St Paul’s Cathedral, has a history that stretches back to before the Great Fire of London and any work requires a lot of co-ordination as parts of the complex range from Grade I listed to Ancient Scheduled Monuments.3v were asked to provide a full hardware service for this historic building which included scheduling all new and existing doors, rationalising ironmongery throughout and undertaking a full review of fire requirements. All new ironmongery was finished in antique brass with the exception of the toilet areas which use a split finish of antique brass externally and satin stainless steel internally. The main task was to ensure there was more continuity in the ironmongery used throughout the building so that it complimented both the aesthetics of the building and the function as an events space.

Traditional Brick for a Modern AestheticFastClad was introduced to this project by EH Smith Clay Products as the best solution for processing the First Quality Facing bricks, which were critical for meeting the planning conditions, to provide a real brick faced rainscreen with a BBA Certified minimum design life of 60 years.The mission was to construct affordable housing on a difficult to access site and to demonstrate that social housing that has not been traditionally built looks as good, if not better, than traditionally built private developments.Taking the external skin off the critical path of the build, delivering the equivalent of 1,200 bricks on one pallet (as opposed to three packs of brick) to save site compound space and being able to strip the full scaffold to install the FastClad off mobile towers freeing up the site for other trades, are just some of the benefits of moving away from a full masonry build up.

A beautiful timber frame house, made of Western Red Cedar based in Kings Langley. Kings Langley, Hertfordshire is the birthplace of Ovaltine, the soothing malt drink. The village is divided by the River Gade and endowed with a couple of beautiful lakes.It is here, at one of these lakes, that a charming timber garden house is fitted with beautiful wooden louvres. By Sunshield, in collaboration with Contrasol. We were delighted to assist the owners with custom made external louvres to provide the a much needed perfect solution to reduce glare. Our client is sensitive to light and needed an effective shading product to specifically reduce sunlight entering the internal space.Our client was looking for something to be able to control light as well as a solution to fully block out light at night. The windows are South facing; therefore the louvres were also perfect for shading purposes and heat reduction.The Sunshield team applied the popular 98W which is made from Western Red Cedar to compliment the overall building.

Anaconda Cut, also known as 100 Greengate, is a 44 storey apartment building. Situated next to the River Irwell, it is the tallest building in the City of Salford and one of the tallest in Greater Manchester.It is home to 349 elegant rental apartments, including luxury penthouses. Artform were asked to provide external seating, tables & planters for 2 roof terraces. Our popular range of out-sider products were considered due to the lightweight nature for manoeuvring, material durability and a wide range of colour options.A key factor in the design discussion was the end client's concerns regarding the use of timber products for a variety of reasons, including maintenance resulting in alternative materials being sourced. One of the key benefits of the Loop range of products is that they don't need to be permanently fixed down and can also be filled with either sand or in this instance water, adding ballast weight, taking a product with an initial weight of 37kg to in excess of 250kg.

As part of the multi-million-pound restoration of Grade I listed Manchester Town Hall, window restoration specialist Shepley Engineers is restoring, refurbishing, repairing and replacing hundreds of historic leaded and metal casement windows throughout the site using Hodgson Sealants Metal Casement Putty and Leaded Lite Cement. Each piece of glass from the iron-framed leaded lite windows from the state rooms has been removed, cleaned, repaired – or replaced by new fabrications if necessary – and reinstated using Hodgson’s Leaded Lite Cement in Shepley’s on-site restoration studio. The metal casement windows on the lower floors have been removed to Sheffield for restoration using Hodgson’s Metal Casement Putty, a high quality, hand-applied glazing compound that is formulated or bedding and external fronting of single glass into primed steel, timber frames, sealed hardwood and concrete. It is designed to be overpainted as in this project.

The first phase of Allies and Morrison‘s “Hale Wharf” development consists of 249 new homes across two buildings, and a pedestrian bridge that sits on a slender island overlooking the River Lee at Tottenham Hale. The venture also includes external spaces for communities to enjoy and easy access to public transport and nearby nature spot. Commercial areas are also included on the ground floor to further improve the area.Freshfield Lane First Quality and Selected Darks are used to striking effect as a homage to the characteristics of London’s historic canals. The hues embodied within the bricks allow for the structure to complement the modernisation of the area while also complimenting the waterfront green areas and the development of nearby nature parks.Hale Wharf represents an exciting opportunity for an area of London that needed a number of new properties to fulfil local needs, as such, a number of units in the development have been built to be affordable. Further developments are planned along the island with Phase 2 starting construction in 2022.

The project comprised the construction of Newcastle’s tallest building, Hadrian’s Tower on behalf of The High Street Group. Following a 30-month build programme, the 26-storey luxury high-rise mixed-use development in the heart of Newcastle was handed over, with more than 60% of the apartments already sold or let at the point of handover.The development included 160 units which comprised a mix of studio, one and two-bedroom apartments and three spacious three-bedroom penthouse suites. Hadrian’s Tower offers 134,000 sq ft of modern living space a 4,300 sq ft rooftop sky bar and coffee house on the 27th floor.The scheme has redeveloped and in turn transformed the dilapidated city centre brownfield site into a high-quality pedestrian route into the city centre.Shield Membranes supplied numerous products and systems in order to waterproof, insulate and finish all external areas.

Chatham Waters is a large development of 199 luxury apartments in Kent, with far-reaching views over the historic Chatham Docks. Each of the 199 homes features its own large balcony space with Euroclass A1 fire-rated aluminium decking and porcelain paving used interchangeably throughout the scheme to provide zoning and interest.Systems UsedBalcaSmart® Aluminium decking system with boards in RAL 7036 (Platinum Grey) passes beautifully into Quadro porcelain in the shade ‘Argento’. Selected for their low-height build-up, TerraSmart® Pedestal and BalcaSmart® Aluminium decking systems utilise very similar low-height non-combustible RP-FR and RD-FR pedestals, which work together to achieve a seamless transition between zones. DetailThe contrasting external flooring is mirrored in the intermittent placement of the brass screening throughout the buildings in the scheme, providing a distinctive and luxurious appearance.

Aviva Studios, Manchester - The New Home of Factory International:Fire resistant, acoustic joint sealing of the complex facades, has been completed with Emshield-WFR and Emshield QuietJoint from NCC Movement joints Limited. NCC Movement joints have supplied Emshield-WFR-2 and Emseal QuietJoint to seal the wide, high movement capability, expansion joints in the complex facades of the new Aviva Studios in Manchester. Aviva Studios are new arts and cultural venues, which are now the new home of Factory International, and located in the centre of St John’s. This is the 13-acre regeneration project around the old Granada TV studios in Manchester. On this prestige project, the architect was Ellen van Loon, a partner at OMA (Office of Modern Architecture), who designed the buildings to create an eclectic environment for the arts, including striking and complex architectural facades. This included her trademark industrial styled finishes, cladding the facades with corrugated metal panels, and incorporating large exposed concrete surfaces. Structural engineering for the project was provided by Burro Happold. The structural movement joints in the external façade and walls, as well as in some of the floor slabs, had to be designed to accommodate not only significant movement (+/-50% or more), whilst maintaining watertightness, but also to be CE certified fire resistant for at least 2 hours, and it was also essential to maintain the high acoustic soundproofing and thermal insulation of the building across the façades.Emshield-DFR/WFR-2 for internal joint sealing, from NCC Movement Joints Limited was the ideal solution, quickly installed as a complete system to meet all the specified requirements in a single solution, with no mechanical fixings, and without disrupting other trades. The Emshield system was installed by TECL (Thermal Engineering Contracts Ltd) as the acoustic and firestopping specialists on the project, as well as by the specialist façade manufacturers, Lindner Prater.The 13,350 m2 building has been designed to provide open spaces that are flexible, adaptable, and capable of being reconfigured for a wide variety of shows at different scales. The key facilities are The Hall, an auditorium that seats 1,600 but can accommodate 2,000 standing; and The Warehouse, an open performance space 21 metres high, with capacity for 5,000 people, all designed and built with advanced acoustic-insulation. They can function separately or together, with a stage that can stretch back to a depth of 45 meters. Factory International are named after the Factory Records record-label, which was founded by the late Tony Wilson ran Manchester’s Haçienda nightclub in the 1980’s and launched bands such as the Happy Mondays and Joy Division. Their new home at Aviva Studio complex is the first public project by OMA in the United Kingdom, and already regarded as the most ambitious cultural development for the future in Manchester.

Project:Ysgol Newydd Corn Hir Client: Anglesey County Council Contractor: Wynne Construction Architect: Lovelock Mitchell Architects Value: £10m Location:Llangefni, Anglesey Completion Date: April 22 Innovare duration onsite 14 weeks GIFA m²:2932m2 Airtightness: 5m3/m2/hConstruction of the £10m Ysgol Newydd Corn Hir primary school on the outskirts of Llangefni, Anglesey, opened its doors to pupils in April 2022. The school provides the 250 pupils with the facilities and resources to include modern and well-equipped classrooms and suitable outdoor areas for play and learning. The school replaced the old Ysgol Corn Hir which had been previously deemed as “not fit for purpose”. Innovare’s Structurally Insulated Panel System works to a detailed 3D design model in which potential clashes and buildability issues have been resolved. This provides the greatest possible certainty that buildings will be ready for use on schedule and delivered within the agreed budget. The technology is also significantly less prone to delays caused by poor weather or shortages of materials and skilled labour. The Innovaré SIP System accelerates project delivery and delivers ambitious building performance outcomes. The new school is designed specifically around the needs of the children that will be attending, and it will provide an outstanding educational setting. Careful consideration has been given to all aspects of the design process to help promote engagement, well-being, and achievement. Structural insulated panel external walls were used for the teaching wings. Having collaborated on several education projects, Wynne Construction, Innovaré, and Lovelock Mitchell Architects have established an excellent working relationship. This permitted the project team to efficiently identify the most effective way to deploy offsite methods. Airtightness of 5m3/m2/h Extensive use of structural timber reduced embodied carbon levels as well as significant sequestered carbon within the timber structure. Delivering this level of real-world performance alongside time and cost savings is the product of a close partnership.Mr Rhys Roberts, the headteacher has been in post for the past eight years said.: “The children, parents, governors, and staff were “delighted and excited” about their new school. It is not often in this career that you get the opportunity to be at the beginning of a school’s history. To have a say in its future and part of the team helping to plan it for the generations of children that will come here, it is quite a privilege. The new school has been purposely built with the new curriculum in mind, and it has so much more space and facilities”.

BH2 is a £30m development creating a newly-constructed leisure complex in Bournemouth  •  Originally a two acre NCP car park and bus station, main contractors Vinci has built a new 10 screen Odeon Multiplex cinema, café, casino, restaurant and retail complex.  •  Structura was appointed to design and supply Kalwall translucent facades to enclose the external fire escape routes around the perimeter of the building.  •  Structura installed multiple Kalwall translucent elevations, totalling over 1000m2, providing natural daylight to internal areas by day and a soft ethereal glow which brings the area to life at night.The SolutionPanter Hudspith Architects replaced the original curtain wall and specified Kalwall® for the front elevation. Unusually, this unique translucent cladding is fitted with a tight 150mm wide grid, known as Verti-Kal™, which not only serves to emphasise height but is the first of its type in the UK. On this scheme the Kalwall panels also insulate to 0.78 w/m2 making the building eye-catching and sustainable.Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is bathed with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced.Kalwall is increasingly being used in the UK for new buildings and also for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. One of the main attractions of specifying Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Although translucent, it offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp and simple. When illuminated at night they emit an inviting ethereal glow.The CommentsArchitect James Jeremiah comments, “This is the first time we’ve specified Kalwall and it fulfils our vision of retaining the modernist characteristics of the building. One of our original concepts for the building was of a zoetrope (one of the earliest forms of moving image) and there’s a strong history of using transparency in films with people moving behind the shadows. We felt the Kalwall system was a very good fit for what we wanted to achieve”.Amanda Birch, Technical Editor Building Design writes, “To appreciate fully the building’s transformation, it is best viewed from the street. The concrete structure has been retained along with its striking line of concrete columns, which are now a strong feature of the front elevation. The original coloured insulated glass panelled system has been replaced at first and second floor levels with Kalwall’s 75mm thick insulated cladding system creating a dynamic façade that is particularly effective at night.

THE PROJECTManhattan Loft Gardens is an exciting 42 storey cantilevered tower that offers ‘loft living in a high rise’ in the heart of Stratford, London.The development features a variety of residential living and facilities including a seven-storey hotel, spa, two restaurants, three sky gardens, 248 private flats, apartments, lofts and penthouses.The project was designed by the internationally acclaimed architects SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP). Private accommodation in the building is split between single and double-height apartments that are interwoven into the fabric of the development.Located between the Stratford International Station and the Westfield Stratford City, the Manhattan Loft Gardens has fantastic views over the Olympic Park.THE DESIGNThe design of the development is striking, with three extensive rooftop gardens slicing into the body of the high-rise tower, with the upper levels supported by a cantilever. The open-air spaces offer a modern take on the traditional London rooftop gardens, providing residents with space to relax outside of their home.The façade of the building features a combination of transparent and solid panels manufactured in terracotta and glass. The building has been constructed with a triangular geometric shape to offer a visually-interesting design, pushing the boundaries of modern high-res city developments.THE PRODUCTThe project required 148 mailboxes to securely store the mail deliveries for the residents living within this high-end development. The mailboxes are located on the ground floor in the entrance walkways with access to the mailboxes and building behind a secured external property door.The mailboxes are configured into multiple products in a bank, maximising the quantity of mail that can be securely stored in a minimum amount of space. The large banks of mailboxes are recessed into the walls of the walkways, fixed through the side, top and bottom faces of the product.The mailbox model used in this development was SLB’s brand new and impressive ‘Tile’ product that features composite doors finished in a Stainless Steel grade 316L with a vertical grain flow. This product has been used on other high-end projects such as Rathbone Square and Fulham High Street.The mailbox uses a non-standard lock with a Matt Nickel bespoke finish that secures the front door of the mailbox in style. Each mailbox features contrasting matt black engraved numbers on the face of the stainless steel door. The numbering corresponds to the apartment numbers of the residents in the development, allowing mail delivery personnel granted access to the area, as well as the resident to identify the correct mailbox quickly.They are fully designed and manufactured in our factory in Neath, South Wales.

Project briefTarmac Building Products were asked to supply Queen Mary’s development (a historic London hospital converted into apartments) with Limelite Heritage Hydraulic Lime Mortars.The ProjectThe project ‘s aim is to convert Grade I Baroque stately home Roehampton House into residential use with a mix of old and modern construction materials. Roehampton House is a Grade I Baroque Stately Home built by Thomas Archer over the years 1710-12 and later enlarged by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1910. The house is being carefully restored, maintaining its original features both internally and externally, with Doric columns and wrought iron railings giving way to panelled walls, ornate painted ceilings and black and white marble.Help from Tarmac Building Products – Limelite Heritage Lime MortarsWe supplied Limelite Heritage Hydraulic Lime Mortars in mobile dry silos to the large-scale heritage site in Roehampton, south-west London. The product is predominantly a bedding masonry mortar but due to its versatility, can be used in other areas and is ideal for projects such as this one because it is a cement-free traditional product and so recreates an appearance in keeping with the history of the building. It is being supplied alongside natural and Y101 white mortar in dry silos.Our Heritage Hydraulic Lime Mortar is ideal for projects such as this one because it is a cement-free traditional product and so recreates an appearance, maintaining the history of the building.Problems facedThe former hospital developed into a stately home is a Grade I listed building, meaning that any new building work needs to blend in well with the existing building work. Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important; only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.The project site is located within Flood Zone 1 and so a Flood Risk Assessment is required as the site is over 1 hectare. OutcomesRoehampton House, its two gate houses and the remainder of the Roehampton Estate are being redeveloped to provide luxury new housing. The development is called Queen Mary’s Place. Of the original 30 acres, only 14 remained following the building of the new hospital, but the developer, St. James has preserved 30% of the land for pleasure gardens for the new residents.The Grade II listed sunken and rose gardens have also been lovingly restored to provide the perfect setting for the newly created 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and two 2 bedroom gate houses.·      Contractor: St James Development·      Location: Roehampton, London ·  Product: Limelite Heritage Lime Mortar

A world-class space for sport, events, and education using out Topperfo Micro perforated panels. The indoor sports facility has utilised one of our wall systems to combat sound reverberation, voice intelligibility and to lower the sound pressure levels typically created in such a large hard surfaced area.

Homeowner and self-builder Marianne was able to draw on the right help, expertise, and best products – including ROCKWOOL insulation – to realise her dream.ROCKWOOL Timber Frame Slab used for this project is a durable non-combustible stone wool slab that provides thermal, non-combustible insulation for walls and roofs. 

Resopal Hickory and Silver Oak Woodgrain were selected for this project to give warmth and character to four single room new build/refubishments. The two tone composition of the stroage wall added depth and scale to the whole space, giving it a welcome feel and a sense of 'accommodation' than being 'hospital-like'.

An ambitious £37.5 million Littleport complex comprising special educational needs (SEN) and primary schools, an Academy and a leisure centre. Rockfon ceilings, baffles and wall panels are installed throughout. Rockfon products were chosen because they offer excellent sound control, Class A1 fire safety and durability.

Part of the Clyde Gateway regeneration scheme, Topgolf is a start-of-the-art golfing facility recently completed by Ashfield Land, Cooper Cromar, Luddon Construction and J&D Pierce. Taylor Maxwell were pleased to supply their exclusive Stonepanel stone cladding system alongside reconstituted walling stone to the facade.

Caton Court, part of the wider Lawson’s Quay site, is currently being built by Eric Wright Construction for the developer Hines UK, while Preston based LDG Contracts is the specialist fabricator which chose to utilise the Technal MX curtain wall and FY65 window systems for the first phase of the project.

The café/restaurant building acts as a focal point for the Felixstowe South Seafront regeneration. The site lies in close proximity to the Martello Tower P, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II Listed Building. The roof and walls use QUARTZ-ZINC and PIGMENTO zinc in both standing and Adeka panels

Situated in the heart of the business district of Salford this seven story project offers 125,000 sq ft of state of the art office space. With the contribution of Aluprof's high performance capless curtain wall system, the project meets the latest BREEAM "Excellent" (2018) specification. Architect: AHR Main Contractor: Bowmer & Kirkland

The Koningin Elisabethzaal in the northern Belgian seaport of Antwerp is unusual in every respect. Located at the heart of an architecturally charming city, structurally merged with a world-famous zoo, and boasting an immensely varied history as a concert hall, it transformed from an acoustic ugly duckling into a gleaming swan of aural experience. At the core of this metamorphosis is the design by the renowned American acoustician Larry Kirkegaard, who completely remodeled the hall acoustically. Golden metal fabric by GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG (GKD) plays a key role in his concept. The woven texture really underlines the one-of-a-kind spatial experience in its use as large-scale cladding for ceiling, walls, and balustrades.One of 65 participants in an international competition to redesign and remodel the Koningin Elisabethzaal, the consortium comprised of SimpsonHaugh Architects (London) and Kirkegaard Associates (Chicago) produced the winning design. Kirkegaard’s ambitious concept, which employed structural and technical agility to aim for nothing less than a world-class standard for the new concert hall, played no small part in this success. The original hall was opened in 1897, served as a hospital ward during the First World War, morphed into a venue for boxing and wrestling matches during the Olympic Games a few years later, and was reopened in 1960 following major destruction in the Second World War. The fan-shaped design of this building, which was not intended to be used purely as a concert hall, contributed greatly to its poor acoustics, which achieved only six out of ten points on the rating scale. Plus, although it provided a stage, there were no rehearsal rooms for the orchestra and soloists. One aim of the new building was therefore to finally offer a home to the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. The new Koningin Elisabethzaal is the centerpiece of the Elisabeth Center, which was also newly built as an ultramodern 25,000-square-meter conference center. When redesigning the concert hall, the planners decided to reduce its size in order to optimize the acoustics. This resulted in an enormous light-flooded foyer with atrium in the Elisabeth Center. Architect Ian Simpson embedded the new building into the historical complex in such a way that the art nouveau façades that had previously been hidden by the building were revealed once more and the old halls remained largely untouched. One of these halls, the Loos Hall, connects the new 2,000-square-meter concert hall with the historical part and also serves as the foyer of the Elisabeth Center. With its high stuccoed ceilings and rich marble decor, it provides a representative space for exhibitions and receptions. The new four-story building comprises various conference and meeting rooms for up to 1,900 participants, the concert hall with a capacity of 2,000 guests, extensive logistics facilities, VIP and catering areas, administrative offices, and soundproofed rehearsal rooms.An acoustic embrace in a shoe boxThe designers selected a shoe box shape for the concert hall, which classical music lovers deem to be a guarantee of optimum acoustics. This is aided by a perfectly balanced distance between the stage and the wall and an unusual seating arrangement in the parterre and the two galleries. Doing without a permanent apron also prevents a loss of sound. A curved wall means that the largest distance between the stage and audience seats is 30 meters, so that every guest feels part of what is happening on stage and can see and hear equally well from all seats. Movable reflectors clad in metal fabric and suspended from the ceiling as well as frames covered in the same fabric ensure that the sound is able to unfold throughout the entire hall. At the same time, the semitransparent membranes conceal the bare ceiling and the technical installations above. In designing the walls, Kirkegaard Associates chose a wave-shaped oak wainscoting. The cavities were filled with lava sand to prevent vibrations. With this construction, the acousticians drew on the sound experience of earlier concert halls, which employed arm-thick stone walls to reflect low-frequency sound back into the hall. As such, the walls and the rear wall of the stage in the Koningin Elisabethzaal form an acoustic embrace which ensures that the echo is not absorbed but is fully reflected to the stage.Metal fabric for good soundThe same fabric that was used for the ceiling elements also covers the movable reflectors on the back wall of the stage: gold-colored powder-coated Alu 6010. For the ceiling and stage wall, GKD fitted a total of 204 frames, some of them wave-shaped, with 1,600 square meters of this fabric type. Four-meter-long and 2.50-meter-wide panels were fastened to the frames provided by the customer with thin stainless steel wires at intervals of ten centimeters. GKD also incorporated the cutouts for the lights exactly according to the specifications. A first for the weave specialists was that the entire construction consisting of frames and fabric was then coated in the desired shade of gold. This required special pretreatment in order to ensure homogeneous coloring of the components made from different materials – steel and aluminum. Prior to selecting the material, Kirkegaard Associates had carried out extensive tests on the GKD fabrics in order to achieve the best possible sound and space experience. As such, GKD was involved in the planning process with architects and acousticians from a very early stage. The decisive factor in opting for metal fabric was the acoustic neutrality. In addition, the exclusive look, flexibility, and robustness of the GKD fabrics corresponded to the ambitious design concept. That is why the fabric from GKD – Omega 1520 with gold-colored coated weft – was also chosen for the balustrades of the galleries. It fits flexibly to the bidirectionally curved corners of the balustrade and is also resistant to impact thanks to tensioning in the direction of the cable. When fitting the front and rear of the balustrade elements with 400 square meters of this fabric type, the curve needed to be followed exactly. GKD selected a slightly conical panel cut for this purpose in order to realize the radius by tracing a polygon.The clever interaction between the design of the hall shape, ceiling, wall, and balustrade is what gives the new Koningin Elisabethzaal its excellent acoustics: with 9.3 out of 10 points on the rating scale, it is considered almost perfect. At the opening concert, Belgium’s Queen Mathilde personally handed over the hall, which offers a world-class space and sound experience, to the public.