"walls"

Leeds University required a New Permanent Exhibition Gallery, and a Changing Exhibits Gallery, both of which would be supplemented with a Public Engagement Seminar Gallery in the University’s iconic Parkinson Building, which fronts onto Woodhouse Lane. Each of these galleries are susceptible to dramatically increased reverberation and echo noise problems once they start filling up with visitors, so a sound absorption solution was investigated and proposed by the Architect. The solution specified was a monolithic suspended raft ceiling rather than fabric wall panels or hanging.Soundis supplied and UK Acoustic Systems installed convex and concave Absorb-R GypLine αw. Absorb-R GypLine αw provided a coverage of 130 sq metres, offering high levels of sound absorption to each gallery, but also more importantly left the walls clear of panels and the ceilings without visible acoustic baffles, providing virtually seamless surfaces. This system was perfectly suited for the Treasures Gallery as it was able to provide an aesthetic finish and solution to improve the experience of the visitors in the galleries.“Vice-Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands said: “We are incredibly proud of our Library with its Special Collections of international importance which have been built up over the past century.”

Project: CMR MedicalDate: 2022 Background:·        APL were engaged with the building owner and architect early in the project design and specification process, having worked on a number of previous projects together ·        Due to APL’s strong supply-chain relationships, all material was able to be secured ahead of the tender process to ensure that the very tight project programme was met·        APL provided all thermal, acoustic and structural calculations Systems:·        9,000m² of APL built-up acoustic 65ZS standing seam system (site-rolled) in stucco-embossed mill-finished aluminium, along with PV support system·        4,000m² of APL built-up wall system with steel sinusoidal AP45HR in custom colour APL Dusk as the external profile·        1,100m² of APL built-up wall system with steel louvre profile AP70LCP in custom colour APL Dusk as the external profile·        500m² of APL Slimwall™ CPS/SSF routed flat panel system in aluminium with a Class 2 PPC costing in custom colour APL Dusk·        LB4 live louvre system·        APL Tritherm™ GALV sub-framing·        All flashings, fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Ely

Expanding Exeter College's 700-year-old campus in the heart of Oxford was a privilege given to Alison Brooks Architects: developing Cohen Quad, a hub for students including living accommodation for 90, an auditorium, seminar rooms, social learning spaces, an archive, a café, roof terraces, offices, and fellows' accommodation.Student rooms and fellows' studies are enclosed by patterned stainless steel that folds across wall and roof surfaces, sitting on a stone-clad 'base' that houses the quads' public spaces.The Rimex tiling in the checkerboard pattern really highlights the stunning dormer windows and the beautiful curve of the tiles from the roofline wrap around the roof and down the walls creating a seamless cloak around the building. 17,000 iridescent stainless steel shingles adorn this roof, and the tiles are of a wonderful muted bronze and champagne colour with an unusual texture - catching - but not reflecting the sunlight. "We were given excellent technical and sales support from Fixfast. All stainless steel fixings and shingle clips were supplied in a timely and efficient manner. These factors contributed to Roles Broderick Roofing Ltd winning the NFRC Roofing Award for 2017"Ben Clark - Operations Director at Roles Broderick Roofing Ltd

The design of this bathroom needed to reflect the client’s colourful, modern and eclectic aesthetic, whilst still allowing for a tranquil, restorative space in which to batheHandmade Moroccan concrete tiles by Popham Design in a soft green shade feel serene and natural, but also inject a pop of colour. Elsewhere in the room, design is kept minimal, modern and almost industrial in its simplicity, with a neutral colour palette and brushed nickel tapware. To visually expand the space, the layout of this bathroom was re-designed to make the room feel elongated, and draw the eye in. To complement this, the Moroccan tiles line the floor and furthest wall behind the wet room and back-to-wall Eldon bath.Of the design, designer and stylist Edwina Boase said: “The Eldon bath was perfect for this bathroom; its elegant, modern shape was echoed in the patterned tiles, lighting and tapware. The Eldon design is impactful yet economic with regards to the floor space required, which is preciously what was required for this project!”This house in its entirety was recently unveiled on Channel 4’s home renovation series ‘Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke’.Photography: Amazing Productions / Daniela ExleyArchitecture: Chris Dyson ArchitectsDesign: Edwina Boase

The Nursery at Bellingdon was the brainchild of Jim Matthews and influential German architect Gernot Minke. Comprising of a 5m high dome, exterior walls of Strocks, hemp-lime insulationand woodfired brick facing. The whole structure was built on compacted flint foundations and topped with a green roof. Blocks were specially shaped in three sizes to accommodate the change in angle of the dome, one of the qualities of the clay straw mix is its ability to take up most shapes. The dome itself is a big piece of thermal mass as well as part of the load bearing structure of the roof. The outer walls have Strocks to hold the remaining weight of roof which are in turn insulated with hemp-lime blocks with a brick rain screen of the factories wood fired bricks. The whole structure has beautiful clay plaster finishes internally, fair-faced blockwork on the interior of the dome and many factory made ceramic detailed panels. It’s a little gem of a showcase of all that HG Matthews can produce. In addition with a lot of little people running around inside it each day very little is needed to heat the structure which neither overheats or gets cold, storing the heat of the nursery by day and releasing it at night.

When completed, A3 New Bailey in Manchester will be one of Europe’s greenest buildings. Not only has it been designed to achieve the toughest sustainability ratings, it will also feature Europe’s largest living wall. But as with any innovative project, it presented some major challenges when it came to the specification of the rainscreen façade system. Meeting the target U-value Lester Cladding NW Ltd were responsible for the design and build of the façade. A rock mineral wool product with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK had been specified. But when conducting the calculations, they instantly ran into a problem. An insulation depth of 240mm was required to achieve the U-value of 0.15W/m2K.  Jamie Simm, Operations Director at Lester Cladding NW Ltd explained: “There was a strict external and internal boundary, so we needed to keep the façade wall build-up within those measurements. But the amount of insulation needed to meet the target U-value increased the depth of the wall, pushing it over the boundary line.” When looking for an alternative solution, the company approached Knauf Insulation’s Project Specification Team to discuss the brief. As well as meeting the thermal performance requirement, the insulation needed to comply with building regulations that ban the use of combustible materials in the external walls of certain buildings over 18m tall. It also needed to help reduce noise and meet the project’s sustainability targets.  After running 3D U-value calculations, Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team recommended 170mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the ventilated façade, a rock mineral wool insulation which has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK. For the Steel Frame System (SFS), they recommended 150mm OmniFit® Slab 35, a glass mineral wool insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK.  This combination reduced the thickness of the wall build-up by a significant 70mm, ensuring the U-value could be met within the required parameter for the wall build-up. Simms said: “Not only did Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab offer superior U-value performance for a slimmer profile, it reduced costs across the whole build. As well as reducing the quantity of insulation required, we could use smaller helping hand brackets and thinner fire barriers for example. It was the product that steered the job through.” In addition to achieving the required thermal performance, both products are non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. This means they will not add to the development or spread of fire, so comply with the building regulations. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is also British Board of Agrément (BBA) certified for use in buildings of any height and for the broadest range of thicknesses and build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. Mineral wool also has an open fibre matrix, which means it has sound absorbent properties. The insulation will help to reduce noise from the busy city centre location and from disturbing residents. Project complexity The choice of insulation was not the only challenge for the build. There is no template for supporting Europe’s biggest living wall. So, Lester Cladding NW Ltd needed to draw on their own extensive knowledge and expertise, as well as that of the whole supply chain to create a bespoke solution from the ground up.   One problem with this approach, was that every potential solution impacted another aspect of the façade build-up. To overcome this, Lester Cladding NW Ltd took the unusual step of arranging a meeting between representatives from eight different design and manufacturing partners. Together they discussed the whole system ‘screw by screw’.  “Getting everyone sitting around the table meant that all our manufacturing and design partners were completely engaged. They understood what we were trying to achieve, and all worked together to find the best solution.” There was one particular factor that could affect the insulation – water. While a living wall utilises planting schemes that thrive in drier conditions, a 4,000m2 living façade still requires a lot of watering – something that could introduce lots of extra moisture into the system. Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab has a water-repellent additive that promotes water run-off and ensures the slab will maintain its integrity. A traditional façade system prevents the insulation from getting saturated by rainwater, while the ventilation reduces the build-up of condensation and allows the insulation to dry out if it does get wet.  However, the water-repellent additive does not make the insulation waterproof, so it needed protection from the constant flow of water from the irrigation system. As a result, an additional breather membrane was installed to prevent moisture from penetrating the façade system and affecting the insulation. Sustainability A3 New Bailey has been designed to UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Framework and WELL Building Standard principles, as well as to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and Wired Score Platinum ratings. This meant the sustainability of the construction materials themselves was also important.  Here Knauf Insulation’s products ticked all the boxes too. Its glass and rock mineral wool insulation are made from materials that come from either naturally abundant sources or are recycled. For example, its glass mineral wool is made with upto 80% recycled glass from locally collected and processed household bottles and jars. Glass mineral wool has the lowest levels of embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation material. So, combining the use of both Knauf Insulation glass and rock mineral wool meant that the insulation solution for A3 New Bailey had less embodied carbon than a traditional all-rock insulation solution. Both products are also manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. ECOSE® Technology is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than a traditional binder. They also generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort. This contributes to the health of both installers and residents. Its entire glass mineral wool product range is also Declare Red List Free, which means that it does not contain any harmful chemicals on the ‘Red List’.  Thanks to Knauf Insulation’s advice, technical support and high-performance insulation solutions, Lester Cladding NW Ltd was able to deliver the rainscreen façade for A3 New Bailey – and with it, Europe’s largest living wall.

Full FF&E fit-out for Balfour Hospital Orkney.Robertson Construction built this £65 million facility for NHS Orkney that is transforming healthcare services on the islands. We delivered the full FF&E fit-out including wall protection, blinds, bedheads and cubicles, as well as all the fitted furniture. Working closely with the Keppie Design team we also provided reception counters plus bespoke seating for the atrium and café.

When embarking on converting an existing London building into a new music studio, Claudio (Doctor Mix) Passavanti a music producer, pianist, YouTuber, and digital entrepreneur who offers online mixing, mastering, and music production services through his website doctormix.com, needed to create an acoustically-sound environment that would optimise music production whilst preventing disturbance to neighbours.For this project ROCKWOOL Sound Slab insulation was used throughout the walls.

A complete rework of a postmodern office building (60 London Wall), situated in the heart of the City of London. The project aim was to extensively refurbish, reconfigure, reinvent and reposition the building.Due to the addition of a composite metal deck floor extension and additional steel frame for the top floors, Tarmac’s Toplight C lightweight structural concrete was seen as the perfect solution as it could be pumped and ensured a weight loss of 30% whiel maintaining the necessary structural performance.

A series of stainless steel worktops were specified within classrooms of this Mid-Glamorgan Primary School.A clean, neat and highly resilient result was achieved through the use of continuous worktops, with integrated sinks. Lipped edges (edge 3) were included to prevent spillage and to prevent items rolling-off the worktop onto the floor. Integral upstands were specified to the junctions between the worktop and walls, providing a highly practical and lasting result. 

Whites Pre-cast concrete panels were used in an unusual project to carry out the ‘re- meandering’ of a historically straightened section of Swindale Beck in the Lake District. Whites Concrete supplied its precast Rockwall and Groundwall panels so that Coffey Construction could quickly and efficiently form a new Coanda screen, fish pass walls and a Crump Weir to Swindale Beck, which is an upstream sub-catchment of Cumbria’s River Eden.

60 London Wall is an icon mixed use office & retail building in the dynamic heart of London’s City, with 328,500 sq ft of grade A office accommodation situated over ten stunning floors. It was recently completely renovated and Alliance Bernstein now occupy space within the building. The existing raised access floor was overlaid with Knauf GifaFloor FHB18 making it the ideal substrate to receive a combination of ceramic tiles & micro-screed cement

Johnstone’s commitment to innovative product development has once again been recognised after its high performance Microbarr range was specified for use on the brand new £430 million Southmead Hospital Bristol. More than 32,000 litres of Microbarr Anti-Bacterial Acrylic Matt in Brilliant White were used by decorating contractor Bagnalls over the course of the two-year decorating cycle, covering 230,000 sq m of walls and ceilings.

A scheme designed by the award-winning Architects Guy Hollaway, The Urban Sports Park in Folkestone includes the world’s first multi-storey skatepark. The state-of-the-art facility is set on four levels and includes a skating area, climbing wall, new boxing club and café. Cordek were requested to design and supply a bespoke formwork solution to aid the construction of the integral, reinforced concrete slab soffit for the large skating bowls on the first floor.

FIRETITE is a Class A2 fire-rated, clay mineral insulation ideal for new and refurbished cavity wall insulation. This innovative system combines the benefits of a hydrophobic and open-pore mineral insulation material with the fast, safe and seamless airtight process of a self-sealing system.The world's first 3-component clay mineral in-situ insulation material; it has been developed over many years of extensive research to create an exclusive formulation.

The ChallengeIn 2015 Kier was awarded the £233 million project to build Cheshire’s first smart motorway to help keep traffic flowing between J16 (Crewe) – and J19 (Knutsford), this included 40 Miles of extra lanes, 21 overhead gantries, 18 emergency bays and 258 electronic signs. Hundreds of metres of retaining walls were needed to allow clearance for the emergency refuge areas (ERA’s) and the overhead gantries to be built within the highway boundaries. “As infrastructures had a major impact on the M6 J16-19 critical path a cost-effective solution was needed to reduce the overall time of installation.” A durable, robust, economical, and sustainable retaining wall solution with a British Board of Agreement (BBA) Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme (HAPAS) certificate was required to satisfy the Highways Agency.The Solution Several EcoCrib mass gravity retaining walls now support the embankments along the M6 J16-J19 to provide clearance for many of the ERA’s and Gantry Bases. Designed, supplied, and installed by PC Construction. Awarded a BBA HAPAS certificate in 2012 with a design life in excess of 120 years, Ecocrib is structurally robust yet the most highly sustainable retaining solution currently available for highway applications. It was the only retaining option that didn’t need heavy lifting equipment to complete the job which made it the safer option. It also allows the installation to be quicker and cheaper than the other options available. Ian Potts quoted on behalf of Highways England “The savings are easily calculated as the installation was priced by a pilling contractor at £41,975 and the installation cost of EcoCrib was £24,177 delivering a saving of £17,798 (£395.51/m). Total savings for the M6 project is 270m ( gantry bases) plus 390m ERA’s @ a total of 590m x £395.51p = £233,350 saving. However, other savings and benefits included: Installation time is 30% of alternative products i.e. 2 days against 7 days. Eliminates the need for lifting equipment, allows working in limited spacing, is environmentally friendly, improves aesthetics, and has a product life of 120 years. “ Developed from timber crib technology, the 50mm x 125mm Ecocrib profiles are considerably more durable than treated timber but possess many of the environmental benefits. Ecocrib profiles are manufactured entirely from recycled UK plastic waste with any wastage or surplus material re-processed to form new Ecocrib profiles. Ecocrib can be recycled when it reaches the end of its useful life. 1478 SQM of EcoCrib was used in the scheme equivalent to 17 million plastic bottle tops or 86 tonnes of plastic waste diverted from landfill. Highways England is now looking at the possibility of using EcoCrib for step installations and retaining wall heights higher than 1.5m. 

Natural sunlight and space were two of the key objectives for this extension located in South London. The client, an artist, writer, and former fine arts lecturer, had recently moved to London from Oxfordshire to be closer to her family, and was looking to produce a peaceful, tranquil space to help improve creativity when at work.“I had no fixed ideas about what I wanted, but I wanted more space because it was very small, very dark and I just needed to breathe” Client via Evening Standard.Looking to update this Victorian house into a future proof property, Atelier Baulier Architects worked with the client to achieve the radical vision of a virtually half opened roof through the use of a rooflight. Our Multi-Part Flushglaze rooflight was specified at just short of 8 metres which immerses the entire extension in daylight making the 21 sq. m. space feel much larger, hoping to improve the client’s productivity and focus. The art studio is located under the doubleheight volume, enjoying even light levels throughout the day. The writing room takes the vantage point of the mezzanine above the bathroom and is accessed from the first floor level through an opening made in the gable.Keen to retain discreet detailing to ensure the rooflight framing wasn’t distracting from the design, the Multi Part Rooflight was specified with silicone joints, as opposed to aluminium balustrades, making the product much sleeker. To help daylight flood the room even further, the unit was specified with three Wall Abutments on the high left and right side. The Wall Abutments are not visible from the internal view, this helped to enhance the desired discreet detailing.As stated, the rooflight was supplied in three sections with the frameless silicone joints segmenting each section; the three sections were sized to achieve an equal split when viewed from underneath. This meant that the end sections had to be larger to account for the upstand width.“We aimed to maximise the potential of this unusual site. Rather than subdividing the space the programme is housed within one continuous volume, allowing the daylight to flow through.” Aurore Baulier, Director, Atelier Baulier ArchitectsWith the house being located in a conservation area, the extension naturally blends in with its outstanding surroundings. Brickwork is a major part of this Victorian cottage and its extension. The new volume is a wood-fibre insulated timber construction overclad with bricks slips, resulting in a much lower carbon footprint than a traditional masonry wall. On the interior, brick slips dress the walls continuing the pattern created by the whitewashed brickwork of the existing gable.Atelier Baulier Architects worked brilliantly to maintain the nostalgic look of the building whilst also transforming it into a contemporary home, with the use of a glass rooflight proving to be successful in adding a vast amount of light and space to the originally dark and gloomy Victorian house.

In this project, Hush Acoustics were tasked with a project in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, to provide a solution for a beautiful mid terraced property recently converted into 4x spacious apartments over four floors.With the apartments located very close to a road, the issues became apparent after spending some time inside, with road traffic noise as well as public background noise clearly heard.Key to resolving the issues was to ensure appropriate acoustic measures were carried out when converting this existing property into apartments, and that the party walls and/or ceilings met the required standards for conversion under the Building Regulations, Approved Document E.Working with Andrew Bentley, the architect and Kevin Cretney of Kinrade Construction, a solution incorporating the following was provided:HD1044 ACOUSTIC BASEMENT SYSTEMThis system has been created with residential properties in mind and is made up of a combination of materials that offer excellent sound reduction within the specified area.The basement system is made up of Hush Slab 100 which is tightly packed within the joists, Hush Deep Resilient Bars, which are fixed horizontally to the underneath of the joists and Hush Multi Panel which is fixed to the underside of the bars. 15mm of Fireline Plasterboard is then used to over board the Multi Panel.HD1041 ACOUSTIC WALL LINING SYSTEMThis system has been thoroughly tested to exceed Building Regulations and our competitor’s wall lining products. It is made up of Hush Multi Panel, the 15mm Fireline which is then installed over, ensuring joints are staggered. The perimeters are sealed using Hush Isolation Tape, as well as our Acoustic Sealant. These boards are then fixed to the Deep Resilient Bars and Hush Slab 25 is fitted in between. The Bars are then fixed horizontally to the wall.The benefits of this system are its high standards of airborne sound reduction, can reduce both flanking and direct sound transmission and creates a minimum loss of space.HD1038 HUSH ACOUSTIC FLOOR SYSTEM MF28This floor system is a highly rated performer and has again been thoroughly tested within areas that require exceptional acoustic control. Made up of Hush Panel 28 which is laid over the chipboard deck and sealed using Hush Seal 20. The Hush MF Ceiling System is then installed to the underside of the joists, to the back of the plasterboard lining. Hush Slab 100 is then installed tightly within the ceiling void. Two layers of plasterboard is then installed to the underside of the MF system and all perimeters sealed with the Hush Acoustic Sealant.Outstanding resultsTests carried out on completion of the acoustic treatment showed immediate results, which completely exceeded the acoustic requirements for conversion within the Building Regulations and also surpassed New Build standards.Chartered Architect, Andrew Bentley, said, "Thank you for all your help and support. I will be happy to use your products again in future."

Regupol studwork isolating strips helped prevent flanking sound between suites at the new Hard Days Night hotel in Liverpool.The ChallengeWhen a suitable site was finally found for Hard Days Night, the eagerly anticipated Beatles themed hotel in Liverpool, an ambitious two-year development plan was put in place to convert the historic listed building into a prestigious four star hotel.Extensive alterations to the internal area of the building created 110 guest bedrooms, which included two exclusive Lennon and McCartney suites, bars, restaurants and function rooms as well as a wedding chapel.Designed to create a unique environment with a high quality feel, it was essential that Hard Days Night lived up to the expectations of the many visitors it would welcome. Part of this meant ensuring that bedrooms were adequately soundproofed, to ensure guests were not disturbed.As with many refurbishment projects, the floor construction was timber, which left Hornport Construction, the main contractors on the project, tasked with finding a compatible acoustic treatment that would help prevent sound transfer between bedrooms.The SolutionAlthough internal wall isolation was the specified acoustic treatment, Hornport Construction was able to make the final purchasing decision as to which products would be used. After consultation with CMS Acoustic Solutions, Regupol studwork isolating strips were identified as the most cost effective solution to deliver the required acoustic performance.Manufactured from recycled polyurethane (PUR) foam, Regupol studwork isolating strips are supplied at a standard thickness of 6mm, and widths to suit specific development requirements. Sitting beneath all types of timber partitions, the studwork strips reduce structure borne noise by absorbing sound and de-coupling the connection between floor and wall constructions.Resistant to ageing and deformation, Regupol studwork isolating strips offer long-term performance and will not collapse under high point loads.Available exclusively in the UK through CMS Acoustic Solutions, Regupol studwork isolating strips are supplied with comprehensive installation guidelines, making it simple for contractors to install independently on site. Easily laid, the Regupol material is bonded straight to the subfloor, with the partition erected directly on top.The ResultAt the Hard Days Night Hotel, Regupol studwork isolating strips were used to isolate the party walls separating the corridors and bedrooms. Designed specifically for use with timber, Regupol studwork isolating strips offered the ideal solution to isolate a party wall sitting on an existing timber floor.Gerry Abraham, site manager, Hornport Construction, concludes: “The Hard Days Night is a four star hotel, so high acoustic standards were imperative. We initially looked at timber sole plates with pre-fitted isolating strips, but this was quite an expensive route. We consulted CMS Acoustics who were able to provide a cost effective and high performing alternative with the Regupol studwork isolating strip – which was just as quick and easy to use.”

CHALLENGEAn ambitious project, and one of the first certified PassivHaus homes in the UK - the Denby Dale PassivHaus in West Yorkshire, had to to use 90% less energy for space heating than the average UK dwelling – with a space heating need of only 15 kWh/m2/ year. The three-bedroom property is the first UK Passivhaus to be built in a traditional style using cavity wall construction and had to be built to a tight budget of £141,000.SOLUTION“We decided to go down the cavity wall path and arrived at the design for several reasons including: planning restrictions, thermal store, cost, and maybe most important of all, buildability,” explains Bill Butcher, Project Leader.Excellent performing insulation is obviously fundamental to Passivhaus construction and the Denby Dale house has 300mm Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 in the walls, 500mm Knauf Insulation Loft Roll 44 in the roof void (both of which incorporate ECOSE® Technology) along with 225mm of high-performing Polyfoam® Floorboard Standard* insulation in the floor.“We’re fully filling the cavity with glass mineral wool insulation for the walls above ground, because it helps minimise air movement in the cavity and offers greater flexibility, fitting snugly around the ties, openings and imperfections of the masonry surface.” comments Bill Butcher.Economics, performance, availability, ease of fitting and reducing thermal bypass were all among the benefits of the Knauf Insulation products chosen.*No longer sold through Knauf Insulation.BENEFITSGlass Mineral Wool was specified over rigid insulation to ensure a tight thermal fit. Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are flexible enough to eliminate air gaps and prevent heat loss due to their inherent ability to knit together at joints between the slabs. If rigid insulation is used and fitted badly with too many gaps, air movement around and between the insulation boards is increased, which can drastically reduce its insulation value.Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slabs are BBA Certified for all exposure zones and formally guaranteed for 50 years to prevent the transmission of liquid water from the outer masonry leaf to the inner masonry leaf.In addition to its thermal performance glass mineral wool also has other sustainable features. In manufacture it uses a high content of recycled glass bottles and requires less overall energy consumption than some alternative products, resulting in less carbon emissions. In addition, it can be recycled at the end of a building’s life and has zero GWP and zero ODP. ECOSE® Technology further extends these established green credentials as it is manufactured with 70% less energy than traditional binders and the products contain no dyes or added formaldehyde – providing the ideal solution to the eco-friendly house.

The Kingspan TEK Building System and Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel have been installed as part of the new Seaton Jurassic visitor centre in Devonshire, forming the gateway to the region’s historic Jurassic Coast. BREEAM ‘Very Good’ was a central requirement on the project, and the Kingspan TEK products delivered the excellent thermal and airtightness performance that was needed in a single operation. As a result, costs were reduced and speed of construction was significantly increased when compared with a traditional stud wall approach.

A survey of architects and housebuilders commissioned by Renderplas, the PVC render beading manufacturer, provides an interesting insight into attitudes to sustainable building products in the face of increasing environmental obligations for the construction industry. The survey explored to what extent a product’s sustainability shapes specification, and whether system components like external render beads are subjected to the same environmental scrutiny as the main building elements such as windows, walls, and roofs. “80% of architects and housebuilders surveyed said they specify external render”

A recent upgrade to ward kitchens included the provision of stainless steel worktops, basins and base cabinets, by stainless steel specialist, GEC Anderson Limited.In a phased upgrade program, the Foundation Trust approached GEC Anderson directly to agree detailing, specifications and costings for the various ward kitchens. The scope of work included bespoke worktops, sinktops, base cabinets and wall-hung wash basins.The results are professional, hygienic and durable kitchens that will stand the test of time for the Trust.

Location: Westminster, LondonProject Type: Housing & Retail unitDevelopment Cost: £7mProduct: Rainscreen Panels with Relief MotifMeridian Wall CopingsVertical KwikFix CladdingKwikFix Soffit Planks to Balconies & Winter GardensFinish: IGP Dura XAL 4201 Style 26 MetallicClient: Taylor Wimpey Central LondonArchitect: Darling AssociatesMain Contractor: McAleer & Rushe LtdSub Contractor: KTD Facades Ltd

Large laboratories, dubbed ‘super-labs’, use AV and acoustic technology to allow up to 120 students to be taught different lessons at the same time in the same space. There is also a range of flexible spaces that help bridge the gap between disciplines, allowing researchers to find better solutions by working together. The labs and research areas benefit from plenty of natural light and ventilation thanks to large expanses of glazing constructed with Schüco FWS 50 curtain walling.

Seveme’s expertise in metal structure works combined with Pyroguard’s multi-functional range of toughened fire safety glass, Pyroguard Protect, enabled the build of the new Algeria Gulf Bank headquarters. Through the informed specification of additional counterpanes, the curtain wall of this futuristic building was able to achieve an EI120 fire rating, as well as effective solar control. Meanwhile in the internal lobby, where safety and style were key, a unique composition that combined both requirements was used.

Built on the site of a public house that had been derelict for years, this exclusive development of three- and four-story buildings provides accommodation for students from the nearby University of East Anglia.The development has been designed to be sympathetic to the surrounding area, and features Smart’s high-performance Alitherm 800 window system, as well as Smart Wall framing and anti-finger trap doors, and Visoglide Plus sliding doors, which open out on to a common patio area..

Lindner made a significant contribution to the new construction of the National Museum's main building: from planning to implementation. Today, a variety of Lindner ceiling systems, such as luminous ceilings, stretch ceilings and textile ceilings, are installed between the works of art. In combination with Lindner wall claddings, they meet both aesthetic and functional requirements, offering visitors an undisturbed art experience. In addition, Lindner was instrumental in the conversion and implementation of system partitions that maximise the flexibility and adaptability of the exhibition spaces

webertherm XP External Wall Insulation system has been specified for a contemporary new build in a designated conservation area in South West England. The revolutionary system has been used on the walls of the property while weberpral M through-coloured render has been used extensively to long runs of concrete walling.The planning term ‘conservation area’ all too often results in unimaginative new build designs mimicking the surrounding aesthetics rather than offering creative architecture that enhances the area. This stunning new home in Somerset illustrates perfectly how architectural flare and modern building techniques are fused to deliver a property that contributes greatly to the local environment.The 430m² private residence has extensive glazing to capture the glorious rural views and to encourage the benefits of maximum natural light. Sleek expanses of webertherm XP EWI with webertherm M1 through-coloured render enhances the profile of the house from all aspects. By embracing the topography of the site, which placed the front entrance at first floor level, and letting the rest of the house flow down to a lower ground floor layout, the house presents a low and softened profile to the onlooker.An enlightened planning approval was achieved for this privately commissioned design by Jason Jackson of Jackson Architects Ltd, Taunton. “An earlier traditional design was not considered suitable by local planners and we were asked to offer alternative designs for this family home. The client was immediately excited about a minimalist and modern design idea and asked us to submit the application. After careful negotiation with the conservation and planning officers, they agreed that the contemporary architectural style of the building would make a highly individual but fitting addition to the very traditional properties in the area. The only significant condition imposed on the planning approval was the removal of the permitted development rights so as to protect the purity of the design! We were really quite amazed and flattered to get this acknowledgement,” smiles Jason Jackson.Matching the dramatic visual appeal of this unique property is the construction formula and advanced thermal efficiency that has been achieved. The external walls are constructed as a single skin formed with 215mm thermal blocks that are protected by webertherm XP EWI using 50mm of high performance phenolic insulation.  webertherm M1, an advanced one-coat, polymer modified, mineral render, is factory batched and designed for spray application to reduce on-site labour time and access costs and has been used in White. A decorative scraped texture finish has been applied to the White render which catches and holds the light.Mark Pickthall, of M P Plastering, Somerset, carried out the insulation and render application for contractor Fry Developments Limited. The applicator also specified weberend aid to create a key coat before applying weberpral M through-coloured render, in Chalk, to surface finish long runs of poured concrete walling running from the house to the drive and garage areas. “The superb smart finish of the house structure achieved with the scraped surface of the 250m² of webertherm M1 render really underlines the beautiful architecture of this house which makes a great statement in the locality. We are all pleased to have been part of this exciting project,” reports Mark.Simon Fry, Fry Developments, is equally proud of this new build and pleased to have accepted the recommendation to use the webertherm EWI system. “My experience has only been with traditional sand and cement renders but Mark highlighted the qualities of the Weber system and I must say the result is superb. It’s a ‘no risk’ decision now for Fry Developments to use Weber products on my future contracts.”

Conceived to offer comfort and support for patients and their families dealing with the trauma of cancer treatment, Maggie’s Centres are also amongst the most striking of buildings to be found across our NHS estates, with the latest to be completed also showcasing the capacity of the UK construction industry to give form to architects’ most imaginative concepts.Daniel Libeskind’s design for the Maggie’s centre at the Royal Free Hospital in North London eschew conformity in delivering a structure without vertical lines or flat surfaces, posing complex challenges for the contractors, including the fire-stopping specialists of Middlesex Ltd. who have made full use of FIREFLY®s flexible fire barriers to protect the multi-directional form of the walls and soffits. The 12 month build programme has been led by Sir Robert McAlpine, the Management Contractor and long-time supporter of the Maggie’s charity, with Buckinghamshire based Middlesex Ltd. being appointed to install the façade and drywall wall elements to the build.  As regular users of the FIREFLY® range, its fire-stopping division has employed Zeus Lite, Titan Lite and Collaroll across both the internal and external build up, covering the steelwork and other main elements to the structure. The Site Manager for Middlesex, Simon Coldwell, commented: “Because of the shape of the building, whose walls lean and curve in three directions, it would have been impossible to carry out conventional fire-stopping operations using fire boards and fire batts without extensive fire testing: so the FIREFLY® products have proved ideal.  The company’s technical reps have been out to site on a number of occasions – confirming compliance and providing special details for areas such as where the steel beams had to be wrapped at the wall/soffit junction.  These had to allow for the potential expansion of intumescent paint of the steel in a fire, as well as maintaining continuity of protection.” “As well as the fire-stopping internally, all of the exterior to the walls at ground and first floor level are wrapped in FIREFLY®.  The barriers have been installed over the main frame and are then covered by 200mm of insulation, a Tyvek breather membrane and then the timber cassette cladding panels. “ “We have had half a dozen of our Middlesex Fire-Stopping operatives on site for long periods, all of whom have attended the FIREFLY® training courses and who are well experienced in fitting the various systems.  The work has gone very well.”   A spokesperson for Sir Robert McAlpine said: “Each designed by a world-renowned architect, Maggie’s centres are some of the most distinctive buildings in Britain as such they are often incredibly challenging to construct.  It was this complexity that led to our initial involvement with the charity, at the award-winning, Kisho-Kurokawa-designed Maggie’s Centre at Singleton Hospital, Swansea.  Since Swansea, we have been involved in a number of the charity’s projects overseeing the construction management of Maggie’s at half a dozen hospitals.” By offering 90 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation, FIREFLY® Zeus Lite 90:30 exceeds the minimum requirements regarding fire barriers under the Building Regulations’ Approved Document B (Fire Safety).  The specially treated glass fibre fabric is strong and resilient as well as flexible while, crucially, the system’s certification covers the inclusion of service penetrations which some products do not. Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY® range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios.  The barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of FIREFLY® ancillary products in order to ensure a fully tested and certified installed system.FIREFLY® Barriers Conform To Complex Shape Of Latest Maggie’s Cancer Centre - TBA Firefly

THE PROJECT: Recticel supplied the high-performance thermal solution to transform a 100-year-old property in Moseley, Birmingham. Divided into nine apartments, in which two were refurbished to create one, two-storey home, the project caught the attention of the producers of Channel Four's Old House to New Home. Connecting a ground floor property to a flat above led to the creation of a modern and stylish home trimmed with decorative reminders of its structural origins.THE SOLUTION: Eurothane® GP, a high-performance rigid PIR foam board, was selected for the new home's pitched roof, framed wall and floor. Eurothane PL, Recticel's insulation and plasterboard solution was fitted to the property's existing, cavity-less, nine-inch exterior brick walls. The well-sized board ensures minimal thermal bridging during construction.Coupled with Eurothane® GP's 0.022W/mK low thermal conductivity, these products were crucial to attaining a good U-value rating. In total, 130m2 of Eurothane® GP and Eurothane® PL panels were installed.The homeowner, Paul explained:"As we were carrying-out most of the building work ourselves we wanted the best possible insulation for the project. Research revealed Recticel's solutions fitted the bill. Excellent thermal performance and simple to-fit, they were a far superior alternative to other insulants we considered. The panels have done so much to create a welcoming and comfortable interior environment."Used products:Eurothane® GP:Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installers.Eurothane® PL:Suitable for mechanical fixing or dot and dab fixing, this insulated board is consistently sized with extremely tight tolerances, ensuring thermal bridging is minimised. Factory bonded, the plasterboard provides optimum board dimensions and optimum adhesion between layers.

No less than eight different solid wood floors from Junckers were used as part of the spectacular design for US company Slack’s new headquarters in San Francisco. Installed as both flooring and wall panelling, various timbers, colours and finishes were used to tell the interior story. A floor-by-floor tour takes you on a nature trail. Taking inspiration from the company CEO’s passion for the outdoors, architects Studio O+A used the Pacific Crest Trail as the basis for their design. All ten floors convey a different terrain found on the wilderness trail, from desert landscapes to mountain peaks. For a design centred around nature itself, the architects specified Junckers’ wooden floors for their natural beauty and functionality. The beauty of the grain pattern found in real wood can never be replicated, and a solid wood floor is a durable, sustainable choice for a busy office space. The project has received numerous design accolades and awards, including a place on the “2019 World’s 10 Most Beautiful Offices’ list. A floor by floor guide to Slack HQ:1st floor – Basecamp featuring Junckers Nordic Oak Classic + Black Oak on walls and seating pods2nd floor – Rocky desert featuring Junckers Oak Harmony plank flooring4th floor – Mountains featuring Junckers Oak Harmony plank flooring5th floor – Mountain lakes featuring Junckers Nordic Oak Harmony + Oak Harmony Driftwood Grey plank flooring6th floor – Waterfalls & streams featuring Junckers Nordic Oak Harmony plank flooring7th floor – Forest featuring Junckers Oak Variation Wild Hazel two-strip flooring8th floor – Volcano crater featuring Junckers Black Oak Harmony plank flooring + Textured Black Oak Variation as wall panelling9th floor – Glacier featuring Junckers Nordic Oak + Nordic Oak Harmony White Plus plank flooring10th floor – Summit featuring Junckers Oak Harmony Golden Pearl plank flooring

The XR Lab in the STEM Hangar at West Suffolk College is the most advanced augmented reality centre in the UK, predicted to lead the future of digital education.Windsor Patania Architects has created within an existing hangar a 700m2 structure that inspires and challenges from the moment students see it. Central to that impact has been the use of Arnourcoat’s SMG high gloss polished plaster on all exterior facades- including a dramatic three-dimensional geometric feature wall.The £2m design & build project, intended to re-shape vocational training in digital sciences as part of the College’s science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) specialist campus, was completed in just seven months. This was despite featuring numerous bespoke elements, and complex components- of which the feature wall was a significant part, with its combination of planes and angles.Architect Giovanni Patania originally intended the wall to be finished with metal- stainless steel, aluminium or zinc but it proved impossible to create to the standard required within the budget. Armourcoat’s superior luxurious SMG polished plaster delivered a practical, viable alternative, that met all Regulatory requirements for indoor air quality, zero VOC, low embodied carbon, fire resistance an thermal movement.SMG, with its rich, high gloss “lacquer” effect, could be accurately applied to create a seamless finish across the diverse facets of the entire XR Lab structure, building up the layers over the timber and plasterboard framework. In Armourcoat’s own dark grey colour palette, it reflects light to create a dark, reflective finish reminiscent of 2011: A Space Odyssey’s Monolith.The brief was to achieve something that was unprecedented and unique, that inspired future generations but made students feel it was a piece of alien architecture. I don’t think anyone expected the end result to be so impressive.“Armourcoat was superb in its level of support, from samples to being on site to give technical guidance on the plaster’s application. SMG is instrumental in achieving an opulent, reflective, futuristic exterior that inspires students to interact with and participate in the XR Lab experience."Giovanni Patania, Windsor Patania Architects

THE PROJECTThe Landmark Place project is a Barratt London development located on the north bank of the River Thames neighbouring both the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The development is home to 165 luxury apartments and penthouses set amongst striking architecture, offering unrivalled views across the city of London.Landmark Place is a residence that truly pushes the boundaries of residential facilities, which include 24-hour concierge services, a 20-metre indoor pool, spa, fitness suite, underground parking, cinema, lounge and business suite.The residence is closely located to the underground, overground, rail and river services for quick access to the whole of London, and is perfectly located just moments from London’s financial centre.The Safety Letterbox Company worked with the design team at Barratt London to manufacture a product that met both the style and mail delivery requirements on the project.THE PRODUCTBarratt London required 165 mailboxes that would form a mailroom area situated close to the reception lobby area in the project. The model of mailbox used was the classic COM 2 product which was recessed into the wall. Wall recessed mailboxes are extremely popular in this type of development as they maximise the available space in the area of installation and ensure that all health and safety requirements are achieved in the project walkways.Each mailbox has been number engraved in a contrasting silver infilled colour, allowing both mail delivery personnel and quickly identify which mailbox it is that they need to use. The mailbox engraving correlates to the apartment number of the residents.The COM 2 mailboxes used have been finished in a non-standard IGP Dura colour which was specified by the design team at Barratt London to meet the style requirements of the project. Running around the mailboxes is a surround trim, which provides a clean finish between the mailboxes and the installation wall.All mailboxes use an upgraded locks featuring a matt black finish. The contrasting matt black locks match other hardware on the project such as lighting components and door trims. Bespoke mailbox locks are something that is often specified on high-end projects, contact us for more information about available finishes.

Tucked away in a marvellous natural landscape, the Parc Hotel Du Lac that looks out onto Lake Levico, offers guests a breath-taking view and a tremendous breadth of services.The structure is an intimate and welcoming oasis, created using a variety of different wood look porcelain tiles and stone look porcelain tiles by Atlas Concorde. The naturalness of the surfaces chosen for floors and walls merges with the clean harmony of the surrounding environment, for a unique effect of immense visual impact. The large restaurant area and the veranda are covered with Axi, wood look porcelain tiles with age-old effect, with an intense and natural character as well as excellent planning potential. The warm and bright Golden Oak colour, rich in veining, bestows the space a touch of refined, extremely natural luxury. Atlas Concorde collections have been used for the bathroom floors and the bathroom walls: for instance, the View collection, which creates a vibrant and engulfing atmosphere combining functionality and design. Some corridors and a lounge area are characterised by a dynamic multi-size installation created using the Copper colour of Trust, stone look porcelain tiles recalling natural quartzite and Luserna stone. A perfect synthesis of aesthetics and technology, the collection also finds perfect application in the outdoor floors of the hotel structure.

The award-winning and BREEAM Outstanding Engineering Building at the internationally renowned Lancaster University features a complete range of architectural aluminium glazing systems from Technal. Located on the Lancaster University campus in the North West of England, the new engineering facility was awarded Winner of the RIBA National Award for 2015 and was highly commended by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in the Design through Innovation category at the 2016 RICS North West Awards. Purpose-built to a world-class standard, the scheme comprises of 4,701 sqm of workshop, laboratory and office space in two concrete framed blocks either side of a dramatic four-storey atrium. Using passive techniques to achieve the environmental performance measure of BREEAM 'outstanding' in the design assessment, which is in-line with Lancaster University's sustainability and carbon reduction targets. With this in mind, aluminium doors and curtain walling were chosen for this project. The Facade is featured throughout the building, and was specified for its contemporary aesthetics. The system also includes concealed vents to allow natural ventilation without compromising the architectural integrity of the facade. With natural light being a key part of the specification, Technal aluminium curtain walling allowed larger and heavier glazing units to be installed thanks to its superior load distribution, permitting more natural light to flow through the building's rooms.