"cafe"

The Junction, a new £3.5m Euro-supported community asset at Railway Park in Dungannon caters for a wide range of activities.The building, which has been created to host meetings, training, workshops and features a state-of-the-art conference space, café and casual meeting rooms, is located at the historic, 13th century Hill of the O’Neill and ancient capital of Ulster.THE CHALLENGEThe architects’ vision for the building was one that gave the impression of open access from every angle, set within beautiful grounds incorporating a pedestrian promenade and plaza.A key consideration was the need for a hard landscaped surface which would sympathetically blend into the aesthetic vision for inviting approaches and provide a durable ground cover for heavy footfall, requiring minimal maintenance, and with assured longevity.THE SOLUTIONArchitects, Hall, Black and Douglas chose AG’s Granaza flag because of its distinctive textured finish that combines granite and quartz whilst offering a great look with robust durability and excellent levels of slip resistance.In addition Xflo® Plaza Salt (Silver) and Xflo® Plaza Pepper (Slate) permeable paving was chosen for both form and function.As well as providing a proven means of controlling surface water flow, Plaza Salt (Silver) and Plaza Pepper’s (Slate) striking aesthetics acted as a perfect foil with the Granaza flags, creating the dimensional depth and enhancing the definition between the vehicular and pedestrian areas resulting in an attractive, distinctive effect.Meanwhile AG’s Terrakerb® offered a reliable alternative to natural stone with which to frame the paved areas.Within the grounds, AG’s products organically link the promenade and plaza to the surrounding park and existing routes to and from the amenity, in a sympathetically appealing fashion.Sean Mullen, QMAC Senior Contracts Manager praised AG’s supply capabilities and said the finished building was a ‘statement piece’.

Artform Urban Furniture was appointed by Robertson Construction to provide a complete range of street furniture elements including seating, planters, cycle parking, and bollards to the external space of a newly built Care Centre and Library in the historic market town of Belper. We offered extensive assistance throughout the project including attendance at design meetings looking at materiality, cost, and installation demands which changed a number of times throughout the project.Although largely a new build, the existing façades of a former Thornton’s Factory have been retained, refurbished, and carefully incorporated into the scheme maintaining considerations of the UNESCO World Heritage Site status of the area.Artforms' premium selection of street furniture perpetuates the careful consideration for the site heritage as well as offering an inviting space for the public and residents of the home. As well as providing space for socialising and natural splashes of colour with plants, the concrete seating and planters echo the light stone of the new section of the development.The inclusion of Moka Bollards and Cubes in Corten provides elegant seating and pedestrian safety whilst coordinating with the restored red-bricked factory façades. The Corten products were supplied with a unique seal coating that significantly reduces the risk of any leaching - ensuring the surrounding paving maintains its clean light colour.The symmetry in the positioning and layout of these elements creates an inviting space leading to the building’s entrance.Finally, a shelter and a number of cycle stands have been provided to ensure people traveling to the space on bikes have secure parking spaces. The new Ada Belfield Centre & Belper Library was previously an unused and derelict building, now it is a space to offer high-quality care that is connected to the local community. Events can now take place bringing residents and members of the public together by utilising the new external space as well as the Library, which also features a café.

A place to meet and great, socialise and eat. An expanding brand of modern eateries are enjoying the versatility of Technowood’s ability to adjust with this changing restaurant environment.An existing client since 2009 has enjoyed the qualities of TechnoWood cladding; for many of the chain restaurant facilities that it has in its portfolio.The client did say “a friend of mine laughed the other day when he said – you should have used Technowood instead of that solid wood.” He said this to the MD of Technowood… they then both laughed.The goal of the designer in charge of the group has created a serene social destination for local visitors. Our design motto being ‘’Design a Vision, Make an Impression, Create an Experience’’The Café element features 2 floors with the usable space spread over 827 square metres; the terrace flows from inside to out thus creating this multi-use space for all weathers.Vertical pilasters in varying forms, all designed and fabricated off site by technood to facilitate a rapid installation where labour is reduced. Cladding in the main is a simple click to install system. The click system is a rapid installation for a cladding facard; the backing track is fixed to the substrate and the cladding simply clicking over the backing track in literally seconds.The colour has lasted well since it’s installation in 2013; the client has had the cladding re-varnished and the project looks like new and ready for the next 10 years or so.Further informationFor further information please get in touch 01494 773344 office@technowood.uk You’re more than welcome to visit our showroom at The Sky House Design Centre  We are open Monday – Friday and Saturday’s by appointment. If you’re an Architect or Designer we would be delighted to visit your office and present our CPD and provide a full set of samples.