"external insulation of external walls"

In 2013, The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) announced plans for a multi-million pound refurbishment of the No.1 Court, famous as the second largest Show Court used for The Championships, Wimbledon. Included in the plans was the installation of two living walls, one each side of the Big Screen facing Aorangi Terrace, commonly known as ‘the Hill’. To achieve this landscape vision Biotecture was appointed to work with the AELTC on the design, planting, installation and maintenance of the living walls.

Made up of eight buildings and one tower, Deptford Foundry houses 276 private homes in total. A selection of one, two and three-bedroom homes are on offer, all boasting balconies or terraces.Deptford Foundry also has 32,000 sq ft of studio spaces provided by Second Floor Studio & Arts spaces for over 450 artists, crafters, designers and makers, plus its residents have access to a beautiful, communal landscape garden.Set in a thriving local community, the rest of the city is also within easy reach via the nearby stations at New Cross and Deptford.Shield Membranes supplied all external waterproofing, insulation and finishing products. Including our own ShieldINTENSIVE living roof product to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish to external areas.

Major barracks improvements for service personnel at Tidworth, Wiltshire, feature external walls newly rendered with military precision using PVC beading from Renderplas to ensure well-regimented joints, corners and edges.

London Brick Multi and White wall panels were specified in the design for a new café at Battersea. Chosen for their natural textures and features, the panels help create real atmosphere. Produced from original walls, Vtec panels contain in excess of 50% natural pigments, oxides and minerals. They're lightweight enough to be used almost on any type of structure, as well as being strong and highly durable - perfect for high traffic areas. Panels were installed either side of Arches, mounted on false walls. Large panel size achieved wall coverage quickly and easily with concealed joints for a seamless finish.

The trend for using wall-hung (or wall-mounted) technology to enhance bathroom appeal is becoming increasingly popular. As buyers seek out washrooms that are not only functional but inspirational, it’s never been more important for developers to add real value to new projects. In this article, we discuss how Geberit’s wall-hung solutions and the technology involved can enhance washroom design and accessibility for any sized project.

BackgroundThe new multi-million euro Buncrana Primary Care Centre development was an exceptional project to be involved with. This high-profile project was funded by the HSE, with the aim of bringing many healthcare services together in one new state-of-the-art centre. Construction was led by local company McCallion Group and the 56,500sq ft. facility, which is spread across three storeys, boasts underground car parking which can house 126 staff. The centre is an excellent asset to the local community, ensuring the vital health services people need to avail of on a regular basis are available in one central location. For the client, the key requirement was to build a modern, aesthetically pleasing, energy efficient facility that achieved a target U-value of 0.15W/m ² K. After extensive planning, focusing on matching an appropriate insulation system with a complementary finish, K Systems provided a full technical specification and a comprehensive delivery plan.Our ServiceOur dedicated team of technical specialists were on hand to fully support throughout the duration of this project, ensuring the highest levels of construction were achieved. The K Systems Technical Manager, Gerry McErlean regularly visited the project to inspect progress and offer hands-on-guidance and technical support. Local installer GD Plastering worked very closely with Gerry to ensure a high standard of work was achieved and great attention to detail is evident throughout this project. Due to the size and scale of the Care Centre, Gerry recommended that the TC render finish was spray applied to ensure a consistent finish and aid the speed of application. GD Plastering took this advice on board and invested in a spray machine, resulting in a uniform finish, faster completion and reduced labour.Technical Project Details After numerous design meetings taking into consideration client requirements, budget and timeframes, the K Systems E EWI system was specified. This high-performance, light-weight and cost effective system based on expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulating panels offers a great fire rating of B-s1,d0 and is available in a range of finishes. The mixed substrate of reinforced concrete and lightweight block had alignment issues. We specified the use of multiple thicknesses of insulation boards, that were fixed adhesively and mechanically to overcome these alignment issues. Our specification included bespoke technical detailing, such as compression joint detailing on every floor and our site inspection teams were on-site when required to offer a range of support and guidance. For the finish, thin coat silicone render (Silicone TC) was specified. Providing a variety of benefits, K Systems thin coat render offers silicone and polymer-modified technology to provide long term weather protection, alongside excellent breathability and water repellency properties. With the unpredictable Irish weather, this durable finish will withstand the elements and offers an eye catching, clean design, creating a modern and crisp aesthetic. Available in a wide range of colours, K Systems silicone render is the most flexible on the market, making cracking over its lifetime less likely. Its ease of application made it an ideal choice for a project of this scale and size and its hydrophobic properties provide a low-maintenance finish for years to come. We delivered a long-lasting, safe, eye-catching design for the Buncrana Primary Care Centre that brings exceptional thermal comfort to the property. The target U-value was achieved, allowing energy savings and reduced costs for the client throughout the lifetime of the Centre.

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.

This SIPS panel building on the Blackpool promenade was specified in Topseal HD on the roof, external and internal walls. Due to the hard wearing properties of GRP, it was the best solution when dealing with all of the elements experienced on the sea front.

We supplied and fitted a combination of Wall Protection solutions at St Ninian’s High School in East Renfrewshire, reducing the impact of scuffs and scrapes in the school’s corridors, improving its internal appearance and enhancing the environment. “We were looking for a way to deal with wear and tear and how to keep the school in pristine condition, particularly after the refurbishment of certain areas,” explains Anne O’Neill, Business Support Manager at St Ninian’s. “It was clear that a new approach was needed, so we contacted Gradus about their wall protection solutions.”

Rather than eliminating external noise, secondary glazing manufactured by Granada Secondary Glazing has been installed to keep the noise in at a university’s music department and prevent disturbance to nearby residents.Although more commonly specified to reduce noise intrusion in buildings, secondary glazing is equally effective at stopping excessive sound levels leaking out due to its superior acoustic insulation performance.

ESSENZA HOME opts for a sustainable green façadeInterior and lifestyle brand ESSENZA HOME has moved into a new, completely renovated office in Bunnik in 2021. The new office is entirely sustainability-oriented. The Mobilane green façade at Essenza Home contributes to the company’s sustainability vision and provides a warm welcome for its retailers, customers, and staff. Family business ESSENZA HOME has been designing, producing, and distributing home & living products to suit various interior styles for 60 years. In 2021, the company moved to a new office in Bunnik. The building of no less than 2500 m2 is located directly on the A12 motorway. The new premises was built with an eye to the future and aligned with their sustainability vision. Therefore, the sustainable green Mobilane façade was a logical choice.Installation of the green façadeThe installation of the green walls was quick and easy. The green walls, with a total surface area of over 200 square meters, were placed against the stone and wooden façade by means of Magnelis steel omega profiles. The design incorporated the window and door sections and the water and electricity pipes.The almost 10,000 plants are installed in modular cassettes and pixels attached to the profiles. All of the cassettes, pixels, and covers are made of a fire-retardant EPP (B-s2, d0). This material is light, UV-resistant, air-permeable (for good root growth), and fully recyclable. An automated irrigation system provides the MobiPanel green walls with water and nutrients.Plant selection for the green façadeThe plants in the green facades were selected according to various factors. The orientation of the façade, the different flowering seasons, plants that stimulate biodiversity, and, finally, aesthetics were all considered. For example, Bregenis ‘Bressingham White’ is a beautiful spring bloomer with elegant white flowers that bloom from April onwards. The Vinca minor is a strong evergreen covering plant. It also flowers very early in spring. Vinca minor can be used on facades in both sunny and shady spots. The Vinca will produce more flowers in the sun than in the shade. Geranium Rozanne is a carrier plant for wild bees. Many species of wild bees, as well as butterflies and bumblebees, find their nectar here.Advantages of the green façadeThe green wall on the two outer walls is a real eye-catcher. Floor Smits, Head of Brands and second generation in the family business: “As a family business, we find it important to focus on the long term. During the renovation, we, therefore, invested heavily in sustainable solutions. When we were introduced to the possibility of a vertical garden for the façade, we were immediately enthusiastic. The green wall has many advantages, such as purifying the air, increasing biodiversity, and providing a nice haven for bees and other insects. Finally, we want to make a statement and show that we are committed to a sustainable world.” In addition to the office, there is also a b2b showroom and a brand store will be opened for consumers this year.Increased biodiversityRosalie Smits, Head of Channels and also the second generation of the family business, indicates that biodiversity is an important spearhead for the organization.The green façade attracts many insects, thus stimulating biodiversity in the area. As described earlier, the flowers of Geranium Rozanne, among others, provide nectar for many insects such as the wild bee and butterflies. Wild bees and butterflies are an important link in our food chain. They provide 60% of the pollination of our fruit and vegetables.The facades also attract various birds and other insects and serve both as food and as nesting and hiding places. In the cassettes between the plants, birds can nest safely. The first bird’s nest in the green façade at Essenza Home was found just a few weeks after installation.Client: ESSENZA HOMEArchitect: BK PuntConstruction period: 2021Installation: MobiCare

The living wall at the new Postal Museum in London demonstrates ground-breaking living wall technology with the integration of 5 post boxes within a 21m × 3m elevation consisting of 3,468 plants in the freestanding vertical garden structure.

Gradus has supplied and fitted a range of wall protection solutions as part of the £16m newly built Bitterne Park School in Southampton. The new school includes 80 new teaching classrooms, a purpose-built assembly hall/theatre, a new dining space with a fully fitted kitchen and purpose built fully fitted classrooms to house the students as part of their Food and Nutrition studies.

This living green wall in the heart of Camden provides real colour and interest to match the MTV brand. The detail around the windows is a triumph of coordinated design.

Merchant Square was the largest Grade A office development ever to be undertaken in Belfast at the time of completion. Aluprof systems were used to help transform an existing office block with a completely new building envelope. The building has been entirely let to PwC and is their biggest office space outside of London with 3,000 employees.The external envelope was completed using Aluprof's MB-SE75 unitised curtain wall facade system and was then specified in an anodised finish, which then contrasts with the external Corten steel used in a vertical column emphasis to meet the architects design. With the rise in use of unitised curtain wall systems for medium sized projects, this option is becoming a real alternative to a traditional curtain wall solution, especially as costs are becoming more competitive. Unitised systems can also offer up to a 50% reduction in installation periods which can offer significant savings on the project programme.

Precast concrete Groundwall L-Shaped retaining wall panels, designed and manufactured by Whites Concrete (part of the Naylor Group) with a special rock face finish to blend in with existing surroundings have replaced an integral part of a cemetery wall structure in Wigan.

These bespoke 'top hat' folded panels have been used on the external walls and windows of Aston House, Finchley.Produced in both perforated and plain aluminium, these panels have been finished in a polyester powder coated finish

As business evolves and requirements change in our fast-paced world, London Wall Design continue to bring ground breaking, intuitive products to the industry and pride ourselves in being able to create unique and bespoke systems for all our clients, whatever the application. One of our latest projects which has been installed and tested has made us particularly proud and set a new standard in acoustic movable walls.The requirements on this project were clear and simple with very specific needs for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies and we were going to tackle it head on. A movable acoustic wall with radiation protection for a research and testing environment needing to maximise flexibility while still offering the safety and protection required in a radiology environment.Our Type 100SE semi-electrically operated movable wall was developed and tailor-made for this requirement; with X-Ray protection and specialised seals to ensure the ground-breaking radiation protection and acoustic levels would be achieved. Each wall weighed in the region of circa 6 tons and the top hung system was fitted with our Type “K“ track which allows for remote and varied stacking locations. The walls varied in width and height but were all finished in Rigato Formica laminate with aluminium protective edge trims. The vision panels in the pass doors were fitted with Med-X type single glazed glass between two layers of 4mm thick toughened glass.

The main hall at Bohunt, a state-of-the-art secondary school in Wokingham, benefits from superbly adaptable space thanks to a contemporary DORMA Hüppe Variflex operable wall, installed by UK supplier, Style. Meeting the demand for a system with a particularly narrow stacking solution, the Variflex incorporates panels and pass doors that can be as little as 976mm wide, as opposed to the more standard 1200mm width. Recognising a high level of commitment to craftmanship in the finishes and interiors section, Style recently won their 10th Gold in the prestigious FIS Contractor’s awards.

Project: Large scale MicroConcrete installation to all the internal walls, bathroom sinks & shower and furniture in a private house Client: Private Client Materials: Ivory colour MicroConcrete coating was hand trowelled in layers to a final thickness between 2 and 3mm and wax polished to achieve a satin finish This large scale, special project showcased innovative ways MicroConcrete can be applied to interior walls, bathroom sinks & shower and furniture without a need for joins or breaks. Its smooth finish makes it ideal for a modern, minimalist design that can be easily combined with materials like wood and ceramic.

£42m redevelopment of the Vaux Brewery site in Sunderland including an 18,000m2 civic office. Interpon D2525 fine texture metallic was the coating of choice for external mullions, curtain walling and panelwork. Finish: Interpon D2525 Yazd Sable, YW370F

Decorative wall linings from the Pendock Linea building linings range are being used at 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon, to conceal mechanical details surrounding a ground floor feature wall & fire curtain, while also providing a consistent finish to lift lobbies on each level of the 10 storey building.Designed by architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the building provides 340,000 square feet of office space and incorporates retail units at ground level. The bespoke wall linings are manufactured from 3mm thick aluminium with a RAL 8022 finish and were also installed by Pendock using a concealed panel hanging system.

Skyfold has launched a pioneering, fully automatic, moveable wall solution into the UK.The Skyfold Prisma, which is exclusively available from leading moveable wall specialists, Style, is a new and streamlined glass vertical partition which not only allows light to shine in but does so without the use of any wall or floor tracks, rendering it completely invisible when stored in the ceiling.“This is a real breakthrough in moveable wall technology from our global manufacturing partners, Skyfold,” said Style’s group managing director, Julian Sargent.“As a fully automated, acoustic glazed moveable wall that stacks into a ceiling cavity, its slim metal frame, clean lines, and sleek design will add elegance and an abundance of light to a wide range of rooms. We see demand being very strong in the corporate, hospitality, education, healthcare, religious and public sectors.”Skyfold Prisma's glass panels combine with a minimalist frame to allow light penetration into otherwise dark rooms and corridors, creating an open plan feel to any area, positively impacting both mood and productivity.With an impressive 52 Rw dB acoustic rating, Prisma also delivers privacy between divided spaces, allowing confidential meetings, classes, and collaborations to occur simultaneously. With space always at a premium, the panels of this innovative new partitioning wall cleverly ‘taper’ down into position, making it suitable for restricted areas or where there is potential for obstructions. Further maximising space, when not required, the partition can be quickly retracted into the ceiling cavity where it is neatly stored, completely out of sight. Skyfold has announced that Prisma is available in a variety of materials including glass, frosted glass and solid panels, with almost any combination being possible. Solid elements can be finished in fabric, vinyl, paint, laminate or even marker-board, allowing a true showcase feature to be created that is both superbly aesthetic as well as highly functional.

In an ambitious 12-month building project, the property was stripped to its ground-floor walls with a first-floor being completely reconstructed as a spectacular rectangular wooden box, with raw Accoya boards used for external cladding & fine sawn boards for internal decoration. Around 8 cubic metres of Accoya was used for both the external and internal cladding, supplied by Accoya distributor James Latham. Taking just over a year to complete, the renovation project has created a five-bedroom and four bathroom home for the Treasurers and their two children, delivered on a budget of less than £175,000.

Western Red Cedar Shingles with FRT Exterior® Fire Retardant Treatment (AA Rating) provided the Welsh Primary School in Swansea with feature cladding to the curved external walls, in order to create what the architect described as a ‘cedar shell’.

This Aluminium 'Simplicity' Corrugated Wall Pannelling System has been installed into an Office Reception Area.Finished in both Natural Anodised and white Powder Coating, these interlocking profiles have created a modern, sleek feature.

Visitors to Devon can enjoy the complete Passivhaus experience at the fully certified Passivhaus B&B.

A Grade B listed primary school in Glasgow has three rooms refurbished to offer optimum thermal performance and achieve the most cost-effective solution with the slimmest build-up

A contemporary clubhouse with a spacious roof terrace providing a comfortable yet opulent place for meeting and entertaining

A new housing development designed with first-time buyers and families in mind

The Box, at Penrith in Cumbria, is an ultra-modern, purpose-built headquarters and manufacturing hub for AST Signs, one of the UK’s leading branding companies. The construction of this project has provided AST Signs with an innovative space that is now used to centralise operations and aid business efficiency.This striking 21,000ft² building sits in the heart of the British countryside and features significant sustainability measures.

Lena Gardens Passivhaus

The new distillery sits along the bank of the River Spey and is capable of producing up to 10 million litres of spirit annually. Formed in the shape of a leaf of barley, this project was inspired by the core ingredients used to make traditional scotch whiskey. The unique shape of the building adds character and is a reflection of the locally sourced ingredients used to make traditional scotch whiskey. Architect: NORR

The deep copper-brown tones of the façade work well with the brick palette of the original building, while the sharp, angular lines of the new structure contrast against the symmetrical regularity of the rest of the building. Architect : Burwell Deakins, London

In the development of the fenestration and curtain wall systems for Great Marlborough Street Reynaers worked closely with envelope contractors Baris Facades in order to develop no fewer than 6 bespoke cap profiles. One ensured that the insulated aluminium panels, which are a feature of the building, glazed flush with the curtain wall cap profiles. Another feature of Students Castle is the distinctive protruding box detail around the windows of the towers headed by aluminium louvre panels accommodated by bespoke capping. Further bespoke elements facilitate the omission of mullions on certain window positions, as part of the distinctive design.

Online supermarket eBag choses ESCREO magnetic whiteboard paint to ensure a creative, dynamic and innovative office environment where they can discuss new ideas and processes every day. eBag has changed the way people shop in their day-to-day lives by offering them a wonderful alternative to the traditional supermarket. It all starts with its Founder's dream to spend his free time with his family in a more pleasant way, rather than going around the shops and queuing. They put the customer at the centre of everything they do just as we do at ESCREO. On the other hand, ESCREO has changed the way people write on the wall and the way eBag's team implements new processes and ideas. Their ESCREO writable wall gives them the perfect space to expand them in detail. They like that it does not limit them in scale, and this is important for the process of visualising all the innovations that they discuss every day. It is convenient that it is magnetic and in addition to writing, they can also attach various materials to what is written there. It fits perfectly to the interior of their office and our magnetic whiteboard paint encourages creativity in all of them. We make the difference together with our clients! You can read our interview with Hristo Yankov, COO of eBag, to learn in more detail how eBag brings creativity and innovation to their office wall as they do with their business.