"stone quarried stonemasons restoration"

The recent refurbishment of 4 Chiswell Street by Ben Adams Architects includes Armourcoat’s Istria polished plaster wall finish. Situated close to the historic Bunhill cricket ground in Islington, this once tired office building has been re-imagined as a modern and open workspace.Entering through an impressive new façade and front entrance, the architect’s design includes a double height reception space bathed in natural light. A sculpturally fluted wall finished in Istria polished plaster and custom terrazzo floor continue a circular motif repeated throughout the design. With exposed services and stylish use of concrete colours, the structure has been transformed into a contemporary and relevant commercial building with a distinctive urban feel.Named after the characteristic building stone of Venice, the Istria polished plaster finish is made from a combination of slaked lime, recycled marble powder and special additives. The Istria finish is full of ingrained surface movement and creates a matt or honed stone appearance. Tonal variation and surface movement within the finish complements other natural materials including wood, stone and fabric.

Background:Canterbury’s Art Museum and library, The Beaney Instituteis a Grade II Listed, Victorian building dating back to 1900.The Institute was granted £11.6m by the Heritage LotteryGrant to conserve, repair and restore the existing buildingplus create an extension that would double the size of theInstitute in order to provide better facilities to the museum,art gallery and library.The Solution:Limelite plaster from the Heritage range was used torestore and protect the internal walls throughoutthe Institute. Limelite Renovating Plaster was appliedto control and minimise dampness that can occur inolder properties. High Impact Finishing Plaster was thenapplied, creating a BBA approved plaster system allowingthe walls to breathe while protecting them from damage,maintaining a heritage-style appearance.The Outcome:The Limelite plaster system was the perfect solutionfor The Beaney Institute. Important pieces of art andmuseum artefacts are protected from condensationand salt transfer from the walls.This modern solution works sympathetically with thefabric of the building providing the aesthetic finishexpected of a building of its character whilst also beingdurable enough to withstand the high footfall of thevisiting public.

Kota Brown paving was used to create this warm, mediterranean feel in this large landscaping project. Kota Brown hand cut setts were added alongside bespoke natural stone copings.

Enfield Town Park is a 9.5-hectare green open space in the heart of the Enfield Town, north London. Following a series of consultations with the public and park user groups, works were undertaken in to restore the lake, reinstate public access to it, repair the leaks, and add wildlife friendly features to the area. Furnitubes supplied two types of products to the scheme – concrete Blyth cube seating blocks and Parallel table and bench sets.

Austin Smith-Lord’s 50 million–pound Liverpool Central Library project opened in May 2013 after a three–year complete overhaul. The scheme, in a World Heritage Site, involved the restoration of grade I listed elements as well as the insertion of a new building behind a historic facade. It was funded by PFI. The six-storey new building is arranged around a full-height atrium crowned with a glazed dome and roof terrace.

Battersea Town Hall is a handsome civic building, from 1893 and Grade II* listed, and now one of the UK’s most significant arts centres. Suffering a tragic fire in 2015 it has been expertly restored to an extraordinary, almost Pompeiian post-fire richness and complexity.InterLace designed, manufactured and installed custom electric blackout blinds to the main vault with reproduction door vision panel covers, with heritage finishes and designs.

In 2015 Mumford & Wood, the manufacturer of Britain’s finest timber windows and doors, was chosen as the supply partner to replace over 1000 windows and doors as part of the major £200m restoration project at Turnberry Resort This extensive refurbishment has included the remodelling and upgrade of all 103 bedrooms and public spaces within the existing hotel as well as the construction of a new, 500-person grand ballroom at this world-renowned golfing and leisure venue.

Award-winning architects Hypostyle were tasked with restoring the original B-listed clock tower and pump house on the Queens Dock in Glasgow.Tobermore Sienna block paving in Silver, Graphite and Sandstone was used to provide the perfect solution for the distillery. The graphite tones in Sienna juxtaposed with the muted colours of the distillery truly create a sense of old and new.In 2018, the distillery was recognised by the Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland for its Quality In Architecture.

Products from Kingspan Insulation’s Kooltherm and Therma ranges have helped to transform a derelict water tower in North Yorkshire into a striking family home, as featured on Channel 4‘s Restoration Man. By using insulation that delivers outstanding thermal performance from minimal thicknesses, the owners have been able to create a home that is not only sensitive to the building’s industrial past, but that functions as a cosy yet spacious family home.

In the heart of Rome, thanks to stone-look outdoor porcelain tiles a private villa is coloured with the appeal and practicality of Atlas Concorde products.A welcoming atmosphere and innovative design take shape in an exclusive residence thanks to Atlas Concorde outdoor tiles that give the indoor and outdoor environments an extremely contemporary look. Employed in the outdoor areas, stone-look tiles on both the floor and on the walls translate nature into a material suitable for designing spaces with an enveloping, suggestive atmosphere. The pool area and the surrounding environment are flooded with intense colours and textures, porcelain tiles for the outdoors being used in different sizes and contrasting colours: light tones and bold hues guarantee a pure creativity able to offer superior technical qualities and the aesthetic versatility that distinguishes the original materials. The refined beauty of the stone look in a Grip finish, with the excellent technical performance of porcelain tiles for outdoors, is the perfect choice for the design of outdoor spaces and environments that require the highest standards of durability and safety. Stylish refinement and attention to detail can also be found in some interior spaces of the building where concrete-look porcelain tiles and wood-look porcelain tiles become the protagonists of a modern, sophisticated style of furnishing.

Using our Cedral Thrutone Smooth fibre cement slates, in our unique Stone Green colour, this 2-bed terrace house in Dundrum maximised light, space & views while maintaining privacy. 

Designed by Edgley Design, this contemporary house was designed using our exclusive linear format Geobrick. With a hard wearing natural stone face and clean clinical lines, Geobrick was a natural choice for this luxury home.

Optima TFC, Anodised Regency Gold 1 was provided for the hotel in Stockton in the North East. Optima TFC was selected as the client required a discrete fixing system with a durable finish due to the building location. The seven-story hotel development, Teesside’s first new Hampton by Hilton hotel, will complement the nearby Globe Theatre which is currently being restored by the Council back to its former glory as a major concert venue in the North East.

When restoration of the UK’s last remaining open-pan salt works began, Eternit was integral to completing the £10 million industrial heritage project. Early in the design process, Eternit was consulted to assess the feasibility of using semi-compressed fibre cement profiled sheeting as roofing and cladding materials. To maintain the aesthetics of the original Lion Salt Works buildings with new products, Profile 6 and Profile 3 sheeting was used in Natural Grey.

No.1 Palace Street is one of the most desirable collection of homes in the capital today. A palatial development, located opposite Buckingham Palace in the prized SW1 postcode. Sensitively restored, the interiors boast rich textural finishes and materials for a classic feel with a witty dash of modernism.Majestic were invited to supply Monaco, Rio and Portofino screens from The Frameless Portfolio with component finishes in matt white, matt black and brushed and polished chrome.

What used to be the headquarters of the worldrenowned Terry’s of York Chocolate Factory has been redesigned and restored into The Chocolate Works Care Village, a remarkable residential and nursing care community. The centrepiece of the expansion, by Springfield Healthcare, is the unique bustling marketplace, featuring Karndean’s Opus Terra alongside some of the original wooden planks. In addition, the reminiscent corridor hosting the story of Terry’s features the striking nut brown tones of Knight Tile Mid Brushed Oak.

New pedestrian surface linking Tooley Street with the southern end of Tower Bridge. Bound construction using natural stone setts and slabs to form the main pedestrian route and a variety of private and community amenity spaces.

Classic meets contemporary with new Hardie® VL Plank interlock board on new extension.Traditional home in Harrogate was extended at the rear with a new double-storey extension and contrasting tongue and groove Hardie® VL Plank weatherboard on the upper level.The homeowner chose Hardie® VL Plank board for its' fresh, symmetrical look and low maintenance properties. Here Anthracite Grey in cedar complements the local stone to offer a strong contrast. The end result is a striking renovation that beautifully captures the character of the home's local heritage. "Mixing traditional with modern was key to our design and so we quickly switched to Hardie® VL Plank for the crisp, clean lines to contrast with the exposed stone" - Private Homeowner.

The newly redeveloped Heatherwood Hospital employs a total of 4,200m² of Sudsgrid 40 cellular pavers, filled with free-draining angular aggregate to provide 450 new parking spaces, delineated by yellow markers. ABG’s sub-base design utilises the unique Abgrid geogrid to reduce the thickness of DoT Type 3 stone required for structural stability, and through the use of the ABG Terrex NW non-woven geotextile layer, an additional stage of treatment was provided for the infiltrating water.ABG’s permeable paving limits surface water run-off and minimises the risk of localised flooding, alongside, providing a shallower construction profile. Resulting in reductions in site excavation, off-site tipping, DoT Type 3 stone deliveries and the associated costs.

Terracing at an apartment complex in Birmingham has been restored to its former glory with Sadolin Classic. The elevated deck serves as a community hub and meeting place for residents from surrounding apartments in the Digbeth area. Its location, on the rooftop of a multi-storey carpark, leaves the terrace exposed to varying weather conditions and Optima Community Association - part of WM Housing Group – called on Crown Paints Specification Services to find a solution to preserve and protect the space.

John Scotting, Managing Director of main developer Scott’s Developments Ltd, commented: “The restoration of Steel City House has created a thriving business hub in the heart of Sheffield. Gradus were able to provide a choice of colour and design options that allowed us to achieve a modern flooring scheme, whilst still complementing the heritage of this period building. “The Gradus products selected provide the perfect balance between practicality and aesthetics and we’re really pleased with the finished outcome.”

A duo of 13-storey and 21-storey buildings set alongside the new Abbey Wood Elizabeth Line station and the regeneration of Thamesmead estate.Interpon D2525 Stone Effect applied to cladding cassette panels that encase the envelope.

Passive Purple was used here on a bridge in China. Passive Purple External also comes in multiple colours form Purple to Stone colour. Passive Purple External is an anticarbonisation product that protects concrete from the effects of concrete

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.

SOLID WOOD FLOOR SYMPATHETIC CHOICE FOR HERITAGE BUILDING Junckers Black Oak flooring has been installed as part of the restoration of Paisley Town Hall. Architects Holmes Miller transformed the Grade A listed building into a high-end venue and public space with careful restoration work to preserve the grand Neoclassical architecture. With a focus on future-proofing the venue in terms of environmental performance and adaptability, Holmes Miller’s design overhauled the existing building by stripping it right back and upgrading services to modern standards, including replacing the heating and ventilation systems with tempered air fed through concealed ducts hidden beneath the wooden floors and using destratification fans to recycle warm air, especially useful in auditorium which has a high ceiling. Accessibility was improved and new functions for previously unused spaces were introduced. As well as a live venue, the town hall now includes a dance studio, café and bar, wedding suites, banqueting, screening room and commercial catering. Junckers’ flooring was installed in several areas, including the main auditorium where the stage was entirely rebuilt to incorporate a rise-and-fall functionality. To introduce more flexibility to the space, the ground floor seating was replaced by a retractable system. The hard-wearing surface of a Junckers’ pre-finished solid hardwood floor is very resistant to the wear and tear associated with a retractable system and the sprung quality of the flooring system will remain intact. Junckers Black Oak Harmony flooring was identified by Holmes Miller during the design stage analysis as a sympathetic choice for the heritage building. The two-strip floorboards, also prevalent in the Black Oak Twin Herringbone installed in some areas, give a narrow parquet appearance in keeping with the original flooring and the dark colour is historically appropriate. Junckers Black Oak is made by mimicking the natural process where oak submerged in a bog takes on a dark hue which pen- etrates the tree trunk. The Black Oak stain is drawn deep into each floorboard which means it can be sanded and refinished without loss of colour. It also means the floor is much more resistant to superficial damage compared to a stained floor- board. Steven Coulson, Associate at Homes Miller added: “The flooring was specified due to a great mix of quality, sustainability credentials and sympathy to the heritage building aesthetic.” The £22M restoration forms part of Renfrewshire Council’s regeneration programme of Paisley’s historic cultural venues. Upgrading historic buildings, particularly public buildings, is a fast-growing trend towards re-use rather than demolishing and building new. By taking a long-term view to retrofit and restore Paisley Town Hall, the Council has secured its sustainable future whilst remaining sympathetic to its history. The flooring was installed by Partnership Flooring. The main contractor was Morrison Construction. 

The meticulous refurbishment of this Grade II Listed landmark provides a stunning range of luxuriously specified 1, 2,3 and 4 bedroom apartments. These are unique residences, restored and specified to the highest possible standards and benefit from private facilities, including a leisure suite with a pool and spa. The Outdoor Deck Company were specified to install Yellow Balau decking to create a series of stunning outdoor terrace areas that not only complement the architecture of the original building but provide a relaxing space for residents to enjoy.

The Grade II Listed Victorian Tamworth Assembly Rooms had secondary glazing installed by Selectaglaze as part of a multi-million-pound project to refurbish and restore the much respected theatre. A solution was required to insulate the single glazed original arched casement windows in the auditorium to provide suitable acoustic and thermal insulation. Selectaglaze’s Series 41 side hung casement secondary glazing was specified with 6.4mm glass to each of the windows, matching the sightlines and providing full access to the originals for cleaning and maintenance.

With its team of experts in the polycarbonate and roof glazing fields, Twinfix works on developing the best, newest and most cost-effective roof glazing products. A family business, Twinfix has been involved in the polycarbonate roof glazing market for nearly 30 years. This year, Twinfix worked with Principal Contractor AmcoGiffen restoring Pembroke Dock Station. Twinfix supplied its non-fragile roofing system the Multi-Link-Panel to replace the old tired, discoloured glazing at Pembroke Dock Station.

Bilco UK has supplied an innovative replacement roof hatch for a medieval church in Norfolk. St Mary’s is one of the 653 churches within the Diocese of Norwich. When it came to providing a means of safe access to the roof area a product was required that was both technically and architecturally suitable. Medieval Masonry Ltd, a specialist contractor in the restoration and conservation of historic buildings with over 50 years of experience in the industry, installed Bilco UK’s S-50VMTB VersaMount® Replacement Roof Hatch.

The Niittysilta bridge was originally designed with a larch decorative outer layer by the famous Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa. The bridge was constructed by the Helsinki city technical department in 2002 to enable the public to easily cross over a small creek but after 14 years the Larch had decayed and had to be replaced. In need of a virtually rot free, durable and stable wood, Accoya was selected to replace the Larch. Thanks to Accoya’s stability and durability benefits it posed as the ideal material to restore the bridge.

When Vitsoe, makers of iconic minimal-modernist furniture, decided to build a new HQ, it was always going to be something special. Central to the design is the saw tooth roof with 240 northlights created using the VELUX Modular Skylight system. The elegant sightlines of the VELUX skylight frame sections complemented Vitsoe's own minimal-modernist design philosophy. " Natural lighting and ventilation from the VELUX Modular Skylights were critical to restoring a connection between the building's users and the world around them."

London’s so-called Loom building is full of stories that unravel and offer glimpses into its rich history. It is not often that architects, in this case Duggan Morris, have the opportunity to design a perfect link between both modern and ancient. One of the architects’ solutions was to use Troldtekt 2000 x 600mm natural wood wool acoustic ceiling panels. These provide an attractive link between the different spaces in this together with reusing many original old materials to restore attractive life into this previously neglected space.

The former Royal Military Academy overlooking Woolwich Common finds a new place in history with its stunning restoration, featuring Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System. The vacuum insulation panel system was chosen to most of the available space. The original beam and block flooring limited the ability to dig down, so installing the Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System in a 30mm thickness allowed for the maintenance of the existing threshold levels whilst also achieving excellent thermal performance.

Stone: LUNDHS Antique ® - polished surface.With its calm and earthy brown colour sprinkled with blue, turquoise and green crystals, Lundhs Antique is a perfect backdrop when you want to create your own personal spa retreat.

Stone: LUNDHS Emerald® - silk/leather surface.Striking a harmonious balance between elegance and function, the achingly cool blend of materials in this contemporary kitchen is the vision of Interior Architect Lene Marie Weum Knudsen for a private client in Norway.

In Rugby, 57 aerial masts and a radio station are the genesis for the beginning of a new town, centred around the recently finished Houlton School. The carefully considered design of the School by Van Heyningen & Haward (VHH), is the successful retrofit of a collection of historic, grade 2 listed radio station buildings. Its cost-effective evolution into a thriving, sustainable secondary school comes through the careful integration of the previous buildings and by choosing to use products that fitted soundly within the pre-existing vernacular.Adapting the original framework to today’s standards was a job that took years to come to fruition, careful application of steel frame and the restoration of the original brickwork has meant that the two main listed structures, Transmission Hall and Power Hall will become a place of learning for generations of students. Handmade clay bricks provided by Michelmersh were vital to the restoration of the project, where they were used to ensure the structures could be repaired and retained rather than rebuilt from the ground up.Throughout the project, various elements of the building's industrial past have been retained, with arched windows and high ceilings to ensure that the history of this nearly century-old building is revered, but not overpowering compared to its newly instated modern sensibilities.Houlton School recently won the Refurbishment Category at the BDA Brick Awards.