"timber"

The SYSTEMGLAS® fire resistant, butt-jointed glazing system range from Promat has been expanded with a host of new configurations and additional performance capabilities to meet the growing demand from architects for assured fire protection. Detailed in the new 2019 SYSTEMGLAS® Specifiers Guide, the new options supplement an already expansive product range of fire-resistant glazing screens offering protection of between 30 and 120 minutes. The range’s four systems provide framing options in steel, timber and two which utilise the fire-resistant calcium silicate PROMATECT® H to allow for over-cladding or concealment for a virtually ‘frameless’ effect.

Cambridge Central Mosque is Europe's first eco-friendly mosque and the first purpose-built mosque within the city of Cambridge. The mosque is well insulated and naturally ventilated, using efficient heat lights in the roof and solar panels on the top to help generate renewable energy.Cellecta XFLO Micro was specified by Marks Barfield Architects as its underfloor heating insulation boards were used to help create an efficient and environmentally friendly heating system. Cellecta ScreedBoard 20 was also specified for the overlay floorboard. It is suitable for all types of steel, concrete and timber floors.Warmafloor were awarded this 250m² contract to develop this eco-friendly structure.

Ten Degrees, developed by Greystar, is the world’s tallest modular residential building. The build-to-rent schemein Croydon boasts 546 apartments across two adjoining 44- and 38-storey towers, as well as 10 different social spaces, including a games lounge, coworking space, dining room and gym.Greystar’s designers originally envisioned using timber flooring for the high-spec amenity areas but instead opted for the durability of Amtico’s Signature LVT. The cool brown base and lightly limed grain of Manor Oak was chosen to add texture and a premium aesthetic, creating a calmingand relaxed atmosphere in the open-plan social and co-working spaces.

F. Ball products have helped to create a show-stopping floor finish in the Regent’s Park Rehearsal Studios. In studio 1, the raised plywood subfloor was firstly primed using Stopgap P131 primer to promote adhesion and prevent rapid drying of adhesives and levelling compounds. Since the studio would face heavy footfall, contractors selected Stopgap 700 Superflex levelling compound, which was applied prior to installation of vinyl dance floor coverings. Studios 3 and 4, had Stopgap P131 primer and Stopgap 700 Superflex levelling compound applied, followed by Styccobond F3 flooring adhesive to install cork rubber tiles over the timber subfloor.

Located within the historic market town of Alnwick, Willowburn Retail Park is a new shopping destination with easy access from the A1, boasting 37,405 sq.ft. of retail floorspace, plus 200 parking spaces.The distinctive modern design by Projekt Architects uses a bold mixture of sustainable materials including energy-efficient glazing plus sustainable timber Accoya for the cladding, soffit and eaves. Senior Architectural Systems provided the entire glazing package including thermally-efficient SF52 curtain walling for the full-height glazed frontages and robust SPW501 doors, Certified to PAS24 and Secured by Design standards, to provide secure access throughout the development.

Rubio WoodCream was chosen for the exterior cladding of this stunning residence in Hout Bay, Cape Town, because the finish mimics the look of Shou Sugi Ban (ancient Japanese technique of burning timber). This home was designed by Salt Architects and built by Musa Renovations and Projects. The homeowners wanted the cladding to look modern without coming across as too "slick" or having too much sheen in the finish. Rubio WoodCream created a natural look and feel, showing the variance of the natural grain and weathered look. Besides the aesthetics, they chose this product because of the ease of application and maintenance. As the name suggests, it takes one coat per board and is incredibly easy to touch up.

The recently opened Tameside Macmillan Unit offers cancer treatment and support services to local residents. To help create a calming and healing environment for patients, bespoke artwork, bright colours and natural finishes were incorporated into the interior design. CS Acrovyn wall protection solutions were used to help create a welcoming and functional facility. Stylish HR6CS timber Handrails provide mobility support in general circulation areas, whilst Acrovyn Crashrails, Corner Guards and textured Sheet offer necessary impact protection to walls and corners in waiting and clinical areas. CS wall protection solutions ensure the centre remains functional, damage free and easy to clean.

When Ingliston Equestrian Centre, a stunning Show Jumping ground based near Glasgow entered into a multi-million pound refurbishment project, they specified Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing to help raise the centre to international standards.Metrotile supplied over three thousand square metres of roofing materials to two new stable blocks and numerous new Chalet buildings at the site. Metrotile Slate in Bronze was specified as it combines a stunning traditional look with a swift installation and a low weight that reduces stress upon the supporting timber frame structures of both the chalets and the stables. Stunning countryside surrounds Ingliston Equestrian Centre and the Metrotile Slate compliments the local area gracefully

St Benedict's School in Ealing, West London holds the distinction of being the only the third Passivhaus certified school in the UK. We were naturally delighted to be part of the construction team for such an exciting project. Architects van Heyningen and Haward were commissioned to design two new Passivhaus buildings for the independent Catholic school - a sixth form centre and a primary building. We were appointed to design, manufacture and install 78 Passivhaus-certified aluminium clad windows, with a Uw rating of just 0.79. We also provided thermally-efficient timber aluminium curtain walling, plus Reynaers CS 86-Hi high-insulation aluminium doors.

To help meet the client’s architectural ambitions and acoustic challenges, Rockfon acoustic ceilings were specified. In designing its new HQ DocuSign wanted to break down barriers and find new ways of working to empower employees. Open plenum ceilings, polished concrete floors and warm timber express the space’s raw, contemporary architecture. Crina Toderic – Henry J Lyons, “…a number of meeting rooms had one solid wall with the remaining three being glazed. It was agreed Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic be installed for its high sound absorption. Being completely seamless, the system allowed us to easily integrate with the rest of the interior aesthetic.”

Hush Acoustics provided a range of acoustic products for the construction of Warren Court, a new development of 9x luxury two bedroom apartments. Working with Marlowe Building Contractors, we provided advice and materials for the apartments’ soundproofing to give acoustic performance better than New Build standard.The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) energy ratings had already been calculated and passed before Hush were involved with the acoustic design. The building’s structure consisted of lightweight masonry walls and a timber joist floor structure, which could not be changed due to SAP compliance. As a result, Hush was tasked with developing a comprehensive design to ensure compliance to Approved Document E of the Building Regulations with this form of construction detail. The biggest issue was the continuous lightweight block walls that may be thermally very efficient, but present major difficulties acoustically. To go over and above the new build standard, it was necessary for all blockwork and timber floor joists to be isolated on Hush Resilient Seating. Ceilings were also isolated by using Hush Suspended Ceilings in the main and an Enhanced Clip and Channel System was used where the floor/ceiling heights were at a premium. Hush Panel 28 was provided throughout as the floating acoustic flooring system.We carried out pre-completion sound tests which achieved results well in excess of the new build standard. Airborne sound test results ranged from 49 dB (DnTw+Ctr) to 61 dB (DnTw+Ctr) and impact achieved 46 dB (LnTw), 16 dB better than the required new build standard.

Originally an anonymous, almost forbidding, seven-storey office block constructed in the 1980s, York House on Pentonville Road in Islington is being transformed into a contemporary, light-filled co-working space fit for 21st century use.The original building frontage was set back from the road, but the addition of a new five-story front extension introduces an attractive double-height entrance with offices above. Using similar engineering bricks to the main, original building, the new construction allows light to flood in through the use of structurally self-supporting perforated brick lattice, angled at 45 degrees to gain stiffness. A cross-laminated timber structure sits behind while openable windows allow fresh air to circulate.At roof level, a new, cross-laminated timber structure, clad in a perforated zig-zag aluminium screen, echoes the front extension while softening the building edge.The brick selected for the project was a Blue Brindle Smooth – a high quality smooth brick that closely matched the masonry of the original building. The complexity of the lattice work structure required special shapes of brick and perforation to allow visibility through the bricks at the right points. Working closely with the architect, it took the team nine months of developing and testing to get the strength of the product right. Three lengths of brick were produced and used in the construction of the extension: 215s were used in the building of the chevron parapet, 345s were used on the parapet and alongside the entrance, and 440s were used to create the latticework on the main entrance.We are proud to announce that York House was highly commended at the 2019 Brick Awards in the Innovation category and is a great example of a collaborative approach with our customers.

Radmat Building Products has supplied the waterproofing roofing system for the Crossrail Place shopping development and roof garden in Canary Wharf. The system provides high performance waterproofing and thermal insulation – guaranteed for the lifetime of the structure – and has enabled the construction of an extensively planted living roof.• The 310m long roof arches 30m over the park and opens to allow natural irrigation• Highly insulating roofing materials help create a microclimate for the gardensRadmat Approved Contractor Prater delivered a 9,300m² roofing solution using PermaQuik PQ6100 Hot Melt Monolithic Waterproofing Membrane, EshaFlex 370 WS Root Barrier and ProTherm insulation.Construction access to the complex inverted timber roof was challenging, so Radmat’s products were chosen for their quick and flexible application and fast-sealing properties.PermaQuik is widely used beneath green roof installations where long-term weather tightness is a necessity, and it was chosen to support the extensive and densely planted gardens, which are the main feature of the Crossrail Place roof terrace.The PermaQuik membrane was followed by EshaFlex 370 WS Root Barrier, a reinforced bitumen membrane that is torch applied to the base sheet. It was selected because of its thermal efficiency and suitability for use with living roof systems. Partnered with ProTherm’s excellent insulation, the complex timber roof now boasts a waterproof system that is BBA Certified to last the lifetime of the building.The wooden structure evokes the ships that once sailed into West India Dock and provides a warm, natural counterpoint to the steel and glass towers of Canary Wharf.And with Radmat’s high performance products and lifetime guarantee, the green roof terrace at Crossrail Place will be a living oasis in the heart of London’s financial district for years to come.

Architect: BDPInstaller: Houston Cox Ltd Product: Gustafs Panel SystemLSA are very proud to have supplied over 2 000 m2 of GUSTAFS Panel System® to the stunning Southmead Hospital which opened in Bristol in 2014.Oak veneer was chosen by the architect to contrast it’s tactility and visual warmth with the cool glazed and coloured elements elsewhere, SM8 mini slot perforations were used to add class B acoustic control to the 6 storey atrium space.Panels for the stair-cores were custom made and delivered fully assembled by Gustafs to achieve the gentle curve to the outside of the central tower. Chris Green, Architect Director at BDP had this to say: “The stair and lift cores centred in each of the colour themed atria spaces are key wayfinding points on a visitors’ journey to the wards and we wanted these elements to have the feeling of bespoke pieces of high-quality crafted furniture, bringing the tactility and visual warmth of a timber against the contrasting glazed and coloured elements elsewhere.The acoustic requirements and characteristics of the atria spaces are complex and the timber shroud surrounding to the stair and lift cores formed an ideal centralised location to act as a primary absorber.The extensive range of GUSTAFS panel perforation patterns, veneer finishes and jointing options enabled us to develop a precise and calming aesthetic to the high-performance absorbing and panelised skin, enhanced by the bespoke curved corner elements.We are extremely pleased with the final appearance of the GUSTAFS Panel System® which has helped deliver a stunning focal point to each of these primary public spaces within the new hospital.”

Ross-on-Wye’s skyline has formed the inspiration for new community facilities at a residential development.The iconic St Mary’s Church spire is reflected in the play area and recreation space created by Hand Made Places for families of St Mary’s Garden Village.The secure play area is surrounded by timber picket fencing and accessed via a bespoke arch double leaf gateway.The planed and sanded softwood arch is engraved to read St Mary’s Garden Village.Four further bespoke archways make up a fun walkway leading to a custom-built version of our Milton Play Unit.The play tower features a slide, rockhold ramp, ladder wall and stepped platform with a church-style spire to one end.A Hawkley Adventure Trail, Swing Steps and Bird’s Nest climbing frame are available for older children.And no play area is complete without the swings, with a Double Cradle Swing installed for little ones as well as a Nest Swing.A Star Stage brings role play to life for little ones, with timber Modular Radius Seating, including a bench engraved with the location, also available. Our cute little Hedgehog Animal Face is watching over everyone. Our installers laid a Bound Rubber Mulch safety surface in neutral green and brown colours.In addition to the play area installation, our parent company Broxap Street Furniture manufactured and supplied six Harrogate Senior Cycle Stands for community use. Four cast iron Blackburn Seats, finished with hardwood slats and a black frame, were provided along with a Derby Standard litter bin.

Innovative garden refurbBuilder Ian Gray embarked on a major garden refurbishment to build a skate park and BBQ garden room at his own family home in Fareham, Hampshire.Having never worked with Lindab Rainline before Ian selected a plain galvanised system to complement the stylish design of the timber building. A key feature of the building is a truncated hipped shape roof with a raised gutter which provides shelter for the entrance to a covered seating area. Ian said, “we did this build as an on site example of what we can do and have taken orders for 5 so far”, “Rainline was very nice to work with”, adding “Thanks to Lindab for such a great product and service”.

Family houses renovated... CHALLENGE 134 single family houses needed to be renovated to liveable conditions. The main problem for the architect and building contractors was the fact these houses had to remain occupied during the works. SOLUTION For the roof two prefabricated timber roof elements covered with the RENOLIT ALKORDESIGN roofing system were installed to replace the existing roof structure. The roofing elements consisted of a layer of OSB, a layer of 350 mm cellulose fibre insulation, another OSB plate and a 2 mm thick RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing membrane. The prefabricated roof element has a U-Value of 0.11 W/m². On top of the prefab roof elements hot water panels were installed. 

5 Everyman cinemas have been built in a new building in the centre of Harrogate which houses several other retail and leisure facilities.The cinema directly above the ground floor retail units required a concrete floating floor whilst the 4 other cinemas required heavy dry floating floors with large floor voids.Our local branch supplied and installed the floating floors which consisted of Stravifloor Channel isolation rails supporting timber/cement board sandwich constructions or Stravifloor Deck solution supporting a concrete slab.The wall isolation and ceiling hangers completed the box-in-box construction delivering the required sound insulation between cinemas and to the retail units beneath.

Strawberry Gardens is a private housing living development in Yatton which offers independent living with access to on-site care for people over the age of 55. This 1,200m² development of timber frame apartments have created 60 apartments and various houses, shops, a post office, pubs and transport links. Situated 10 miles from Bristol airport and around 30 minutes from the centre of Bristol.Cellecta HEXATHERM XFLOOR 250 was specified on this project for its high resistance to compression and closed cell structure that provides unrivalled resistance to water absorption, making them ideal for residential applications.Oakmere Homes was awarded the contract to construct this picturesque village and civil parish within North Somerset.

Alison Park Hotel is a conversion of a former hotel to a complete renovation of the building creating ten new apartments and a townhouse. The project also included a new building extension to a further townhouse, as well as a revamping of the garages into 3 cottages. Situated in the centre of the picturesque and well-known spa town of Buxton, Alison Park Hotel benefits from features such as mock timber framing, and oriel windows and doors.Cellecta ScreedBoard 28 was specified for this project due to its unrivalled performance. The unique interlocking edges on our ScreedBoard 28 mean that no screws are required, making it easy to install, a convenience on site saving installation time.Amos Group was awarded this 1,500m² contract to develop this refurbishment and extension.

Ballards Rise is home to a development of eight flats (seven 1 bed & one 2 bed) across two interlinked purpose-built blocks. The front block comprises six flats over three floors with two further flats to the rear block over two storeys. This development has regular transport links into central London.Cellecta’s DECKfon 26T was specified by OB Architecture due to it being the ideal acoustic overlay treatment to improve the performance of the original structural timber decked floor. The tongue and groove on the floorboard make it quick and easy to install, saving time and money.Excel Construction were supplied 587m² of Cellecta products for this development in South Croydon.

Ninety One, previously Investec Asset Management, recently relocated to impressive new offices in London’s business district. Creating agile working space, Style collaborated with HLW architects and main contractor Overbury, to install three Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall systems, giving freedom to create two individual meeting rooms, or one large open area. Maximising light flooding into this beautifully designed office, one operable wall is glass, whilst the others are finished respectively in a stunning Kvadrat Maharam Merit fabric and Fluted Timber veneer, matching surrounding joinery. Ensuring meetings can run concurrently, the walls provide impressive 59dB acoustic integrity.

The essential plaster for restoration and repairs Older houses rarely feature the levels of insulation and damp proofing we take for granted today, so damp walls and brickwork are often a problem. That’s why Limelite is the clear choice in repair and restoration projects. Following treatment with an injected damp proof course, Limelite will help older, damper properties dry out by allowing balanced moisture movement through its coating. The superior workability of Limelite products means they can be applied to any sound substrate as easily as conventional gypsum based plasters. They can even be used on timber and lath walls, which still crop up in refurbishments after existing plaster layers have been hacked away.

Location: Solihull Project Type: Residential Development Cost: £47m Product: Balcony Cladding, Window Cladding, Rainwater Pipes Finish: Syntha Pulvin RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey Satin Fire Rating: A2 s1, d0 Non-combustible (Reaction to Fire EN BS 13501-1:2018) Product: Shadex 150 Solar Shading and Privacy Screens Finish: Powdertech’s PWF1 Timber-effect polyester powder coating Fire Rating: A2-s1, d0 (EN BS 13501-1) Client: The Solihull Retirement Village in partnership with the ExtraCare Charitable Trust Architect: DLA Architecture Main Contractor: The Vistry Group Sub Contractor: MQM Fabrications

Award-winning Surrey-based firm, Fletcher Crane Architects, has specified Vandersanden’s 65mm Antro facing brick for interiors and exteriors at Tree House, an impressive, new, contemporary home in Ealing, West London. Located in a conservation area and constructed on a 12 x 12m former garage site, bounded by rear gardens, Tree House is a two-bedroom property that stands assertively against the characterful and repetitive villas in the street. Fletcher Crane has designed the home as an articulated series of volumes in a split-level arrangement of rooms around a central spine. The kitchen and living room sit on the upper storeys to make the most of natural daylight while the two bedrooms are submerged within semi-sunken floors.Boldly deployed and celebrated for the texture, variation and interest they provide, Tree House’s components are a fundamental part of the Fletcher Crane vision. Inside and outside the home, extensive use is made of three principal materials to create a naturally appealing, raw palette of black ash timber, tubular metalwork and multi-coloured Antro brick from Vandersanden.The load bearing Antro brickwork is exposed and flush-jointed with traditional lime mortar to create a unifying, almost monolithic appearance. ‘Baubuche’ structural timber joists span the brick structure, while, in the basement, the in-situ concrete frame is left bare. The central staircase is encased in ash timber panelling which is set against more curved Antro brickwork and sharp metal balustrades. Outside a sunken planted courtyard is accessed using stepped Antro brick planters and a paddle stair constructed of black cobble setts.“We like the texture, the tones and the variety that the Antro brick gives us at Tree House,” says Harry Reid, Architect at Fletcher Crane Architects. “Vandersanden offers a significant range of these light multi-coloured bricks, both in white and grey hues which are very attractive for this type of project. The company supplied us with a number of sample options for comparison and contrast, and we duly selected Antro as our brick of choice. We’re delighted with it, particularly in how the Antro brick combines with the lime mortar, and other components at Tree House to create the overall feeling of an intimate yet generous home that’s filled with light and rich in materials.”Antro is created from a combination of different clay forms which yield a grey base colour, then coated with specific sand types to bring a grained, creased texture to the brick. The clay structure evokes darker and lighter tones out of the base grey along with shades of white in the overall final appearance.For more information on Fletcher Crane Architects go to https://www.fletchercranearchitects.com/. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' linkCredit: Photography by Lorenzo Zandri © 2021

Magestic match for larch claddingThis larch cladded, timber frame construction sits within a beautiful silver birch woodland site in the north of Scotland. A galvanised rainwater system was selected for the one and a half storey, two bedroom detached house by architect David Dittman. Client, Kevin Grant, says, "Rainline was specified by our architect, however, I have seen it used extensively in the area and was particularly keen to have it myself anyway". Local contractor MacGillivray Construction was used for the build, the rainwater system was purchased through online merchant Roofing Superstore. The client was pleased with the product and submitted the project as an entry to our My Rainline competition. Mr Grant has since built a garage and will be installing a matching Rainline system himself.

TrägerHAUS, an award-winning exclusive new home by HAUS Collective, is designed to take into account every aspect of the external envelope’s design to ensure consistency of form, quality and optimum aesthetic appeal.Whilst the scale and main volume of TrägerHAUS may not be apparent at street level, careful consideration of the materials for the home’s outward-looking elevation and main entrance. Key to this was the decision to utilise an elegant side sliding sectional garage door by Rundum Meir. The door’s manufacture in Siberian Larch ensures consistency with property’s other timber cladding elements which perfectly complement the Caithness stone masonry. Fully automated for ease of opening and closing, the garage door operates with the smoothness and reliability that reflects the level of quality which runs through the whole building.

The project team responsible for a striking residential property in the Channel Islands used our Dualframe 75Si Windows and the Elegance Curtain Walling, supplied by Pallot Glass & Windows, to match the property's modernist styling, as well as providing outstanding weather performance in a very exposed situation. Island-based Pallot Glass & Windows, was awarded the contract by the main contractor, Hacquoil & Cook Ltd, to supply and fit all of the glazing for the two-storey, five-bedroom Jersey home which has earned wide acclaim and been short-listed for several awards. The package included an entrance screen which combined the Elegance 52 elements with a large bespoke timber door and a fully glazed rear elevation with balconies overlooking the gardens.

NORclad supplied all the Siberian Larch external timber cladding for the refurbishment of the Tides Reach Hotel, a mixed-use facility which incorporated the remodelling of the existing structureSituated in the mouth of the Salcombe estuary in South Hams within an area of outstanding natural beauty.NORclad Brunnea preservative treatment provides a formal warranty on the product for 30 years against rot and fungal decay (out of ground contact), all materials also had factory applied fire treatment to Euroclass B-s1-d0 (s1 Smoke Production – d0 Flaming Droplets). This was applied under ISO 9001 factory-controlled conditions. Products specified, Treatment Services applied under ISO 9001 factory controlled conditions.

Lazenby’s Henley Buff Polished Concrete floor was laid in a new side and rear extension to this stunning property in Cheshire.A key consideration by the clients was that the polished concrete floor be a very close match to the concrete walls which had been cast by the main contractor. Lazenby provided numerous samples for sign off before the client confirmed Henley Buff as the selected colour.The architects wanted to use industrial materials such as concrete and timber throughout the project but still wanted to achieve a warm and homely environment. This was successfully achieved by a clever use of lighting and subtle tones within the materials.To create an ultra modern, flexible space, the polished concrete floor also extends out to the patio area where it connects seamlessly with the internal flooring

Sustainability was a key consideration when British Sugar decided to create a new headquarters to replace its old, tired office.Once the designs were finalised, our floor fitting teams installed RMG600 raised access flooring across the ground floor, first floor and top floor of the building, totalling an area of 4,800m2, utilising our PSA MOB PF2 PS/SPU Medium Grade RMG600 panels.Around the central atrium, we fitted our innovative Attiro architectural finish over the steel-encapsulated RMG600 access flooring system. Attiro is an innovative overlay engineered timber flooring solution that is designed to enable quick and easy access to a raised flooring void at any point in that floor.

Gripsure decking has been used on an office roof terrace in the heart of the City of London’s financial district. Workers in the tall building in Fenchurch Street, home to many corporate offices and company headquarters, can now take time out on a stylish, non-slip decking area.Gripsure supplied 586 of the MOSO® Bamboo X-treme with black Gripsure non-slip inserts and a smooth finish for the project, completed last year. The private roof terrace serves as a ‘breakout area’ for office staff to relax, meet and entertain in an outdoor setting, which has fantastic views over the Thames.The existing timber deck had come to the end of its service life and risks of slips and falls had meant that the terrace area had to be closed. Contractors MJ Ferguson stripped away the old boards and installed 150m sq of MOSO® Bamboo X-treme with Gripsure decking. These sustainable, durable boards are Euroclass B fire rated, providing further peace of mind.Company staff have already been making the most of their new safe, contemporary-looking rooftop terrace, which can be used in all weather conditions.Gripsure have been supplying bamboo decking to the UK market for the past four years as a sustainable alternative to composite and tropical hardwood products. There are thousands of species of bamboo and our decking is made from a giant species, called Moso. This bamboo is a woody perennial, so has more characteristics in common with a timber, rather than a grass. Like grass, however, Moso grows rapidly – up to a metre a day in the height of the season. There has also been a carbon study, which shows that the product is a net carbon sink over its lifespan, even taking into consideration transportation and manufacturing.

Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) is a rail-road intermodal freight terminal with an associated warehousing estate in Northamptonshire. Owned by Prologis, the business park was originally built in the 90’s, but a recent expansion has added around 4 million square feet of storage and office space. Some buildings are already occupied by leading brands such as Royal Mail, BooHoo, Dunelm, Tesco and Sainsburys.DIRFT’s Unit DC628 (DC10) is a net zero carbon building with 627,707 square foot warehouse space rated BREEAM Excellent. Among its features are solar PV systems, a roof terrace, and enhanced external amenities.Our team was commissioned to provide seating and planting solutions for the outdoor amenity space and roof terrace by BCA Design, Landscape Architects for the project.Our RailRoad modular seating solution with Delta supports, and FSC iroko timber slats, that are left untreated to allow natural weathering, was installed in the outdoor amenity area adjacent to the car park - along with Parallel picnic tables and benches and Zenith 500 litter bins - creating an outdoor lunch break environment in which employees can enjoy during warm weather.Decking supplied by Outdoor Deck was installed on the roof terrace of the building, complete with our AKRI 300 steel planters with 500mm high panels, manufactured from triple process recycled steel, to form a variety of linear shapes filled with plants and greenery to create a peaceful oasis with a view of the countryside.Seating and benches made from FSC Iroko timber which included armrests on some, were integrated onto the planters to provide warehouse staff with quiet spaces to relax. The rooftop planters were complemented by the addition of our Hollo range of freestanding low seating / tables

The Mežaparks Great Bandstand is among the biggest bandstands in the world. On stage, it can accommodate approximately 13,000 choristers, while in the auditorium, there are more than 30,000 seats. The specially designed stage comprises 510 three-dimensional acoustic panels of different sizes. Each panel was installed at a different angle, assuring excellent sound quality during both bigger and smaller events. The spherically-curved shields are made of Riga Preprime and Riga Ply birch plywood, and both products show excellent technical and visual performance under different weather conditions. Each three-dimensional panel’s thickness is 36 mm – made of four 9 mm panels that are glued together. The panels are in 16 sizes, the largest with a 4 metre diagonal measurement. For long-lasting performance and to protect from sun, wind and rain, the panels are painted with special paint and partly covered with a roof.The project authors are architects Juris Poga and Austris Mailītis. The panels were manufactured by the timber structure design and manufacturing company ZAZA Timber.This year, the XXVII Nationwide Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival will gather thousands of singers and dancers to celebrate dance, song and culture. Part of the festival will be held at Mežaparks Great Band Stand. Latvijas Finieris and Riga Wood are amongst the biggest supporters of the event and Riga Wood birch plywood products will be widely used in nine projects all over the city – starting from information signs and decorations to anti-slip stage floors and acoustic constructions.Since 1873, the nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival has been a part of the Latvian national identity that connects generations through the years. It has also been acknowledged worldwide and is included on the UNESCO List of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Artform Urban provide modern and stylish cantilever seating to a new Arts and Humanities facility, at the University of Liverpool. The Yoko Ono Lennon Centre is a newly built teaching and performance building, named in honour of Yoko Ono Lennon, an Honorary Graduate of the University (Hon LLD 2001), campaign ambassador and long-standing philanthropic supporter. It houses the 400 seat Tung Auditorium with space for a 70 piece orchestra, as well as a state of the art 600 seat lecture theatre. Architects and lead designers Ellis Williams worked alongside a number of acoustic and structural engineers in order to achieve optimum acoustic profile and capacity for the orchestra. Artform Urban was appointed by HA Civils to provide seating elements for the landscaped exterior space of the building. The Generation 50 Seat with cantilevered legs was specified for the project due to its minimal and contemporary design that includes a curved timber cladding that echoes that of the main entrance of the building. It is the first installation of Generation 50 in the UK. The Generation 50 range was designed by Robert Chipman and offers a flexible ensemble of style and mounting options.Available with four different cast aluminium powder-coated leg fixing options, a range of armrests and a number of timber options including ipe, jarrah, and thermally modified ash. Providing a perfect addition to complete a range of urban landscapes. The Yoko Ono Lennon Centre will develop a programme of new public-facing cultural highlights including concerts, lectures as well as other events in the University calendar, and will be the new home to the Music Department’s popular Lunchtime Concert Series.Yoko Ono Lennon said:“It gives me great pleasure to know that this centre will serve as a new opportunity for countless future artists and musicians to communicate their work with the local audience in Liverpool, and the world beyond. I can’t wait to see what exciting new work is on its way.” (source)

A bespoke timber side sliding sectional garage door by Rundum Meir has proved to be the perfect fit for a private collector of classic 1950s Humber cars.After moving into the period property around six years ago, the owner was keen to redevelop the unloved garage to create a space for housing his collection of mark IV B Humber Super Snipe cars. Having purchased and maintained four of these specific models over the past 15 years, he wanted to ensure the new garage would reflect the beauty of the vehicles as well as mirror the period architecture of his 1910-built home.The vehicles are now housed in a garage accessed via an automated timber side sliding sectional door, featuring glass apertures, designed, manufactured and installed by Rundum Meir UK. The six-section door spans 4m to provide easy access to the garage and painted in a high quality black finish to achieve a period look.The homeowner said: “We’re delighted with our new garage and thankful to Rundum Meir for the sliding doors which have made the dream a reality. When we started on the project we researched numerous garage door types, but we struggled to find one that was out of the ordinary, automated and available in the stable-door style we sought.“Danesch and the team at Rundum Meir were fantastic. Following an initial visit to our home, they helped us explore the options within our available budget and the door that they proposed was perfect. With the windows, it is great to be able to see our Super Snipes in all their glory with ease."The side sliding sectional door installed here demonstrates how Rundum Meir is able to develop a bespoke solution for most applications. All its doors are designed in the UK, hand crafted in Germany and assembled back in the UK prior to installation.