inspired facade solutions are helping to improve birmingham’s skyline, protecting aberdeen port’s operations centre and providing a pretty glitzy synagogue
a. Because it adds a touch of class
A black-and-white building on Birmingham’s skyline has replaced a number of “tired” 1950s and 1960s developments. And boy, does Birmingham need it. The building is part of a David McLean development that includes a number of residential medium- and high-rise buildings with various facade treatments.
The first phase of the development is this 15-storey apartment building on the prow of the triangular site. Techrete was appointed to supply the precast concrete cladding that forms the facade. The elevation’s treatment includes stepped balconies with a bold concave and convex curves gracing the front of the building.
Finishes with high colour contrast were used with Techrete adopting a bright white reconstructed stone for the basic panel with an acid-etched finish. The panels incorporate black basalt, and were polished using computer-controlled equipment.
b. Because it shines like gold
This is an application that literally demanded a religious approach. It’s a new synagogue in Munich, which has been hailed for its expressive architecture. It’s characterised by two stacked cubes: a massive, temple-like rock base with a filigree glass construction on top clad in a bronze-coloured translucent woven metallic veil. The conspicuous golden outer skin was made to specification using GKD’s Escale spiral mesh. Made from bronze, the spirals of the mesh were widened to create the optical impression of an equilateral triangle.
The decision to use the material was influenced not only by aesthetics but also by its functional advantages. The copper alloy’s high tin content of between 7.5% and 8.5% makes for a gold-like colour and, as time passes, the bronze will oxidise and give the building a unique patina of its own. Furthermore the woven metal mesh offers a long service-life, is non-flammable and recyclable.
c. Because it’s a flexible option
This building, the new Marine Operations Centre at the Port of Aberdeen, definitely drew the short straw. Situated just two metres from the edge of a harbour wall all it has to look forward to is high winds, freezing winter temperatures and a wet, salt-laden climate. But at least it’s got a nice coat: a bespoke glazed curtain wall supplied by Kawneer.
The complex shape, and the fact that the building will be subject to higher-than-average movements, meant the curtain walling had to be flexible in more ways than one. Not only did it need to accommodate the curvature of the facade, it had to be capable of flexing with the rest of the structure. The solution was Kawneer’s AA 110 curtain wall system. Installer Henshaw’s MD Tom Lamb commented: “It gave us the extra space we needed in the glazing rebate to accommodate movement.”
d. Because it’s cheaper
Sometimes the best solution is not necessarily the most expensive. At this development of business and residential properties in Clare Lane, Islington, London, the outline specification was for a metal-faced alloy system.
But as Mel Gooch from GDP Architects explains: “That was not only very expensive but also very difficult to install.” So he turned to CEP and specified 900m2 of its Bauclad panels.
After consulting contractor and cladding installer MP Brothers, Gooch chose 6mm Bauclad panels in metallic grey to reproduce the effect that the original specification had tried to achieve with the metallic system. These were secret-fixed using structural adhesive onto a system of aluminium carrier rails fixed to the building’s steel frame and blockwork.
e. Because it breaks the mould
A concrete winner and no mistake. Bovis Lend Lease is close to completing this project in London, a striking office development on Coleman Street with a facade finished in polished concrete that emulates Portland stone.
Designed by David Walker Architects and Swanke Hayden Connell, Decomo created an adjustable mould to give each of the distinctive cladding elements a degree of difference. Once cast, each one was buffed using revolving derricks while small surfaces were finished by hand. Similarly, insulation was added manually. And because of the building’s oval form the cladding was positioned by specialist PCE using an EDM total station.
Columns of the load-bearing structure feature pedestals to support the concrete cantilever of the vertical parts while parapets between the columns had to be perfectly horizontal – and at the same level as the connecting joints with the columns.
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