GA/31.03.08                                       WATERSIDE 1/2

FOUR WATERSIDE DEVELOPMENTS WIN INCA AWARDS

As Britain’s cities alongside major waterways and coasts become redeveloped to provide prestigious apartments, so modern methods of construction are being adopted.

            Leading the field in new build construction is external wall insulation, used in conjunction with concrete blockwork and lightweight steel construction to meet ever increasing thermal insulation requirements – as well as meeting the exposure conditions demanded for coastal regions.

            Four such projects have been named for the prestigious Andy Swan 2008 Awards – private residential apartments, new build – sponsored by the Insulated Render & Cladding Association for the best use of external wall insulation. These are on the Thames, at Docklands; on the Severn, at Bristol; at Plymouth and Cardiff Bay.

            The winner is a high-rise private apartment landmark development, which can be viewed from the River Thames and has become the focal point for the University of East London’s Docklands campus. The specifier, Fraser Brown MacKenna required a system that was fire-safe, thermally efficient and environmentally friendly, whilst providing colour options. The insulated render systems had to carry accreditation onto concrete blockwork and lightweight metal frame structures.

            The PermaRock mineral fibre and lamella insulated render system was used, incorporating 130mm of insulation. The acrylic finish was predominantly a white through-coloured render, but with small coloured panels incorporated into the elevations and to the entire end facades to provide each block with its own identity. The render complemented the timber cladding also used on the facades. A U-value for the walls of 0.20W/m²K was achieved. The system designer was PermaRock Products Ltd; and the installer, George Howe Ltd – both INCA members.

            The runner-up was Celestia Cardiff, residential apartments in Falcon Drive, Cardiff Bay. The specifier, Stride Treglown Davis, used 18,000 square metres of the Rockshield Silcoplast LW external wall insulation system, incorporating 90mm of mineral wool, on a precast concrete substrate with a 140mm blockwork infill. The finish was in off-white silcoplast render, contrasting with inset timber cladding panels. The system designer was Rockwool Ltd; and the installer, Joyner PA (Cymru) Ltd – both INCA members.

            Two further developments were highly commended. The new Lunar Rise residential apartments, situated on Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, form part of the redevelopment of the city’s waterside, bringing new interest to the once neglected areas of the dockland. The Form Design Group specified the Alumasc Swisrail external wall insulation NHBC approved system, working with the system designers to produce a solid weather resistant specification to accommodate the high exposure factors required due to the orientation of the building in relation to the coast.

            The system incorporated 110mm of expanded polystyrene and was finished in a clean contemporary style, with a textured white silicone render with high impact reinforcement to heavy traffic areas. The substrate was concrete blockwork: the U-value achieved was 0.3W/m²K. The developer was Barratt; the system designer Alumasc Exterior Building Products Ltd; and the installer, Specialist External Render Systems Ltd.

            Also highly commended was Bristol Harbourside Building 9, Canons Marsh, Bristol, comprising residential flats and commercial units. The architects, Edward Cullinan Associates, required to fast track a concrete frame structure infilled with Metsec lightweight steel frame and Cemboard sheathing. The StoTherm Classic external wall insulation system, incorporating 80mm of EPS, provided the thermal and acoustic performance as well as a high quality and aesthetically pleasing render finish in white, grey, red, green, blue and pink.

            Ashlar grooves, bull nose shaped corners to triangular balconies and ends of flying walls, and curved balconies added interest. Over 11,000 square metres of EPS were used, so to avoid the risk of polluting the surrounding buildings and river frontage a recycling scheme was organised whereby all off-cuts were bagged and collected for reprocessing to make CD cases and plastic cups. The system designer was Sto; and the installer MPG Facades Ltd – both INCA members.

Information on external wall insulation for new build and refurbishment is available from the Insulated Render & Cladding Association at P O Box 12, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 3AH; tel: 01428 654011; fax: 01428 651401; e-mail: incaassociation@aol.com; or www.inca-ltd.org.uk.

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Further information from Gillian or Leonie on 01428 654011.

Downloadable Images:-

images\WINNER-A12-Resid Accomm, Docklands,London.jpg

images\RunnerUpA07-Celestia,Cardiff (8).jpg

images\HighlyCommA04-Lunar Rise 2.jpg

images\HighlyCommH07-Bristol Harbourside Bldng9.JPG

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