FC&A July 2020 by Red Hut Media Ltd

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT

ISSUE 125

JULY 2020

Discover Nordic Copper for Architecture Copper: Nordic Brown Light, Project: Beecroft Building, University of Oxford Physics Department Architects: Hawkins\Brown, Photo: Jim Stephenson

Architectural Copper Surfaces and Alloys Copper is a constantly evolving, natural and durable material with an indefinite design-life. With an ‘A1 (non-combustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1 and melting point of 1083˚C, copper is also suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. It is fully recyclable, safe to use, and requires no maintenance. Nordic Copper offers an impressive portfolio of surfaces and alloys for architecture, including Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper. The Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise pre-patinated ranges share properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas. Alongside traditional Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass alloys, the innovative Nordic Royal retains its rich golden colour over time. An extensive choice of Nordic Décor mechanically applied surface treatments is also available. Nordic Copper offers limitless possibilities for innovative contemporary architectural and interior design.

NordicCopper.com g.bell@aurubis.com

EDITOR’S NOTE Cross Platform Media LTD

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JULY 2020

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT MAGAZINE EDITOR Rebecca Kemp rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk P R I N T & D I G I TA L A D V E R T I S I N G Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Jim Moore jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk PRINT DESIGN MANAGER Jack Witcomb jack@crossplatformmedia.co.uk D I G I TA L D E S I G N M A N A G E R Matt Morse matt@crossplatformmedia.co.uk ACCOUNTS/CREDIT CONTROL Rachel Pike Rachel@crossplatformmedia.co.uk SALES SUPPORT & A D M I N I S T R AT O R Klare Porter klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

he world, as we know it, has changed over the past few months; we’re all acting differently and paying more attention to the environment that surrounds us. And, the architecture and construction industries are no different. Of course, due diligence has always been an essential trait of high-quality architecture and design; however, following COVID-19, the sector is re-evaluating priorities to catch up following a short, temporary hiatus and meeting the changing needs in our built environment. Now, we have to look at everything in a brand-new light, and from a more hygiene-critical perspective. From coatings and design to layout, protection and manufacturing, we have all had to adapt over a minimal (and unexpected) period. This month, we have talked to numerous professionals from the sector, exploring how architecture and construction are adapting in a post-coronavirus landscape. Firstly, Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Europe, takes a look at how screens are helping businesses to quickly adjust their offices and shop floors to offer protection and peace of mind for all – without lengthy and costly reconfiguration issues. Turn to page 22 to learn more.

On page 30, James Stephens, Managing Director of Offsite Solutions, looks at how bathroom and utility pods are helping contractors in the coronavirus pandemic with offsite solutions. While on page 20, RIBA Architect Christopher Sykes returns with a compelling column on how modern methods of construction (MMC) can save the day for the “housing industry and the problems of the ‘Third World War’ (i.e. COVID-19)”. Last but by no means least, two architect practices prove that the architectural show must go on in this month’s portfolios. First, we take a look around the ZHA Architectsdesigned Opus building – which boasts interiors and architecture designed by Dame Zaha Hadid. Turn to page 12 to take a look. Elsewhere, on page 16, we take a tour around Shanghai’s most elegant shopping centre – the Grand Gateway 66 retail complex in Xijiahui, designed by Elena Galli Giallini (EGGL).

Rebecca

REBECCA KEMP Editor, Future Constructor & Architect

PUBLISHER Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Cross Platform Media Ltd. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.

The ZHA Architectsdesigned Opus building boasts interiors and architecture design by Dame Zaha Hadid herself.

SEE PAGE 12

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JULY CONTENTS

NEWS

INDU STRY U PDAT E S :

LEGAL & BU SINE S S:

VOICE OF THE I N DU S T RY:

FC&A rounds up this month’s industry news, including awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

As businesses set about returning to the workplace, ensuring staff and customer safety and complying with Government guidelines is a priority. How can screens help businesses to quickly adapt their offices and shop floors to offer protection and peace of mind for all without lengthy and costly reconfiguration issues? Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Europe, takes a look.

How can protective coatings strengthen, enhance and improve the lifespan of buildings? Tony Walker, Technical Specification Controller at PPG Architectural Coatings, explains how specifying advanced, protective coating solutions earlier in the design phase can significantly bolster our buildings.

FEATURES

ON SITE WITH S YK E S:

K BB:

SECU R ITY:

BU ILD FOCU S: Office:

TECHNICAL INS I G H T: Roofing:

RIBA Architect Christopher Sykes returns this month with an exclusive article on how COVID-19 is presenting a convenient opportunity for the construction industry to adopt modern methods of construction (MMC). Here, he looks at how MMC has advanced over recent years.

In this article, Dean Weston from Commodore Design offers advice on how you can create kitchens that meet the growing demand for healthier living.

Paul Smith of F.H. Brundle talks FC&A through five key types of coatings in commercial projects, and what makes them useful and popular.

James Stephens, Managing Director of Offsite Solutions, looks at how bathroom and utility pods are helping contractors in the coronavirus pandemic.

Liquid applied waterproofing is becoming an increasingly popular flat-roofing solution for building owners, designers and contractors. Here, Simon Ashworth, Product Manager – Liquids & Synthetics at BMI UK & Ireland, looks at a full list of benefits for specifying the solution.

PORTFOLIOS

THE OPU S, ZHA ARC H I T E C T S :

GR AND GATEWAY 6 6 (G G 6 6 ) , ELENA GALLI G I A L L I NI ( E G G L:

Home to the new ME Dubai hotel, the Opus – located in the Burj Khalifa district adjacent to Downtown Dubai – is the only hotel in which Zaha Hadid created both its architecture and interiors. Here, FC&A looks around the design.

Hong Kong-based architect firm Elena Galli Giallini (EGGL) has unveiled the rejuvenated north building of the Grand Gateway 66 retail complex, Xijiahui. EGGL was commissioned to provide the prominent complex with a brand-new image, both architecturally and functionally. The result is truly spectacular with an unusual M. C. Escher ‘Relativity’ feel.

FC&A – JULY – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES

NE W S I N BR I E F: STEPHEN GEORGE + PARTNERS’ NEW OFFICE SCHEME AT LEICESTER WATERSIDE Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) is looking forward to the start on site of the 1754m2 Grade A flexible office building, for energy and water supplier Yü Energy, as part of the Leicester Waterside regeneration project. It will be complete with ancillary facilities, car and cycle parking and onsite landscaping. Alongside Keepmoat’s housing scheme, the multi-million-pound, three-storey building for client Brackley Property Developments is an important element in the first phase of Leicester City Council’s ambitious Waterside regeneration. Says Michael Barker, Senior Partner at SGP: “Leicester City Council wanted a high-quality office building due to the prominence of the site, visible from the A50 and Sanvey Gate. The architectural language of the design took elements from the industrial heritage of the area to create an urban form that balances the townscape aspirations of the housing development with commercial constraints.”

TODD ARCHITECTS DESIGN SUBMITTED FOR PLANNING A design by TODD Architects for the £50m regeneration of Queen’s Parade, a 13-acre (5.26 hectares) waterfront site in Bangor, near Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been submitted for planning. The scheme will see Bangor’s Marine Gardens returned to its heyday of Victorian seaside elegance whilst creating a vibrant mixed-use development of residential, hotel, office, retail and cultural and recreation floorspace in the heart of the town centre. The Queen’s Parade project, led by Developer Bangor Marine, is being developed in conjunction with the Department for Communities and Ards and North Down Council.

FC&A – JULY – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES FC&A ROUNDS UP THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES. Images: ©DMA

LHG (LONDON HOTEL GROUP) WINS PLANNING CONSENT TO EXPAND TOOTING HIGH STREET APARTHOTEL LHG (London Hotel Group) has won planning permission to expand its aparthotel scheme on Tooting High Street, bringing 373 high-quality guest rooms across six floors with basements to one of London’s ‘coolest neighbourhoods’, popular with both residents and tourists alike. LHG (LONDON HOTEL GROUP)

esigned by hospitality design expert Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), the previously consented aparthotel scheme at 111-113 Tooting High Street will now include the adjacent site of the former Tooting Constitutional Club at 101A Tooting High Street. The scheme’s revision has seen the elevations redesigned to improve its relationship with the character of the immediate area, whilst the restaurant and bar section now creates an active frontage to the high street. New and improved club space will be provided, as well as access to outdoor amenities for the local community. Meher Nawab, CEO at LHG, said: “Tooting is a lively and growing area, voted into the top 10 ‘coolest’ neighbourhoods by Lonely Planet, and we are delighted to be playing an important role in the ongoing growth and popularity of the district. Our new aparthotel development will deliver high-quality facilities and amenity space that will benefit and support the development’s neighbours, residents and local groups, as well as meeting a currently unfulfilled need for hotel accommodation in and around the Tooting area.” 6

DMA’s design for the scheme creates a simple, high-quality building that uses a pared-back palette of materials, including red and grey brickwork, to respond to the character of the area. Floor-to-ceiling height has been adjusted to ensure the increase in scale is kept to a minimum, whilst the height of the buildings have been carefully considered and staggered from three storeys up to six to provide a transition from neighbouring three-storey properties along Woodbury Street. Lightwells will be used to allow natural light and ventilation to ground floor and basement guestrooms, with circadian lighting to simulate the day’s natural cycle. The provision of 547m 2 of new community space for D1 use across basement level will be accessible from Tooting High Street, as will 625m 2 public green with outdoor seating zones, raised planting and soft landscaped areas.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

TWEETS

NEWS IN BR IEF:

#LGBTQ #Architecture More pictures from @ManchesterPride with @ArchitectLGBT @RIBA supporting #LGBTQ inclusion in #Architecture #Construction #Engineering #Pride – @LGBTconstruct

As celebrations for this year’s #PrideMonth draw to a close, we know that whilst much progress has been made, discrimination in the workplace persists. We are committed to supporting equality for all, and are always listening: #allyship #Pride2020

For #Pride2020 we are encouraging everyone within the architectural community and the wider built environment industry to recognise and celebrate the importance of creating inclusive and diverse spaces and workplaces – @RIBA

– @RIBA

To mark #Pride2020 we spoke with Tom Guy and Emily Rix @ArchitectLGBT about how support networks within practices promote LGBTQ+ and Pride – @RIBA #PrideInside We can’t take our pride to the streets with @ArchitectLGBT this year, but we will celebrate #PrideInside hosting a charity bingo night at our virtual studio, raising donations for LGBT+ charities in the UK. #Pride #PRIDE2020 #PrideinLondon – @_SW_News We can’t be there for real this year but nice to revisit the submission we put together for last year’s float competition! @bgyarchitects @ArchitectLGBT #Pride #PRIDE2020 – @apbuck91

From @AIANational: ‘To strike a path toward greater #equity and #inclusion in architecture, queer architects encourage others to identify themselves and come together’. #PRIDE #architecture #LGBTQ+ #HappyPrideMonth #EDI – @BSAAIA

As we celebrate @GlobalPride2020 – it was a privilege to be at the @TheStonewallNYC on the 50th Anniversary of the uprising @NYCPride @LGBTconstruct – @LGBTconstruct

With @GlobalPride2020 all day today we are looking back at 2016 @PrideInLondon with @BuildingEqLGBT before we had the #RainbowJCB - Here with @balfourbeatty #LGBTQ network in #Construction #Engineering – @LGBTconstruct

SIR ROBERT MCALPINE COMMITS TO NETZERO CARBON Building and civil engineering company, Sir Robert McAlpine, has launched a new sustainability strategy for 2020-2024, setting a clear path to achieving net-zero carbon emissions within the next five years and realising year-on-year increase on social value delivered across its operations. The sustainability strategy aims to have a measurably positive impact on local communities and the environment, empowering individuals across the business to drive the sustainability agenda. Working hand-in-hand with the supply chain, it tackles the challenge to deliver sustainable construction, operate ethically and address issues known to be underlying causes of climate change. Building on the previous sustainability roadmap, which earned Sir Robert McAlpine the title of ‘Environmental Contractor of the Year’ in 2018, the strategy incorporates lessons learnt from employees, projects and supply chain partners.

FIRM TAKES ACTION WITH COMMITMENT TO RIBA CLIMATE CHALLENGE

Herbert Lui, Partner at DMA, said: “I am pleased to have worked with Meher to help deliver LHG’s vision for an enhanced solution to this project; incorporating the adjacent site to create a unified design which improved the setting of the neighbouring listed buildings. Working to LHG’s new brief for the project has also given us the opportunity to revisit the facade design to create a design that is more complementary to the neighbourhood. The recently consented scheme has an improved public access

to the outdoor amenity space to the rear, and we are pleased that the existing clubhouse is sympathetically integrated with the outdoor amenity and the hotel.” LHG’s scheme will deliver 124 new full-time jobs for the local community, increase the footfall to the town centre and bring in an estimated £1.71m spend to local businesses. Importantly, it will also provide 500 nights of free accommodation to local health charities. Explains Meher: “We are proud to present a hotel,

which will act as a respite for parents and relatives of sick children at local healthcare facilities, including St George’s Hospital, who require overnight accommodation. As part of our offer, we will provide a minimum of 500 free room nights per year to St George’s Hospital via Ronald McDonald House and St George’s Hospital Charity.” Planning consultant for the scheme is Q Square and work is expected to start on site in November 2020.

Architects worldwide must realise that climate change is the fundamental design challenge of our time. With the planet approaching a tipping point, all other concerns, many of them profoundly important, are nonetheless subsidiary. North West practice HPA has put this at the forefront of its practice model, by becoming one of the first in its area, and at the vanguard nationally, to sign up to the 2030 Climate Challenge scheme instigated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

www.lhg.co.uk 7

FC&A – JULY – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES

ARC H IT EC T I N P RO F I LE This month, FC&A talks to Andy Parsons, Managing Director at Yelo Architects, about his career journey as an architect and discovers what drove him to open his very own practice 10 years ago. YELO ARCHITECTS

ANDY PARSONS is Managing Director at Yelo Architects

IMAGES : 1: 2: 3: 4:

Nizells Avenue, Hove Clermont Road, Brighton One Hove Park, Hove One Hove Park, Hove

www.yeloarchitects.com FC&A – JULY – 2020

teacher said that I should qualify as an architect – that changed everything. And, despite a couple of diversions along the way, I qualified about 15 years later.

Tell us a bit about your career background. In my university years, during the holidays and in the yearout periods, I worked as a topographical surveyor. I really enjoyed the outdoor work and the accuracy of the discipline. Then, following qualifying, I joined a very design-led small architectural practice in Brighton and was taught a lot about design and communication – which I still refer to now. After five years, I left and joined a major London-based firm, specialising in affordable housing. Here, I helped set up their new Brighton office and grew it to a decent size. A combination of aspects – such as having to commute to London – led me to start my own business, Yelo Architects, in January 2010.

Who has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration? My grandad. He worked as a mechanic, but he was much more than that; he had the ability and vision to invent and engineer all sorts of interesting projects. He also combined this with business acumen. For example, he once handbuilt a snowplough from scrap – a harsh winter was forecast, and he was clearing driveways for money. I found his determination and positive outlook really inspiring. What has been your most notable project to date? One Hove Park – a scheme for 71 flats – was a real turning point for us and a real leap of faith for the client as Yelo was only a year or so old, and we only had two members of staff. It was in the period; however, where there wasn’t much work around. I had some friends

Had you always wanted to pursue a career in architecture? When I was 11, we had a school project and were given plans of the school with a mission to change it into something else. I created a Butlins-style proposal with huge swimming pools and twisting slides. The 8

at other practices that were on three-day weeks, so they came and worked for me and pulled the planning application together. It was quite a planning battle; however, it was eventually approved the first time and was completed a few years ago. It has since won a few awards, and I think it still looks great. How do you approach your projects? We spend a lot of time with clients really establishing the brief, drilling down to how they intend to live or work in the proposed building. We then have a series of backto-back meetings with them as we’re designing, so both sides of the table are actively engaged in the process. We then design from the inside out, the functionality and clarity of the layout are paramount for us. We place much more importance on the plan of a building than the external aesthetic. How the building looks externally is still essential, and we’re known for our contemporary architecture, however, the building has to function properly internally; otherwise we’ve not delivered.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

What do you think is the greatest challenge for designing in sustainability? Legislation. Most clients find sustainability a significant upfront financial cost and; therefore, only put in the minimum required under planning policy or building control. It’s very frustrating for us as we always want to create long-term sustainability; however, the legislation isn’t strong enough yet to ‘encourage’ that to happen. What is your favourite building and why? Well as I’m writing this in lockdown, I’m going to choose the Schnabel House by Frank Gehry. I would have loved to have been living in that house for the last 10 weeks! It’s in LA, has two pools, a large garden and is designed by Frank, so it’s just perfect for now. He has been a huge influence on me. I found his biography fascinating, particularly around business. It really demonstrated that even famous, hugely successful architects struggle sometimes.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for architects today? Survival is our greatest challenge and not just because of COVID-19 – although that hasn’t helped. The procurement and delivery of buildings is rapidly changing. Grenfell has changed legislation which has impacted architects’ PI insurance and so we are already seeing architects becoming specialists in specific fields. When you also factor in the rise in modular and factory-built buildings, I can see the requirement for ‘bespoke’ architectural practices diminishing as the specialists will be in-house at the factories. What do you think is the greatest challenge for architecture students at the moment? I’m on the RIBA Validation Panel, so I visit various universities in the UK as part of that role and funding is a big issue. Many universities don’t provide enough resources required for an architecture course. This leaves students frustrated 9

as they are often at a university they really like with great teachers, but the resources are inadequate. What advice would you give to newly qualified architects? Join a practice that embraces technology and modern ways of working. What can we expect to see from Yelo Architects over the next year? Well, we’ve been very active with affordable housing for councils in the last couple of years, so you’ll see those projects coming through as they’re built. Mixed-use schemes are also a big area of growth for us. We’ve just gained consent for 148 homes and large offices on a former car sales site in Hove, and we have many more at feasibility stage. I expect to see a lot more retail sites coming forward for mixed-use schemes now. Finally, modular housing – we’ve been running our own research projects for new modular house types, and we plan to launch that as a new brand this year. FC&A – JULY – 2020

COATINGS & FIXINGS

EARLY CONSULTATION ON FINAL FINISH ENSURES A STUNNING RESULT As one of the UK’s foremost architectural powder coaters, specialising in distinctive shades and textures, Powdertech Corby has created a stunning bespoke shade for external cladding on the Blackhorse Mills development in Walthamstow, North East London. POWDERTECH CORBY

lackhorse Mills occupies the site of the former Ferry Lane industrial site next to Walthamstow’s High Maynard Reservoir and is an environmentally sensitive and vibrant residential location, one of the largest purposebuilt rental developments in the UK. “We were involved with the architects very early in the project, which is fundamentally best practice, but still occurs only rarely,” said Richard Besant, Director at Powdertech. “This meant that we could discuss the look and feel they had in mind for the buildings and ensure that the design of the extruded aluminium cladding panels together with the right powder coating finish would achieve the desired effect.” After producing a series of powder-coated aluminium samples from which the shade of one and the metallic sheen effect of another were the preferred options, Powdertech combined these attributes in a unique bespoke shade and named it ‘Ferry Red’.

External cladding of a ‘reeded’ design surrounds all four sides of the buildings and balconies. Powdertech coated 12000m2 of the extruded aluminium profiles at a minimum of 60 microns thickness; the undulating nature of the profiles required close attention in order to ensure that all parts of the surface were properly coated. The finish carries a 25-year guarantee for gloss, colour and adhesion and is Qualicoat Class 1 approved. The ‘reeded’ cladding, in combination with the use of non-reflective materials, screening and a zero-car policy, allows the development to be sensitive to its wetland location in design and environmental impact. Visual impact is ensured by the play of light across the reddish/metallic Ferry Red shade on the undulating surface, creating a stunning effect throughout the day. If you have a colour or concept in mind, call the team at Powdertech (Corby), and they will be happy to share their expertise.

www.powdertechcorby.co.uk FC&A – JULY – 2020

pcl@powdertech.co.uk 10

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THE OPUS, ZHA ARCHITECTS

All photographs: ©Laurian Ghinitoiu

ZHA’S ORTHOGONAL OPUS Home to the new ME Dubai hotel, the Opus is located in the Burj Khalifa district adjacent to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay on the Dubai Water Canal. Exploring the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior, the design was presented by Zaha Hadid in 2007 and is the only hotel in which she created both its architecture and interiors. ZHA ARCHITECTS

panning 84,300m2 (907,400ft2), the Opus was designed as two separate towers that coalesce into a singular whole — taking the form of a cube. The cube has been ‘eroded’ in its centre, creating a free-form void that is an important volume of the design in its own right. The two halves of the building on either side of the void are linked by a four-storey atrium at ground level and also connected by an asymmetric 38m-wide, three-storey bridge 71m above the ground. “The precise orthogonal geometries of the Opus’ elemental glass cube contrast dramatically with the fluidity of the eight-storey void at its centre,” explained Christos Passas, Project Director at Zaha Hadid Architects. The cube’s double-glazed insulating facades incorporate a UV coating and a mirrored frit pattern to reduce solar gain. Applied around the entire building, this

FC&A – JULY – 2020

dotted frit patterning emphasises the clarity of the building’s orthogonal form, while at the same time, dissolving its volume through the continuous play of light varying between ever-changing reflections and transparency. The void’s 6000m2 facade is created from 4300 individual units of flat, singlecurved or double-curved glass. The high-efficiency glazing units comprise 8mm low-E glass (coated on the inside), a 16mm cavity between the panes and two layers of 6mm clear glass with a 1.52mm PVB resin laminate. This curved facade was designed using digital 3D modelling that also identified specific zones which required tempered glass. During the day, the cube’s facade reflects the sky, the sun and the surrounding city; whilst at night, the void is illuminated by a dynamic light installation of individually controllable LEDs within each glass panel.

THE OPUS, ZHA ARCHITECTS

SECTION A0

All drawings: ©ZHA Architects

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

FC&A – JULY – 2020

THE OPUS, ZHA ARCHITECTS

Furniture by Zaha Hadid Design is installed throughout the hotel, including the ‘Petalinas’ sofas and ‘Ottomans’ pods in the lobby that are fabricated from materials ensuring a long lifecycle and its components can be recycled. The ‘Opus’ beds in each bedroom while the ‘Work & Play’ combination sofa with desk are installed in the suites. The hotel’s bedrooms also incorporate the ‘Vitae’ bathroom collection, designed by Hadid in 2015 for Noken Porcelanosa, continuing her fluid architectural language throughout the hotel’s interiors. The ME Dubai hotel incorporates 74 rooms and 19 suites, while the Opus building also houses office floors, serviced residences and restaurants, cafes and bars including ROKA, the contemporary Japanese robatayaki restaurant and the MAINE Land Brasserie. Sensors throughout the Opus automatically adjust the ventilation and lighting according to occupancy to conserve energy while ME Dubai follows Meliá Hotel’s international initiatives for sustainable practices. Hotel guests will receive stainlesssteel water bottles to use during their stay with drinking water dispensers installed throughout the hotel. With no plastic bottles in guest rooms and a programme to become entirely plasticfree in all areas, the hotel is also reducing food waste by not serving buffets and has composters to recycle discarded organics.

www.zaha-hadid.com

FC&A – JULY – 2020

KØGE NORD STATION, COBE AND DISSING+WEITLING THE OPUS, ZHA ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTS

FACT FILE: Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher, Christos Passas ZHA design director: Christos Passas Competition team: Christos Passas (lead designer), Paul PeyrerHeimstaett, Alvin Huang, Daniel Baerlecken, Gemma Douglas and Saleem Al-Jalil Design team (shell and core): Vincent Nowak (project architect), Dimitris Akritopoulos, Javier ErnestoLebie, Paul Peyrer-Heimstaett, Sylvia Georgiadou, Phivos Skroumbelos, Marilena Sophocleous, Chiara Ferrari, Thomas Frings, Jesus Garate and Wenyuan Peng Base built supervision team: Fabian Hecker (team leader), Barbara Bochnak (team leader), Tomasz Starczewski, Kwanphil Cho, Bruno Pereira and Dimitris Kolonis Hotel and apartment interior design team one: Reza Esmaeeli, Bozana Komljenovic (project leads), Laura Micalizzi, Emily Rohrer (senior interior designers), Veronika Ilinskaya, Eider Fernandez Eibar, Stella Nikolakaki, Bruno Pereira, Raul Forsoni, Thomas Frings, Chrysi Fradellou, Spyridon Kaprinis, Alexandra Fischer, Hendrik Rupp, Vivian Pashiali, Sofia Papageorgiou, Carlos Luna, Christos Sazos, Kwanphil Cho, Andri Shalou, Ben Kikkawa, Melhem Sfeir, Faten el Meri and Eleni Mente (landscape designer) Hotel and apartment interior design team two: Alessio Constantino (project lead), Sonia Renehan (senior interior designer), Afsoon Es Haghi, Zsuzsanna Barat, Ekaterina Smirnova, Chafic Zerrouki, Nessma Al Ghoussein and Christina Christodoulidou Bespoke furniture team: Maha Kutay (project director), Margarita Valova, Reza Esmaeeli, Raul Forsoni, Bruno Pereira, Carine Posner and Filipa Gomes

FC&A – JULY – 2020

GRAND GATEWAY 66 (GG66), ELENA GALLI GIALLINI (EGGL)

RELATIVITY-INSPIRED RETAIL SPACES Elena Galli Giallini (EGGL), a Hong Kong-based firm specialising in architectural design, renovations, and interior and industrial design, has unveiled the rejuvenated north building of the Grand Gateway 66 retail complex (GG66), located in Shanghai’s bustling commercial, cultural and historical zone of Xijiahui. Comprising two distinct buildings of contrasting configurations, EGGL was commissioned to provide the prominent complex with a brand-new image, both architecturally and functionally. The result is truly spectacular with an unusual M. C. Escher ‘Relativity’ feel. ELENA GALLI GIALLINI (EGGL)

Designing a modern piazza

n embodiment of ‘Haipai’ culture, where core Chinese and Western values collide to make Shanghai one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, Xijiahui is in the midst of a contemporary revitalisation that is seeing new developments and renovations. The rejuvenation of the GG66 retail complex, which originally opened in 1999, forms part of that trend. With EGGL as design architect and interior designer, the renovation project encompasses the entire retail complex, including the transformation of the 20-year old north building, completed in 2019, and an overhaul of the south building, expected to be finalised later this year. “We derived much of our inspiration from the cultural traditions of Xijiahui and Shanghai,” explains Elena Galli Giallini, Architect and Director at EGGL. “We are endeavouring to create what Sociologist Ray Oldenburg refers to as the ‘third place’, meaning engaging environments away from home and the workplace that offer possibilities for socialising, discovering, learning and sharing.”

FC&A – JULY – 2020

In approaching the north building, EGGL faced a dark and aesthetically unimpressive, undefined structure that housed a dense compound with an intricate array of small retail outlets. With poor connectivity and sparse public spaces, the existing building interior lacked definition and attractiveness. The building was badly in need of a rejuvenated image to portray meaningful relationships within a refined and contemporary environment. In response to the struggles of conventional malls in the face of an e-commerce surge, lifestyle changes and evolving consumer demands, EGGL’s goal was to transform GG66 from what Sociologist George Ritzer coined as a “cathedral of consumption”, to a social hub for modern, urban lifestyles, with the allure of a luxurious destination. To achieve that goal, EGGL began by stripping down much of the north building, providing a blank canvas from which to embark on a completely new architectural and interior design, focused on the qualitative aspects of space identity and aesthetic appeal. 16

GRAND GATEWAY 66 (GG66), ELENA GALLI GIALLINI (EGGL)

FC&A – JULY – 2020

GRAND GATEWAY 66 (GG66), ELENA GALLI GIALLINI (EGGL)

EGGL complemented the architectural scheme with an infusion of primary design elements to define the character of the atrium, including spandrels with backlit glass panels, balustrades highlighted by metal and glass and unconventionally-shaped columns. An abundance of open public spaces transformed lobbies on each level of the building into internal social plazas, each with its own visually distinctive atmosphere, and each centred on a core void incorporating the vertical circulation of backlit escalators.

Let there be light While abundant natural light is infused into GG66’s south building through skylights and a glass dome forming part of its main roof, the north building was devoid of such features, making lighting design a critical part of the process. EGGL overcame the challenge of a complete lack of natural light by leveraging the ceiling design as an opportunity to infuse vibrancy into the scheme through the integration of key features and organic shapes that provide dynamic illumination. Ceiling folds and looping coves distribute diffused light to enliven the building’s architectural features. Meanwhile, downlights serve as accent points, and the escalators further brighten the ambience with their backlit wire mesh panels. On the sixth floor, ceiling breaks transform the escalator void into an eye-catching focus of folding planes and triangulated shapes. Hexagonal geometries interconnect to create sculptural features, with suffused light filtering along the edges. EGGL’s selection of materials and choice of a soft colour palette of beige and off-white hues for the ceilings and floors further compensates for the lack of natural light, while the bolder, darker hues of the metal claddings of columns and walls provide dynamic contrasts. Bronze and copper tones accentuate details and add warmth to the overall scheme. In the washrooms, bespoke elements define a neat, clear-cut environment featuring white cubicles with bronze contrasts, unconventional lighting, and cantilevered hexagon-shaped washbasins that enhance the ambience. Everything weaves its way into the grand design, with the colours and details of every object carefully selected in their placement.

A thorough, rigorous design philosophy EGGL favours the use of natural materials, such as stone, metal and wood, which respond well to the proven techniques of detailing and craftsmanship. Manipulation of materials, with combinations of varied textures, finishes and patterns, was a critical part of the GG66 design, with everything from elevator cabs, to wall claddings, doors, handles, lighting fixtures and more being customised exclusively for the shopping centre. “We develop each project from a holistic approach, from space planning to the most minute details,” explains Galli Giallini. “Our designs build relationships between each and every part of a project, resulting in a cohesive ambience.” FC&A – JULY – 2020

GRAND GATEWAY 66 (GG66), ELENA GALLI GIALLINI (EGGL)

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 4

FACT FILE: Interior architecture, retail planning and interior design: Elena Galli Giallini (design architect and interior designer) Design principal: Elena Galli Giallini Project name: Grand Gateway 66 – North Building Location: 1 Hongqiao Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai Status: Built

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LEVEL 6 Client: Hang Lung Properties Programme: Shopping mall (six levels above, three levels below) Site area: 50,788m2 Grand Gateway 66 mixeduse – total GFA: 315,118m2 Retail complex GFA: 185,720m2 Grand Gateway 66 north building GFA: 40,451m2

SECTION 1

The firm approaches every project as a solution to a series of variables in play, including the project brief and requirements. Their focus then incorporates the context of the place, its geographic settings, environment, culture and the social demands of the times. Together, those factors form the basis of a setting’s ‘Genius Loci’, or spirit of place. EGGL also embraces ‘limitations’ as intriguing and inspiring new challenges to be overcome in strategic ways, rather than as negative aspects or impediments to the creative process.

Extraordinary times

Harmony through design

selection of materials, while the use of unconventional finishes and textures, with calibrated contrasts, energise the scheme and generate access points. This dynamic integration of opposite values reinforces what Elena Galli Giallini refers to as a “yin–yang composition of harmony”. Specially-designed motifs and the creative use of recurring geometric shapes create visual focal points that serve as common denominators within the overall scheme.

While the north and south buildings of GG66 presented EGGL with vast contrasts in spatial and visual characteristics, harmonisation of the two buildings was never about forced artificial homogeneity, but rather about designing two distinct parts, with differing characteristics, that work in synergy as a singular new complex. Harmony and coherency are further emphasised through the consistency of EGGL’s colour palette and 19

While the current COVID-19 climate only further accentuates the problems afflicting commercial complexes around the world, Galli Giallini foresees surviving retail centres scaling up amenities, revamping branding, and focusing on new paradigms of experiential-based offerings, while also providing harmonious spatial relationships and enduring elegance. EGGL’s strategy in approaching the Grand Gateway 66 project aligns with that vision by enhancing the retail complex’s image, and by transforming it into an experiential destination. “We focused on creating a ‘sensory experience’, with a new look and feel that would set it apart from other retail destinations,” she says. “Our emphasis was on creating fluid and dynamic spatial configurations that define an engaging and memorable environment, and we believe that this mall is well-positioned to stand the test of time and thrive during these critical times.”

www.elenagalligiallini.com FC&A – JULY – 2020

COLUMN

ON SITE WITH SYKES CHRISTOPHER SYKES I S A N A R C H I T E C T W H O T R A I N E D AT T H E B A R T L E T T S C H O O L O F A R C H I T E C T U R E AT U N I V E R S I T Y C O L L E G E LO N D O N . A F T E R H E Q U A L I F I E D , H E W O R K E D I N B O T H LO N D O N A N D S W E D E N . H AV I N G W I D E N E D H I S W R I T I N G A N D J O U R N A L I S T I C S K I L L S , H E S U B S E Q U E N T LY S TA R T E D H I S O W N P U B L I S H I N G C O M PA N Y S P E C I A L I S I N G I N B U I L D I N G M A G A Z I N E S A N D E V E N T S . A S A H O B B Y, H E U S E D T O W R I T E S I T C O M F O R T H E B B C .

Huf Haus showhome at Weybridge, Surrey

The Cork House Image: ©David Grandorge

HOUSING HOPES FOR MMC SOLUTIONS For the housing industry today, the problems of the ‘Third World War’ (i.e. COVID-19) mirror somewhat those of the Second World War when the aim was to come up with a quick, efficient and modern answer to a problem. In 1942, it was the bombed-out housing crisis. This was when the UK took inspiration from the USA and their very advanced and modern prefabricated houses for workers and families working on huge dam construction projects. UK prefabs were temporary homes built in the factory – they were the MMC (modern methods of construction) of their day.

ow, since the Second World War, there has been a desperate need to deliver new housing quickly using MMC effectively to achieve more without using more. It centres around offsite construction that benefits from factory conditions and mass production techniques. MMC is being pushed hard. For example, UK Construction Week is also home to a great showcase of MMC helping to revolutionise what we build. Here, the emphasis will be on timber, light gauge steel and concrete frames, modular volumetric systems, digitisation of construction, 3D printing, products and services manufactured offsite, robotics, BIM, autonomous plant, equipment drones and digital surveying. This means that foundations are laid while skilled craftsmen inside the factory are creating the interior and exterior finishes, services and surfaces FC&A – JULY – 2020

reckoned to be 50% quicker and more affordable plus being environmental and energy-efficient. Gradually partnerships are being formed, encouraged by growing confidence of MMC as an active roadway to innovate and embrace change. Sadly, the stumbling block is the house-building industry itself. Builders and developers are very happy to continue as they are and, it would seem, are loath to divert their energies. One ‘heavy’ problem is brick. If this eternal product was no longer used (banned even!), house-builders would be forced to get out of their comfort zone and accept innovation and change. As something of proof, it is surprising that the unique benefits of the Huf Haus have not been more widely adopted. This essentially is a kit house, individually designed by the owner with a Huf Haus architect. The whole unit is prefabricated to 20

the client’s exact specifications in Germany. Being custom-designed from just under 200m2 to over 1100m2, all have with the Huf Haus signature post and beam design, which means no load-bearing walls. There is no necessary room division, allowing owners to create a home that meets their current needs, and which can be altered later if their lifestyle changes. At the same time, NBS is pushing its NBS Source concerning the future of construction product information. It includes: An unrivalled cloud-based digital library of construction product information which will revolutionise the way products are specified because the standardised presentation of data will make it easy to compare similar construction products Dynamic product search using ‘natural language’ makes it faster to find the right product for any project A powerful tool for manufacturers and specifiers to prepare for the changes to the regulatory framework with highquality digital product data. So what’s the latest about MMC for products? Believe it or not, the Cork House was a contender for last year’s Sterling Prize while the new Flat House by Practice Architecture is uniquely built with hemp... nature’s own prefabrication solutions!

NEW

FC&A – JULY – 2020

LEGAL & BUSINESS

SCREEN TIME FOR MAKING WORKPLACES COVID-SECURE As businesses set about returning to the workplace, ensuring staff and customer safety and complying with Government guidelines will be a priority. How can screens help businesses quickly adapt their offices and their shop floors to offer protection and peace of mind for all without lengthy and costly reconfiguration issues? Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Europe, takes a look. CRL EUROPE

S SIMON BOOCOCK I S M A N AG I NG DI R EC TO R O F CRL EUROP E

FC&A – JULY – 2020

ince the onset of the global pandemic, businesses have been thrown something of a curveball. All that were deemed non-essential were, of course, forced into closure for many weeks to help stop the spread of the virus, with business owners then having time to begin thinking about how they could open up safely, when the time is right. From those working in offices through to hairdressers, restaurants and shops, all businesses are now faced with a new challenge and having to make changes to the layout of their premises quickly in order to find their feet again as the country eases out of lockdown and towards what many are deeming to be a ‘new normal’. Employee and customer safety is, of course, paramount. But keeping timescales and cost to a minimum to make such changes is also important. After a period of closure for many, businesses will be eager to get their operation up and running quickly 22

for financial reasons, but in doing so, must ensure that their staff and members of the public are confident in returning and that health risks are minimised. While social distancing looks to be here to stay for a while at least, what many people are craving after a long period of isolation is interaction with others. And this is what many working environments thrive on too. Openplan offices are social spaces, retail staff work best when having face-to-face contact with their customers – it’s a way of life that the majority of us don’t wish to change. Many preCOVID business environments are unsuited to the requirements concerning social distancing making changes necessary, but it is important to ensure that, particularly in office settings, the spaces remain places that encourage the sharing of ideas, creativity and cooperation. The challenge; therefore, for businesses is to make their premises COVID-secure in a way that doesn’t compromise on this unnecessarily while keeping everyone safe.

LEGAL & BUSINESS

Government guidelines have been introduced to aid businesses ahead of any reopening and these need to be adhered to quickly to be given the green light. From hand sanitiser stations to clear signage, there will be work to do to get things ready, particularly for those businesses that literally had to shut up shop almost overnight. Their world will need to look slightly different now, and manufacturers have been working hard to ensure there are systems and solutions available to help them get things in place quickly, while keeping changes to a minimum, because familiarity is really what staff and customers need to see to build that confidence back up again.

From the very early days of the pandemic, when only essential shops were allowed to trade, we saw the first of these necessary changes, with supermarkets being quick to install plastic or glass screens at checkouts. This is something that is now being carried through to other businesses, helping to maintain that face-to-face contact while guarding against the spread of the virus. Government guidelines around making workplaces COVID-secure also stipulate that for workers who have customer-facing roles, plastic screens should be erected to help protect them. For many businesses, being able to retrofit such protective screens to existing furniture will be welcome news as it will mean that the layout of the workplace will not need to be altered too dramatically. Importantly too, this is a solution that can be implemented pretty much immediately and changed as required, as the situation develops and shifts over the course of time. 23

Clear plastic or glass also overcomes those aesthetic challenges, enabling light to flow in the same way as previously and ensuring that all the benefits of openplan working environments can be retained. Being able to use screens that are portable will be key for many businesses looking to adapt fast. Simple and very quick to set up, such screens will have fittings that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be screwed into furniture, which is good news for those not wishing to make permanent alterations or to potentially risk damaging existing fixtures. Usefully, portable partition fittings are also available in a variety of finishes, so that the whole thing can seamlessly blend into the environment without looking out of place. Those with an anti-slip base will be particularly useful for maximising health and safety where members of the public will be present, such as retail stores, while fittings that can be easily extended to increase the width of the barrier as required will be a good all-rounder that can be adapted as required to ensure a COVID-secure, safe and healthy workplaces going forward.

www.crlaurence.co.uk FC&A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JULY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2020

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

A COAT OF PROTECTION How can protective coatings strengthen, enhance and improve the lifespan of buildings?

or architects and designers, creating a building that will stand the test of time is paramount. However, the longevity of a structure can be compromised if its components aren’t protected. Here, Tony Walker, Technical Specification Controller at PPG Architectural Coatings, explains how specifying advanced, protective coating solutions earlier in the design phase can significantly bolster our buildings. Years of hard work go into designing and constructing a building, so it makes sense that we should do all we can to keep them in top condition and resistant to damage throughout their lifespan. However, too often this level of effort and attention is only brought in as a remedial measure when decay and damage have already had an effect, resulting in a much more costly, disruptive and difficult process. One area that can provide real value here is the specification of well-thoughtout coating systems. Rather than being just a ‘lick of paint’ that’s only considered at the

PPG ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS

FC&A – JULY – 2020

end of a project, coatings need to be a key consideration early on in the specification process if we’re to create assets with true staying power. After all, they are the outermost barrier between the building and external forces. To help architects safeguard their buildings, there’s a vast array of protective coatings available that are specifically suited to different substrates and materials.

Fighting fire with coatings Steel is most commonly used for large buildings due to its natural strength. However, if left exposed, even for short periods of time, steel will rust and eventually corrode, leading to structural fatigue and instability. This can pose serious health and safety risks, particularly in areas such as fire escapes, which can become compromised if the steel structure breaks down considerably. Anti-corrosive paint systems are available for the protection of such structures, which can help prevent rust formation and enable the material to retain its strength.

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

we’ve all become accustomed to. These coatings are flexible enough to move with the substrate as it naturally expands and contracts, while also being microporous to allow for the passage of small amounts of residual moisture that will not unduly affect the coating’s appearance or protective qualities. In cases where decay has already developed, all defective coatings must be removed to assess the underlying substrate for damage. Once any repair work or treatment has been carried out, the timber should be allowed to fully dry before the protective coatings are applied.

Coat of armour For exterior surfaces, a render or full External Wall Insulation (EWI) system may be a viable option, particularly when building in coastal or industrial environments, where buildings face more severe impact from moisture, harsher weather conditions and airborne salt pollution. These complex systems will not only help maintain the internal envelope of a building but also enhance its thermal characteristics. Their intelligent properties offer flexibility and ultimate crack resistance to provide robust structural support.

Head to toe protection

Aside from being just a structural component, steelwork is now also used as a design feature. The popularity of exposed steel has grown rapidly in recent years, giving spaces such as offices and converted lofts an industrial look. However, this striking design feature poses a structural risk in the event of fire, because when the exposed framework is subject to heat, it can then compromise the safety of the entire building. Protective fire coatings are available and can play an essential role in fire safety. Passive fire protection (PFP) methods, such as cementitious sprays and fire-resistant boards, are not particularly popular with designers as they can be hard to maintain and appear bulky. This has left a gap in the market for intumescent coatings to lead the way for innovative asset protection. Amongst these, the PPG Steelguard range of coatings is available to provide added fire protection. Intumescent coatings can be applied to most types of steel, and when exposed to intense heat will expand to create a thick, foam-like layer around the metal to provide structural protection. By incorporating this type of coating into the design of their buildings, architects and specifiers can ensure they’re creating as safe a space as possible in the event of fire.

Preventing decay Timber is another common and popular material used in construction, but if installed without prior treatment or neglected once in situ, it can lead to many issues including rot, decay and the breakdown of protective paint coatings. This can; in turn, lead to prolonged water ingress, which often leads to more serious, structural problems that require more intensive work. However, long-term damage and structural issues can be prevented with the use of high-quality, specialist protective treatments. Adequate and effective timber treatment must be considered during the initial design and construction of a building. Failure to do so can cause substantial and often irreversible damage to timber features. Products included in both the Johnstone’s Stormshield and Woodworks ranges offer a longerterm and more cost-effective solution for the specifier than the more traditional exterior coatings 25

Once the building’s walls are protected, specifiers also need to consider how to look after other substrates, such as flooring. This is particularly the case for industrial environments such as factories, chemical plants or laboratories where toxic materials are commonplace, and floors are at risk of damage. Over time, such exposure can lead to an unsightly and uneven surface that can develop into a health and safety risk if not treated. One way around this is for designers to opt for an epoxy resin floor coating. In comparison to most traditional, singlepack coatings, epoxy floors offer enhanced durability against heavy and continuous traffic, abrasion and chemicals. These surfaces are also easy to install on a range of substrates, offer additional safety with the use of slip-resistant additives and are simple to clean, meaning they require very little maintenance. Taking into consideration the damage that can ensue if these preventative steps aren’t taken, it’s clear that coatings play a vital role in giving our buildings the best chance of endurance. However, if they are to truly reach their potential, it’s down to architects, specifiers and designers to begin to consider such products much earlier in the design process. By prioritising these protective solutions and making appropriate specifications, we can do our buildings justice and maintain their integrity and longterm resilience to the elements. For more information about the coatings available from PPG’s paint brand Johnstone’s Trade, visit the below website.

www.johnstonestrade.com FC&A – JULY – 2020

KBB

HEALTHY KITCHEN DESIGN Dean Weston from Commodore Design offers advice on how you can create kitchens that meet the growing demand for healthier living. COMMODORE DESIGN

Skylights and bi-fold doors work particularly well but if these aren’t feasible, then consider how kitchen finishes could be affected by light. For example, light-coloured worktops can help to disperse light more evenly, whereas darker ones will absorb more light. Gloss cabinets can also make the most of natural light.

ow worth £3.5tn, the global wellness industry is rapidly growing as more and more people across the globe seek to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. This wellness megatrend is filtering through many aspects of our lives, including the design of our homes. Kitchens, in particular, offer huge potential for house-builders and developers to help their customers feel healthier and happier. Here are just some of the ways in which this can be achieved.

Multisensory design Multisensory design is already being used in workplaces and urban planning but can be reflected across the home too. It’s a concept that acknowledges people’s experiences and reacts to space in many ways, using all of their senses. This can affect the way we feel, our behaviour and physical and mental wellbeing. For example, the colour of a kitchen will appeal to our sense of sight, but there is also strong evidence that colour schemes can affect our mood. Research linked to colour chromotherapy, which is believed to affect body vibrations, has highlighted that different shades can trigger a variety of emotional responses. In the kitchen, this means a splash of the right colour could make a significant difference to the owner. Shades to consider include yellow, which can brighten a person’s mood and increase energy, and blue, which can increase a sense of calm and relaxation.

Add noiseminimising features Open-plan spaces are here to stay, but sociable living needs to be balanced with high levels of comfort, including minimising noise. This could involve zoning larger spaces using screening to help contain the noise or installing products and systems specifically designed to absorb noise. Recent innovations include acoustic panels printed with patterns for floor-to-ceiling applications as well as adjustable acoustic beams that can be applied to both ceilings and walls to absorb sound and are available in 17 colours.

Increase natural light Lighting can be complex in a kitchen where functionality and comfort must combine, but it’s another important consideration when designing for healthier living. Too much artificial lighting can cause headaches and eye strain, so different options such as dimmable lights must be weaved into the final design. However, one of the most beneficial solutions for our wellbeing is to flood the space with natural light. FC&A – JULY – 2020

The choice of kitchen appliance is also important to keep the peace, and there are several products worth considering in this respect. Kitchen appliance manufacturer, Novy, has launched a range of products aimed at providing silent power in the kitchen. Its cooker hoods have been designed with an advanced soundproofing system and a double-walled bottom plate, which make them quieter than whatever is cooking. Miele also offers an extractor fan with a specially insulated motor, chimney and cooker hood canopy for effective soundproofing. The same product diffuses one of three selected scents and changes colour, helping to appeal to more senses as part of a multisensory design approach.

Clean the air A study commissioned by environmental charity Global Action Plan revealed that indoor air pollution is 3.5 times worse than outdoor air pollution and at its peak can be up to 560 times higher.

KBB

Although there are various ways homeowners can help to reduce air pollution, such as air purifiers, house-builders can also play a part. Many building products emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are toxic gases which are partly responsible for an increase in respiratory and other serious health conditions. Choosing materials at the design stage that are rated as low/no VOC can; therefore, significantly improve air quality. These include natural construction materials for countertops such as stone, recycled glass, reclaimed wood and stainless steel.

A happy home There is no denying that wellness is a global trend. With a rapidly rising number of people taking action to improve their wellbeing, housebuilders and developers must move quickly to keep up. From the application of new technologies and natural building materials through to more considered design concepts, there are many ways to create a bespoke kitchen that ensures homebuyers are not only happier but healthier.

www.commodoredesign.com 27

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SECURITY

THE SUCCESSFUL SPECIFICATION OF ANTI-TERRORISM SOLUTIONS Professionals involved in the planning, design and ongoing management of public spaces and streetscapes must consider and address a number of factors when looking at site security and safety. Here, Mark Lester of Hörmann UK, explores the key issues and the solutions available to help mitigate against potential terrorist threats, without altering the overall landscape. HÖRMANN UK

s crowded places remain an attractive target for terrorists, architects and specifiers have an increasing challenge to successfully blend counter-terrorism protective security measures with the urban design principles of the public space they’re creating. Within the Government’s ‘Protecting Crowded Places: Design and Technical Issues’ guide, it provides those involved in the development and maintenance of the built environment with a comprehensive basis for the appropriate specification of anti-terrorism solutions. The document offers advice and guidance on how high design quality can be upheld throughout the commissioning and planning of new development schemes, without impacting on the overall style and intention of the place in question. Using this guide as a basis, professionals should first understand the varying circumstances and associated degrees of risk that each project presents, before looking to specify solutions that aim to reduce the vulnerability of the location from a terrorism perspective.

FC&A – JULY – 2020

For many public spaces, its crowd density may be temporary. In this instance, a specifier will be responsible for locations housing concerts or events that do not have a constant level of visitors, rather than one that is concentrated at peak times. Here, the specification of temporary anti-terrorism solutions presents an appealing approach as the desired attraction of the space can easily be retained, without compromising the safety and security of the environment during high footfall periods. One of the main benefits of temporary anti-terrorism systems that are designed to specifically manage hostile vehicle mitigation is that they offer the potential for continued flexibility, particularly when compared to fixed systems that must be permanently installed. As the very nature of temporary systems lends their application to a wide range of configurations that can be transported to different areas of the location, the evolving requirements of the environment can continue to be met, without impacting on the level of security and safety provided. 28

By first assessing the potential levels of security risk the space presents, professionals can then understand the integrity of the protective technologies required. Here, temporary systems, such as certified single units, enable professionals to successfully meet the exact levels of integrity needed, as the quantity and configuration is tailored to the individual project and its level of risk. For example, mobile vehicle blockers that are certified as a single unit can provide effective protection against unauthorised vehicles, without restricting pedestrian access or altering the intention and accessibility of the urban public space. As the solutions are temporary, consideration of the subsurface and the materials specified do not need to be addressed, as no physical fixings are required to keep the blockers in place.

SECURITY

This also offers significant cost and resource savings throughout the lifetime of the project, whilst ensuring the continued adaptability of the systems to best meet the specified requirements and intentions of the environment as it evolves. The benefit of a solution that can be arranged individually, in rows or offset, offers a completely flexible system that does not require any compromises to be made to the initial design plans and can adapt to meet the specific needs of the space. For example, narrow pavements or cycle paths can be effectively secured with a single blocker unit, whilst a sluice or slalom arrangement can create defined passage points for emergency and rescue vehicles. Architects should also look to explore blockers that feature axisymmetric geometry as they have no predefined impact side. This means the angle of the collision is inconsequential, providing the highest levels of security, regardless of the direction the vehicle is travelling from.

Temporary solutions may also be an effective consideration for the retrofitting of anti-terrorism systems at historical or sensitive sites, such as conservation areas, where fixed solutions would impact the physical design and integrity of the site. To ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and provide a clear audit trail of due diligence, professionals must specify hostile vehicle mitigation solutions that have been certified according to internationally recognised standards and standardised crash tests. This will evidence the products can withstand the force of a specific test weight and speed, enabling architects to specify solutions that are tailored to meet the integrity requirements of each specific project. By taking a proactive approach from the initial concept stages and working closely with manufacturers, professionals can ensure the anti-terrorism solutions they specify are not only fit for purpose but also have minimal impact on the overall design intentions of the project.

www.hormann.co.uk 29

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BUILD FOCUS: OFFSITE

BUILD FOCUS:

OFFSITE

FC&A rounds up the latest case studies, advice and stories from the industry’s leading professionals. This month’s Build Focus shines a light on the offsite sector, examining how one provider is assisting with construction projects amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

OFFSITE SOLUTIONS

JAMES STEPHENS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OFFSITE SOLUTIONS

HOW OFFSITE MANUFACTURING CAN HELP CONTRACTORS IN A PANDEMIC James Stephens, Managing Director of Offsite Solutions, looks at how bathroom and utility pods are helping contractors in the coronavirus pandemic. Construction sites operating during the coronavirus pandemic have to ensure they are protecting their workforce and minimise the risk of spread of infection. New site safety guidance from the Construction Leadership Council states that “where it is not possible to follow the social distancing guidelines in full in relation to a particular activity, you should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the site to continue to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission”. FC&A – JULY – 2020

BUILD FOCUS: OFFSITE

Following the release of this guidance, more contractors are restarting work on sites across the country. Project teams are working with their respective clients and supply chain partners to assess how essential works can be planned, but typically sites are operating with significantly reduced labour and resources. One of the key challenges for contractors is how to maintain social distancing on site. There are also clearly major cost implications as a result of the unavoidable reductions in productivity and the ability to deliver projects on time and on budget. The major advantage of bathroom pods in the current climate is the reduction of around 14 different trades or operations required for bathroom construction on site to one single pod supplier. Similar benefits can be applied to the use of pods for utility rooms.

Where our production staff need more than one person to lift a shower screen or cabinet into place, for example, they are equipped with full PPE. These measures have still had an impact on our outputs each week, but we consistently work four to six weeks ahead of our customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; delivery dates, so there has been no impact or delays for any of our customers to date, and those service levels will be maintained. Where sites have to remain closed, we are still manufacturing pods for these projects so the units can be delivered and installed as soon as our customers need them, thereby minimising overall project delays. Other benefits of bathroom and utility pods that have become even more important in the current pandemic are the reductions in waste such as packaging and fewer deliveries of materials to site compared to traditional construction. The need for consistent cleaning in high-activity areas on site such as bathrooms is also removed with the use of offsite manufacturing.

Maintaining safe social distancing in a factory As a leading pod manufacturer, we are able to maintain the safe social distancing requirements much more easily in a controlled factory environment. Measures we have taken include reducing the number of pods to space the units out on each production line and work on the inside or outside of each pod is limited to one member of our team.

www.offsitesolutions.com 31

FC&A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JULY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2020

TECHNICAL INSIGHT: ROOFING

LIQUID ROOFING DELIVERS SPEED, SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE Liquid applied waterproofing is becoming an increasingly popular flat-roofing solution for building owners, designers and contractors offering, as it does, a wide choice of highperformance system solutions for a host of requirements and applications. Suitable for roofing refurbishment, repair, new build, complex and inverted roofs; new formulations have enhanced its appeal over alternative bonded or torch-on systems, says Simon Ashworth, Product Manager – Liquids & Synthetics at BMI UK & Ireland. BMI UK & IRELAND

n refurbishment, liquid applied waterproofing could be considered to deliver ‘renewability’ benefits, with its capacity to be applied over existing roofs – whether cement, metal or single-ply. This ability to overlay also makes it ideal for repairs. In both situations, the fact that it fully bonds to a variety of substrates makes it a versatile, reliable problem solver, particularly when restricted threshold heights, programme time and building occupancy are key considerations in the system specification process. For new builds or where the roof features a large element of detailing – outfalls, penetrations, upstands and the like – liquid applied waterproofing delivers the flexibility to provide fast, accurate and secure finishes. Where access is an issue, it can easily be laid without power, where lifting to the FC&A – JULY – 2020

roof is difficult or where storage of bulk materials would be challenging. Finally, it is ideal for inverted roofs – such as green or blue roofs – where waterproofing reliability is a concern as failures would be particularly challenging to remedy.

Such a superior protective, waterproofing characteristic is a function of seamless fabric reinforcement, combined with high-performance polymers – either polyurethane (PUR), Modified Polyurethane or Polymethyl Methacrylate

(PMMA). The result is a durable, joint-free, monolithic membrane system that maintains its integrity in the face of temperature-driven expansion and contraction. It’s this seamlessness that also makes it ideal for complex detailing, providing a homogenous seal around edges, rainwater outlets, terminations and HVAC units. Chief among recent innovations is the introduction of new, proprietary solventand VOC-free materials. Being low odour and 100% hazard-free, these products – such as BMI UK & Ireland’s Sealoflex Ultima – are a superb choice in refurbishment applications where there may be environmental sensitivities – such as concerns around the impact of odour and vapour on contractors, building occupants or the public at large.

TECHNICAL INSIGHT: ROOFING

Another health and safety feature of liquid applied waterproofing is that it is cold-applied: this eliminates the hazards of hot works, cutting, grinding and welding – and associated risks of fire. Convenience for contractors and building occupants is represented by liquid roofing’s quick cure times, meaning works can be completed quickly – important when tenant disruption must be avoided. Two-part catalysed coatings also offer low-temperature curing which means they are ideal for year-round application, and installation in the less climatically hospitable areas of the UK. This is supported by the availability of winter grade coatings for use in exposed and aggressive environments, such as coastal, elevated or northerly situations. Similarly, for high-traffic areas where membranes need to be hard-wearing, such as balconies, walkways, roof terraces and podium decks; superior grade reinforcing fabrics can be specified, creating exceptional membrane durability. UVresistant ‘wear coats’ or anti-skid quartz granules can also be applied as finishes. Fast application and rapid curing times also means that disruption to building users is

minimised too, as walkways and terraces need only be closed for the shortest times possible. Where extra resistance to wear and traffic is required, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) systems offer many possibilities for wearing courses and trafficable finishes.

BMI UK & Ireland’s dedicated field service has a network of technical advisers available to provide liquid applied waterproofing specifications that qualify for insurance-backed guarantees of up to 25 years, depending on the system. 33

The company’s advisory service for specifiers is free of charge and consultants are available to answer queries on cold-applied liquid waterproofing design and installation.

uk.bmisealoflex.com FC&A – JULY – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

AliClad Flow provides controlled watermanagement to the underside of steel balconies

INTRODUCING ALICLAD, THE NONCOMBUSTIBLE ALUMINIUM BALCONY SOFFIT CLADDING SYSTEM From the makers of AliDeck aluminium decking, AliClad is a new fully compliant solution for underside water-management on steel balconies. ALIDECK

The interlocking nature of the AliClad Flow panels delivers a watertight balcony underside

With only three simple components, AliClad Flow is a quick-fit and easy-to-install soffit cladding solution

www.aliclad.co.uk FC&A – JULY – 2020

01622 534060 34

ollowing the recent pattern of innovation in its aluminium decking system, AliDeck has again made waves in the industry with the launch of AliClad, a non-combustible soffit cladding system for steel balconies. Designed with steel fabricators in mind, the AliClad system enables off-theshelf balcony soffit cladding specification, removing the need for bespoke folded sheet-metal or custom flat panels. Richard Izzard, AliDeck Managing Director, said: “This new soffit cladding system is the result of many conversations with balcony fabricators. With our AliDeck range of products proving hugely popular due to its flexibility and high quality, we’ve listened to the positive feedback our decking system design has received and applied it to solving problems in another area of balcony construction.” The first AliClad product to launch is AliClad Flow, which has been designed to provide a water-management system for steel bolt-on or slide-on balconies. Delivering fast and efficient removal of rainwater and other liquids, AliClad Flow is an ideal solution for safe and controlled balcony drainage. With just three simple components making up the AliClad Flow system, effective soffit drainage solutions are quick and easy to factor in to steel balcony design, saving valuable time and labour in fabrication and removing the need for folding machines or punch tools. “We believe that AliClad will help change the way that fabricators approach balcony construction,” continued Richard. “With the underside of balconies able to be cladded with an entirely off-the-shelf product, we can save them a great deal of expensive and bespoke soffit fabrication, helping them to increase the cost-effectiveness of their balconies.” With benefits including modular design, costeffectiveness and ease of installation, it’s plain to see how the AliClad system could prove popular with architects and specifiers as well as fabricators.

info@alideck.co.uk

BUILDING ELEMENTS

ADAPTING YOUR WORKSPACES WITHOUT THE WORRY With hygiene a higher priority than ever before, cleanability of surface materials is coming under close scrutiny in workplaces across all sectors. Dave Ford, Specifications Manager with Altro, considers the pitfalls of some common materials and how simple, smart swaps can meet safety, aesthetic and comfort criteria. ALTRO

Carpet vs vinyl floors Looking first at carpet, the issues here centre around cleanability. Carpet tiles or carpets are designed to be vacuumed and not cleaned daily with the detergent required to clean viruses – you cannot vacuum up bacteria and viruses. Modern vinyl floors offer an ideal alternative to carpet and carpet tiles. There are many options now available with similar sound reduction properties to carpet tiles – 17 to 18 dB, so there’s no need to compromise on in-room sound and transmission of noise. There is also the option to use an impact sound reduction underlay.

Comfort underfoot is also a key performance benefit of many vinyl floors, especially those which also offer sound reduction properties, so a switch from carpet to vinyl need not lead to a compromise on comfort.

Paint and tiles vs wall cladding The World Health Organisation has proved that the COVID-19 virus will live for 72 hours on hard surfaces such as walls, therefore, necessitating regular detergent cleaning. However, only certain surfaces are suitable for cleaning in this way. Emulsion paint is not designed to be wet cleaned and can come away when cleaned

www.altro.co.uk

with water. Tiles are another popular wall or floor finish, and although easier to clean than paint they too create hygiene headaches. Grout is often the weak spot for hygiene. Cracked or shattered tiles also lead to ideal breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses.

enquiries@altro.com

Wall cladding systems remove many risks. Altro’s systems are 2.5mm thick, with colour throughout the thickness of the product. They are durable and robust, with a life expectancy of up to 25 years and come in a wide range of colours and bespoke options.

01462 489516

DESIGNER CONTRACTS MOVES TO NEW HQ DESIGNER CONTRACTS

Designer Contracts has moved into new headquarters, four times the size of its former premises. The impressive space, located in Chesterfield, boasts 8000ft2, with room to accommodate 50 people plus meeting and conference facilities. The company has moved 25 members of the team over to the new site while retaining the existing offices at the original Holmewood Chesterfield site which will now house its central region’s administration and warehouse teams. Said Designer Contracts MD, Peter Kelsey: “We are thrilled to have finally moved into our new HQ. We were due to move at the end of March, but like many, had to put our plans on hold until it was safe to make the transition.”

www.designercontracts.com

F. BALL DELIVERS EFFICIENCY AT GOVERNMENT SERVICE OFFICES F. BALL AND CO.

F. Ball and Co. has helped create a professional flooring finish over wood and metal raised access panels as part of a refurbishment to create office space for a Government service in Liverpool. HB Flooring used F. Ball’s dual-purpose Stopgap Fill and Prime and Stopgap 1200 Pro smoothing underlayment to prepare subfloors before installing luxury vinyl tiles (LVTs) and carpet tiles over one floor of the building, totalling 2500m². It was first necessary to prime the wooden raised access panels, in the office’s entranceway and walkways, where the LVTs would be installed, and fill joints between panels. Contractors; therefore, applied F. Ball’s Stopgap Fill and Prime over 400m² of the total floor area.

www.f-ball.co.uk

01538 361633

mail@f-ball.co.uk 35

BOSTIK ROLL OPTION HELPS MAINTAIN HYGIENE AT FOOD PROCESSING FACTORY BOSTIK

Bostik’s 240mm version of its Bostik Roll adhesive tape has been used to tackle a challenging installation at a food production facility in Scarborough. Floorcovers UK used the new wider tape to install vinyl flooring on a staircase in an environment with some of the most stringent health and safety standards. The solvent-free Bostik Roll is ideal for use in areas with strict health and safety codes thanks to its low VOC emissions. The double-sided adhesive tape has previously been available in widths of 25, 50 and 85mm, making it suitable for the fast installation of skirting, capping strips, cove formers and other PVC floor or wallmounted accessories.

www.bostik-profloor.co.uk 01785 272625 info@bostik-profloor.co.uk FC&A – JULY – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

SHACKERLEY’S SURECLAD BRINGS QUALITY AND VARIETY TO GREAT CENTRAL SQUARE, LEICESTER Constructed by Morgan Sindall, Charles Street Buildings’ Great Central Square development in Leicester is a mixed-used scheme comprising two hotels, prestigious office accommodation and a leisure destination, all set within pedestrianised public realm improvements. SHACKERLEY

hackerley’s SureClad Ceramic Granite ventilated facade system enabled Charles Street Buildings to specify various colourways and finishes for the two hotels and the office development from a single supplier.

A site with significance The development’s 100-room Adagio Aparthotel sits side by side with a 152-room Novotel, and the choice of Shackerley’s SureClad Ceramic Granite as the facade system helps to differentiate the two hotels while offering consistency of quality and materiality. The design for both hotel buildings was delivered by architect firm, Leach Rhodes Walker, which had previously specified Shackerley’s SureClad Ceramic Granite system for a number of hotel projects. Gary Darby from Leach Rhodes Walker explains: “We needed a facade system that would offer a stone-like appearance while offering a cost-effective solution for the lifespan of the assets. With its durability and lowmaintenance credentials, Shackerley’s SureClad system was ideal.” An impervious material that will not be damaged by the effects of freeze/thaw conditions, Shackerley’s Ceramic Granite is resistant to both graffiti and algae growth, which reduces the need for routine cleaning and maintenance. The SureClad Ceramic Granite system’s resistance to discolouration due to UV or pollution will also help the facades retain their high-quality appearance over time, and the system is also certified as an A1 noncombustible material to BS EN 13501-1.

www.shackerley.com FC&A – JULY – 2020

Meticulous specification Shackerley’s SureClad Ceramic Granite system was specified in a mid-grey ‘Riven’ colourway with a natural finish for the Novotel building and a ‘Travertine’ honed beige colourway for the Adagio Aparthotel. Richard Frape, Project Director at Morgan Sindall, comments: “The scope of the SureClad system allowed the client to select from a vast palette of materials, whilst detailing was standardised throughout.” Shackerley’s SureClad Ceramic Granite system also offered buildability advantages, enabling a lighter structural frame for the building and answered local planning requirements for a high-quality building for such a prominent location. Charles Street Buildings and Morgan Sindall also took an active role in selecting the facade material. Gretta Murphy from Charles Street Buildings explains: “We were looking for a facade system that articulated quality but also answered our cost requirements for the project. Leach Rhodes Walker suggested a number of options, and we invested time in researching the product. We were also looking for quality and consistency of product and the level of service and technical support the supplier could offer us.” As part of the specification process, Shackerley provided fully-mounted samples to enable the client and project team to experience the SureClad system in combination with the company’s Queens Award-winning Access support system.

The project team also visited Shackerley’s ISO 9001-accredited production facility in Lancashire and material supplier in Italy before making a final decision. Gretta Murphy adds: “The facade is the first thing a visitor sees when arriving at a development, so it’s important to get it right. The site visits to Italy and Shackerley’s headquarters in Lancashire provided us with reassurance in a quality product and a reliable supply chain. Using a system that was fabricated in the UK was a big plus for us, and the specification process gave us confidence that Shackerley’s SureClad system would provide buildability, aesthetics and durability benefits, along with a smoothrunning programme.”

01257 273114

BUILDING ELEMENTS

ABLOY UNVEILS INCEDO BUSINESS – ACCESS CONTROL ECOSYSTEM ABLOY UK

Just launched, Incedo Business access control system for small to medium businesses, the universal access control ecosystem that incorporates software and hardware into a single management platform. Incedo is an access control system that can adapt to a business’ individual security needs. Businesses can benefit from one system that links all security solutions a building may have and integrate them into one easy-to-manage system. Incedo includes a personalised interface that combines hardware with a cloud-based system offers a high level of security and operational benefits, including access management and audit trails. As well as integrating existing systems, Incedo can also adapt to work with future hardware if a business decides to invest in new security equipment, which includes both Abloy and third-party products. This allows the system to easily adapt with time, saving businesses reinvesting in a new operating system in the future.

SENIOR’S ‘HANDS-FREE’ COMMERCIAL DOOR SOLUTIONS SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS

Senior Architectural Systems is anticipating an increase in demand for its automatic aluminium door solutions as more business and facilities look for cost-effective ways to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. High-traffic touchpoints like door handles can become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses and as a result, require regular cleaning. Automatic doors can provide a safe and secure solution, and Senior Architectural Systems is on hand to advise both specifiers and fabricators on choosing the most appropriate system for their needs. In partnership with supply chain partner Autodoor Projects UK, Senior’s aluminium doors systems can be fabricated to utilise innovative hardware such as wave-activated touchless entry and exit pads. Other entrance system options that can be offered to help building owners navigate the new COVID-19 regulations include the use of facial and thermal recognition cameras and people-counting monitors to help manage occupancy levels.

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk info@sasmail.co.uk 01709 772600

www.abloy.co.uk info@abloy.co.uk 01902 364 500

SAPPHIRE’S SPEED OF INSTALL WINS PRAISE FROM BARRATT HOMES SAPPHIRE

When balconies on its development at Upton Park, London, proved slow to install, Barratt Homes sought an alternative supplier for the next phase, known as Block F. Sapphire’s Glide-On Cassette balcony system provided the ideal solution. Manufactured and prefinished offsite, 132 balconies for Block F were delivered to site ready to glide on to pre-erected support arms. Thanks to Sapphire’s unique concept, some of the balconies were installed in as little as six minutes. As a further challenge, planning had already been approved for the project so balcony design had to be kept in line with the original drawings. To adhere to the details of the planning permission, Sapphire excluded soffits from the design.

www.sapphire.eu.com

0844 88 00 530

sales@sapphire.eu.com

SIKABIT PROMELT BRINGS HOT MELT SOLUTION TO SIKA UK’S BITUMINOUS RANGE SIKA

Sika has added to its bituminous roofing range with the launch of SikaBit ProMelt; a versatile, high-performance structural waterproofing system for inverted roofs, podium decks, balconies and terraces. Building on Sika’s expertise in roofing, SikaBit ProMelt is a fully BBA-accredited hot melt system, which is manufactured in the UK and suitable for most common types of inverted roof build-ups across both new-build and refurbishment roof areas. A traditional two-layer reinforced hot melt system with an access layer to enable rapid trafficking on the completed waterproofed area, SikaBit ProMelt can be laid piecemeal around other trades, helping to fast track construction programmes and enable more flexible sequencing of works at roof level.

gbr.sika.com 37

BMI SEALOFLEX IS JUST THE TICKET AT HEATHROW BMI

Close collaboration between the technical team at BMI and IMA member Itech Roofworks produced a uniquely effective answer to the challenge of refurbishing Pier 6 at Heathrow’s Terminal 3. The BMI technical team were tasked with supplying a roofing system with improved fire performance characteristics. BMI met this challenge and developed a bespoke solution for this specialist application; by incorporating BMI Icopal’s innovative FireSmart technology to the specific bituminous and liquid elements of the system. Use of the Pyrobar Carrier layer permitted a swift removal and replacement of the existing single-ply, constantly maintaining the waterproofing integrity of Pier 6.

www.bmigroup.com/uk marketingukandi@bmigroup.com FC&A – JULY – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

A NEW FASTER, SAFER, STRONGER AND LIGHTER METAL TILE SOLUTION FROM BMI BMI

ADIDAS SPORTS THE LATEST VENTILATION TECHNOLOGY ELTA FANS

The new adidas LDN flagship outlet has been designed to enhance the retail experience. As the brand’s most technologically-advanced store, it required a ventilation system that would deliver a fresh air supply across the four-storey, 27,000ft2 site. After a supplier interview and factory review, Ricardo Hudson, Senior Technical Project Manager at PCB Technical Services, was given the confidence to opt for a bespoke air design unit from Elta Fans. This was thanks to the company’s technical support and understanding of the project and its ability to meet the tight delivery date. Elta Fans uses in-house air design technical engineers who utilise specialist software to tailor the unit especially for the customer’s exact needs.

www.eltafans.com/air-design 01489 566500 at@eltafans.co.uk

Drawing on its extensive experience in lightweight metal tiles, BMI is setting new standards with the introduction of AeroDek. AeroDek is faster, safer, stronger and lighter than traditional roof coverings; while replicating the high aesthetic of clay, concrete or slate in a tile guaranteed to last for 40 years. Made from a recyclable, galvanised steel core protected by a resilient, multi-layer stone-coated finish; the interlocking tiles are quick to install, lightweight and resistant to damage by vandalism or extreme weather. These properties make AeroDek particularly suited to buildings that demand a robust and secure roof solution; and projects that are subject to extreme weather conditions in coastal or aggressive climate environments.

www.bmigroup.com/uk marketingukandi@bmigroup.com

KÖNIGSTONE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS WITH FABRICATION PARTNER AT 100% CAPACITY AGAIN KÖNIGSTONE

Leading worktop and surface specialist, Königstone, is up and running with a full order book. The company’s fabrication partner, Midland Stone Centre, has manufacturing facilities back at 100% and is ready to receive customer orders. The company produces high-quality, elegant quartz and natural stone kitchen surfaces alongside the innovative new Königsink. Available to kitchen retailers across the UK is an impressive range of 27 Königquartz colours alongside the range of 15 Könignaturals. In addition, there is a brand-new portfolio of semi-precious stone surfaces. Joanne Bull, Marketing Manager, comments: “After a necessary shutdown, in order to support the national effort, we are delighted to be back up and running.”

www.konigstone.co.uk info@konigstone.co.uk

SIKA’S ‘ONE-SHOT’ SOLUTION ENSURES RAPID RETURN TO SERVICE FOR CAR PARK DECKS SIKA

Sika has developed a unique crack-bridging solution for the time and cost-effective refurbishment of car parks. It includes an innovative application method that has been developed for surfaces with direct traffic. The Sikalastic OneShot Parkdeck System contains a combination of proven technologies: fast-curing pure polyurea liquid and tough-elastic, coloured, polyurethane seal coat. Developed to protect surfaces subject to direct traffic, the Sikalastic OneShot system provides safe, robust decking for multi-storey and underground car parks; it’s a slip-resistant, highly-durable product with high crackbridging ability to reduce time on site. This is achieved through its unique application method via special two-part spray equipment.

www.sika.co.uk

01707 394444

XYLEM REPORTS BROAD SUSTAINABILITY ADVANCES XYLEM

Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL) has announced that it has succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) intensity, exceeding its planned target. Xylem’s 2019 Sustainability Report, ‘Water for a Healthy World,’ revealed the company had achieved a 28.3% reduction in GHG intensity, against a target of 20% set in 2014. The report also demonstrated overachievement or material progress on all of its 2019 sustainability targets. Water for a Healthy World, which has been verified by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as conforming to GRI’s reporting standards, details Xylem’s progress on a range of sustainability topics: from energy and water intensity, to innovation, diversity and inclusion, disaster relief, corporate citizenship, community impact and employee volunteerism.

www.xylem.com/uk FC&A – JULY – 2020

OFFSITE SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES NEW BATHROOM POD RANGE OFFSITE SOLUTIONS

Offsite Solutions, the UK’s leading pod manufacturer, has launched a new range of bathroom pods specifically designed for the build-to-rent residential sector. A UK industry-first, the floorless GRP pods have been estimated to reduce operating costs by over 50% compared to traditionally built bathrooms. These enhanced GRP pods have two key features. A floorless option allows the pods to be installed directly onto the floor slab to achieve continuous level floors throughout. Also, with strong aesthetics, the pods provide an attractive porcelain tile-effect finish which is integral to the pod carcase. This avoids the need for grout and tiles in wet areas, significantly reducing ongoing maintenance.

www.offsitesolutions.com/floorlessgrp 01278 780807 info@offsitesolutions.com

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FC&A – JULY – 2020

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FC&A – JULY – 2020

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FC&A July 2020

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