Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
JANUARY 2021
ARCHITECTUREM A G A Z I N E
Britain’s leading magazine for architectural products, technology and trends
DESIGN LEAD - BEAUTIFULLY DELIVERED
COLLABORATION IN DESIGNHOW INTERIOR DESIGNERS
CAN BEST SUPPORT ARCHITECTS
BUILD BACK GREENERTHE QUESTION TIME EXPERTS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON NET-ZERO BUILDINGS AND LEADING THE GREEN RECOVERY FROM COVID-19
GLASS & GLAZINGBESPOKE SOLUTIONS AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
With a Quooker in your kitchen you always have 100ºC boiling water alongside regular hot and cold. Add a CUBE and you will also have chilled, filtered sparkling water – all from the same tap. When you purchase a CUBE at quooker.co.uk, installation is just £99† plus you will receive
5 CO2 cylinders FREE – the equivalent of 300 litre-bottles of sparkling water.
Only when you quote code ARC/11.
Go to quooker.co.uk for our autumn offer.*
Manchester Showroom – Open Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 16.00
*Already have a Quooker tap? Visit quooker.co.uk to see if your system is compatible with a Quooker CUBE. Call 0345 833 3333
or email [email protected] for help. †Usually £384.
THE TAP THAT DOES IT ALL
100°C BOILING, CHILLED AND SPARKLING WATER
FILL 300 BOTTLES FOR FREE
Twenty twenty has been a tough year; there’s no way to ignore that fact. However we look to the New Year with both excitement and relief, and for the architectural industry, a real sense of ownership for the next
steps ahead to build back better. As the industry plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, in our Question Time feature we ask the experts: can net-zero buildings lead the green recovery from Covid-19? The theme of sustainability understandably
continues to thread it’s way throughout the issue, and comes to a close with Adam Strudwick, who discusses the details behind the net-zero interiors pledge recently announced by his employer, design practice Perkins & Will. With the interior and architectural worlds so tightly interwoven, interior designer Clare Pascoe takes a closer look at the working relationships between the two disciplines with an article that focuses on why collaboration is key and how interior designers can best support architects,We shine a spotlight on the themes of glass and glazing; including a spectacular case study from the iconic Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, whose vision for the Techne Sphere in Leipzig, Germany was realised posthumously, utilising dynamic window technology from Eyrise.Roddy Langmuir of Cullinan Studio is a beacon of light in our main interview feature, where he eloquently discusses his passion for the outdoors, collaborative working, and his fascination with the relationship between buildings and landscape.While putting this issue together, I received an overwhelmingly positive response from all our contributors and supporters, that it is clear the industry remains confident and ready for the challenges ahead. Enjoy the issue.
WELCOMEJANUARY
Rebekah KilligrewEditor
PUBLISHING TEAMMedia One Communications Ltd
1 Accent Park, Bakewell Road,Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 6XS
Tel: 01733 385300
EDITOR REBEKAH KILLIGREW
07736 [email protected]
SUB EDITOR & DESIGNER KELLY GREEN
PUBLISHER & CEO R J [email protected]
ADVERTISING MANAGERHOLLY DENNIS
07736 [email protected]
CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER CAROLE TODD
01733 [email protected]
ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS+44 (0) 1733 385300
Email: [email protected]: www.architecturemagazine.co.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/Architect_newsInstagram: @architecture_mag
© 2020 Media One communications ltd
2020 All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher.
All views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. All advertising and paid for
entries are strictly subject to our terms and conditions, available online.
ARCHITECTUREM A G A Z I N E
Tavolino by Fettle. Photography credit: Helen Cathcart. Page 18
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 3
www.mediaone.co.uk
6 NEWS
7 RIBA NEWS
9 IN THE PIPELINE
11 SPOTLIGHT: JAMES LATHAM James Latham’s new cladding collection combines the best in modified wood, timber engineering and surface protection in one product.
12 QUESTION TIME Can net-zero buildings lead the green recovery from Covid-19?
16 SHORTLIST: LIGHTING
18 CASE STUDY: TAVOLINO BY FETTLE
21 PULL UP A CHAIR Langton Stead, Founder and Designer, Contract Furniture by Design, shares the company’s experiences of designing bespoke furniture for the leading interior architects and designers around the globe.
23 SPOLIGHT: QUOOKER Quooker leads the way when it comes to innovative technology and design with their 100 degree boling water tap.
24 GLASS & GLAZING
26 CASE STUDY: NIEMEYER SPHERE LEIPZIG BY EYRISE
29 SPOTLIGHT: EYRISE Eyrise have developed windows powered by liquid
CONTENTS
26
January 2021
4 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
42
50
1236
crystal technology that have a positive impact in the workplace for well-bwing and productivity.
30 SPOTLIGHT: SHOECK Shoeck Isokorb delivers for seafront Passive House Award Winner.
31 MY INSPIRATION: JIM RICHARDS
32 INTERVIEW: RODDY LANGMUIR
36 CASE STUDY: FOREST GLADE BY HESSELBRAND
39 SPOTLIGHT: VICAIMA Vicaima showcases the timeless elegance of white doors.
42 CASE STUDY: PAUL MEURICE BY LAMBERT LÉNACK
47 SPOTLIGHT: THE MILLBOARD COMPANY Changing the face of facades: Millboard launches ground-breaking cladding collection.
49 SPOTLIGHT: MAPEI UK
With over 80 years’ experience Mapei continue to research and develop innovative grout collections.
50 CASE STUDY: LAHOFER WINERY BY CHYBIK + KRISTOF
52 INDUSTRY ARTICLE: COLLABORATION IS KEY Clare Pascoe, Director Pascoe Interiors Ltd, discusses the relationship between Interior Designers and Architects, and why collaboration leads to winning results.
55 INDUSTRY NEWS
59 LEGAL UPDATE Georgia Palnt, Construction and Engineering team specialist, Irwin Mitchell LLP, provides an overvieew of the Building Safety Bill.
62 THE LAST WORD Adam Sturdwick, Principal, Perkins & Will, delves into why interior design is set for its own radical makeover.
18
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 5
After 38 years with AHR, Martin
Wright, Managing Director of AHR
Architects Ltd, announced that he
would be retiring from the practice
from 30 June 2021. Martin joined
the practice in 1982 and became
Managing Director in 2014,
driving the company strategy,
which included the acquisition
of residential specialist practice,
PCKO in 2016. Martin has decided
that now is the time to handover
the stewardship of the architecture
practice and Anthony Langan has
been voted by the partners into
the position of Managing Director,
and picked up the mantle effective
from 2nd November 2020. Anthony
joined the practice in 1990 and has
been instrumental in developing
AHR’s extensive education
portfolio. Anthony commented;
“I’m looking forward to leading the
architectural practice and building
on Martin’s hard work and I would
like to personally thank Martin for
all he has given and everything he
has achieved at AHR.”
AHR ANNOUNCES NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR
6 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
News
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
PIONEERING DIGITAL COURSE Launched in October, the University for the Creative Arts has created a new ‘Professional Practice in Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 3)* Postgraduate Certificate’. UCA’s architecture team have spent two years devising this virtual learning format, offering flexibility and individualised learning for those looking to complete the final part of their studies in architecture. The global pandemic has changed the way we work and learn, and UCA’s new course shows that architectural studies can be successfully translated to a remote learning context.
World Green Building Council has launched a series of mini-documentary style films, highlighting the impact of buildings on the environment and human health and the work of organisations around the world to counter this. Produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, Building A Better Future explores the profound impact buildings can have on the quality of people’s lives and the crucial role buildings can play in
tackling climate change. Through a diverse set of voices from across the sustainable buildings movement, this series showcases the ways in which organisations are successfully unlocking the benefits of sustainable buildings, and what that means for us all. The series also explores how we can accelerate the clean energy transition, reach our climate goals and support a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. buildingabetterfutureseries.com
Image from BBC StoryWorks
FERNANDA MARQUES WINS AWARDBrazilian architect Fernanda Marques has been awarded with the title of Architecture Firm of The Year, Brazil, 2021. The Design & Build Awards are designed to provide recognition, support and endorsement to the most high-performing and successful companies within architecture, construction, building and interior design. Fernanda’s professionalism, her extraordinary ability to shape large volumes, enhance transparency and integration with nature, have been awarded internationally.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 7
News
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment.Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates
A new report released by RIBA has warned
that changes in behaviour brought about by
the coronavirus pandemic will turbocharge
the UK housing emissions crisis without urgent
government action. The surge in working from
home caused by the coronavirus pandemic
is expected to generate a shift in the balance
of what contributes to emissions across the
economy, with a dramatic increase in the
proportion of total emissions that come from
housing stock. The UK has one of the most
inefficient housing stocks in Europe, and the
RIBA’s report, entitled ‘Greener Homes’, urges
the government to make UK homes more
energy efficient by bringing forward a National
Retrofit Strategy. This includes the introduction of
sliding scale of stamp duty, capped at £25,000,
with the most energy efficient homes accruing
significantly less tax than the least. If a tax
rebate was available for a period after purchase,
homeowners would also be encouraged
to undertake their own energy efficiency
improvements such as insulating lofts and walls;
draught proofing doors, windows and floors;
fitting double or triple glazing; and choosing
smarter heating systems and appliances.
‘GREENER HOMES’ REPORT Celebrated Ghanaian-British
architect Sir David Adjaye was
announced as the recipient of the
2021 Royal Gold Medal, the UK’s
highest honour for architecture,
approved personally by Her
Majesty The Queen. Sir David
Adjaye has achieved international
attention for an exceptional body
of work over 25 years. Drawing
on his cited influences including
“contemporary art, music and
science to African art forms and the
civic life of cities”, his completed
projects range from private houses,
exhibitions and furniture design,
through to major cultural buildings
and city masterplans. From the
start of his career he has combined
practice with teaching in schools of
architecture in the UK and the USA,
including professorships at the
universities of Harvard, Michigan,
Pennsylvania and Princeton. His
practice, Adjaye Associates, was
founded in 2000 and today has
studios in Accra, London and New
York, with projects across the world.
2021 ROYAL GOLD MEDAL
Hugh Pearman, Editor of The RIBA
Journal, will be retiring at the end
of December 2020. Hugh joined the
journal in September 2006, and is
its longest serving post-war Editor,
responsible for overseeing 170 issues.
Previously architecture and design
critic for The Sunday Times for 30
years (1986–2016), Hugh brought
an authority to the journal and deep
knowledge of buildings, architects
and history as well as a distinct voice.
Under Hugh’s editorship the magazine
became digital first, publishing articles
online daily and in greater numbers
than in print.
RIBA JOURNAL EDITOR TO RETIRE
RIBA NEW
S
News
8 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
SURFACE DESIGN SHOW AWARDS
NORRA TORNEN WINS AWARD Norra Tornen, the residential towers designed by OMA / Reinier de Graaf and commissioned by Oscar Properties, was announced the winner of the ninth edition of the International Highrise Award (IHA). The IHA is organized by the city of Frankfurt together with the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) and is awarded every two years to architects and
developers for buildings of minimum 100 meters in height, completed in the last two years. Norra Tornen was selected from 31 projects from 14 countries, nominated by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM). An international jury consisting of architects, structural engineers and real estate specialists, assessed the projects following criteria such as the overall narrative, the
sculptural qualities, the structural concept, and the mix of uses. Norra Tornen is the result of a land allocation competition held by the City of Stockholm in 2013, won by Oscar Properties. The project was led by Reinier de Graaf, with Alex de Jong, Michel van de Kar and Roza Matveeva.
Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu.
Representing some of the best of material innovation from around the world, the finalists of the Surface Design Show Awards have been disclosed and a full list can be found on their website. The judging panel, co-chaired by interior designer Nicola Osborn from Basha-Franklin and engineer Steve Webb of Webb Yates Engineers, selected 31 finalists from over 100 entries that were submitted this year. Reflecting on the truly international nature of the Awards, entries that made the list of finalists include projects from Germany to Costa Rica and Oman to San Marino. Sustainability is high on this year’s agenda, with each entry accompanied by a statement and calculation for the carbon footprint of the cladding/materials used. The winners of all the Awards will be announced on Thursday 11 February 2021. www.surfacedesignshow.com/ surface-design-awards
Maggie’s Leeds by Heatherwick Studio
In The Pipeline
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 9
URBAN NATURE PROJECTThe Natural History Museum has received planning permission from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea for the Urban Nature Project, which will transform the museum’s five-acre gardens to become an urban nature ‘epicentre’, with the aims of increasing biodiversity, accessibility and opportunities for education, and maximising the extensive grounds. Architecture practice Feilden Fowles, working closely with landscape architects J & L Gibbons, is leading a multidisciplinary design team that includes Gitta Gschwendtner, engineersHRW and Max Fordham. The team will reimagine the land surrounding the museum, creating gardens as immersive learning experiences and designing new facilities for visitors and back of house.
TWIN-PAD LEE VALLEY ICE CENTRE Plans submitted to Waltham Forest Council for London’s first ever Olympic-sized twin-pad ice centre, have received planning approval, pending second stage approval from the GLA. Designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects on behalf of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA), the new £30 million venue will replace the existing single-pad Lee Valley Ice Centre which, after 36 years of use, is nearing the end of its operational life and struggling to meet demand. The facility will include two Olympic size ice rinks with capacity for 800 spectators, a
gym and exercise studio, a multi-purpose studio and a café. The current Lee Valley Ice Centre is one of the most popular ice-skating venues in the UK accommodating around 279,000 visits a year from across London and the wider region. The new building will double the capacity to 557,000 visits per year and will expand the range of activities that can be run at the centre concurrently. This will be to the benefit of the community, which will also be able to use the new venue as a base to explore the surrounding green spaces.
HWKN’S BUSHWICK GENERATORHWKN has announced it’s design for Bushwick Generator, a new office campus situated in Brooklyn that embodies the neighborhood’s energy and tradition of disruptive entrepreneurship outside and in. With it, Matthias Hollwich and his team at HWKN designed a bold new building that gives shape to the area’s creative spirit and relentless drive, offering a hub for the innovative companies that call Brooklyn home. Bushwick’s dynamism is rooted in its history as a manufacturing district, so Hollwich chose to keep the light-industrial buildings that existed on site and use them as part of the new building’s foundation. To this base, Hollwich adds a sculptural, gem-like volume in brick that introduces a vertical focal point in the neighborhood and encloses 400,000 SF of state-of-the-art workspace. By maintaining and building atop the existing urban fabric, The Generator injects new life into the context
while preserving the distinctive grit that lends the area its character and edge. The result is a new icon for Bushwick that reimagines the neighborhood’s traditional forms and materials in forward-looking geometries, embracing the area’s heritage while paving the way for its future.
© www.viewpointstudios.co
IN THEPIPELINE
News
10 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
‘COVID-CONSCIOUS’ PUBLIC SEATING Award-winning architect Nick Tyrer (RIBA Rising Star 2019) and garden designer Victoria Philpott (RHS Gold Medal winner 2019) whose Lacuna bench design won the prestigious London Festival of Architecture & Network Rail ‘Sitting Pretty’ Competition have revealed their prototype design at London’s Waterloo and London Bridge Stations. The Lacuna bench, a social distancing seating solution, offers a new vision for the future of public architecture in the age of the current pandemic. It aims to create an island of
calm within the busy station concourse, whilst providing users with safe, physically distanced seating. The three seats are arranged to face away from one another, with dividing screens providing extra protection. The organic shapes help to enclose each user and offer a sense of privacy. The bench is constructed out of tactile, layered Duraply plywood - kindly donated by James Latham and Garnica - with the colourful dichroic screens that appear to change colour as they catch
the light, adding a sense of fun. The integrated planting evokes a wooded glade, providing an oasis within the frenetic urban environment. Naturalistic, soft and textural, in a palette of greens and white, it instills a sense of calm, and gives a feeling of protection. The silver birches, which are beneficial to air quality by absorbing pollutants, create a statuesque focal point, under whose canopy the planting - a mix of evergreen perennials – provides a verdant pocket woodland.
The award-winning Lacuna bench design © Luke O’Donovan
ARMSTRONG CEILING SOLUTIONS REBRANDS AS ZENTIAFollowing the completion of its acquisition by Aurelius Equity Opportunities, Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, the leading manufacturer of mineral fibre ceiling systems, has unveiled its new brand name and identity across its international markets, including the UK, where it will now be known as Zentia. With a bright and dynamic colour palette, the new brand marks a pivotal evolution for the business. Together with its new AXIS - four key elements which underpin the business direction (Value, Solutions Provider, Responsibility and Continuous Improvement), Zentia aims to set a higher standard for its business, customers and the broader industry. Offering local support throughout the supply chain, Zentia boasts a focused portfolio of market-leading solutions, paired with unrivalled service and expertise. Supporting a range of specifiers, main
contractors and interiors contractors to bring their construction projects to life across a range of commercial sectors including health, education and offices, Zentia’s proven approach helps to transform everything from acoustics and aesthetics through to comfort and thermal performance.
Whilst the business will lead with the Zentia brand across all markets, in many instances the Armstrong brand will also be visible as part of a dual-branded strategy to support the transition and ensure clarity and understanding across the supply chain.
www.zentia.com
Pictured left: Zentia CEO Christophe Lloret Linares; and right: sales and marketing director Graham Taylor.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 11
Spotlight
James Latham’s new cladding collection combines the best in modified wood, timber engineering and surface protection in one product.
The Finish Line Collection from James
Latham is the result of an exclusive
partnership with Accoya Timber, timber
engineering company Dresser Mouldings
and Canadian coating specialist Sansin.
The manufacturing process sees the
Accoya wood profiled, surface finished and
coated by the team at Dresser Mouldings.
This specialist process creates a key on
the timber’s face, with tiny variations in
texture allowing Sansin’s ultra-low VOC
coating to penetrate beneath the surface
of the timber. This helps to bind it to the
cells and prevents peeling and cracking.
Accoya is well known for its durability
due to the natural modification process
(acetylation) that delivers performance to
rival hardwoods. With a warranty of up to
50 years for exterior use, the product has
been favoured for cladding for some time.
However, this factory-finished option takes
its performance to the next level.
Richard Mosson, Group Cladding and
Decking Manager at Lathams, said:
“By combining the highest quality
timber, coatings and surface treatment
technologies, the Finish Line cladding
collection is built to last.
“One of the key features of the product
is the way the surface is sanded and
brushed. It allows for much better
penetration of Sansin’s water-borne
system, which effectively waterproofs the
timber in a breathable envelope.
“This results in a factory finished wood
profile that is better protected from the
elements and will not peel and crack -
perfect for a cladding product.”
“We are pleased to partner with Lathams
and Dresser Mouldings to bring this unique
offering to the market. This exclusive
Finish Line Collection unveils a range of
exciting colours for Accoya timber in a
penetrating, breathable formula that lets
the natural grain and beauty of the wood
shine through,” said Sjoerd Bos, Managing
Director, Sansin Corporation.
The Finish Line Collection is exclusive to
Lathams, including the 12 unique colour
options. These range from traditional wood
finishes like the Summer Oak option to
more contemporary finishes such as Slate
Grey, Apricot and Charcoal.
The way that it is manufactured also
creates a bespoke final finish when it
comes to the colour, with brushed or
sanded alternatives available. These
processes, teamed with the matt, thin-film
finish of the coating, allow the distinctive
grain pattern to show through, unlike
heavy finishes that sit on the surface and
mask the texture. The specialist finishing
processes can even create a distinctive
two-tone effect with some colour options.
It is the first product to be developed
following Lathams acquisition of Dresser
Mouldings in late 2019.
Richard added: “We were often working
with Dresser Mouldings on bespoke
projects and felt that there was more
potential if we combined forces. Their
reputation for innovation and quality made
them a good fit for us.
“It’s great to be able to bring such an
innovative range to market for our first
collaboration, working with other global
experts too. And, because we manage
the entire process, from guidance on
specification, to manufacture, delivery
and after sales service, we can offer
our customers much more support and
flexibility when it comes to their projects.”
The Finish Line Collection also boasts
environmentally friendly credentials. It
uses non-toxic products and processes
within the manufacturing, materials are
sourced from sustainable sources and it is
hardwearing, offering great longevity. And,
at the end of its life, it can be fully recycled.
Finish Line cladding is available as a
standard 145mm width at 15mm thickness
in LT AC01 and LT AC02 profiles. For more
information please visit www.lathamtimber.
co.uk/products/cladding/finish-line-
cladding-collection
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.lathamtimber.co.uk
INNOVATIVE CLADDING
Question Time
12 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Can net-zero buildings lead the green recovery from Covid-19?
Building a green recovery from Covid-19
As discussions intensify with regards to climate change related policies to ‘build back better’ from the Covid-19 crisis, we challenged our experts to delve into what a post-pandemic green-build world looks
like for them. Can net-zero buildings provide the rapid impact needed? Can they lead the charge? Or as Luke Butcher of Butcher Bayley Architects asks in the following commentary: “Can we afford to let net-zero buildings not be a key part of a green recovery from Covid-19?”
astudio was appointed for the design and fit-out of The University of Chicago Booth’s new campus building at One Bartholomew Close, City of London ©Hufton+Crow
BUILD BACK GREENER
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 13
Question Time
THE EXPERTS
RICHARD HYAMS, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, ASTUDIO Richard is the founder of architectural practice Astudi; he is passionate about elegant, pragmatic designs that deliver innovative solutions for a range of building challenges, resulting in highly individual buildings that inspire and delight. Astudio is committed to exceptional, research-lead design, working mainly in dense urban environments. www.astudio.co.uk
RICHARD HYAMS, ASTUDIO
As the construction industry looks to rebound in the wake of the pandemic, it would be easy to irresponsibly shun sustainability in favour of speed and results. However, with construction accounting for 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint, it is imperative that the industry remains committed to reducing our environmental impact - not just to meet government targets, but to ensure that our structures can stand the test of time. In the wake of Covid-19, more than half of the population want the UK to commit to a recovery plan that puts the environment first. With changing public attitudes increasingly demanding more sustainable practices, green technologies present a major opportunity for construction to reduce its impact and lead the way in the UK’s green recovery.
A MODULAR FUTURE Adopting modern methods of construction - where elements of a building are constructed off-site, before they are transported and pieced together on-site - is a great place to start. With less time spent on site, less lorry traffic, and reduced heavy machinery use, methods such as modular construction can produce immediate emissions savings for the construction sector. Likewise, factory construction has the additional benefit of improved quality controls, which reduce waste by as much as 90%. Coupling these benefits with the use of sustainable and low-carbon materials can lead to a drastic reduction in emissions resulting from our built environment.
THE POWER OF VIRTUAL REALITY Architecture is only at the beginning of its journey into virtual reality, but the technology is already proving incredibly useful during the design process. At astudio, we have built VR into our design process and discovered vast benefits
that help us to eliminate unnecessary waste and emissions from our projects. VR and parametric models don’t only allow architects and their clients to visualise a project with the waste of construction materials on physical models, but it also allows us to walk through designs, gather insight, and optimise elements to create more energy efficient structures.
SKINNING BUILDINGS TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT The sector must also consider how to improve our existing buildings in order to meet our sustainability targets. Relatively simple implementations, such as energy systems designed to turn on and off depending on footfall, can significantly reduce a building’s impact. However, building technology has advanced immensely in recent years, making it feasible to construct buildings that can sustain themselves by producing their own renewable energy source. This can be achieved using multi-purpose green facades, which are likely to see increased use in the coming years. At astudio, we have been working with Brunel University to develop living wall technology, which allows us to skin structures with algae compounds that absorb pollutants in the atmosphere and provide a sustainable biofuel source that will reduce the environmental and financial cost of powering our buildings. Moreover, using natural substances like the mushroom fungus mycelium, we can grow these structures without producing any waste. By embracing these innovations, architecture and construction can play a starring role in Britain’s green recovery.
“Architecture and construction can play a starring role in Britain’s green recovery”
14 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Question Time
JAMES MILNE, ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST, GT3 James is an architectural technologist with more than a decade of experience in combining craft and innovation, with a people and environment focused ethos, to create award-winning sports and leisure developments. A member of the Green Party, James combines his passion for the environment with his comprehensive knowledge of psychology - in which he holds a masters degree - to apply environmental psychology to his work. At GT3, he champions an inclusive, sustainable, and engaging way of doing business that positions people at the heart of every project. www.gt3architects.com
JAMES MILNE, GT3
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed the climate crisis to the bottom of the agenda, but that doesn’t make the need for sustainable design and building any less significant or urgent. With construction one of the few industries that remains open, and buildings being central to the country’s carbon footprint, there is a unique opportunity to bring the green agenda to the forefront of the COVID-19 recovery. The climate crisis has become an undeniable concern for both individuals
and organisations worldwide. It is not surprising that 74% of the UK’s councils have now declared a climate emergency and that this year, the NHS became the world’s first health organisation to commit to becoming carbon net-zero by 2040. With the government’s ‘build build build’ strategy laid out as the roadmap to drive the UK out of a potential post-COVID recession, we are facing a unique opportunity to let net-zero lead the way in our green recovery. Buildings – including our homes, workplaces, shops, schools, and places of leisure – currently emit 19% of UK carbon
emissions, with a further 11% derived from electricity generation and 28% from land transport. The RIBA journal has also found that the average lifespan of a building is 30 years, meaning that schemes designed now will still exist when the UK is committed to being a carbon neutral society by 2050. However, an important factor to consider when discussing whether net-zero buildings can lead a green recovery is how we can ensure sustainable choices are made. In the same way that health and safety laws inform design, it is imperative to regulate for carbon neutrality and we hope to see stronger thermal performance guidelines implemented soon. Furthermore, there are ways we can upskill ourselves with specification tools and technical knowledge to contribute to designing more environmentally friendly buildings. The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) is an innovative tool for integrating carbon neutrality into architectural planning and making net-zero a fundamental factor in planning. Wider adoption of Passivhaus design and Declare labels would also go a long way to increasing our industry’s eco credentials. Equally significantly, the consideration of user experience and behaviour by
Spelthorne Leisure Centre in Staines, Surrey, is currently being designed by GT3 with Passivhaus principles, in line with zero carbon objectives
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 15
Question Time
LUKE BUTCHER, DIRECTOR AT BUTCHER BAYLEY ARCHITECTS (BBA) Luke is a practicing architect and co-chair of the RIBA East New and Emerging Practice Group. He holds a Masters in Environmental Building Design from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, and is the co-author of “The New Chautauqua Game: Designing the renewable city and region with e[m]ergy accounting” presented to the Biennial International Workshop in Advances in Energy Studies. BBA is a signatory of UK Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. www.wearebba.co.uk
LUKE BUTCHER, DIRECTOR AT BUTCHER BAYLEY ARCHITECTS (BBA)
We will not know the true fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic for some time, but it is already clear that it presents an opportunity for a global paradigm shift in the relationship between people and the planet. Given that the construction and operation of buildings account for up to 40% of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, to not capitalise on the potential to re-focus our collective efforts towards net-zero would represent one of the greatest missed opportunities for tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis in generations. The research and technology to drive this industry wide transformation already exists but a catalyst to enact a collective will for change has been lacking. This is not to say that achieving net-zero is easy, there is tremendous effort already going into this field across the world - but if the obstacles of societal and industry acceptance are lifted, then a clear path forward emerges. Through close collaboration architects, engineers, contractors and their clients can play a positive and pro-active role in delivering buildings and places that have a positive impact on the world in which we all live. On this issue, there are no new facts or
questions, they have been known for a number of years and shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. As an industry we need to ask ourselves why we haven’t done more to address it? Perhaps, for example, more should be done to expand green home grants that don’t currently go far enough or incentivise refurbishing buildings rather than demolishing and rebuilding. Everyone has their part to play. At BBA, we believe change begins with every conversation we have with a new client. It’s about marrying aspirations with impact. In our execution, we take the little things as standard – bee bricks, best-possible insulation – and we build from there, covering everything from the building design to the paintwork. It’s important to remember that net-zero is not the only issue we must tackle in our built environment. Issues of embodied carbon, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, social inequality, and circular economies, to name a few, are needed as part of a ‘green’ recovery that delivers a more sustainable, equitable and resilient world for future generations. Considering all this, I think we should rephrase the question: “Can we afford to let net-zero buildings not be a key part of a green recovery from Covid-19?” To which my simple answer would be, no.
Heathfield House in Cambridge sits in a conservation area ©Matthew Smith
architects during the planning process is key to achieving successful net-zero design. Our brief writing service supports clients in the development of their projects and helps to put sustainability at the heart of the development. We have a responsibility to design in a way that promotes pro-environmental behaviour, making sustainable living the obvious choice. Design needs to extend from the performance of the building itself, to the behaviour of its end users, employing principles from psychology to inspire and enable green living - be that via improved pedestrian access and bike storage, or recycling and electric vehicle charging points. By making sustainability a project aim, and applying psychological principles, it is possible to use design to alter not only the carbon footprint of a building but that of its users. As we face a pivotal moment in the climate crisis, with precious time left to make real change, the green recovery from COVID-19 offers a unique opportunity to produce meaningful and generation defining work. With buildings forming the setting in which we live, work, learn, and play, we cannot underestimate the incredible potential of net-zero design to instigate long-lasting change.
16 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
SHORTLIST
Carlisle Chandelier by Arteriorswww.arteriorshome.com
Caged Ceiling Light by Buster +Punchwww.busterandpunch.com
Brick iii by Worksteadwww.workstead.com
White Six Shade Chandelier by Gongwww.gong.co.uk
www.martinhuxford.com
www.tigermothlighting.com
LightingCurated by Rebekah Killigrew
Architectural lines lead to angular shades and curved bulbs in this lighting edit, which radiates all the way from an ultra minimal box design through to an
elliptical statement chandelier.
Lily Hanging Mina Bronze by Martin Huxford Bronze Fold Ellipse
by Tigermoth
THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING
FUTURE Designs, introduces FUZONE500, a unique lighting solution that harnesses all the anti-viral and anti-bacterial elimination qualities of ultraviolet light while harmless to humans or physical surfaces. With over 38 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 600,000 in the UK alone, Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the way we live and interact with our surroundings. Cases are increasing at an astronomical rate, and finding solutions to control its spread has become paramount. FUZONE500 uses the natural properties of Ozone (O3) to eliminate up to 99.99% of unwanted bacteria and airborne viruses without direct contact with the treated areas. The ultraviolet lamp incorporated within the system is obscured from the human eye, so unlike direct UV-C solutions, FUZONE500 can be operated whilst premises are fully occupied, to guarantee that spaces are clean 24/7. This groundbreaking technology comprises of sealed ultraviolet lamps operating on two different wavelengths to create Photolytic Oxidation, a combination of Photolysis and Ozonolysis creating ozone (O3) effectively, generating cold incineration of the molecules ending in a completely safe oxidation process, free of volatile compounds. Organic molecules (e.g. virus, bacteria, mould) are broken down and sterilised by direct exposure to ozone the (O3), furthermore its omnipotent nature, ensures the elimination of airborne and surface particles with sanitising properties that extend underneath tables for example. The FUZONE500 can be integrated within existing FUTURE Designs products, including the VANE99 & VANE150 range slot light luminaires, as well as our EXEMPLAR recessed modular luminaire. www.futuredesigns.co.uk
FUZONE500: the air and surface purifier that safely disinfects and kills 99.99% of
airborne and surface bacteria and viruses
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 17
18 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Case Study
Fettle’s design for Tavolino draws inspiration from Milanese coffee bars and traditional Florentine Trattorias
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 19
Tavolino By Fettle
Fettle, the L.A and London-based
design studio, has completed work on
the design of Tavolino, a new restaurant
at a prestigious site overlooking
both City Hall and Tower Bridge. The
contemporary, yet casual restaurant
will serve authentic Italian classics
whilst also acting as a standalone bar,
allowing guests, locals and tourists alike
a place to dine and drink in this popular
tourist hotspot.
Drawing inspiration from Milanese coffee
bars and traditional Florentine Trattorias,
Fettle’s design for Tavolino offers a
nostalgic nod to the Italian heritage of
TAVOLINO BY FETTLE
20 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
the food served with quintessentially
Italian finishes and details. The space also
includes a few key whimsical elements that
add a layer of fun to the space and give it
a quiet confidence that sets it apart from
its competitors. This includes patterned
sheers that wrap around the ground floor
as well as lush planting cascading from the
mezzanine and bar bulkhead.
At the main entrance of the restaurant sits
an elegantly detailed dark timber bar with
aged bronze countertop and antique mirror
back counter. Banquettes upholstered in
oxblood leather wrap around the perimeter
of this space and provide a seating area for
morning coffee or post work cocktails.
Sitting alongside the banquettes are
traditional bentwood dining chairs with
a pink mohair pad and bespoke timber
lounge tables. The bar area extends into
the adjacent full height space, providing
a combined capacity of fifty covers while
also allowing for a bustling night-time
scene in on of London’s most vibrant
areas. Towering above this space hangs
an impressive oversized bespoke pendant
light, which complements the pendants
and wall lights that flow throughout the
rest of the room.
Bespoke banquette seating on both the
ground and mezzanine dining spaces
again wrap around the perimeter of the
room but here are upholstered in an aged
green leather. Both floors also include
feature booth seating and rope-backed
dining chairs upholstered with a tan leather
pad. Fettle has softened the modern
architectural space with a layer of lush
planting behind the banquettes, while
all seats afford superb views of the river
Thames, Tower Bridge and City Hall. A
mottled render finish spans the walls and
ceiling giving the scheme age and depth.
Tavolino also offers great outdoor riverside
dining with the terrace featuring Trattoria
style furniture.
The Italian Art Deco homage continues
into the smaller details, such as the
signage and branding and is epitomised
in a specially commissioned mural that
runs up the staircase, the illuminated neon
sign hanging over the bar and the futurist
inspired branding used within the logo and
the menu.
www.fettle-design.co.uk
Photography by Helen Cathcart
Tavolino By Fettle
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 21
Q&A
Langton Stead, Founder and Designer, Contract Furniture by Design, shares the company’s experiences of designing bespoke furniture for the leading interior architects and designers around the globe.
Langton is owner, founder and designer
of Contract Furniture by Design. His
years of experience in the hospitality,
hotel arena and consultancy with interior
design houses is a key feature in building
CFbD reputation within the industry and
resulting in major project wins in the
high-end contract furniture sector.
Collaborating with leading hospitality
brands around the world, the company
designs and manufactures single-source
contract furniture, which is brought
together to create luxurious, award-
winning environments that guests and
customers won’t want to leave. As a young
company founded in 2016, the brand’s
achievements over the last three years
have been staggering, with installations
to high-end clients throughout the UK,
Europe and USA. The team is highly driven,
multi-faceted and brought together by
years of experience gained within small,
medium and large organisations and high-
pressure service-orientated environments.
TELL US ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF
CONTRACT FURNITURE BY DESIGN?
We were born out of a necessity
for bespoke in the interiors market.
Working closely with interior designers
and architects, we aim to become the
in-house furniture specialist for that
bespoke project, from initial design to
installation. Strong relationships are built
on a clear understanding of what can be
achieved and help to go beyond client’s
expectations.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST LARGE SCALE
PROJECT SPECIFICATION?
Soho House, Dumbo, New York – An
incredible project to be part of and as a
manufacturer, to work on some fantastic
bespoke products for both internal
and external use. Awide range of skills
in manufacturing and materials were
used, including handworked cane sofas,
bespoke metal chairs and specialist
marbles. It was a proud moment for the
company and the factory to be part of.
HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK WITH THE
FETTLE TEAM ON TAVOLINO?
We have been working with the Fettle
team for longtime; the relationship
allows us to push the designs to its limits.
Personally we enjoy the process together.
FETTLE DREW INSPIRATION FROM
MILANESE COFFEE BARS AND
TRADITIONAL FLORENTINE TRATTORIAS;
HOW DID YOU REFLECT THIS
INSPIRATION THROUGH THE FURNITURE?
The choice of materials led the way - we
worked with Fettle’s Design Director Andy
Godwin and the client, from choosing the
marble, even down to quarried marble
blocks selected. Regarding the bespoke
chair we really pushed the design; we
went with a traditional naturally sourced
material. Jute is natural weaved rope used
in the back of the chairs; the real beauty of
it comes from the hand weave application
to the frame, its a lost skill, and it was great
introducing the weavers into the process
developing the pattern weave styles. In the
end we married a contemporary look with
an artisan process.
HAVE YOU WORKED ON THIS TYPE OF
PROJECT BEFORE?
The interesting and exciting part of this
project was that we had to have an eye
on the future. Tavolino is part of a roll out
plan with many sites penciled in. Products
here had to meet the riggers of a contract
environment, but not feel or look. Once a
proven FFE menu is created it makes the
process of a successful expansion easy for
the client letting them concentrate on their
business.
WHAT WERE YOUR HIGHLIGHT PIECES
FROM TAVOLINO?
The chairs are great, functional, durable
and unique, but for me the tables - the
quality of marble and the wire brushed
timber edge sets a fantastic landscape
across the restaurant.
WHAT IS THE NEXT PROJECT FOR
CONTRACT FURNITURE BY DESIGN?
Next for us is Coppa Club in Cobham
working with Fox and Church; major project
works with the Hoxton Hotel in Barcelona.
We are also excited about working with
Fettle again on a new Private Members
Club - it’s going to be a busy end of year.
01494 451886
contractfurniturebydesign.com
“We were born out of a necessity for bespoke in the interiors market”
PULL UP A CHAIR
Lisbon2021
MA
AT M
USE
UM
IN L
ISBO
N B
Y A
L_A
. PH
OTO
GRA
PH
BY
FER
NA
ND
O G
UER
RA +
SÉR
GIO
GU
ERRA
Entry deadline: 8 January 2021worldarchitecturefestival.com
23-25 June
#WAF2021Founder Partner Headline partners
Award entries and delegate enquires +44 (0)20 3953 [email protected]
Sponsorship opportunitiesDamien St George+44 (0)20 3953 [email protected]
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 23
Lisbon2021
MA
AT M
USE
UM
IN L
ISBO
N B
Y A
L_A
. PH
OTO
GRA
PH
BY
FER
NA
ND
O G
UER
RA +
SÉR
GIO
GU
ERRA
Entry deadline: 8 January 2021worldarchitecturefestival.com
23-25 June
#WAF2021Founder Partner Headline partners
Award entries and delegate enquires +44 (0)20 3953 [email protected]
Sponsorship opportunitiesDamien St George+44 (0)20 3953 [email protected]
Spotlight
Quooker leads the way when it comes to innovative technology and design with their 100 degree boiling water tap.
Quooker’s Flex collection offers both
form and function; equipped with a
flexible pull-out hose for hot, cold and
filtered water.
The Flex makes it easy to reach and rinse
the sink or any awkward kitchen objects,
and thanks to its in-built safety stop, the
Flex can never dispense boiling water
when the hose is extended, protecting the
user at all times.
The Flex tap and under-sink tank are made
from Stainless Steel rather than plastic
or copper, ensuring there are no material
pores to harbour dirt. Making it virtually
impossible for bacteria to gain a foothold,
the Quooker Flex goes beyond elegant
design and ease of use, becoming one of
the most hygienic appliances in the kitchen.
With a durable PVD coating, the new Matt
Black finish introduces a modern alternative
to the range, perfectly emphasising Flex’s
contemporary silhouette.
Thanks to the new CUBE accessory,
the Flex also now dispenses chilled and
sparkling water at the touch of a button.
Saving you time and space, with CUBE
the immediacy of super chilled and
filtered water can be enjoyed without
having to wait or, more importantly, waste
water. What’s more, one canister of C02
yields 60 litres of carbonated water,
which significantly reduces the need for
single-use plastic bottles. After use, all
canisters can be returned when empty
and will be re-used.
The average UK household uses a
staggering 360 plastic bottles per year,
resulting in huge volumes of waste
nationwide. With sustainability increasingly
at the forefront of consumer purchase
decisions, it has never been more important
to find creative solutions around the
problem of waste. Determined to find a
solution for carbonated water, dispensing
precisely the amount needed at any given
moment, CUBE ensures responsible and
more sustainable consumption. CUBE can
be attached to any Quooker tap in the range.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.quooker.co.uk
FORM AND FUNCTION
24 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Glass + Glazing
SPECIFYING WINDOW SEALANTSIssues around airtightness and energy efficiency remain top of the agenda for architects and designers who specify products used in the construction of the houses and commercial buildings, says ISO Chemie. One approach to improve energy efficiency is to use self-adhesive foam tapes, which are installed around the perimeter of the window or doorframe and the surrounding wall, providing good resistance to driving rain as well as thermal and acoustic insulation and a robust airtight internal seal as they slowly expand to fill the cavity gap. Sealant tapes provide a flexible and easy-to-use multi-functional product that is easy to install in any weather conditions. The tape is applied before installation, ensuring that the window can easily be installed from inside the building, avoiding the need to use costly and time-consuming scaffolding and ladder access systems. The durability, life-long elasticity and UV stability of impregnated foam tapes mean that once installed, they are effectively maintenance free, with a life expectancy of 25 years plus. Sealant tapes can comply with appropriate standards such BS8213 CoP for window and external door set installations, and meets passive house performance criteria, specifically where perimeter seals around fenestration and movement joints in things like brickwork structures perform a vital function.
www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/
VISIOSUN PRIVACY GLASSA new privacy glass featuring parallel lines to create a reeded effect has been launched by Saint-Gobain Glass. Ideal for both interior design and external architectural projects Visiosun provides high levels of privacy whilst also allowing large amounts of natural light to flood into a room. Jenni Young, Market Manager - Premium Residential and Design & Deco at Saint-Gobain Glass said: “Visiosun features a directional pattern which can be used in both vertical and horizontal orientation for vast creative scope. Light refractions on the subtle looking structure creates an interesting dynamic while flawless textures and tones capture the industrial flair of loft living.” Visiosun is ideal for interior design projects such as doors and partitions, showers and bath screens, display cases, shelves, tabletops and countertops, as well as external architecture including canopies, parapets and facades. Visiosun is easy to process, cut and handle and is available in a wide range of thicknesses and dimensions.
uk.saint-gobain-building-glass.com/en-gb/visiosun
PLUMSTEAD LIBRARY’S STORY OF STEEL Plumstead Library, originally constructed in 1903 and located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, has recently undergone a dramatic renovation project. Having previously been under-used, the building is now a fully fit for purpose 21st century public library. A significant part of the project was the full refurbishment of all 33 windows which included an impressive 124 individual window frames, and Steel Window Association member ASWS was entrusted with this job. The library is a Grade II-listed building and so the work required careful consideration, planning and unparalleled expertise. ASWS removed all windows for transportation back to their London workshops, where they were blasted, repaired and decorated before being refixed and reglazed. This sizeable project involved an impressive 1326 panes of glass, which were mastic-fronted in order to recreate the original putty sightlines. ASWS’s work was not complete there as all of the building’s ironmongery was also extensively refurbished. On top of this, nine more recently replaced windows were replaced again, to improve quality and remain in keeping with the building’s original character.
020 3475 8049 | www.steel-window-association.co.uk
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 25
Glass + Glazing
STEEL WINDOW EXPERTSAssociated Steel Window Services (www.asws.co.uk) is a family-managed business now into its third generation and 60th year as a specialist steel window refurbishment and replacement company. The business started with a small client base working mainly for large insurance companies such as Sun Alliance and Legal & General, originally concentrating on the servicing of steel windows, general glazing and repairs to fire escapes. Over the years they have grown considerably, moving into a more specialised field and developing complete site packages. Since the third generation of the family joined the business, ASWS has enjoyed even larger and more prestigious projects. Part of the company ethos is the continual support and guidance for clients, which invariably results in a successful conclusion to projects. Most recently ASWS are proud to have been involved in the removal of the historic windows, façade mullions and spandrels ahead of the major refurbishment of the landmark Whiteleys shopping centre.
020 8665 5335 | www.asws.co.uk
SMART DOORS FOR EVERY APPLICATIONThe Schüco AD UP (Aluminium Door Universal Platform) door system is a true all-rounder. It combines the highest quality aesthetics with impressive thermal performance, outstanding watertightness, PAS 24 security and the ability to integrate smart building components. As an adaptable system for both residential and commercial buildings, it provides high performance even in exposed locations. The AD UP door system offers a range of options for a multitude of applications and is based on two profile widths: the AD UP 75 (75mm) and the AD UP 90 (90mm). Both versions integrate seamlessly with the range of Schüco façade, window and sliding door systems. The AD UP aluminium profile has five chambers, incorporating a dedicated cable channel to ensure the easy and safe integration of Schüco Smart Home technology, such as the Fingerprint Easy entry system and keyless access controlled via a smartphone. The Schüco AD UP Design Edition also features an illuminated recessed pull-grip.
www.schuco.com
UK’S OLDEST BUSINESS SCHOOL REJUVANATEDArchitectural glazing systems by UK manufacturer Kawneer were specifically selected for a £18.5 million extension to the UK’s oldest business school for their ability to meet the building’s design aesthetic and high-performance requirements. Multiple Kawneer products, including two curtain wall systems, two door products and three window variations, were used by main contractor Morgan Sindall Construction for the University House project, a gateway to the University of Birmingham’s city centre campus. The new 3,000m2 extension features Kawneer’s AA®110 and AA®100 mullion-drained curtain wall systems with capped and capless mullions as well as AA®100 zone-drained fully-capped curtain wall. The AA®100 system, with 50mm sightlines, was used in all areas with the exception of two full-height curtain wall screens which featured on the building’s ‘social space’ characteristic that utilised the AA®110 system with 65mm sightlines. In addition, Kawneer’s series 350 and AA®720 HI thermally-superior entrance doors were used alongside AA®720 HI windows as fixed lights, side-hung open-in inserts and electrically-operated bottom-hung open-in inserts.
www.kawneer.co.uk
Case Study
26 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
TECHNE SPHERE BY OSCAR NIEMEYER
The late Oscar Niemeyer was tasked with designing an extension to the factory canteen in the Techne Sphere Picture: Margret Hoppe
Techne Sphere By Oscar Niemeyer
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 27
Celebrated for his modernist, curved
creations, Oscar Niemeyer’s vision for a
white concrete and glazed sphere has
been realised posthumously with Eyrise
dynamic window technology, offering
sun protection while respecting the
purity of his design.
The iconic Brazilian architect was
approached by Ludwig Koehne, owner of
a manufacturing plant in Leipzig, Germany,
in 2011 to build an extension to his factory’s
canteen. Following Niemeyer’s death in
2012, his sketches were further developed
by his assistant Jair Valera and the project
was executed by Leipzig-based Harald
Kern Architects.
Located at the Techne Sphere complex
in the industrial district of Plagwitz, the
sphere measures 12 metres in diameter.
Comprising of an upper and lower
hemisphere that house a restaurant and
bar, the structure is positioned on the
top corner of a nineteenth century listed
building, with views overlooking the city.
Fifty wooden moulds were hand crafted to
construct the framework for the sphere’s
two concrete shells, leaving the challenge
of how to provide shade to this complex
spherical glass structure.
Additional elements such as shutters
would have compromised Niemeyer’s
vision as they would darken the interior and
necessitate artificial lighting during the day.
Conventional electrochromic smart
glazing was also ruled out as it was not
possible to create the triangular panels
required with this process. This glass is
also slow to control glare, typically taking
up to 15 minutes to fully transition, and
tends to tint a bluish-brown colour that
is then absorbed by objects in the inside
28 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
environment. As the sphere was intended
as a space where food is served, this
would be off-putting.
Using new liquid crystal technology, Eyrise
dynamic windows allowed the geometric
requirements of Niemeyer’s glass sphere
to be kept, while preventing over-heating
and enhancing wellbeing for occupants.
“Niemeyer liked the idea of creating a
building that would benefit working people
and the element of surprise that comes
with seeing such a futuristic structure in
the heart of an industrial space,” said plant
owner Ludwig Koehne. “He was always
open to new developments and would
have approved of the use of innovative
technology to realise his vision.”
The resulting lattice pattern glass facade
comprises 144 individually manufactured
triangular glass modules of assorted sizes
that darken and lighten instantaneously,
and are controlled by a bespoke app.
“When the windows are tinted, they look
dark from the outside. This corresponds
well with the black and white contrast
seen in much of Niemeyer’s architecture,”
added Koehne.
The glass remains a transparent neutral
grey colour across the tinting spectrum
when viewed from inside, so natural light
is preserved and the view to the outside is
always retained.
“A fusion of art with technology, the sphere
sets new standards in architecture for
our increasingly digital world,” said Kai
Beckmann, Member of the Board at Merck
and CEO of Merck Performance Materials.
“This space is all about wellbeing,
sustainability and controlling the building’s
energy footprint. Our Eyrise liquid crystal
glass technology makes this possible by
providing invisible shading and preventing
over-heating, all while remaining true to
Niemeyer’s spirit.”
The sphere in Leipzig will count as
Niemeyer’s final work, alongside a project
in southern France. One of the most
respected modern architects, Niemeyer’s
projects include the United Nations
headquarters, Serpentine Gallery in London,
and the masterplan for the city of Brasilia.
Techne Sphere By Oscar Niemeyer
Dynamic windows in an extraordinary landmarkAn innovative product from science and technology company Merck, Eyrise glass uses advanced licrivision liquid crystal technology to produce smart transparent windows that can be tinted to provide instant solar shading without compromising on natural daylight. How does it work?The liquid crystal mixture is placed between two sheets coated with a transparent conductive film. Prompted by a low voltage, the molecules in the mixture change orientation and regulate the amount of light and heat passing through.
www.eyrise.com
PROJECT TEAMClient: Ludwig Koehne, Owner Kirow-HeiterBlick Techne
Sphere, Leipzig Location: Spinnereistrasse 13, Leipzig, Germany
Building Architect: Oscar NiemeyerExecuting Architects: Harald Kern Architects and Jair
ValeraMain contractor: Dechant Hoch und Ingenieurbau
Glass: Eyrise s350 instant solar shading windowsSurface: 110m²
Number: 144 panels
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 29
Spotlight
Eyrise have developed windows powered by liquid crystal technology that have a positive impact in the workplace for well-being and productivity.
Dynamic windows that use advanced
liquid crystal glass technology to
achieve solar shading offer the most
positive impact on well-being and
productivity in the office environment,
new research reveals.
The study, by deep green engineering
practice Elementa Consulting, compared
two smart window technologies on the
market, which alter the optical and thermal
properties of external glazing to control
solar glare and heat. Research focused
on the impact of smart facade design on
human experience.
Using best practice lighting simulation
tools to undertake a series of visualisations
and analysis, Elementa investigated how
two types of established electrochromic
glass compared with the recently
developed Eyrise glazing, which uses
its proprietary Licrivision liquid crystal
technology. Elementa looked at
performance in three areas: colour, speed
and circadian well-being.
When tested for colour rendering, Eyrise
windows maintained a neutral grey tone
across the entire tint spectrum, while
electrochromic glass displayed a blue
colouration, which can impact perceived
colour and brightness of illuminated
objects in the indoor environment.
The transition time of controlling glare was
examined to ascertain if a comfortable
working environment, supporting
productivity, was maintained. Research
showed that occupants were able to
modify shading states of liquid crystal
windows instantaneously. Electrochromic
products needed at least 15 minutes to
restore visual comfort levels, meaning
people are at risk of high levels of glare
and may seek alternative ways, such as
blinds or curtains, to protect themselves
from sunlight.
“According to the latest National Human
Activity Pattern Survey, people are
spending 87% of their time indoors,
so welfare should take priority when
embarking on smart facade building
design,” said Alkyoni Papasifaki,
Environmental Design Engineer at
Elementa Consulting. “Our investigation
shows that Eyrise dynamic liquid crystal
windows outperform other smart glazing
in supporting health and well-being. The
technology enables windows to maintain
a neutral colour across the tinting range
and instantaneously deliver high levels of
visual comfort on demand.”
Elementa’s study also examined the
impact of dynamic window technologies
on occupants’ health, focusing on the
alignment with their natural body clock,
which is triggered by dedicated receptors
on the retina and responsible for the
sleep-wake rhythm.
All three glazing products tested met
minimum requirements of light exposure
and intensity during their bright and
dark states. However, glazing that uses
electrochromic technology, producing
a blue colouration to the glass when
tinted, induces an environment that
disrupts occupants’ body clocks in the
afternoon by suppressing melatonin
levels and raising alertness. In contrast, by
maintaining a neutral environment across
the tint spectrum, Eyrise windows support
occupants’ natural circadian rhythms
throughout the day.
“In modern architecture, sustainability
and aesthetic needs are fuelling demand
for smart innovations,” said Celine Glipa,
Managing Director at Eyrise. “Eyrise
supports both, bringing creative visions to
life and transforming the workplace into a
comfortable environment where people
can be at their most productive.”
This independent research by Elementa
Consulting is the first in-depth study on
the well-being impact of smart facade
technology. Read the full report here:
www.eyrise.com/out-of-the-blue/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.eyrise.com
SMART WINDOWS
30 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Schöck Isokorb delivers for seafront Passive House Award Winner.
WINNING SEAFRONT DEVELOPMENT
Seaton is a traditional Devon seaside
resort town, but the eye-catching new
development on the seafront is anything
but traditional.
Seaton Beach Apartments offers
innovative, award-winning luxury
beachfront apartments, complete with a
penthouse, and is the first multi-residential
development in the UK to be certified as
passive house plus.
The ground floor is concrete, with
monolithic clay block construction used
from the first to third floors and timber
frame for the penthouse. Combined with
high-performance external render and
internal plaster, the result is an entirely
mineral hygroscopic wall build-up, which
helps regulate humidity and provide a
comfortable internal environment.
USES 90% LESS ENERGY
Other features include low
electromagnetic field wiring and a highly
efficient mechanical ventilation system
with heat recovery and exhaust air
heat pump for hot water supply. There
is constant filtered air within the triple
glazed, airtight construction and PV roof
panels generate more energy than the
building uses – which is 90% less energy
usage than a typical new build. Because
passive house standard is easier to achieve
with simpler, box-like forms, buildings
can be considered aesthetically limited.
However, design ingenuity and the use
of Schöck Isokorb thermally broken
balcony connectors defies that notion.
The potentially unexciting building now
features large sea-facing balconies with
generous curves. The detailing of these
balconies is critical though, if thermal
bridging is to be minimised and the energy
performance not compromised.
A TECHNICALLY ADVANCED SOLUTION
Schöck Isokorb thermal breaks are
installed where the balconies meet the
clay block structure. Ineffectual insulation
at these cantilever connectivity points
will result in local heat loss, requiring
more energy to maintain the building’s
internal temperature. Low internal
surface temperatures around the thermal
bridge can also cause condensation,
leading to structural integrity problems
with absorbent insulation products and
the potentially serious occurrence of
mould growth. The Schöck Isokorb is
one of the most technically advanced
countermeasures against thermal bridging.
It thermally separates components from
one another and also acts in a structural
design capacity. The product type
used has an innovative HTE Compact
compression module and transfers both
negative moments and positive shear
forces with cantilever balconies.
ENORMOUS FREEDOM OF DESIGN
As the leading international supplier
of structural thermal breaks, Schöck
is able to offer planners complete
construction dependability and almost
limitless freedom of design with the
options available. There are solutions
for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-
steel, steel-to-steel, a thermally insulating
connection for reinforced concrete walls –
and even a maintenance free alternative to
wrapped parapets. The temperature factor
used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI)
which must be greater than, or equal to,
0.75 for residential buildings, is easily met
by incorporating the Isokorb. All products
meet full compliance with the relevant UK
building regulations and the NHBC. They
also offer LABC Registration and have
independent BBA Certification.
Photography by Dug Wilders
FOR MORE INFORMATION
01865 290 890
www.schoeck.co.uk
Spotlight
MY INSPIRATIONIN MY WORDS
Jim Richards, Director, Nissen Richards Studio, shares a trio of inspirations, from quietly nostalgic memories to loud contemporary experiences.
Growing up in Weston-super-Mare, it was impossible not to be
fixated on – and, in my case, inspired by – the town’s Birnbeck
Pier. Although created by the master architect of promenades
and piers, Eugenius Birch, who put his name to a total of
fourteen pier structures in Great British resorts, Birnbeck Pier
was unique for several reasons. First, because the end of the
pier is actually located on a rocky outcrop, which technically
makes it an island, and secondly because local architect Hans
Price, responsible for many of the town’s notable buildings,
created its unusual end-of-pier buildings, embodying an almost
domestic vernacular many miles away from the usual pier-end
pavilions. Its timber jetty used to serve the paddle steamers
arriving from Wales - my Great Aunt and Uncle amongst them
on their regular visits to see my grandmother.
As a child, I spent many hours playing beneath the pier’s
elegant iron walkway when the tide was out, watching as it was
washed away, almost in real time, until it reached its current
state of ruin. For my A Levels, I created a series of art projects
based on it and, much later, I was part of an architectural team
shortlisted for a scheme to rejuvenate it. Sadly, the project
never went ahead. In spite of that near miss, the pier’s industrial
language and fascinating embodiment of the battle between
the weather, tidal range and man-made architectural heritage,
had a long-lasting effect. The new viewing tower we’re just
completing at Sutton Hoo for the National Trust, for example,
embodies elements of this relationship.
The amazing black and white photographs of Bernd and
Hilla Becher are also a continuing source of inspiration. The
German photography duo, who met in the late 50s at the
Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, specialised in shooting industrial
structures - including water towers, coal bunkers, gas tanks
and factories. Their work, which never included people, was
shot in a documentary style and grouped according to sets or
typologies. This grid arrangement, as well as their veneration
for underloved industrial buildings, makes them a firm favourite.
My third great inspiration comes from the common experience
of being part of a large crowd – either at football grounds
(Bristol City, now you ask) or music gigs. I love that shared
emotional elevation as a crowd reacts to a particularly great
goal or the sound of a guitar playing the first note of a well-
loved song. Wanting to enable this feeling has very much fed
into our recent series of performance and event spaces, such
as Magazine London, the project we completed in 2019 on
the Greenwich Peninsula, to serve as a backdrop for music
or commercial sets, shows and events, and the ongoing
redevelopment of iconic music venue Clwb Ifor Bach, in the
heart of Cardiff.
www.nissenrichardsstudio.com
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 31
32 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Interview
©CullinanStudio
Roddy is a Practice Leader at the award-
winning architects firm Cullinan Studio,
and chairs design forums for Architecture
and Design Scotland. He communicates
persuasively and lectures widely, talking
and drawing with skill and passion.
Having been raised in the rugged beauty
of Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains,
twenty years on, Roddy found empathy at
Cullinan Studio with a world in transition,
looking to make buildings that engage
with their environment. He has developed
a design method based on storytelling - a
layered approach that begins with context,
topography, micro-climate and the cultural
drivers of his clients and their chosen
setting - inspiring expressive, clearly
articulated buildings.
A lifelong love of the outdoors has led
to an affinity with place-making and
recognition of the importance of the
space between and beyond buildings.
This has steered the distinctive character
of his work on masterplans, cultural and
education buildings over his career.
Here, Roddy discusses the need to reconnect
people with the natural world through
building design, and how Cullinan Studio have
always been moving towards architecture that
considers the climate: “it’s as though we have
been ‘practicing’ for this moment.”
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF
DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE?
I grew up in an outdoor pursuits centre
called Glenmore Lodge in what is now
the Cairngorms National Park. My father
ran the centre with year round climbing,
mountaineering, skiing and canoeing
courses for students. It was a timber
frame building of long wings clad in warm,
scented cedar boards – a bit unusual
for the time I guess - you could see the
mountains all around and run out straight
into the remnants of the great Caledonian
pine forest. As an 8 year old I used to join
the groups of students on trips across
the mountains so I was introduced to big
landscapes, the power of weather and to
the importance of shelter. I still love that
blend of exposure and shelter you get as
the wind and rain beats on your tent. It’s the
simplest form of architecture and yet with
the right materials and detailing, incredibly
effective. It’s a great lesson in doing a lot
with very little.
Roddy Langmuir, a Practice Leader at Cullinan Studio, discusses his fascination with the relationship between buildings and landscape, and the value of collaborative working and shared experiences.
RODDY LANGMUIR
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 33
Roddy Langmuir
WHERE DID YOU STUDY?
At Edinburgh University. By then it was my
home city and studying architecture there
opened my eyes to the way buildings and
public spaces interact. When an entire city
is made of one material you appreciate the
world between more - the streets, squares,
closes and courtyards. Izi Metzstein was
professor at the time and was a brilliantly
ruthless dissector of an architectural
proposal. We had a great studio culture
and I really valued that sense of being in-it
together and learning from each other.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THE ARCHITECTURAL
EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS CHANGED IN
RECENT YEARS?
I hope the studio as a base for learning
architecture can continue, as clearly a lot
of courses are set up with the expectation
of independent study with more limited
shared experience. We also need more
collaborative, interdisciplinary learning. I
think new ideas happen on the margins
of fields of study and architecture needs
to open its horizons as far as possible. It’s
great to see many schools embracing the
biggest issues for the built environment
– social exclusion, climate change,
biodiversity loss, and imagining the
possibilities of major new infrastructure, but
where are the joint degrees? The high cost
and the 5 year course are major problems,
and the growth of part-time working
alongside study helps students finance
their education and suggests a future for
apprenticeship learning too.
Despite all the technological change I’ve
noticed a continued delight from any
audience in free-hand drawings. The
directness of editing what you decide to
show or exclude in a drawing is often best
learned by hand drawing. It’s still one of
the most powerful tools of communication
we have at our disposal and it needs to be
nurtured at Architecture Schools.
WHAT KIND OF ARCHITECT DID YOU
ASPIRE TO BE?
I’ve always felt that buildings should be
expressive – of their purpose and how they
are made. Growing up in the Cairngorms
probably left a big mark in terms of a
fascination with the relationship between
buildings and landscape. Nature is the big
daddy of it all – how buildings respond to it
defines them in every way.
WHO ARE YOUR DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE
INSPIRATIONS?
I spent my year-out near Vancouver
and loved the brave, direct work of the
pioneering architects working in timber
along the west coast of the US and Canada.
I also visited many of Scarpa’s buildings as
a student, and hugely preferred his values
and expression to the pomo crap that
filled the mags of the day. You can see his
whole thought process laid bare by the way
materials are layered and pulled apart, by
Photo by Hufton+CrowOpen research at the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC)
34 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Interview
the way the junctions are celebrated You
can draw inspiration from this at any scale
from masterplanning to detail. Clearly we
can rarely afford the time and cost of such
crafted details, and across much of our
built environment standard products are
allowed to collide unhappily together at
interfaces. A new syntax borne out of more
sophisticated design and manufacturing
methods opens up a promising future in
this regard.
The last paradigm shift in architecture was
brought to us through the soul-searching
quests of the great modernists. Brilliant and
flawed, it has led to our shared architectural
language – and we all design within this
frame of reference. Now we are entering
another period of transformation, centred
on how we all respond to the challenges of
climate change and the digital revolution.
In the current eclectic design environment,
it’s difficult to see how it’s going to play out
or who is perhaps showing the way, but I
think we do need to beware of claims of
an ethical, morally superior architecture to
prevent history repeating itself. The enduring
quality of buildings can never be determined
by measurement or carbon alone - it’s how
you do it, not just that you do it.
WHAT DOES CULLINAN STUDIO
REPRESENT AS AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM?
Openness, collaboration, we enjoy the
larger ‘design team’ working mentality for its
richness of ideas and surprise contributions.
We want to continue to have a role in how
ideas for buildings, develop on into ideas
about how they are made. Ted Cullinan
was a tour de force and we want to keep
his adventurous spirit alive in the practice.
Since Ted started out 60 years ago, the
practice has always been driving towards a
low-energy architecture that is responsive
to local context, local topography and local
culture and climate. Now, at a time when
there is a mass re-awakening towards the
urgency of addressing climate change,
it’s as though we have been ‘practicing’
for this moment. The need for a broader
interpretation of sustainable design, and the
need to reconnect people with the natural
world through the buildings we design is in
our blood – it’s our DNA.
HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO CARVE
YOUR OWN PATH IN THE INDUSTRY AS A
STUDIO AND AN INDIVIDUAL?
We are not a large company, but we still
tackle all scales and all types of buildings
– we know they cross-inform each other
in so many ways. I think that once you
start reaching for the shelf of ready-
made solutions rather than thinking more
deeply about the problem to be solved,
you’ve probably missed the opportunity…
Once the brief has taken shape and a
design approach agreed, a big part of
the architects’ role is in choosing the right
path through ever-increasing complexity;
spotting the pieces that will create a greater
whole. To make a good building you need
to be a good editor, suppressing the visual
noise in one place to let another sing. For
example, the John Hope Gateway performs
the role of a sheltering canopy, a glade
sat amongst the arboretum of Edinburgh’s
botanical garden, and all the details try to
carry this overriding atmosphere of the
design intent.
WHERE IS THE MAJORITY OF YOUR
WORK BASED?
We have built all across the UK and we are
just about to open an office in the Midlands.
We’ve also had some great experiences
working in Singapore, Jordan, and the US.
We’ve worked in the context of 5 Unesco
World Heritage Sites and with many
national and international institutions and
Universities. I’ve learned that our process,
honed in the hothouse of the UK design
environment, travels well, because its
focused on a working method that draws
inspiration from context rather than the
‘object’ you intend to make. As in our design
for a new visitor centre to Petra, which
orchestrates your journey from arrival,
through a grove of frankincense trees, to
the geological drama of entering the Siq.
Photo by Sean BegleyInside Clach Mhor; a ‘Skye Ridge’ and long views to landscape
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 35
Roddy Langmuir
Photo by Matt LaverBotanical entry space to the John Hope Gateway in Edinburgh
Photo by Hufton+CrowThe collaborative hub inside the Innovation Centre
It’s about the whole experience.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DESIGN
COMMISSION TO DATE?
The National Automotive Innovation Centre
for Warwick University, Jaguar Landrover,
Tata Motors, and Warwick Manufacturing
Group – its’ all about getting the best out of
researchers academics and manufacturers,
a diverse melting pot of expertise in a
great Aladdin’s’ cave of experimentation.
In terms of impact, it would probably
be in finally managing to stop Libya
constructing a major highway, being built
to usher in tourism development along the
extraordinary Green Mountain wilderness
coastline, by mapping the natural assets
with a team of experts - flora, fauna,
nesting turtle sites, and incredible
archaeological remains on an uncharted
stretch of the Mediterranean. We were
able to promote this natural environment
as the goose that could keep laying golden
eggs through ecotourism. One day the
diggers just stopped.
WHAT DOES THE FACE OF ARCHITECTURE
LOOK LIKE TO YOU IN 10 YEARS TIME?
Climate Change is a calamity but re-
dressing it is a massive opportunity
- for a better built environment. Its a
great time to be an architect – a time
of profound change where ideas to
improve community, wellbeing, better
connections with the natural world, and
how we might reimagine our streets when
all the parked cars have gone are really
gaining traction. Architects need to tag
with the dramatic changes happening
across many disciplines and find the way
to contribute more at the gestation of
projects where the first question is; do
we need a building at all? Architects are
extremely good at organisational change
and their most valuable work is often
unpaid, lumped in with the more easily
quantified work stages. Architects need
to avoid isolation and marginalization and
get back to the centre of things, helping
find creative solutions at RIBA Stage 0. The
continuous churn of the built environment
is embarrassing. We need to be architects
for ‘less’ building, where what we do build,
invests in quality, and is designed for the
long term.
IF YOU HADN’T BECOME AN ARCHITECT
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
Maybe teaching? But actually I really can’t
imagine doing anything else.
www.cullianstudio.com
36 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Case Study
FOREST GLADE BY HESSELBRAND
At the Forest Glade house, all bathroom functions are
wrapped in tiles
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 37
Forest Glade By Hesselbrand
Architecture firm Hesselbrand have
completed a family house in east
London designed for working and
entertaining from home. The project is
the first to be completed in a series of
houses designed by Hesselbrand that
re-imagines the traditional terraced
house for contemporary life.
Both floors of the house have been
strategically rearranged by creating new
openings, separations, and a large side
extension on the ground floor. This makes
the rooms of the house connect directly
instead of through a corridor to allow for
unlimited ways to move around the house.
A new passage is opened from the bright
front living room, leading you through
a dark ochre coloured library into the
new kitchen. In the kitchen white painted
concrete blocks and steel columns form
a sharp contrast to the existing house and
exposed concrete foundations in the floor
draws a line of where the old wall used to
be. At the back of the room a large steel
framed window completes the passage
by framing a view of the new garden room
underneath a black painted timber pergola.
This new arrangement of the plan on the
ground floor gives each room two access
points. In that way, there is a wide range of
possibilities of moving through the house.
This makes the house equally suitable for
entertaining groups of friends at home,
as well as working from home. In the first
scenario, different groups of people can
congregate in the ground floor rooms
without feeling like you are leaving the
other groups behind, as there is always a
connecting doorway in the vicinity and no
dead end rooms. And on days when the
owners are working from home, the other
family members can easily avoid whichever
room is being worked in, as there are
multiple ways of reaching all rooms.
Every space on both floors of the house
is given its own spatial quality; bright,
dark, wide, narrow and so on. When the
character of a room is defined by its quality
or atmosphere rather than its function,
it becomes more flexible and open to
interpretation. For example, one of the
bathrooms has the character of a normal
room with the only exception that there
is a bathtub, whereas the other bathroom
is tiled all over in a perfect grid, as if one
continuous waterproof surface has been
wrapped around the whole room.
The economic approach to the redesign of
the plan, with its re-purposing of existing
spaces, can also be found in the use of
materials. In keeping and re-using as much
of the existing building as possible, the
design is aimed at finding new use for old
materials. Bricks left from the demolition
are re-integrated into new parts of the
building and left over block-work is turned
into a new kitchen. The structural steel
is left exposed and painted to match the
existing mouldings, forming a visual link
between the old and new. This approach
of re-purposing both plan layout and
materials ultimately gives each room more
purpose and character, and the house
becomes significantly richer in experiences.
The existing property is a single family two
storey semi-detached Edwardian terraced
house with a narrow passage to the back
along the north east side. Built in 1895 and
renovated in the 1970’s the building was in
much need of repair. All of the exterior has
been carefully restored, from the red brick
façade to the ornamental roof finials and
the carved wooden element. The existing
windows were are replaced with new
wooden framed sash windows that had
been specially designed and fabricated in
a local workshop to make the frames as
thin as possible, resembling single glazed
windows from both interior and exterior.
Room with a bath and a view
A traditional terraced house reimagined for contemporary life
38 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Forest Glade By Hesselbrand
The property is located within a
conservation area and the design has
been considered very carefully in order
to enhance the historic environment and
details of the property. The rear extension
is made clearly contemporary in its
expression in order to complement the
character of the existing building. This
gives the expression of a building where
history and local heritage is valued, but
where contemporary life is present.
www.hesselbrand.com
Images ©2020 Hesselbrand
PROJECT TEAMLead Architect: Martin Brandsdal, Magnus
Casselbrant, Jesper Henriksson
Project Architect: Jonathan Wilson
Structural Engineer: Solid Geometry
Approved Inspector: MLM
SUPPLIER LISTLighting: Flos, Lehni, Orluna
Tiles: Domus The meeting of old and new materials
The connection between the library and kitchen
The kitchen features white painted concrete blocks and steel columns
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 39
Spotlight
Vicaima showcases the timeless elegance of white doors
Experience the Vicaima heartbeat with new video for tomorrow’s world
If music be the food of love, then Vicaima’s
new video demonstrates just how deep
the love for doors exists and how it plays
in perfect harmony with nature.
Crafted with sophisticated design and
accompanied with a melody that strikes a
chord for the future, this communication
reinforces the Vicaima brand values. With
its recognizable signature “Unexpected
Harmony”, the video embodies aesthetics
and emotional inspiration.
This modern video reiterates the
fundamental pillars of the Vicaima
brand, taking the audience through
varying scenarios and unusual situations,
with beauty, safety, comfort and an
unpredictable and bold design, capable
of projecting with a universal language. A
video with music and imagery that reveals
the constant heartbeat of Vicaima.
This audio visual content has enormous
significance for Vicaima, as it represents
a path, where the future approaches the
present and is seen in infinite possibilities,
representing continuity and hope, the
latter symbolized by childhood, nature and
sustainability. The video can be viewed at
www.vicaima.com/Corporate/VICAIMA_
New-Corporate-Video%202020-.mp4
FOR MORE INFORMATION
+44 (0) 1793 532333
www.vicaima.com
VICAIMA NEWNESSSimplicity in design is often thought to be
the secret to creating timeless fashions
and one way to achieve that desired blank
canvas, is by using flush white doors.
This opportunity to rejuvenate and add a
fresh clean look to interiors has now been
given new impetus and inspiration with
the introduction of the White Collection
from Vicaima, a selection of quality
interior doors for home, hospitality and
commercial projects.
Bringing together some truly distinctive
finish options in white, the collection
demonstrates that this fundamental hue is
not actually a single colour, but has in fact
a myriad of sheens, surfaces and shades
to suit every application. In addition, doors
can be customised to allow even greater
decorative freedom, with the inclusion
of face grooves and inlays, together with
many glazed patterns.
The White Collection includes Lacdor in
White and Pure White shades, with its ultra-
smooth lacquered paint finish; Dekordor SD
in White Smooth and Woodgrain finished
foils; Dekordor HD White, a continuous
pressure laminate for demanding areas and
for those who still prefer to paint their own
doors, Primed 2 Go, with its revolutionary
surface that requires no face sanding or
priming and which will accept paint straight
onto its smooth face to achieve an excellent
end result.
Where performance criteria is demanded,
The White Collection is also available in
fire, acoustic and security solutions. And
as care for the environment is paramount
in our minds, everything is covered by
FSC® certification. Products can be
supplied as door only, door and matching
frame assemblies or even
as corresponding wardrobes.
40 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Interiors
EARTHBORN - DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLYEarthborn is delighted to introduce The Earth Collection, a palette of five harmonious new paint shades inspired by the natural world, themed around the earth, land, sand, sea and clouds. The Classic Earthborn colour card will remain unchanged for now; instead a simple bookmark is available displaying real painted swatches of the five new colours. The new colours: Crocky Road, Up Up Away, Grassy, Skipper and Sandy Castle, along with the full range of 72 shades on the Classic shade card, are available to buy online now, or from Earthborn’s network of stockists. With Earthborn you get no acrylics or oils, but you get high quality and high performance and a full list of ingredients to help you make a more informed choice.
www.earthbornpaints.co.uk
NATURE MEETS FASHIONIn the world of design where patterns and textures are fundamental components, Antolini has created an extraordinary collection which presents natural stone enhanced by all those tactile perceptions and suggestions that fabric textures give to Haute Couture - the Textures+ Collection. In the Texture+ collection, natural stone is treated to make its texture stand out and give it the tactile and visual sensation of a stupendous piece of fabric. This collection transforms the concept of natural stone, introducing a language that, like never before, brings together the worlds of architecture and fashion. With Texture+, Antolini presents the most creative minds of interior design with an innovative and sophisticated tool: a collection of several designs so different from each other that they can satisfy even the most original interior décor ideas. Interweaving, knots, inlays and irregular pigmentations create an expressive new intensity: movement and three-dimensionality permeate the entire collection, mixing with a variety of facets and making each material inimitable.
www.antolini.com
SOPHISTICATED AND CLASSIC DESIGN Homeowners spend 60% of the time in the kitchen on average, and with sinks and taps being the most used appliances it’s important to make sure they look flawless and perform perfectly. The CATRIS-S Flexo in Black Matt from BLANCO is perfect for homeowners who want to embrace the new kitchen trend for a black, industrial, concrete, colourful or urban look. This brand new single level monobloc mixer tap exudes sophistication with classic design features combined with modern appeal. The benefits of this professional quality tap extend far beyond appearances. With 360 degrees swivel spout, flexible rubber hose and a removable handset, BLANCO has covered every kitchen requirement. The variable jet options make it possible to go from a gentle stream flow, perfect for rinsing delicate ingredients, right up to a powerful jet spray for filling deep pots and pans at super speed.
01923 635 200 | www.blanco.co.uk
42 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Case Study
PAUL MEURICE BY LAMBERT LÉNACK
The Paul Meurice home for disabled
adults required a gentle balance
between intimacy and openness
to the outside world. Paris-based
architecture practice Lambert Lénack
responded carefully through generous
and accessible spaces with a variety of
architectural flourishes.
Lambert Lénack have imagined a south-
facing, stepped building which allows light
into the inner courtyard and whose volumes
stretch out, recede, and produce sliding
variations in the grid of staggered windows.
The facades open generously out towards
the city, through large domestic windows for
the apartments, and large urban windows
for the common areas. The generosity of
the spaces relies upon the legibility and
continuity of the common areas.
The successive tiers of the building,
induced by its stepped volume, were
designed as “open-air rooms”: terraces
surrounded by facades so that residents
can enjoy outdoor spaces without the risk
of falling. The final level opens onto a vast,
panoramic collective terrace.
The building is organised around two
circulation cores; the primary core being
situated in the north and a secondary, in
the south. This functional arrangement
responds as much to a need for flexibility
of use as to security constraints.
A large entrance hall and the day reception
centre are located on the ground floor,
with access to the garden, while the first
floor hosts a restaurant, rooms for activities
offered to residents, and spaces dedicated
to administration.
The accommodation units form groups
of two levels situated on the second and
third floors and on the fourth and fifth
floors. No apartment is mono-oriented
north and the services are installed back-
to-back with the adjoining building to the
North-East. The structure is load-bearing
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 43
Paul Meurice By Lambert Lénack
The Paul Meurice home for disabled adults has been carefully designed by Lambert Lénack
Large domestic windows have been used for the apartments, and large
urban windows for the common areas
44 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Paul Meurice By Lambert Lénack
between the facade and the circulation
cores, which facilitates the modification
of interior divisions. A large elevator, like a
moving room, connects the entire program
by opening onto a living room at each floor.
The choice of materials contributes to
domestic atmosphere desired for the
centre. The building envelope, consisting of
an externally insulated concrete wall lined
with solid bricks, is particularly efficient
and robust. The aluminium windows offer a
resistant materiality and an anodized colour
in harmony with the grey brick.
Glazed guardrails integrated into the
window frames allow for the incorporation
of external textile blinds guided over the
entire window height. An interior sheer
curtain completes the window design.
Homes for adults with disabilities are
commonly horizontal and introverted
institutions. The dense urban context and
the desire to include residents within the
urban environment lead to a profound
questioning of this typology: a vertical
organization, a nuanced institutional
character and an emphasis on openness,
comfort and domesticity.
www.lambertlenack.com
Photo credits: © Simone Bossi © Maxime
Delvaux © Cyrille Lallement
PROJECT TEAMContracting authority: Paris HabitatAcquirer: Philanthropic societyTeam: Lambert Lénack, ArchitectEvp, Structural EngineerBetem, Mechanical EngineerVpeas, Quantity SurveyorProject manager: Pierre Charny-BrunetGeneral Contractor: Leon GrosBuilding Control: Groupe Bati Plus ConsultantsHealth & Safety Coordinator: Groupe BTP ConsultantsFire Safety Coordinator: Groupe Casso & AssociésSCMC: IM ProjetDecontamination Consultant: Letourneur ConseilSocial Inclusion Consultant: Face ParisClean Work Site Consultant: QCS Services
Light fills the inner courtyard
Live. Life. Outside.Discover our collections at millboard.co.uk
We don’t take design flexibility sitting down Millboard decking. Innovatively designed and developed to have the look
of natural timber, whilst out-performing it in every way. Our 150mm Bullnose
Board is no different. Like our decking, it’s beautiful to look at, yet its curved
edge gives you more design freedom than ever before.
Ideal for seating, planters or as a finishing touch for decks and steps; its wider
profile providing the perfect space for lighting. Resistant to moisture, stains
and algae, it won’t rot, warp or splinter. And, like our decking, it’s easy to fit,
saving on installation time and cost.
Millboard: Live. Life. Outside.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 47
Live. Life. Outside.Discover our collections at millboard.co.uk
We don’t take design flexibility sitting down Millboard decking. Innovatively designed and developed to have the look
of natural timber, whilst out-performing it in every way. Our 150mm Bullnose
Board is no different. Like our decking, it’s beautiful to look at, yet its curved
edge gives you more design freedom than ever before.
Ideal for seating, planters or as a finishing touch for decks and steps; its wider
profile providing the perfect space for lighting. Resistant to moisture, stains
and algae, it won’t rot, warp or splinter. And, like our decking, it’s easy to fit,
saving on installation time and cost.
Millboard: Live. Life. Outside.
Spotlight
Changing the face of facades: Millboard launches ground-breaking cladding collection.
BREAKING NEW GROUNDMillboard have launched a suite of
cutting-edge cladding materials that
will cement the company’s reputation as
one of Britain’s leading home and garden
material manufacturers.
In its thirteen-year history, Millboard has
continually broken new ground, notably for
its flagship UV, split, rot and slip-resistant
decking product that has been used in
builds as prestigious as the Burj Al Arab,
Kew Gardens and Wimbledon.
The new range of cladding takes its cue
from the first-rate attributes of the decking
range. Available in two styles (‘V Groove’
and ‘Board and Batten’) and a wide range
of colours, it provides the same assurance
of UV resistance and eliminates the risk of
warping, twisting or rotting. And just like
the decking range, the cladding has been
hand-moulded from carefully selected
natural timbers, to provide an unmistakably
organic look.
From the smooth finish of the V Groove to
the pleasing grain variance of the Board
and Batten style, there’s a Millboard
cladding style for every property type.
A year in development, this product is
perfectly designed to stand the test of
time and to require minimal maintenance.
In fact, the distinctive chamfered cut of
the profiles enables the rain to wash the
boards, dramatically reducing the need for
manual cleaning.
The boards are made from a
polyurethane-mineral composite that
boasts greater eco credentials than
rainforest-depleting timber. The unique
properties of this enduring material mean
that you’ll never suffer from streak marks
around window seals, be disappointed
by dramatic colour changes, or have
to maintain it with expensive and time-
consuming treatments.
The extra-wide sizing of the boards means
that the cladding can be mounted quickly,
providing a lightning-fast renovation of the
exterior of a property, and the boards can
also be used internally, for feature walls
and dividers. Additionally, the cladding can
be mounted vertically or horizontally to suit
the tastes of the architect or homeowner.
As well as providing an instant refresh
to a property, the boards can also help
homeowners to achieve a better energy
rating. As it is made from polyurethane
foam, Millboard cladding has good
insulation properties and protects against
extreme heat or extreme cold. With a
growing domestic focus on thermal
efficiency, cladding can help to sell your
property, or to achieve the energy rating
you need to rent it out. Some homeowners
have struggled with building regulations
for putting bigger windows in, but with
the insulation provided by cladding, it
can often be possible to design bigger
apertures into the building.
The team at Millboard are excited about
their latest development, and the launch
of the new cladding range represents a
significant milestone for the company. The
new cladding collection marks Millboard’s
expansion into a broader range of high-
calibre home and garden products.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
02476439943
www.millboard.co.uk
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 49
Spotlight
With over 80 years’ experience Mapei continue to research and develop innovative grout collections.
THE FINISHING TOUCHDespite the current climate, the tile
industry continues to grow and evolve
which is reflected in the countless numbers
of styles, finishes and colours available.
COLOUR AND TEXTURE
Although shades of grey remain popular
for Architects and Specifiers, Mapei
are seeing a resurgence of flamboyant
colours as customers seek to break up the
monotony: a splash of red, green, blue or
purple depending on the desired mood.
These final touches of colour can complete
an effect the designer is trying to create.
Along with colour, Mapei look at texture.
Their grouts can be developed to tie in
with the texture of the tile to create an
overall desired effect. If they’re installing
a stone material with heavy texture, this
theme can also be carried on through the
grouted joint as it can appear strange to
feature a heavily textured tile alongside
a perfectly smooth grout finish. On the
other hand, a highly textured grout finish
may look disjointed next to highly polished
tiles. The environment and use of the area
that is being grouted is also considered;
using an overly textured tile and grout
finish for an area with heavy traffic would
be impractical and hard to maintain as the
textures would grab and hold onto any
passing dirt.
THE GROUTING ENVIRONMENT
With the increase in investment and
popularity for installing outside living
areas, Mapei are recognizing an increase in
porcelain patio areas.
Careful consideration must be given to the
installation of these materials; hardwearing
porcelain is durable but suitability of the
tile adhesive and grout, as well as the
longevity of the product is paramount.
Grout must be considered as an integral
part of the process as it is vital for a
successful installation.
MAPEI’S RANGE OF “SET THE
MOOD” GROUTS
Mapei’s ‘Set the Mood’ colour collection
is segmented into five collections:
Serene, Traditional, Natural, Romance
and Glamour. These five collections
make choosing the correct colour easier
according to the requirements of each
tiling project.
Innovation through research and
development is always at the forefront
of Mapei’s philosophy, with the some of
its latest additions to the coloured grouts
range developed using a sophisticated
3D imaging programme with the latest tile
design trends in mind.
For a flamboyant edge to tile installation,
Mapei’s Kerapoxy Design should be
considered. Available in a palette of 32
different colours, Kerapoxy Design is a highly
decorative, two-component acid and stain
resistant grout, which delivers a smooth and
consistent finish to the grout joint. The grout
can be mixed with MapeGlitter to create
various unique effects.
With over 80 years’ experience, you can
be sure that as Mapei progress through
the decades that fashions, tile styles and
requirements will evolve but they will be
at the forefront of technology, adapting to
change in trends in colour and installation.
Image credit: Tile Mountain
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.mapei.co.uk
LAHOFER WINERY BY CHYBIK + KRISTOF
Case Study
Nestled in the Moravian countryside,
the design of the Lahofer Winery brings
together a longstanding wine tradition
and contemporary wine-making
processes. Housing a visitor center,
tasting room and production facilities,
the structure immerses itself in the
landscape, achieving a subtle symbiosis
with the surrounding vines.
CHYBIK + KRISTOF ARCHITECTS & URBAN
DESIGNERS have completed construction
of the Lahofer Winery in the Czech
Republic. The Lahofer Winery fuses the
region’s longstanding wine tradition with a
contemporary design in constant dialogue
with the surrounding vines. Reflective of
modern wine-making processes, the building
brings together three distinct interconnected
structures – a wine-making facility, the
winery’s administrative base, and a visitor
center and adjoining tasting room. Emulating
archetypal wine cellars of the region, the
vault of the winery rests on a grid of arched
beams. Acting as a mirror of this shape, an
undulant roof serves as an amphitheater
for cultural events open to both locals and
visitors, merging the winery into the ground –
and the culture – on which it rests.
CHYBIK + KRISTOF’s project finds its roots
in the legacy of the Lahofer Winery – one
grounded in a storied cultural heritage
and a profound respect for the natural
environment. Responding to Moravia’s
topography and architectural tradition,
rooted in the culture of wine, the architects
conceive a design in symbiosis with the
region’s landscape. Reminiscent of the
region’s characteristic arched wine cellars,
a colonnade of vaulted beams frames
the interior space into its storied curve.
On its exterior side, draping the winery, an
undulant roof acts as an inclined open-air
amphitheater and cultural venue. Lightening
the volume of the building as it rests on the
fertile soil, below lie three separate spaces
– each attributed with a distinct function,
they share a constant concern for the
adjoining nature.
An open space emerging from the
rhythmic vines, the amphitheater invests
the boundless roof, overlooking a horizon
nourished by its history. Expanding on the
Lahofer Winery’s function from a production
site into a witness to the local culture, it acts
as a community space dedicated to cultural
events, including local grape harvest
celebrations and theater performances – a
hub for its lasting community to connect
with visitors of the region and wide-ranging
wine connoisseurs.
www.chybik-kristof.com
Photography by Alex Shoots Buildings.
50 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 51
Lahofer Winery By CHYBIK + KRISTOF
PROJECT TEAMStructural engineer: Hladík a Chalivopulos s.r.o.
Plumbing: SANIproject, s.r.o.Heating, cooling (building): CM projekt, s r.o.
Heating, cooling (technological): FaBa engineering, s.r.o.Ventilation: Ing. Marek Nos
Electrical installations: ELSPACE s.r.o. + Alexa-projekce s.r.o., projekce sdělovacích rozvodů
Building Management System: Ing. Zdeněk TulisTraffic engineer: Rostislav Beneš
Energy Performance Certificate: SUCHÁNEK s.r.o.Roof safety: Mojmír Klas, s.r.o.
The Lahofer Winery fuses the region’s longstanding wine tradition
with a contemporary design
Above: The vault of the winery rests on a grid of arched beamsBelow: Each reinforced concrete arch is individually designed to fit a specific angle of the ceiling
Industry Article
Thankfully the days where Architects
and Interior Designers were
believed to have a divisive, cat v dog
relationship has now well and truly
passed. It is now widely recognised
that there are several mutual benefits
to a project, the client and the design
team when Architects and Interior
Designers collaborate.
This is underscored by the intimate
partnership between the RIBA & BIID
(British Institute of Interior Designers).
Both are world recognised professional
bodies, who together have agreed
best working practices to streamline
relationships and processes.
As an BIID Registered Interior Designer ®
with 20+ years’ experience, and a bed rock
of skill sets from an engineering-based
Design BSc Hons degree, I have always
approached projects with the mindset and
planning of an engineer. Calling myself
an ‘Interior Engineer’ would be a more
accurate term. I relish projects where I
am part of a wider design team; not least
because I purposely keep Pascoe Interiors
Ltd small so that I am personally involved
in every project and can run an efficient
company to keep my fees competitive; but
also because projects that have a wider
base of skills can only deliver better results
for longevity, sustainability and design.
The best projects I’ve worked on have a
full design team – consisting of Architect,
Interior Designer, Contractor, Structural
Engineer, M&E / Smart Home consultant,
Project Manager & Quantity Surveyor.
Granted employing such a skilled design
team comes at a high cost to a project, so
it is only projects of a certain size where
such an investment in skills is justified
to offset the mistakes and pitfalls that
could blight the time line and budget
if professional foresight wasn’t in place
to prevent such things happening in
the first place. Slightly smaller projects
might simply have an Architect, Interior
Designer and Contractor. The size of the
team indicates to the Design team the
scale of the project; the Clients viewpoint
in investing in professional skills and how
efficiently the project is likely to be run.
Different Design Team experts bring
different skills to a project. While of course
there are many grey areas and overlaps, in
simple terms you could view an Architects
role as dealing with fixed assets that would
be covered under Buildings Insurance; and
an Interior Designers role as dealing with
loose assets that would be covered under
Contents Insurance. The overlaps between
52 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
COLLABORATIONIS KEY
Clare Pascoe, Director Pascoe Interiors Ltd, discusses the relationship between Interior Designers and Architects, and why collaboration leads to winning results.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 53
the skill sets should not be seen by the
Client as points where they are charged
twice for the same service(s); instead it
is vital to have an overlap to seamlessly
blend the Architects’ & Interior Designers’
role – without an overlap, you would have a
gap where some things could get missed.
Both Architects and Interior Designers
will consider the interior and exterior of
a property and both will focus on the
ergonomics and anthropometrics of a
space, but I think it’s fair to say we typically
approach projects from different angles
– with Architects, the interior is often led
by the exterior; while Interior Designers
will – as their name suggests – design
the interior first. By approaching a project
from different angles, we can brainstorm
together to consider the redesign of a
property from a fully rounded viewpoint.
Collectively we will consider elements
the other won’t have broached yet. By
giving priority to decisions in different
orders we consider more elements of
the project at earlier design and planning
stages, delivering our Client a more
informed design, that leaves less room
for unforeseen complications during the
construction phase.
Let’s take the design of a kitchen
extension for example, as this offers a
perfect microcosm of a full house project,
to give an example of this in practice. An
architect would, quite rightly, look at how
to extend the property aesthetically, to
the Client brief and in line with local area
constraints (planning, conservation, listed
etc); while the Interior Designer will plan
the layout of the space to consider the
lifestyle, comfortable movement within
the space by the occupants alongside
practical and aesthetic considerations.
Both points of view will influence the other.
Where I have worked on projects where
the extension has been designed without
detailed analysis of the interior, I have often
found that the kitchen design needs to be
compromised because the extension falls
slightly short of allowing a fully symmetrical
run of units, or we have to compromise
the depth of a storage unit because waste
pipes have been boxed in internally to save
them being an unsightly addition to the
exterior. Had I been involved earlier in the
project this would have been highlighted
to the Client earlier when they had more
opportunity to consider, and possibly
choose, a different solution.
From the Interior Designers point of view;
a project that has an architect at the helm
tells us straight away that the Client values
professional opinion and that they are
Industry Article
Clare has successfully collaborated with Lukasz Gruszczynski of Modulor Studio
Vernon House, a 64 studio apartment building, that Pascoe Interiors was commissioned to re-design
Originally tired and dated nurses accommodation, Vernon House was redesigned and refurbished into high specification rental studio apartments
54 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Industry Article
prepared to invest in the design, planning
and management of their project to get
the best results. It also indicates that the
Client is a busy professional themself who
will entrust their team to run the project
for them. Knowing this allows us to deliver
a far more accurate Service Schedule fee
structure, as we can more confidently rely
on quick decision making smoothing the
process.
Clients shouldn’t be put off by the cost
of a fully diverse design team. While
surrounding themselves with a multifaceted
design team comes at a cost, the true
value of which can be more than easily
justified when you consider the wealth of
experience leading the project without
undue distraction and stress, avoiding costly
mistakes then can and do happen without
professional involvement, while allowing
the Client to focus on their own professional
commitments so they themselves can
function to their optimum value.
From the Architects point of view, having
an interior designer on board with a similar
design style, ethos and work ethic makes
for a very complimentary relationship. The
Architect can focus on their role, without
having to spend time considering the
minutiae of interior details and finishes.
The Interior Designer will steer the Client
through the material choices, provide
lighting plans, calculate quantities, provide
Exterior shot of a Vernon House studio apartment
technical specifications for the tender
pack and construction, then place orders
and oversee the installation of the interior
FF&E (fixtures, furniture & equipment – an
interior design term that encompasses all
that a project needs). The Architect can
quickly divert interior related queries to
the Designer, avoiding time consuming
distraction. Likewise, the Interior Designer
doesn’t have to invest time on the tender
and contractor selection, planning or
building control. Even with a degree
of separation, both teams are there too
support each other’s roles. Together we
have each other’s & the clients back, too
run the best project that will ultimately
exceed our client’s expectations.
In short, when Interior Designers &
Architects collaborate a project is more
efficient, encounters fewer setbacks and
complications that delivers better results with
less stress for the client. It’s a win win win.
www.pascoeinteriors.com
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 55
Industry News
REYNAERS REDUCES NOISE INGRESS WITH NEW PRODUCTSupplier of aluminium solutions, Reynaers, has launched MasterLine 8 SoftTone®; a parallel opening window which supports natural cooling and ventilation in urban environments, while innovatively filtering out noise to deliver comfortable spaces for occupants.By 2050, 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in bustling urban areas, increasing the need for living and working spaces which are both sustainable and comfortable. As outlined in the Acoustic, Ventilation and Overheating (AVO) Guide, achieving these desired results is reliant on innovative architectural solutions which aid the management of noise.With the inclusion of SoftTone, indoor sound levels can be reduced by 9 decibels when compared to a traditional open window, decreasing external noise to create more comfortable spaces. To achieve this, the window uses a carefully designed interface between the frame and sash, which includes sound absorption foam, together with a parallel opening system. This reduces noise while improving natural ventilation, with 0.6 square metres of ventilation gap provided in a typical 2m x 1m window.In practice, the system allows occupants to open their windows for effective natural ventilation, without having to suffer excessive noise from the urban environment. This enhances comfort while reducing reliance on mechanical ventilation, improving sustainability.As a parallel opening window, MasterLine 8 SoftTone® delivers a larger open area per m2 than traditional opening windows. Coupled with SoftTone, acoustic performance is significantly increased, providing an architectural solution fit for the future.
www.reynaers.co.uk
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CARPET SOLUTIONRawson Carpet Solutions has developed a new product for interior textiles. Recover is made from 80% recycled material and is a fully recyclable carpet tile with no additives, no Latex and made from one single polymer, so that nothing needs to go to landfill. Utilising the highest grade Polyester PET, and advanced machinery, a soft luxurious surfaced product in a selection of aesthetic pleasing bold colours has been created. This, backed with a specially designed single polymer robust backing for the tile, provides a product to the market with proven recyclability back
into PET, offering a multitude of further life uses. Recover is available in sheet and tile and there is a large stock holding of standard colours with fast delivery to suit requirements. However as a long-standing manufacturer, bespoke colours and designs are always an option, providing opportunities for our clients to ensure that they are able to meet with company colours of specific colour schemes.
www.RawsonCarpetsolutions.co.uk 01924 382 860 [email protected]
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 57
Industry News
DECORATIVE PANELS GROUP CLEANS UP WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTSPartnering with Addmaster (UK), which pioneered the use of antimicrobial additives with its Biomaster product range, Decorative Panels Group can offer products with surfaces that are able to inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds by up to 99.99%! What is more, Decorative Panels Group have offered antimicrobial products within their portfolio for over 8 years! But now, as can be imagined, the interest for these has accelerated rapidly. As a trade laminator of sheet materials for the furniture and allied industries, dp-lamination offer an extensive range of surface designs laminated to many different substrates. By incorporating Biomaster technology, dp-lamination can offer the highest possible protection for the lifetime of the product incorporating this technology laminated to many different substrates. These substrates can then be converted either in house at sister companies dp-furniture and dp-components or externally to fellow manufacturers in many different market areas. The continued passion dp-lamination feel for the industry and their company, lead the way in the production of laminated sheet materials with surface finishes ranging from woodgrain paper foil veneers through to high-gloss and matt acrylics, under the brands dp-décor, dp-specialist and ever-expanding unique surface solutions of dp-limitless.
www.decorativepanels.co.uk
STORACALL TELEACOUSTICS WALL-MOUNTED PHONE HOODSOpen plan offices are ubiquitous in workplaces today. While that has many benefits, there are also downsides, especially when it comes to privacy.
By focusing mobile phone use to an acoustic hood, users can speak with increased privacy, quiet and reduced distraction from surrounding noisy environments whilst at the same time not disturbing and irritating other people with the conversation. Storacall TeleAcoustics offers a
range of T700 wall mounted phone hoods covered with premium New Zealand acoustic fabric with other high-end fabric finishes available. The colour palette is an exciting mix of solids and mélanges across the full colour spectrum that blend in with the interior design of hotels, restaurants, offices, cafeteria and other public spaces.
Retail prices start from £328.
[email protected] www.teleacoustics.co.uk
58 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Materials
EXTRAORDINARY BRICKS, FOR EXTRAORDINARY BUILDSUK Brick presents statement bricks. On paper they stand at just 38mm tall, and they are double the length of a standard brick. They tick the ‘long format’ box. But they are not just long format bricks. Whilst they tick every technical box, you have to lift them off the paper to appreciate their beauty. There you’ll find an unparalleled feel, and a surface texture that tells an honest story. They are so special, they have a unique name to match. Ultima Linear. It means ‘exceptional form, and a design led feel that calls for extra special projects.’So, it’s true. UK Brick waterstruck bricks are not right for every build, but they make a statement in luxury housing, city apartments, office buildings, museums and University buildings. Ultima Linear bricks add serious personality to any residential or commercial project, but remember, they are not for the mundane. Architects and housebuilders love them, and our cities need them. So if you’re working on an exciting project, UK Bricks would love to hear about it.
www.uk-brick.com
BUILDING IN WET WEATHERWhen Horsham-based construction, renovation and oak framing company Cartwood UK was ordering materials for its latest project, merchant D W Nye Ltd of Kingsfold, Horsham suggested trying Norbord’s CaberShieldPlus. It is the first time that Cartwood had used a fully waterproof system like CaberShieldPlus on their developments. “We were impressed with the versatility of the product and how easy it is to use,” said Peter Woodley, co-owner of Cartwood, “It handles well and there are no fussy storage requirements for the sheets pre-fitting. It cut nicely with a circular saw and fitted together without issue using CaberFix D4 adhesive”. Cartwood used CaberShieldPlus over the entire first floor level at a property development in West Sussex, and, as is all too common in the UK, the construction company was challenged with the usual rainstorms. “We had experienced extreme rainfall over the whole floor but we were really pleased it has dried without any signs of failure”, commented Peter. CaberShieldPlus is a P5 flooring protected on both sides with a tough, waterproof coating. It is BBA approved for 60 days’ exposure to the weather when used with CaberFix D4 adhesive.
01786 812 921 | www.norbord.co.uk | www.cartwood.uk
NEW PACKAGING MACHINE Extruded polystyrene insulation manufacturer Ravago Building Solutions have introduced a new stretch wrapping packaging machine, installed for their Ravatherm XPS X product range at the plant in Kings Lynn. This new packaging equipment offers many benefits including: a stretched process that results in less plastic being used making the new Ravatherm XPS X branded packaging a more sustainable option, significant energy saving benefits to support green statistics, and protecting the product from ultra-violet light, water and contamination damage. Customers will soon start to see the new Ravatherm XPS X branding on all products being delivered to both customer premises and direct to site.
www.ravagobuildingsolutions.co.uk | LinkedIn @RavagoBuildingSolutionsUK | Twitter @RInsulationUK
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 59
Legal Update
BUILDING SAFETYGeorgia Plant, Construction and Engineering team specialist,
Irwin Mitchell LLP, provides an overview of the Building Safety bill.
The independent review by Dame Judith Hackitt following the Grenfell Tower fire concluded that building and fire safety regulations needed major reform including the appointment of a building safety regulator. The Government’s Building Safety Bill (with the Fire Safety Bill) seeks to make “the biggest change to our building safety regime for 40 years.”
The Bill imposes a new regime for building control from the design and construction phase to eventual occupation which will apply to all new buildings, with an enhanced regime for those defined as “higher-risk.” The Secretary of State will have the power to define which buildings are higher-risk but it is currently proposed that all multi-occupied residential buildings with a top storey over 18 metres from ground level, or 6 storeys above ground level should fall into this category. The first major change is the introduction of a Building Safety Regulator within the Health & Safety Executive who will be responsible for facilitating the implementation of the regime for higher-risk buildings, will be the building control authority for higher-risk buildings and will be responsible for enforcement. Time limits for enforcement will be significantly extended, from two years to ten years. Failure to comply with new compliance or stop notices will be a criminal offence punishable by a fine and up to two years imprisonment. Where the offence is committed by a corporate body with the ‘consent or connivance’ of a director or manager, that person will become personally liable. The Regulator will have the power to impose competence requirements on Principal Designers and Contractors with a duty on the person appointing them to ensure requirements are met. The Bill also introduces a power for the Architects Registration Board to monitor
the competence of architects. Those not meeting the competency standards can be publicly identified on the register and ultimately removed from the register. The Bill provides for a new dutyholder regime during the lifecycle of a higher-risk building including those appointed under the CDM regime. This will be implemented by secondary legislation. There will be a three gateway system for planning approvals, to be implemented by secondary legislation: • Gateway One uses the existing planning process before dutyholders are required to be in place and its requirements will be fulfilled by those applying for planning permission for developments containing a higher-risk building. The proposal will need to demonstrate that fire safety requirements which impact on planning have been considered and incorporated into the proposals. • Gateway Two involves the full design intent being provided. This gateway is a ‘hard stop’ and construction cannot begin until the Regulator is satisfied that the proposed design meets the requirements of the building regulations and does not contain any unrealistic safety management expectations. • Gateway Three is the final stage where construction work has finished. At this point all prescribed documents and information relating to the finished, as-built, building. Once the regulator is satisfied, a completion certificate will be issued.. Although published in July 2020, the Bill has not yet come into force and it is possible that changes will be made to the draft. Architects should monitor any changes to ensure that they are able to comply with the requirements once they come into force.
www.irwinmitchell.com
GEORGIA PLANTGeorgia Plant is in the specialist Construction and Engineering team at law firm Irwin Mitchell LLP. She has been involved in advising on construction contracts, disputes and settlements.
60 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Products
CREATE BEAUTIFUL FLOORING WITH OSMOPolyx-Oil is a premium wood finish keeping wooden surfaces in top condition. Ideal for solid or engineered wood flooring, it is a high quality, water-repellent and tread-resistant wood finish based on natural ingredients. Offering all the professional features of a traditional oil-based finish, Polyx-Oil allows the natural texture of the wood to still be apparent. Polyx-Oil’s natural components penetrate deeply into the wood to create a micro-porous finish. This allows the wood to breathe naturally. After treatment, the wood is nourished from within and retains its elasticity. It becomes water repellent, stain resistant and more hard-wearing.
www.osmouk.com | 01296 481220
BESPOKE WINE RACKSA & W Moore Wine Racks have been manufacturing wine racks in the UK since 1977. It is a family-run business, providing a comprehensive range of high quality wine racks and wine cabinet storage solutions. A & W Moore has built its reputation on building bespoke wine racks using only the finest materials, to not only provide bespoke storage solutions that are tailor-made, but also to ensure that no matter the wood or metal, the wine storage solution will preserve wine or champagne for generations. A & W Moore’s reputation for quality products at affordable prices, combined with great personal service, means that they now have loyal clients from every corner of the globe, as well as across the United Kingdom. Choose from our large collection of solid oak wine racks, solid pine wine racks, traditional wood & steel wine racks or all metal wine racks to find the perfect fit.
0115 9441434 | [email protected] | wineracks.co.uk I: @awmwineracks P:AWMWineRacksUK
ARC
HIT
ECT
UR
E M
AGA
ZIN
E D
IREC
TO
RYTo
bo
ok
you
r sp
ace
co
nta
ct
Ho
lly o
n 0
773
6 9
45 6
89
or
em
ail
ho
lly.d
en
nis
@m
ed
iao
ne
.co
.uk
Architectural features Doors & Windows
Veneers
DRUGASAR LTDDeans Road, SwintonManchester M27 0JHTel: 0161 793 8700 Fax: 0161 727 8057 Email: [email protected] Web: www.drufire.com
DRU produces gas fires and wood stoves that combine contemporary design with the latest fireplace technology. They are available from specialist fireplace retailers throughout the UK and Europe. DRU fires and stoves have been specified by some of the UK’s most prestigious architects and designers, and DRU is an accredited RIBA CPD provider.
Fires & Fireplaces
SCHÖCK LTD Staniford House, 4 Wedgwood Rd, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 4UL Tel: 0845 241 3390 Email: [email protected] Web: www.schoeck.co.uk The Schöck Isokorb range of thermal break modules controls thermal bridging and maintains minimum surface temperature obligations for structural connections involving balconies and other cantilever construction elements. The range is unique in being able to offer solutions between concrete-toconcrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel. All products are BBA approved and LABC registered, with thermal performance independently verified by the Oxford Brookes University and the Passivhaus Institute.
UK VENEERING LIMITEDUnit 6a, Harding Way, Somersham Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 3WRTel: 01480 461188 Email: [email protected] Web: www.veneering.com
We can produce complete panels to order including cutting, shaping and lipping or we can veneer our customers own panels. Whatever your veneering need we can help, from grain matched panel sets and radial matched panels to laser cut fretwork and veneer backed flexi layons.
FORMICA GROUPCoast Road, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 8RETel: +44 191 622 0106 Email: [email protected] Web: www.formica.com
Formica Group is a leading globalmanufacturer of innovative surfacingproducts for commercial and residential applications. Formica® laminate is the ‘original’, with over 100 years of innovationand manufacturing experience. Working closely with architects, designers and specifiers, the company is able to offer products that respond to market needs andcomplement current design trends.
SIMONSWERK UK LTD Tel: 0121 522 2848 Email: [email protected] Web: www.simonswerk.co.uk
SIMONSWERK manufacture high quality, design led, maintenance free brass, stainless steel & aluminium door hinges allowing designers to create new interior concepts. Range includeTECTUS- a completely concealed, award winning high performance 3D adjustable hinge with 300kg door weights and fire rated options and TRITECH -a solid brass hinge with concealed bearings and 160kg weight capacity.
CATALANOTel: 0208 685 6815 www.catalano.co.uk [email protected]
Catalano, an Italian sanitaryware brand based near Rome, was founded in 1967 in Civita Castellana by a team of expert ceramic technicians. Celebrating 50 years in production, Catalano is a market leader in manufacturing and exporting ceramics, selling its ranges in over 100 countries.
Bathrooms smart home technology
Flooring
Smart Home Technology Veneers
Flooring
ARC
HIT
ECT
UR
E M
AGA
ZIN
E D
IREC
TO
RYTo
bo
ok
you
r sp
ace
co
nta
ct
Ho
lly o
n 0
773
6 9
45 6
89
or
em
ail
ho
lly.d
en
nis
@m
ed
iao
ne
.co
.uk
Architectural features Doors & Windows
Veneers
DRUGASAR LTDDeans Road, SwintonManchester M27 0JHTel: 0161 793 8700 Fax: 0161 727 8057 Email: [email protected] Web: www.drufire.com
DRU produces gas fires and wood stoves that combine contemporary design with the latest fireplace technology. They are available from specialist fireplace retailers throughout the UK and Europe. DRU fires and stoves have been specified by some of the UK’s most prestigious architects and designers, and DRU is an accredited RIBA CPD provider.
Fires & Fireplaces
SCHÖCK LTD Staniford House, 4 Wedgwood Rd, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 4UL Tel: 0845 241 3390 Email: [email protected] Web: www.schoeck.co.uk The Schöck Isokorb range of thermal break modules controls thermal bridging and maintains minimum surface temperature obligations for structural connections involving balconies and other cantilever construction elements. The range is unique in being able to offer solutions between concrete-toconcrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel. All products are BBA approved and LABC registered, with thermal performance independently verified by the Oxford Brookes University and the Passivhaus Institute.
UK VENEERING LIMITEDUnit 6a, Harding Way, Somersham Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 3WRTel: 01480 461188 Email: [email protected] Web: www.veneering.com
We can produce complete panels to order including cutting, shaping and lipping or we can veneer our customers own panels. Whatever your veneering need we can help, from grain matched panel sets and radial matched panels to laser cut fretwork and veneer backed flexi layons.
FORMICA GROUPCoast Road, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 8RETel: +44 191 622 0106 Email: [email protected] Web: www.formica.com
Formica Group is a leading globalmanufacturer of innovative surfacingproducts for commercial and residential applications. Formica® laminate is the ‘original’, with over 100 years of innovationand manufacturing experience. Working closely with architects, designers and specifiers, the company is able to offer products that respond to market needs andcomplement current design trends.
SIMONSWERK UK LTD Tel: 0121 522 2848 Email: [email protected] Web: www.simonswerk.co.uk
SIMONSWERK manufacture high quality, design led, maintenance free brass, stainless steel & aluminium door hinges allowing designers to create new interior concepts. Range includeTECTUS- a completely concealed, award winning high performance 3D adjustable hinge with 300kg door weights and fire rated options and TRITECH -a solid brass hinge with concealed bearings and 160kg weight capacity.
CATALANOTel: 0208 685 6815 www.catalano.co.uk [email protected]
Catalano, an Italian sanitaryware brand based near Rome, was founded in 1967 in Civita Castellana by a team of expert ceramic technicians. Celebrating 50 years in production, Catalano is a market leader in manufacturing and exporting ceramics, selling its ranges in over 100 countries.
Bathrooms smart home technology
Flooring
Architectural Features Storage
THE T
OP SE
LECT
ED SU
PPLIE
RSO
ur
ult
imat
e g
uid
e to
th
e b
est
su
pp
liers
an
d b
ran
ds
To b
e c
on
sid
ere
d f
or
a sp
ace
co
ntac
t H
olly
on
077
36 9
456
89
or
em
ail h
olly
.de
nn
is@
me
dia
on
e.c
o.u
k
To see your company
advertsied herecontact
Holly Dennis
07736 945689holly.dennis@
mediaone.co.uk
62 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT INSPIRATIONAL DESIGNReynaers Aluminium. Created with care.
Discover more inspiration
at www.reynaers.co.uk
You want your designs to stand out. To inspire, protect
and exceed expectations. We understand this, which is
why Reynaers is a high-quality partner for your building
facade. With 50 years of expertise, we’ve developed
solutions which enhance aesthetics and energy
performance, together with support which enhances
projects. We take time and care to get it right.
Because that’s what you care about too.
BY
Reynaers 5957 Created With Care Press Ad 210 x 297.indd 1 17/11/2020 15:05
THE LAST WORD
ZERO MISCONCEPTIONS Adam Strudwick, Principal, Perkins & Will, delves into why interior design is set for its own radical makeover.
Historically, interior design focused on creating beautiful, fit-for-purpose spaces. How this was achieved, and what materials were used, were more of a means to an end.
This is now changing, largely thanks to businesses putting sustainability at the top of the agenda to respond to the global climate crisis, and the need to adopt sustainable practices to meet government targets. Interior design needs to adapt to this new environment as although architects are already making progress with designing net-zero new builds, the interior fit-out industry has not kept pace. According to data from the Crown Estate, interior fit-out is responsible for 40 percent of energy in a building, while over 300 tonnes of fit out goes into landfill every day. These stark figures show just how much carbon and material is used in creating and replacing workplaces; a problem exacerbated by increasingly shorter lease lengths in the commercial office sector.Frankly, it is our responsibility as designers to consider the environmental impact of our decisions. But interior design can - and must - successfully marry this need for sustainability while still delivering aesthetically pleasing interiors. While we may not be able to exactly replicate the interiors we have traditionally labelled as aesthetically pleasing, we can redefine what a beautiful interior is. Aesthetics will always be important, but we should, as an industry, be promoting the idea that design that has a positive impact on our planet, is by its very nature, something to be celebrated. Sustainability can then add an additional layer of beauty. We must evaluate the provenance and effectiveness of the materials we are using, as the broader progress being made with sustainable architecture will be limited without corresponding action from interiors.
Placing sustainability at the centre of the design process is an essential step to helping companies realise their sustainability pledges. Research by JLL shows nearly 25 percent of Fortune 500 companies have set ambitious deadlines to become carbon neutral by 2045, with Microsoft going even further and pledging to be carbon negative by 2030. One example of how sustainable design can enhance the aesthetic value of a space is through the use of greenery as partitioning. Not only does this reduce
material waste, but it also creates unique and thought-provoking environments, which simultaneously support wellbeing (for example, plants act as natural air-filtration systems). Another example is using locally sourced timber joinery. Timber adds to the aesthetic appeal of a building but can also be easily disassembled which maximises flexibility and minimises waste if a space needs to be adapted. There is also a misconception that waste happens during the construction, rather than the design process. However, a report found that 33% of on-site waste is related to project design. This means that reducing waste should not and cannot be the sole responsibility of construction companies, and interior designers have a pivotal role to play. We sit in between investors, developers, and suppliers, meaning we are perfectly positioned to encourage conversations at both a top-down and bottom-up level about how to achieve net-zero design. If everybody involved in the design and construction process is accountable to make micro-changes, we can create long-lasting macro change. As part of our recent net-zero interiors pledge, we are offering as standard, a net-zero embodied carbon or circular design strategy up to RIBA Stage 2. We will ensure that by the end of 2021, half our projects, and by 2025 all our projects, are 100 percent circular. By 2030, all projects will be Net-Zero Embodied Carbon as demonstrated through a Whole Life Carbon Assessment. As we move towards sustainable design being the norm, we must break down traditional misconceptions and redefine our standards of beauty so to be fit for the green and clean age we are now living in.
www.perkinswill.com
“There is also a misconception that waste happens during the construction, rather than the design process”
BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT INSPIRATIONAL DESIGNReynaers Aluminium. Created with care.
Discover more inspiration
at www.reynaers.co.uk
You want your designs to stand out. To inspire, protect
and exceed expectations. We understand this, which is
why Reynaers is a high-quality partner for your building
facade. With 50 years of expertise, we’ve developed
solutions which enhance aesthetics and energy
performance, together with support which enhances
projects. We take time and care to get it right.
Because that’s what you care about too.
BY
Reynaers 5957 Created With Care Press Ad 210 x 297.indd 1 17/11/2020 15:05
www.ravagobuildingsolutions.co.uk
Download our new digital tool: Ravathermapp.com For technical support and to learn more about our products
please contact: [email protected]
ULTRA thin, high performance inverted roof XPS insulation
Market leading product manufactured in King’s Lynn UK
The thinnest XPS insulation for inverted roofs with a design* lambda of 0.028 W/mK for the whole thickness
range from 70 to 205mm
*design lambda includes the correction factor used in U-value calculations for inverted roofs. RAVATHERM XPS X ULTRA has a
declared lambda of 0.027 W/mK as per EN13184, check the product’s DOP for
more details.
