PROJECT NEWS - The latest projects from the building industry

Previously a 1980s business park the triangular site in Islington, between Angel and Old Street stations, is being transformed into a vibrant, new, low-energy residential community known as 250 City Road. The proposals include two towers of 42 and 36 floors, with the buildings then stepping down on the south side of the site, respectful of the smaller scale of existing neighbouring residential blocks.

There will be 930 apartments in total, with a green park at the heart of the scheme, along with ground level shops and cafes. Balconies of course feature throughout and an interesting look involves the concrete cantilever balconies, where the slab at the heel is 250mm thick, but then thinning and sloping up towards the tip of the balcony.

There are a number of inner corner balconies incorporated as well. Inevitably thermal bridging at these various connectivity points is a risk and the design detailing required a structural thermal break with total reliability and unquestionable performance.

The best-selling European thermal break solution - The choice was the Schöck Isokorb T type K for concrete-toconcrete, which is probably the best-selling European thermal break solution for this type of application. It is manufactured using stainless steel and HTE (High Thermal Efficiency) modules with steel fibre reinforced UHPC (Ultra High Performance Concrete).

This guarantees the highest quality thermal separation of balconies and floor slabs, due to its low thermal conductivity and integral load bearing capacity. The need to minimise thermal bridging cannot be overstated with any project, but 250 City Road is designed as a high-density, low-energy residential community. So quite apart from local heat loss, which results in more energy being required to maintain the internal temperature of the building, low internal surface temperatures in the area of the thermal bridge can cause serious condensation.

This in turn can lead not only to structural integrity problems with absorbent materials, such as insulation products or plasterboard, but the occurrence of mould growth, which can have serious implications for the occupants in the form of respiratory problems. By incorporating the Schöck Isokorb the thermal outflow is dramatically reduced, there are immediate energy savings and higher internal surface temperatures minimise the risk of condensation.

A fully compliant and dependable product range - Schöck offers the widest range of structural thermal break solutions from any European supplier and in the UK enables projects to meet full compliance with the necessary Building Regulations (and the impending Future Homes Standard criteria where relevant).

In addition to the Isokorb type used on this project, there are also solutions for concrete-to-steel, steel-tosteel, renovation projects – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets. All products have the security of independent BBA Certification, which provides NHBC approval. The temperature factor requirement (fRSI) used to indicate condensation risk, which must be equal to, or greater than 0.75 for residential buildings, is also easily met by incorporating the Isokorb. Contact Schöck on 01865 290 890; or visit the website at www.schoeck.com for full details of the Isokorb range

A prominent town centre historic building in Paisley town centre which had fallen into disrepair is in the process of being restored with the help of Renfrewshire Council’s Townscape Heritage Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme. The property dates back to 1840 and is a grade B-listed stone-faced terraced building at 3 County Place with a slated roof and situated in a prominent location opposite Paisley Gilmour Street train station.

As part of the roof works, protection for the roof will include a new roofing membrane, new leadwork and the re-use of the original slates. All existing slates to the front elevation will be kept and used to maintain the appearance of the surrounding buildings with CUPA H3 slate fitted to the rear. All existing sarking to the roof will be replaced. In selecting a suitable membrane, Architect John Martin explains, “I chose Roofshield for the roof underlay because it is both air and vapour permeable and requires no additional ventilation to the roof. Roofshield is my preferred roofing membrane. It is strong and robust and meets all of the key criteria.”

The incorporation of Roofshield into a project can lead to savings in both labour and material costs due to no additional VCL being required. The high-performance air permeability of Roofshield means that the roof space will have similar air changes to that of a roof using traditional eaves/ ridge ventilation. The high performance of Roofshield, backed by two BBA Certificates, has been successfully used in preserving and protecting the fabric of a wide range of historic and listed buildings for 25 years. www.proctorgroup.com

A significant new high-rise residential project in the London Borough of Lewisham is being built to provide high quality social housing, with the design of the structure prioritising the use of noncombustible materials: including the choice of A1 rated Magply boards for pattresses within the external walls.

The development at Creekside in Deptford is being built to create a total of 56 one, two and three bedroom apartments, including three specially equipped units on the lower levels of one block for those with mobility issues. Within all of the high specification homes, pattress blocks cut from 18mm sheets of Magply boards are being fitted to the reinforced concrete structure’s infill of heavy gauge steel studs.

The pattresses are being positioned to support kitchen cupboards and bathroom units as well as radiators throughout the eight and 10 storey buildings. Independently certified to offer a range of performance benefits. Magply MOS boards present a fire-safe and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plywood or OSB products which normally only offer a Euroclass D or E rating. Importantly the pull-out strength for 18mm Magply is in the range 3.45-4.00 Kn/m2. The different thicknesses of panel are also widely used as a substrate board for the direct application of proprietary render systems, as well as for flooring and flat or pitched roof build-ups. www.magply.co.uk

Built on brown-field land located on the edge of the main shopping district in Hull and adjacent to Princes Quay, the Bonus Arena – Hull Venue and its associated multi storey car park were opened in August 2018. The £36 million development progresses the legacy of the social and economic impact generated by Hull’s 2017 UK City of Culture status.

The Arena, designed by AFL Architects, is a state-of-the-art music and events complex with a flexible capacity of up to 3,500 people. The facility can provide a venue for concerts or corporate conferences in an 800 seat auditorium.

A 2000m adaptable space can be utilised for sporting events or exhibitions and trade shows. Surrounding the Bonus Arena is a public realm laid with grey stone paving and landscaped by re-form Landscape Architecture Limited with trees, lawns, flowerbeds and permanent stone seating.

An effective surface water drainage system was essential to ensure all weather access to the venue. 140 metres of Hauraton RECYFIX® PRO 100 channels with FIBRETEC® heel-safe gratings were chosen for the job which blended well with the stone paving and would resist damage from applied grit rock salt in freezing weather. The material, PA-GF used to make the FIBRETEC® grating, was specially developed by Hauraton; the tough, UV resistant, fibre reinforced moulding offers high stability and huge strength for its weight. Complying with loading category Class C250 (BSEN 1433) the grating can easily take the weight of commercial delivery vehicles.

The design is a real innovation as its non-corrosive material provides a visually appealing surface finish that retains its colour. The slots are super smooth, elliptical openings with the moulded bars having slightly raised triangular bosses along their outside edges.

As well as providing an elegant appearance, the feature ensures surface water is directed into the slots. The RECYFIX® channel component is made from 100% recycled PP. The PRO 100 model is factory fitted with the FIBRETEC® grating and only weighs 4.6kg, so the unit was easy to handle and quickly installed on site. www.drainage-projects.co.uk

This contemporary cottage, built in a stunning seashore location on the Lyngen peninsula – a protected heritage area well within the Arctic Circle and one of Norway's National Parks – is defined by its respect for nature and restrained material palette of Nordic Green copper clad walls and roofs, seamless glazing and timber.

Snorre Stinessen Architecture’s design for the new Aurora Lodge retreat aims to embrace the stunning panorama across the sea and a close connection with nature, while retaining privacy. A small flat area within the natural landscape was perfectly suited to accommodate this low-intervention building. All vegetation was preserved or re-planted, leaving the original trees virtually untouched.

A small creek has been preserved and now runs under the building. The lodge consists of a main building with central terrace, a separate annexe suite and a sauna across the creek. Stone paved steps set in the ground lead along the creek and amongst the trees, past the annexe to the entrance.

A continuation of the entrance, and just over the creek, lies the central outdoor terrace, positioned between the kitchen/dining room and the living room, below the main roof. The creek continues its flow just beyond the concrete terrace floor with its own distinct contribution to the sounds of nature.

Angular Copper Canopy - Conceptually, the design is based on a natural platform in the landscape providing a continuous floor for the main building, both internally and externally.

This platform is then protected by an angular canopy, forming the eastern wall and roof – clad entirely in Nordic Green copper – providing high indoor ceilings. The copper enclosure contrasts with wide-open views of the surrounding nature – including the northern lights in winter – through extensive, seamless glazing. The same approach is taken with the two outbuildings, also enveloped with Nordic Green copper. Careful detailing and installation have resulted in graceful transformations between copper planes.

In terms of materiality, Snorre Stinessen explained: “Copper was chosen for its durability – particularly close to the sea and with air salinity – but also for its permanence, quality and beauty. The fact that copper is a natural material and, of course, 100% recyclable are for me important factors – and certainly its longevity is often overlooked. The Nordic Green pre-patinated copper colour is intended to blend with the natural surroundings but is also a nod to how we most often see copper in Norway: on historic buildings”.

Natural Copper Minerology - The extensive Nordic Green, Nordic Blue and Nordic Turquoise ranges offer patinated copper surfaces straightaway that would otherwise take many years to develop in the environment. They have properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. Photos: Snorre and August Stinessen 059 ATB

As well as the solid patina colours, ‘Living’ surfaces are available for each, with variable intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material. Copper alloys are growing in popularity as well, including Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass – which can also be supplied pre-weathered. The innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, giving it a rich golden through-colour and making it very stable. It retains its golden colour and simply loses some of its sheen over time, as the oxide layer thickens with exposure to the atmosphere to give a matt finish. A wide choice of Nordic Decor mechanically applied surface treatments is also available for various surfaces and alloys, particularly suited to interior applications.

Other Copper Finishes - The Nordic Copper range also includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown preoxidised copper, which offers lighter or darker colour shades. Snorre Stinessen added: “We are just about to start another new building in the same area as Aurora Lodge, although in somewhat different surroundings. Here, we are still using Aurubis copper – but this time Nordic Brown”.

A growing series of on-line ‘copper stories’ exemplify the best in contemporary architecture and showcase the diversity of surfaces, forms and applications available with Nordic Copper today. For more information visit: www.nordiccopper.com or email: NordicCopper@aurubis.com