Product category:
Roofing
News Release from: Marley Eternit | Subject: Natura cladding panels
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 July 2004
Eternit Cladding Turns Ugly Duckling
Into Swan
A building once voted the ugliest in the Borders town of Bathgate has been given a facelift with the help of Eternit Building Materials' fibre cement Natura cladding panels.
Two colours of Natura - grey Anthracite and white Ivory - have been used by William Peden Architects in horizontal stripes for the refurbishment of the police station in the town centre of Bathgate, Lothian and Borders WPA's brief was to replace the 1960s asbestos and glass panels within an aluminium patent glazing system that had passed its "Use by" date with a new frontage that met current building standards
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 17 Apr 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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The existing facade was too hot in the summer due to large areas of unshaded window and too cold in the winter due to draughts and the lack of double-glazing.
The former problem was aggravated by substantial traffic noise when the windows were opened to allow ventilation.
Lothian and Borders Police required the 750m2 concrete framed, two-storey, flat-roofed station - and its five cells - to remain operational throughout the two-phase, 10-month build by Morris and Spottiswood Ltd.
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WPA identified sectional timber frame construction as a solution to the requirement for speedy erection on site and minimal disruption to users.
A temporary wind and waterproof inner screen was erected approximately one metre into the building before the existing fa?ade was removed.
The new fa?ade comprises a pre-fabricated 150mm timber frame containing insulation, vapour barrier and breather membrane.
Eternit's lightweight Natura panels, secret fixed onto a hanging rail system of battens, were then fixed on site.
The elevation was designed by WPa to incorporate a new "Police" sign as a full-height divider between the continuous band of windows to the operations room and the paired windows to the offices.
This division is reinforced by the use of the horizontal, Anthracite and Ivory striping to the left-hand or operational half of the fa?ade while the right-hand or office section is clad in large panels of Ivory Natura.
The aluminium framed windows were provided with a projecting sill at head and base to provide additional articulation and visual depth to what is otherwise a flat, two-dimensional facade, and this was further helped by the full-height signage and glazed canopy over the entrance.
In view of the problems caused by the previous glazing, the windows were given careful consideration, the intention being to give as much light within the rooms as possible while reducing glare and heat build-up from the sun on the south-facing facade.
WPA's solution was the use of pairs of square windows set low in the wall at a head height of approximately two metres but with a low sill to allow staff a view out from a seated position.
William Peden said: "The existing building, although otherwise in good condition, was seriously compromised by the frontage both in appearance and performance.
Interestingly, it had been voted the ugliest building in Bathgate by the local primary school kids.
"Eternit's Natura cladding was chosen as it allowed the introduction of colour without resorting to applied surface finishes and also gave a precise and sharp appearance to the facade." He added: "We have used Eternit cladding products in the past but generally as secondary items like soffit panels and closures on supermarket and industrial developments.
This is the first occasion where we have utilised an Eternit product as an important element within the building's external facade with significant positive effect upon the building's appearance. Request a free brochure from Marley Eternit ...
"The client and the building's users are pleased with the project and the new frontage is considered successful in both appearance and improvement to the internal environment.".
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