Colour-changing cladding specified for rail station renovation

Dartford’s new multi-million pound railway station has benefited from the installation of ROCKPANEL Chameleon, a colour-changing cladding.

In the 1970s, Dartford Railway Station’s original structure was replaced with a cramped and uninviting building. National Rail and Southeastern Rail made the decision to replace the existing main building as part of their current work to modernise 150 medium sized stations.

Designed by Robinson Kenning & Gallagher Architects, the new station features a sweeping canopy, which projects over the double height, glazed main entrance.

ROCKPANEL Chameleon cladding was specified to wrap the building. Supplied by Marco Industries and installed by MBM contractors, the boards arrived on site as dry, finished products, eliminating the need for post painting or rendering.

ROCKPANEL Chameleon cladding

Each ROCKPANEL Chameleon board boasts a crystal layer, which is affected by sunlight and different angles of view; this allows the boards to change colour, depending on the time of the day.

The curves of the building, which were also created with ROCKPANEL boards, work to emphasise this effect.

The ROCKPANEL Chameleon range incorporates Purple-Green-Blue and Red-Gold-Purple designs to provide remarkable colour contrasts; ROCKPANEL Chameleon Pink-Brown has been designed for more subtle colour transitions.

The panels are lightweight and durable, with a weather and moisture resistant finish.