Question of reflection
With the right paint formula, even a black-painted building can stay cooler, as this restoration project testifies. The Wharf is painted in Resene Lumbersider Cool Colour
Many architects and designers have thought twice about using the colour black on a building exterior. With its low reflectivity, black has traditionally absorbed a lot of energy from the sun, with a corresponding increase in the heat of the surface. This has contributed to fading, paint deterioration and the transfer of heat to the inside of the building.
The pigment technology in Resene Cool Colour paints changes this process by enabling dark-coloured paint to reflect heat, which means it doesn't get as hot as standard paint in similar colours.
Architect John Wray of Duo Architects specified Resene Lumbersider Cool Colour tinted to Resene Black for the base and centre sides of The Wharf a landmark restoration on the Auckland waterfront.
The building is renowned for its two 12-sided glass-walled pods, which are mounted on concrete bases. Wray says to provide visual cohesion for these pods and the interconnecting spaces, everything is enclosed in one uniform back skin, which makes the glass pods appear as large, glittering jewels. The black skin wraps the entire base of the building with sloping walls that are reminiscent of a ship's hull.
To dress up the base, the black walls feature criss-crossing, black-painted timber battens with each intersecting node highlighted by a gleaming stainless steel button.
As well as providing a highly decorative solution, the Resene Cool Colour minimises the build-up of unwanted heat in the building, reducing cooling costs.
Resene Lumbersider Cool Colour is an Environmental Choice-approved paint that can be used on all sorts of exterior surfaces and applications, from weatherboard cladding and concrete blocks to windowsills.
Resene marketing manager Karen Warman says the Resene Cool Colour technology was first developed for high-gloss roof coatings, but is now available in a range of paints and stains in addition to Resene Lumbersider. These include Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss acrylic, Resene Hi-Glo gloss acrylic, Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel, Resene X-200 waterproofing membrane, Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel, Resene AquaShield mineral effects and Resene Waterborne Woodsman wood stain.
For further information, visit a Resene ColorShop, or phone 0800 Resene (737 363). Or visit the website: www.resene.co.nz.
Story by: Trendsideas
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