Street smart

To contrast the rusted steel forms of the offset floors, the architects specified a glass fibre-reinforced concrete (GRC) facade for the K Road street frontage, together with matching GRC fascias to the canopy over the footpath. This was manufactured and installed by Unicast Cladding Systems, a company specialising in GRC.

Unicast director Bryan Romanes says GRC cladding provides many benefits for architects and developers.

"GRC gives designers almost unlimited freedom to express designs in three dimensions something that is impossible in pre-cast concrete," he says. "GRC's high strength and durability allow for a very thin, 12mm-thick shell, which results in a lightweight cladding system."

Not only can GRC provide great depth to a facade, it can also be made in a variety of colours and finishes. For the Ironbank project, GRC was supplied in white cement, but any colour, from standard grey cement to the full Peter Fell Colour range is available. Speciality and coloured aggregates can also be used, and the GRC can be sand-blasted, acid-washed or even honed after casting to give an even greater variety of texture and colour.

Bryan Romanes says GRC is also a cost-effective option. The lightweight nature of the GRC cladding results in reductions in the structural frame of a building, leading to overall cost savings.

For more details or design advice, contact Unicast Cladding Systems, PO Box 2061, Stortford Lodge, Hastings 4153, phone (06) 879 8399. Email: info@unicast.co.nz. Website: www.unicast.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas