SURFACE attraction
The cladding system for this building was supplied by Unicast Cladding Systems to create the look required by the project architect
The successful interpretation of the look and finish visualised by the project architects for any project relies on the ability to find exactly the right cladding system. For this project, Unicast Cladding Systems was contracted to supply a glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC) facade. This consisted of two main elements smooth, off-form white cement profiled spandrel panels, and highly textured and coloured columns and fins.
Unicast Cladding Systems director Bryan Romanes says the architects had specified a highly textured surface in a light sandstone colour. "Unicast was able to offer a choice of more than 250 standard patterns from Reckli, a German company specialising in polyurethane rubber moulds and formliners for the concrete industry, for both in-situ and precast applications." The columns at Britomart East were cast from a formliner resembling a rough plaster finish, and the glass fibre reinforced concrete mix included a colour from the Peter Fell coloured oxide range, plus a special aggregate that was introduced to produce a dark fleck throughout the GRC unit. Then, after demoulding, the GRC units were allowed to cure before being given a light sandblast to open up the surface and enhance the textured finish.
"Britomart East is a good example of the variety of finishes and crisp, clean corners that are achievable in GRC using a combination of processes and techniques," says Romanes.
UNICAST CLADDING SYSTEMS
PO Box 2061, Stortford Lodge, Hastings 4153Phone (06) 879 8399 Fax (06) 879 8395www.unicast.co.nz bryan@unicast.co.nz
Story by: Trendsideas
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