v for vision

TYPICALLY ON a project of this kind, choices about cost and design need to be hammered out to find an economic solution that stays true to the original vision.

Nowhere was this more clearly illustrated than in the installation of the balustrades and breezeway facade, handled by Spectrum Aluminium.

On the one hand, says the company's co-director David Chandler, the architectural brief called for an exterior balustrade facade that would appear seamless from ground floor up. But the costs of this approach were prohibitive.

With only six weeks to go before the company was due on site, Spectrum Aluminium developed a new system that met both criteria. Normally, the balustrades would be constructed as a separate element, and not as part of the facade. The company's brief, however, recommended that the balustrades form an integral part of the facade, an unusual requirement that had not tried before.

"We moulded the balustrades and part of the cladding into one unit in effect, the balustrading became part of the facade itself," says Chandler. "Designing it like this was a challenge, but it worked well and it's a technique we will definitely use on other projects."

Logistics also came into play to meet deadlines. "An experienced project management team and the use of our Clearspan balustrading system ensured that we stayed on track in fact, the whole project finished 10 weeks ahead of schedule," he says.

For details, contact Spectrum Aluminium, phone (07) 849 4123, fax (07) 849 2072. Email: info@spectrum.co.nz. Website: www.spectrum.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas