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ARCHITECTURE
JANUARY 2021 M A G A Z I N E

COLLABORATION
IN DESIGN
DESIGN LEAD -
BEAUTIFULLY DELIVERED

HOW INTERIOR DESIGNERS

CAN BEST SUPPORT ARCHITECTS

GLASS &
GLAZING
BESPOKE SOLUTIONS AND
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

BUILD BACK GREENER

THE QUESTION TIME EXPERTS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON NET-ZERO
BUILDINGS AND LEADING THE GREEN RECOVERY FROM COVID-19
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 Tavolino by Fettle. Photography
credit: Helen Cathcart. Page 18

ARCHITECTURE M A G A Z I N E

JANUARY
PUBLISHING TEAM
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WELCOME
Tel: 01733 385300

EDITOR
REBEKAH KILLIGREW
07736 945716
rebekah.killigrew@mediaone.co.uk

T
SUB EDITOR & DESIGNER
KELLY GREEN wenty twenty has been a tough
kelly.green@mediaone.co.uk year; there’s no way to ignore that
fact. However we look to the New
PUBLISHER & CEO R J NISBET Year with both excitement and relief,
robert@mediaone.co.uk and for the architectural industry, a
real sense of ownership for the next
ADVERTISING MANAGER
HOLLY DENNIS steps ahead to build back better. As the industry
07736 945689 plays a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, in
holly.dennis@mediaone.co.uk our Question Time feature we ask the experts: can
net-zero buildings lead the green recovery from
CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER Covid-19?
CAROLE TODD The theme of sustainability understandably
01733 385302
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continues to thread it’s way throughout the issue, and comes to a close with
Adam Strudwick, who discusses the details behind the net-zero interiors pledge
ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS recently announced by his employer, design practice Perkins & Will.
+44 (0) 1733 385300 With the interior and architectural worlds so tightly interwoven, interior designer
info@mediaone.co.uk Clare Pascoe takes a closer look at the working relationships between the two
disciplines with an article that focuses on why collaboration is key and how
Email: ac@mediaone.co.uk
Web: www.architecturemagazine.co.uk interior designers can best support architects,
Twitter: twitter.com/Architect_news We shine a spotlight on the themes of glass and glazing; including a spectacular
Instagram: @architecture_mag
case study from the iconic Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, whose vision for
© 2020 Media One communications ltd the Techne Sphere in Leipzig, Germany was realised posthumously, utilising
2020 All Rights Reserved
dynamic window technology from Eyrise.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
Roddy Langmuir of Cullinan Studio is a beacon of light in our main interview
way without written permission from the publisher. feature, where he eloquently discusses his passion for the outdoors,
All views and opinions expressed are not necessarily collaborative working, and his fascination with the relationship between buildings
those of the publisher. All advertising and paid for
entries are strictly subject to our terms and conditions, and landscape.
available online. While putting this issue together, I received an overwhelmingly positive
response from all our contributors and supporters, that it is clear the industry
remains confident and ready for the challenges ahead. Enjoy the issue.

Rebekah Killigrew
Editor
www.mediaone.co.uk rebekah.killigrew@mediaone.co.uk

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 3

 26

42
CONTENTS
6 NEWS 21 P
 ULL UP A CHAIR
January 2021

Langton Stead, Founder and Designer, Contract

7 RIBA NEWS
Furniture by Design, shares the company’s experiences
IN THE PIPELINE
9  of designing bespoke furniture for the leading interior
architects and designers around the globe.

SPOTLIGHT: JAMES LATHAM
11 
James Latham’s new cladding collection combines 23 S
 POLIGHT: QUOOKER
the best in modified wood, timber engineering and Quooker leads the way when it comes to innovative
surface protection in one product. technology and design with their 100 degree boling
QUESTION TIME
12  water tap.
Can net-zero buildings lead the 24 GLASS & GLAZING
green recovery from Covid-19?
26 CASE STUDY: NIEMEYER SPHERE LEIPZIG BY EYRISE
16 SHORTLIST: LIGHTING
29 S
 POTLIGHT: EYRISE
CASE STUDY: TAVOLINO BY FETTLE
18  Eyrise have developed windows powered by liquid

4 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 50
crystal technology that have a positive impact in the
workplace for well-bwing and productivity.
30 S
 POTLIGHT: SHOECK
Shoeck Isokorb delivers for seafront Passive House
Award Winner.
31 MY INSPIRATION: JIM RICHARDS
32 INTERVIEW: RODDY LANGMUIR
36 CASE STUDY: FOREST GLADE BY HESSELBRAND
39 SPOTLIGHT: VICAIMA
Vicaima showcases the timeless elegance of
white doors.
42 CASE STUDY: PAUL MEURICE BY LAMBERT LÉNACK
47 SPOTLIGHT: THE MILLBOARD COMPANY
Changing the face of facades: Millboard launches
ground-breaking cladding collection.
49 SPOTLIGHT: MAPEI UK
12
36
18
With over 80 years’ experience Mapei continue to
research and develop innovative grout collections.
50 CASE STUDY: LAHOFER WINERY BY
CHYBIK + KRISTOF
52 INDUSTRY ARTICLE: COLLABORATION IS KEY
Clare Pascoe, Director Pascoe Interiors Ltd,
discusses the relationship between Interior
Designers and Architects, and why collaboration
leads to winning results.
INDUSTRY NEWS
55 
59 LEGAL UPDATE
Georgia Palnt, Construction and Engineering team
specialist, Irwin Mitchell LLP, provides an overvieew of
the Building Safety Bill.
62 THE LAST WORD
Adam Sturdwick, Principal, Perkins & Will, delves into
why interior design is set for its own radical makeover.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 5
News
PIONEERING
DIGITAL COURSE
Launched in October, the University for the
Creative Arts has created a new ‘Professional
Practice in Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 3)*
Postgraduate Certificate’. UCA’s architecture
team have spent two years devising this
virtual learning format, offering flexibility and
individualised learning for those looking to
complete the final part of their studies in
architecture. The global pandemic has
changed the way we work and learn, and
UCA’s new course shows that architectural
studies can be successfully translated to a
remote learning context.
FERNANDA MARQUES
WINS AWARD
Brazilian architect Fernanda Marques has been
awarded with the title of Architecture Firm of
The Year, Brazil, 2021. The Design & Build Awards
are designed to provide recognition, support
and endorsement to the most high-performing
and successful companies within architecture,
construction, building and interior design.
Fernanda’s professionalism, her extraordinary
ability to shape large volumes, enhance
transparency and integration with nature, have
been awarded internationally.
6 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
AHR ANNOUNCES NEW
MANAGING DIRECTOR
After 38 years with AHR, Martin
Wright, Managing Director of AHR
Architects Ltd, announced that he
would be retiring from the practice
from 30 June 2021. Martin joined
the practice in 1982 and became
Managing Director in 2014,
driving the company strategy,
which included the acquisition
of residential specialist practice,
PCKO in 2016. Martin has decided
that now is the time to handover
the stewardship of the architecture
practice and Anthony Langan has
BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE
World Green Building Council
has launched a series of mini-
documentary style films,
highlighting the impact of
buildings on the environment and
human health and the work of
organisations around the world
to counter this. Produced by
BBC StoryWorks Commercial
Productions, Building A Better
Future explores the profound
impact buildings can have on the
quality of people’s lives and the
crucial role buildings can play in
been voted by the partners into
the position of Managing Director,
and picked up the mantle effective
from 2nd November 2020. Anthony
joined the practice in 1990 and has
been instrumental in developing
AHR’s extensive education
portfolio. Anthony commented;
“I’m looking forward to leading the
architectural practice and building
on Martin’s hard work and I would
like to personally thank Martin for
all he has given and everything he
has achieved at AHR.”
tackling climate change. Through
a diverse set of voices from
across the sustainable buildings
movement, this series showcases
the ways in which organisations
are successfully unlocking the
benefits of sustainable buildings,
and what that means for us all.
The series also explores how we
can accelerate the clean energy
transition, reach our climate goals
and support a green recovery from
the COVID-19 pandemic.
buildingabetterfutureseries.com
Image from BBC StoryWorks
 News

RIBA
The Royal Institute of British Architects

NEWS
(RIBA) is a global professional membership
body that serves its members and society
in order to deliver better buildings and
places, stronger communities and a
sustainable environment.
Follow @RIBA on Twitter for
regular updates

‘GREENER HOMES’ 2021 ROYAL GOLD MEDAL

REPORT Celebrated Ghanaian-British
architect Sir David Adjaye was
projects range from private houses,
exhibitions and furniture design,
A new report released by RIBA has warned announced as the recipient of the through to major cultural buildings
that changes in behaviour brought about by 2021 Royal Gold Medal, the UK’s and city masterplans. From the
the coronavirus pandemic will turbocharge highest honour for architecture, start of his career he has combined
the UK housing emissions crisis without urgent approved personally by Her practice with teaching in schools of
government action. The surge in working from Majesty The Queen. Sir David architecture in the UK and the USA,
home caused by the coronavirus pandemic Adjaye has achieved international including professorships at the
is expected to generate a shift in the balance attention for an exceptional body universities of Harvard, Michigan,
of what contributes to emissions across the of work over 25 years. Drawing Pennsylvania and Princeton. His
economy, with a dramatic increase in the on his cited influences including practice, Adjaye Associates, was
proportion of total emissions that come from “contemporary art, music and founded in 2000 and today has
housing stock. The UK has one of the most science to African art forms and the studios in Accra, London and New
inefficient housing stocks in Europe, and the civic life of cities”, his completed York, with projects across the world.
RIBA’s report, entitled ‘Greener Homes’, urges
the government to make UK homes more
energy efficient by bringing forward a National
Retrofit Strategy. This includes the introduction of
sliding scale of stamp duty, capped at £25,000,
with the most energy efficient homes accruing
significantly less tax than the least. If a tax
rebate was available for a period after purchase,
homeowners would also be encouraged
to undertake their own energy efficiency
improvements such as insulating lofts and walls;
draught proofing doors, windows and floors;
fitting double or triple glazing; and choosing
smarter heating systems and appliances.

RIBA JOURNAL EDITOR TO RETIRE

Hugh Pearman, Editor of The RIBA
Journal, will be retiring at the end
of December 2020. Hugh joined the
journal in September 2006, and is
its longest serving post-war Editor,
responsible for overseeing 170 issues.
Previously architecture and design
critic for The Sunday Times for 30
years (1986–2016), Hugh brought
an authority to the journal and deep
knowledge of buildings, architects
and history as well as a distinct voice.
Under Hugh’s editorship the magazine
became digital first, publishing articles
online daily and in greater numbers
than in print.

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 7

News

SURFACE DESIGN
SHOW AWARDS
Representing some of the best of material
innovation from around the world, the
finalists of the Surface Design Show Awards
have been disclosed and a full list can be
found on their website. The judging panel,
co-chaired by interior designer Nicola
Osborn from Basha-Franklin and engineer
Steve Webb of Webb Yates Engineers,
selected 31 finalists from over 100 entries
that were submitted this year. Reflecting
on the truly international nature of the
Awards, entries that made the list of finalists
include projects from Germany to Costa
Rica and Oman to San Marino. Sustainability
is high on this year’s agenda, with each
entry accompanied by a statement and
calculation for the carbon footprint of the
cladding/materials used. The winners of all
the Awards will be announced on Thursday
11 February 2021.
www.surfacedesignshow.com/
Maggie’s Leeds by Heatherwick Studio
surface-design-awards

NORRA TORNEN WINS AWARD

Norra Tornen, the residential towers
designed by OMA / Reinier de Graaf
and commissioned by Oscar Properties,
was announced the winner of the ninth
edition of the International Highrise Award
(IHA). The IHA is organized by the city of
Frankfurt together with the Deutsches
Architekturmuseum (DAM) and is awarded
every two years to architects and
developers for buildings of minimum 100
meters in height, completed in the last two
years. Norra Tornen was selected from 31
projects from 14 countries, nominated by
the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM).
An international jury consisting of architects,
structural engineers and real estate
specialists, assessed the projects following
criteria such as the overall narrative, the
sculptural qualities, the structural concept,
and the mix of uses. Norra Tornen is the
result of a land allocation competition held
by the City of Stockholm in 2013, won by
Oscar Properties. The project was led by
Reinier de Graaf, with Alex de Jong, Michel
van de Kar and Roza Matveeva.
Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu.

8 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 In The Pipeline

IN THE
PIPELINE
TWIN-PAD LEE VALLEY ICE CENTRE
Plans submitted to Waltham Forest Council
for London’s first ever Olympic-sized twin-
pad ice centre, have received planning
approval, pending second stage approval
from the GLA. Designed by FaulknerBrowns
Architects on behalf of Lee Valley Regional
Park Authority (LVRPA), the new £30 million
venue will replace the existing single-pad
Lee Valley Ice Centre which, after 36 years
of use, is nearing the end of its operational
life and struggling to meet demand. The
facility will include two Olympic size ice
rinks with capacity for 800 spectators, a
gym and exercise studio, a multi-purpose
studio and a café. The current Lee Valley
Ice Centre is one of the most popular ice-
skating venues in the UK accommodating
around 279,000 visits a year from across
London and the wider region. The new
building will double the capacity to 557,000
visits per year and will expand the range
of activities that can be run at the centre
concurrently. This will be to the benefit of
the community, which will also be able to
use the new venue as a base to explore the
surrounding green spaces.

URBAN NATURE
PROJECT
The Natural History Museum has
received planning permission from
the Royal Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea for the Urban Nature Project,
which will transform the museum’s
five-acre gardens to become an urban
nature ‘epicentre’, with the aims of
increasing biodiversity, accessibility
and opportunities for education, and
maximising the extensive grounds.
Architecture practice Feilden Fowles,
working closely with landscape
architects J & L Gibbons, is leading
a multidisciplinary design team
that includes Gitta Gschwendtner,
engineersHRW and Max Fordham.
The team will reimagine the land
surrounding the museum, creating
gardens as immersive learning
experiences and designing new
facilities for visitors and back of house.
HWKN’S BUSHWICK GENERATOR
HWKN has announced it’s design for while preserving the distinctive grit that
Bushwick Generator, a new office campus lends the area its character and edge.
situated in Brooklyn that embodies the The result is a new icon for Bushwick that
neighborhood’s energy and tradition of reimagines the neighborhood’s traditional
disruptive entrepreneurship outside and forms and materials in forward-looking
in. With it, Matthias Hollwich and his team geometries, embracing the area’s heritage
at HWKN designed a bold new building while paving the way for its future.
that gives shape to the area’s creative spirit
and relentless drive, offering a hub for the
innovative companies that call Brooklyn
home. Bushwick’s dynamism is rooted in
its history as a manufacturing district, so
Hollwich chose to keep the light-industrial
buildings that existed on site and use them
as part of the new building’s foundation.
To this base, Hollwich adds a sculptural,
gem-like volume in brick that introduces
a vertical focal point in the neighborhood
and encloses 400,000 SF of state-of-
the-art workspace. By maintaining and
building atop the existing urban fabric, The
© www.viewpointstudios.co
Generator injects new life into the context

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 9

News

‘COVID-CONSCIOUS’ PUBLIC SEATING

Award-winning architect Nick Tyrer (RIBA
Rising Star 2019) and garden designer
Victoria Philpott (RHS Gold Medal winner
2019) whose Lacuna bench design won the
prestigious London Festival of Architecture &
Network Rail ‘Sitting Pretty’ Competition have
revealed their prototype design at London’s
Waterloo and London Bridge Stations. The
Lacuna bench, a social distancing seating
solution, offers a new vision for the future of
public architecture in the age of the current
pandemic. It aims to create an island of
calm within the busy station concourse,
whilst providing users with safe, physically
distanced seating. The three seats are
arranged to face away from one another,
with dividing screens providing extra
protection. The organic shapes help to
enclose each user and offer a sense of
privacy. The bench is constructed out of
tactile, layered Duraply plywood - kindly
donated by James Latham and Garnica -
with the colourful dichroic screens that
appear to change colour as they catch
the light, adding a sense of fun. The
integrated planting evokes a wooded
glade, providing an oasis within the frenetic
urban environment. Naturalistic, soft and
textural, in a palette of greens and white, it
instills a sense of calm, and gives a feeling
of protection. The silver birches, which
are beneficial to air quality by absorbing
pollutants, create a statuesque focal point,
under whose canopy the planting - a mix of
evergreen perennials – provides a verdant
pocket woodland.

The award-winning Lacuna

bench design © Luke O’Donovan

ARMSTRONG CEILING SOLUTIONS REBRANDS AS ZENTIA

Following the completion of its acquisition contractors and interiors contractors to Whilst the business will lead with the
by Aurelius Equity Opportunities, Armstrong bring their construction projects to life Zentia brand across all markets, in many
Ceiling Solutions, the leading manufacturer across a range of commercial sectors instances the Armstrong brand will also be
of mineral fibre ceiling systems, has unveiled including health, education and offices, visible as part of a dual-branded strategy to
its new brand name and identity across Zentia’s proven approach helps to support the transition and ensure clarity and
its international markets, including the UK, transform everything from acoustics understanding across the supply chain.
where it will now be known as Zentia. and aesthetics through to comfort and
With a bright and dynamic colour palette, thermal performance. www.zentia.com
the new brand marks a pivotal evolution
for the business. Together with its new
AXIS - four key elements which underpin
the business direction (Value, Solutions
Provider, Responsibility and Continuous
Improvement), Zentia aims to set a higher
standard for its business, customers and
the broader industry.
Offering local support throughout the
supply chain, Zentia boasts a focused
portfolio of market-leading solutions, paired
with unrivalled service and expertise.
Supporting a range of specifiers, main

Pictured left: Zentia CEO Christophe

Lloret Linares; and right: sales and
marketing director Graham Taylor.

10 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021


INNOVATIVE CLADDING James Latham’s new cladding collection combines the best in
modified wood, timber engineering and surface protection in one product.
The Finish Line Collection from James
Latham is the result of an exclusive
partnership with Accoya Timber, timber
engineering company Dresser Mouldings
and Canadian coating specialist Sansin.
The manufacturing process sees the
Accoya wood profiled, surface finished and
coated by the team at Dresser Mouldings.
This specialist process creates a key on
the timber’s face, with tiny variations in
texture allowing Sansin’s ultra-low VOC
coating to penetrate beneath the surface
of the timber. This helps to bind it to the
cells and prevents peeling and cracking.
Accoya is well known for its durability
due to the natural modification process
(acetylation) that delivers performance to
rival hardwoods. With a warranty of up to
50 years for exterior use, the product has
been favoured for cladding for some time.
However, this factory-finished option takes
its performance to the next level.
Richard Mosson, Group Cladding and
Decking Manager at Lathams, said:
“By combining the highest quality
timber, coatings and surface treatment
technologies, the Finish Line cladding
collection is built to last.
“One of the key features of the product
is the way the surface is sanded and
brushed. It allows for much better
penetration of Sansin’s water-borne
system, which effectively waterproofs the
timber in a breathable envelope.
“This results in a factory finished wood
profile that is better protected from the
elements and will not peel and crack -
perfect for a cladding product.”
“We are pleased to partner with Lathams
and Dresser Mouldings to bring this unique
offering to the market. This exclusive
Finish Line Collection unveils a range of
exciting colours for Accoya timber in a
penetrating, breathable formula that lets
the natural grain and beauty of the wood
shine through,” said Sjoerd Bos, Managing
Director, Sansin Corporation.
The Finish Line Collection is exclusive to
Lathams, including the 12 unique colour
options. These range from traditional wood
finishes like the Summer Oak option to
more contemporary finishes such as Slate
Grey, Apricot and Charcoal.
The way that it is manufactured also
creates a bespoke final finish when it
comes to the colour, with brushed or
sanded alternatives available. These
processes, teamed with the matt, thin-film
finish of the coating, allow the distinctive
grain pattern to show through, unlike
heavy finishes that sit on the surface and
mask the texture. The specialist finishing
processes can even create a distinctive
two-tone effect with some colour options.
It is the first product to be developed
following Lathams acquisition of Dresser
Mouldings in late 2019.
Richard added: “We were often working
with Dresser Mouldings on bespoke
projects and felt that there was more
potential if we combined forces. Their
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 11
Spotlight
reputation for innovation and quality made
them a good fit for us.
“It’s great to be able to bring such an
innovative range to market for our first
collaboration, working with other global
experts too. And, because we manage
the entire process, from guidance on
specification, to manufacture, delivery
and after sales service, we can offer
our customers much more support and
flexibility when it comes to their projects.”
The Finish Line Collection also boasts
environmentally friendly credentials. It
uses non-toxic products and processes
within the manufacturing, materials are
sourced from sustainable sources and it is
hardwearing, offering great longevity. And,
at the end of its life, it can be fully recycled.
Finish Line cladding is available as a
standard 145mm width at 15mm thickness
in LT AC01 and LT AC02 profiles. For more
information please visit www.lathamtimber.
co.uk/products/cladding/finish-line-
cladding-collection
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.lathamtimber.co.uk
Question Time
BUILD BACK
GREENER
astudio was appointed for
the design and fit-out of The
University of Chicago Booth’s
new campus building at One
Bartholomew Close, City of
London ©Hufton+Crow
12 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
Can net-zero buildings lead the
green recovery from Covid-19?
Building a green recovery from Covid-19
As discussions intensify with regards to
climate change related policies to ‘build
back better’ from the Covid-19 crisis, we
challenged our experts to delve into what
a post-pandemic green-build world looks
like for them. Can net-zero buildings provide
the rapid impact needed? Can they lead
the charge? Or as Luke Butcher of Butcher
Bayley Architects asks in the following
commentary: “Can we afford to let net-
zero buildings not be a key part of a green
recovery from Covid-19?”

THE EXPERTS
RICHARD HYAMS, ASTUDIO
As the construction industry looks to
rebound in the wake of the pandemic,
it would be easy to irresponsibly shun
sustainability in favour of speed and
results. However, with construction
accounting for 40% of the UK’s total carbon
footprint, it is imperative that the industry
remains committed to reducing our
environmental impact - not just to meet
government targets, but to ensure that our
structures can stand the test of time.
In the wake of Covid-19, more than half of
the population want the UK to commit to
a recovery plan that puts the environment
first. With changing public attitudes
increasingly demanding more sustainable
practices, green technologies present
a major opportunity for construction to
reduce its impact and lead the way in the
UK’s green recovery.
A MODULAR FUTURE
Adopting modern methods of construction
- where elements of a building are
constructed off-site, before they are
transported and pieced together on-site -
is a great place to start.
With less time spent on site, less lorry
traffic, and reduced heavy machinery use,
methods such as modular construction can
produce immediate emissions savings for
the construction sector. Likewise, factory
construction has the additional benefit of
improved quality controls, which reduce
waste by as much as 90%. Coupling these
benefits with the use of sustainable and
low-carbon materials can lead to a drastic
reduction in emissions resulting from our
built environment.
THE POWER OF VIRTUAL REALITY
Architecture is only at the beginning
of its journey into virtual reality, but the
technology is already proving incredibly
useful during the design process.
At astudio, we have built VR into our design
process and discovered vast benefits
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 13
Question Time
RICHARD HYAMS, FOUNDER
AND DIRECTOR, ASTUDIO
Richard is the founder of architectural
practice Astudi; he is passionate about
elegant, pragmatic designs that deliver
innovative solutions for a range of building
challenges, resulting in highly individual
buildings that inspire and delight. Astudio
is committed to exceptional, research-
lead design, working mainly in dense
urban environments.
www.astudio.co.uk
that help us to eliminate unnecessary
waste and emissions from our projects. VR
and parametric models don’t only allow
architects and their clients to visualise
a project with the waste of construction
materials on physical models, but it also
allows us to walk through designs, gather
insight, and optimise elements to create
more energy efficient structures.
“Architecture and
construction can
play a starring role
in Britain’s green
recovery”
SKINNING BUILDINGS TO
REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT
The sector must also consider how to
improve our existing buildings in order to
meet our sustainability targets. Relatively
simple implementations, such as energy
systems designed to turn on and off
depending on footfall, can significantly
reduce a building’s impact.
However, building technology has
advanced immensely in recent years,
making it feasible to construct buildings
that can sustain themselves by producing
their own renewable energy source.
This can be achieved using multi-purpose
green facades, which are likely to see
increased use in the coming years. At
astudio, we have been working with
Brunel University to develop living wall
technology, which allows us to skin
structures with algae compounds that
absorb pollutants in the atmosphere and
provide a sustainable biofuel source that
will reduce the environmental and financial
cost of powering our buildings. Moreover,
using natural substances like the mushroom
fungus mycelium, we can grow these
structures without producing any waste.
By embracing these innovations,
architecture and construction can play a
starring role in Britain’s green recovery.
 Question Time
Spelthorne Leisure Centre in Staines, Surrey, is currently being designed by GT3 with Passivhaus principles, in line with zero carbon objectives
JAMES MILNE, ARCHITECTURAL
TECHNOLOGIST, GT3
James is an architectural technologist with more than a
decade of experience in combining craft and innovation,
with a people and environment focused ethos, to create
award-winning sports and leisure developments. A
member of the Green Party, James combines his passion
for the environment with his comprehensive knowledge
of psychology - in which he holds a masters degree - to
apply environmental psychology to his work. At GT3, he
champions an inclusive, sustainable, and engaging way
of doing business that positions people at the heart of
every project.
www.gt3architects.com
and organisations worldwide. It is not
JAMES MILNE, GT3 surprising that 74% of the UK’s councils
have now declared a climate emergency
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed and that this year, the NHS became the
the climate crisis to the bottom of the world’s first health organisation to commit
agenda, but that doesn’t make the need to becoming carbon net-zero by 2040.
for sustainable design and building any With the government’s ‘build build
less significant or urgent. With construction build’ strategy laid out as the roadmap
one of the few industries that remains to drive the UK out of a potential post-
open, and buildings being central to the COVID recession, we are facing a unique
country’s carbon footprint, there is a unique opportunity to let net-zero lead the way in
opportunity to bring the green agenda to our green recovery.
the forefront of the COVID-19 recovery. Buildings – including our homes,
The climate crisis has become an workplaces, shops, schools, and places of
undeniable concern for both individuals leisure – currently emit 19% of UK carbon
14 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
emissions, with a further 11% derived
from electricity generation and 28% from
land transport. The RIBA journal has
also found that the average lifespan of a
building is 30 years, meaning that schemes
designed now will still exist when the UK
is committed to being a carbon neutral
society by 2050.
However, an important factor to consider
when discussing whether net-zero
buildings can lead a green recovery is
how we can ensure sustainable choices
are made. In the same way that health and
safety laws inform design, it is imperative
to regulate for carbon neutrality and we
hope to see stronger thermal performance
guidelines implemented soon.
Furthermore, there are ways we can
upskill ourselves with specification tools
and technical knowledge to contribute to
designing more environmentally friendly
buildings. The Embodied Carbon in
Construction Calculator (EC3) is an innovative
tool for integrating carbon neutrality into
architectural planning and making net-zero
a fundamental factor in planning. Wider
adoption of Passivhaus design and Declare
labels would also go a long way to increasing
our industry’s eco credentials.
Equally significantly, the consideration
of user experience and behaviour by
 Question Time

LUKE BUTCHER, DIRECTOR AT BUTCHER

BAYLEY ARCHITECTS (BBA)
Luke is a practicing architect and co-chair of the RIBA
East New and Emerging Practice Group. He holds a
Masters in Environmental Building Design from the
University of Pennsylvania, USA, and is the co-author of
“The New Chautauqua Game: Designing the renewable
city and region with e[m]ergy accounting” presented
to the Biennial International Workshop in Advances
in Energy Studies. BBA is a signatory of UK Architects
Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.
www.wearebba.co.uk

questions, they have been known for a

architects during the planning process
is key to achieving successful net-zero
design. Our brief writing service supports
clients in the development of their projects
and helps to put sustainability at the heart
of the development.
We have a responsibility to design in a
way that promotes pro-environmental
behaviour, making sustainable living the
obvious choice. Design needs to extend
from the performance of the building
itself, to the behaviour of its end users,
employing principles from psychology to
inspire and enable green living - be that
via improved pedestrian access and bike
storage, or recycling and electric vehicle
charging points. By making sustainability
a project aim, and applying psychological
principles, it is possible to use design to
alter not only the carbon footprint of a
building but that of its users.
As we face a pivotal moment in the
climate crisis, with precious time left to
make real change, the green recovery
from COVID-19 offers a unique opportunity
to produce meaningful and generation
defining work. With buildings forming
the setting in which we live, work, learn,
and play, we cannot underestimate the
incredible potential of net-zero design to
instigate long-lasting change.
LUKE BUTCHER, DIRECTOR AT BUTCHER BAYLEY
ARCHITECTS (BBA)
We will not know the true fallout of the
Covid-19 pandemic for some time, but it is
already clear that it presents an opportunity
for a global paradigm shift in the relationship
between people and the planet. Given that
the construction and operation of buildings
account for up to 40% of all energy-related
carbon dioxide emissions, to not capitalise on
the potential to re-focus our collective efforts
towards net-zero would represent one of the
greatest missed opportunities for tackling the
climate and biodiversity crisis in generations.
The research and technology to drive this
industry wide transformation already exists
but a catalyst to enact a collective will for
change has been lacking. This is not to say
that achieving net-zero is easy, there is
tremendous effort already going into this
field across the world - but if the obstacles of
societal and industry acceptance are lifted,
then a clear path forward emerges. Through
close collaboration architects, engineers,
contractors and their clients can play a
positive and pro-active role in delivering
buildings and places that have a positive
impact on the world in which we all live.
On this issue, there are no new facts or
Heathfield House in Cambridge
sits in a conservation area
©Matthew Smith
number of years and shouldn’t come as a
surprise to anyone. As an industry we need
to ask ourselves why we haven’t done more
to address it? Perhaps, for example, more
should be done to expand green home
grants that don’t currently go far enough or
incentivise refurbishing buildings rather than
demolishing and rebuilding.
Everyone has their part to play. At BBA,
we believe change begins with every
conversation we have with a new client.
It’s about marrying aspirations with impact.
In our execution, we take the little things
as standard – bee bricks, best-possible
insulation – and we build from there,
covering everything from the building design
to the paintwork.
It’s important to remember that net-zero is
not the only issue we must tackle in our built
environment. Issues of embodied carbon,
biodiversity loss, resource depletion, social
inequality, and circular economies, to name a
few, are needed as part of a ‘green’ recovery
that delivers a more sustainable, equitable
and resilient world for future generations.
Considering all this, I think we should
rephrase the question: “Can we afford to
let net-zero buildings not be a key part of a
green recovery from Covid-19?” To which my
simple answer would be, no.

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 15

 SHORTLIST

Carlisle Chandelier by Arteriors Caged Ceiling Light by Buster +Punch

www.arteriorshome.com www.busterandpunch.com

Lighting
Curated by Rebekah Killigrew

Architectural lines lead to angular

shades and curved bulbs in this lighting
edit, which radiates all the way from an
ultra minimal box design through to an
elliptical statement chandelier.
Lily Hanging Mina Bronze
by Martin Huxford Bronze Fold Ellipse
www.martinhuxford.com by Tigermoth
www.tigermothlighting.com

Brick iii by Workstead White Six Shade Chandelier by Gong

www.workstead.com www.gong.co.uk

16 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 THE FUTURE OF LIGHTING
FUZONE500: the air and surface purifier
that safely disinfects and kills 99.99% of
airborne and surface bacteria and viruses

FUTURE Designs, introduces FUZONE500, a unique lighting

solution that harnesses all the anti-viral and anti-bacterial
elimination qualities of ultraviolet light while harmless to humans
or physical surfaces.
With over 38 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 600,000
in the UK alone, Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the way
we live and interact with our surroundings. Cases are increasing at
an astronomical rate, and finding solutions to control its spread has
become paramount.
FUZONE500 uses the natural properties of Ozone (O3) to eliminate
up to 99.99% of unwanted bacteria and airborne viruses without
direct contact with the treated areas. The ultraviolet lamp
incorporated within the system is obscured from the human eye, so
unlike direct UV-C solutions, FUZONE500 can be operated whilst
premises are fully occupied, to guarantee that spaces are clean 24/7.
This groundbreaking technology comprises of sealed ultraviolet
lamps operating on two different wavelengths to create Photolytic
Oxidation, a combination of Photolysis and Ozonolysis creating ozone
(O3) effectively, generating cold incineration of the molecules ending
in a completely safe oxidation process, free of volatile compounds.
Organic molecules (e.g. virus, bacteria, mould) are broken down
and sterilised by direct exposure to ozone the (O3), furthermore
its omnipotent nature, ensures the elimination of airborne and
surface particles with sanitising properties that extend underneath
tables for example.
The FUZONE500 can be integrated within existing FUTURE Designs
products, including the VANE99 & VANE150 range slot light luminaires,
as well as our EXEMPLAR recessed modular luminaire.
www.futuredesigns.co.uk

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 17

Case Study

Fettle’s design for Tavolino draws

inspiration from Milanese coffee bars
and traditional Florentine Trattorias

18 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021


TAVOLINO
BY FETTLE
Fettle, the L.A and London-based
design studio, has completed work on
the design of Tavolino, a new restaurant
at a prestigious site overlooking
both City Hall and Tower Bridge. The
contemporary, yet casual restaurant
will serve authentic Italian classics
whilst also acting as a standalone bar,
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 19
Tavolino By Fettle
allowing guests, locals and tourists alike
a place to dine and drink in this popular
tourist hotspot.
Drawing inspiration from Milanese coffee
bars and traditional Florentine Trattorias,
Fettle’s design for Tavolino offers a
nostalgic nod to the Italian heritage of
Tavolino By Fettle

the food served with quintessentially

Italian finishes and details. The space also
includes a few key whimsical elements that
add a layer of fun to the space and give it
a quiet confidence that sets it apart from
its competitors. This includes patterned
sheers that wrap around the ground floor
as well as lush planting cascading from the
mezzanine and bar bulkhead.

At the main entrance of the restaurant sits

an elegantly detailed dark timber bar with
aged bronze countertop and antique mirror
back counter. Banquettes upholstered in
oxblood leather wrap around the perimeter
of this space and provide a seating area for
morning coffee or post work cocktails.

Sitting alongside the banquettes are

traditional bentwood dining chairs with
a pink mohair pad and bespoke timber
lounge tables. The bar area extends into
the adjacent full height space, providing
a combined capacity of fifty covers while
also allowing for a bustling night-time
scene in on of London’s most vibrant
areas. Towering above this space hangs
an impressive oversized bespoke pendant
light, which complements the pendants
and wall lights that flow throughout the
rest of the room.

Bespoke banquette seating on both the

ground and mezzanine dining spaces
again wrap around the perimeter of the
room but here are upholstered in an aged
green leather. Both floors also include
feature booth seating and rope-backed
dining chairs upholstered with a tan leather
pad. Fettle has softened the modern
architectural space with a layer of lush
planting behind the banquettes, while
all seats afford superb views of the river
Thames, Tower Bridge and City Hall. A
mottled render finish spans the walls and
ceiling giving the scheme age and depth.
Tavolino also offers great outdoor riverside
dining with the terrace featuring Trattoria
style furniture.

The Italian Art Deco homage continues

into the smaller details, such as the
signage and branding and is epitomised
in a specially commissioned mural that
runs up the staircase, the illuminated neon
sign hanging over the bar and the futurist
inspired branding used within the logo and
the menu.

www.fettle-design.co.uk
Photography by Helen Cathcart

20 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021


PULL UP A CHAIR
Langton Stead, Founder and Designer, Contract Furniture by Design,
shares the company’s experiences of designing bespoke furniture
for the leading interior architects and designers around the globe.
Langton is owner, founder and designer
of Contract Furniture by Design. His
years of experience in the hospitality,
hotel arena and consultancy with interior
design houses is a key feature in building
CFbD reputation within the industry and
resulting in major project wins in the
high-end contract furniture sector.
Collaborating with leading hospitality
brands around the world, the company
designs and manufactures single-source
contract furniture, which is brought
together to create luxurious, award-
winning environments that guests and
customers won’t want to leave. 
As a young
company founded in 2016, the brand’s
achievements over the last three years
have been staggering, with installations
to high-end clients throughout the UK,
Europe and USA. The team is highly driven,
multi-faceted and brought together by
years of experience gained within small,
medium and large organisations and high-
pressure service-orientated environments.
TELL US ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF
CONTRACT FURNITURE BY DESIGN?
We were born out of a necessity
for bespoke in the interiors market.
Working closely with interior designers
and architects, we aim to become the
in-house furniture specialist for that
bespoke project, from initial design to
installation. Strong relationships are built
on a clear understanding of what can be
achieved and help to go beyond client’s
expectations. 

 

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST LARGE SCALE
PROJECT SPECIFICATION?


Soho House, Dumbo, New York – An
incredible project to be part of and as a
manufacturer, to work on some fantastic
bespoke products for both internal
and external use. Awide range of skills
in manufacturing and materials were
used, including handworked cane sofas,
bespoke metal chairs and specialist
marbles. It was a proud moment for the
company and the factory to be part of. 

 

HOW DID YOU COME TO WORK WITH THE
FETTLE TEAM ON TAVOLINO?

 PROJECT BEFORE?
We have been working with the Fettle
team for longtime; the relationship
allows us to push the designs to its limits.
Personally we enjoy the process together.
“We were born
out of a necessity
for bespoke in the
interiors market”
FETTLE DREW INSPIRATION FROM
MILANESE COFFEE BARS AND
TRADITIONAL FLORENTINE TRATTORIAS;
HOW DID YOU REFLECT THIS
INSPIRATION THROUGH THE FURNITURE?
The choice of materials led the way - we
worked with Fettle’s Design Director Andy
Godwin and the client, from choosing the
marble, even down to quarried marble
blocks selected. Regarding the bespoke
chair we really pushed the design; we
went with a traditional naturally sourced
material. Jute is natural weaved rope used
in the back of the chairs; the real beauty of
it comes from the hand weave application
to the frame, its a lost skill, and it was great
introducing the weavers into the process
developing the pattern weave styles. In the
end we married a contemporary look with
an artisan process.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 21
Q&A
HAVE YOU WORKED ON THIS TYPE OF



The interesting and exciting part of this
project was that we had to have an eye
on the future. Tavolino is part of a roll out
plan with many sites penciled in. Products
here had to meet the riggers of a contract
environment, but not feel or look. Once a
proven FFE menu is created it makes the
process of a successful expansion easy for
the client letting them concentrate on their
business.
WHAT WERE YOUR HIGHLIGHT PIECES
FROM TAVOLINO?
The chairs are great, functional, durable
and unique, but for me the tables - the
quality of marble and the wire brushed
timber edge sets a fantastic landscape
across the restaurant.
WHAT IS THE NEXT PROJECT FOR
CONTRACT FURNITURE BY DESIGN?


Next for us is Coppa Club in Cobham
working with Fox and Church; major project
works with the Hoxton Hotel in Barcelona.
We are also excited about working with
Fettle again on a new Private Members
Club - it’s going to be a busy end of year.
01494 451886
contractfurniturebydesign@gmail.com
contractfurniturebydesign.com
 MAAT MUSEUM IN LISBON BY AL_A. PHOTOGRAPH BY FERNANDO GUERRA + SÉRGIO GUERRA
Entry deadline: 8 January 2021
worldarchitecturefestival.com

Lisbon
23-25 June

2021
Award entries and delegate enquires
+44 (0)20 3953 2045
info@worldarchitecturefestival.com
Sponsorship opportunities
Damien St George
+44 (0)20 3953 2789
damien.stgeorge@emap.com

Founder Partner Headline partners

#WAF2021

FORM AND FUNCTION Quooker leads the way when it comes to innovative
technology and design with their 100 degree boiling water tap.
Quooker’s Flex collection offers both
form and function; equipped with a
flexible pull-out hose for hot, cold and
filtered water.
The Flex makes it easy to reach and rinse
the sink or any awkward kitchen objects,
and thanks to its in-built safety stop, the
Flex can never dispense boiling water
when the hose is extended, protecting the
user at all times.
The Flex tap and under-sink tank are made
from Stainless Steel rather than plastic
or copper, ensuring there are no material
pores to harbour dirt. Making it virtually
impossible for bacteria to gain a foothold,
the Quooker Flex goes beyond elegant
design and ease of use, becoming one of
the most hygienic appliances in the kitchen.
With a durable PVD coating, the new Matt
Black finish introduces a modern alternative
to the range, perfectly emphasising Flex’s
contemporary silhouette.
Thanks to the new CUBE accessory,
the Flex also now dispenses chilled and
sparkling water at the touch of a button.
Saving you time and space, with CUBE
the immediacy of super chilled and
filtered water can be enjoyed without
having to wait or, more importantly, waste
water. What’s more, one canister of C02
yields 60 litres of carbonated water,
which significantly reduces the need for
single-use plastic bottles. After use, all
canisters can be returned when empty
and will be re-used.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 23
Spotlight
The average UK household uses a
staggering 360 plastic bottles per year,
resulting in huge volumes of waste
nationwide. With sustainability increasingly
at the forefront of consumer purchase
decisions, it has never been more important
to find creative solutions around the
problem of waste. Determined to find a
solution for carbonated water, dispensing
precisely the amount needed at any given
moment, CUBE ensures responsible and
more sustainable consumption. CUBE can
be attached to any Quooker tap in the range.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.quooker.co.uk
 Glass + Glazing

VISIOSUN PRIVACY GLASS

A new privacy glass featuring parallel lines to create a
reeded effect has been launched by Saint-Gobain Glass.
Ideal for both interior design and external architectural
projects Visiosun provides high levels of privacy whilst
also allowing large amounts of natural light to flood
into a room. Jenni Young, Market Manager - Premium
Residential and Design & Deco at Saint-Gobain Glass
said: “Visiosun features a directional pattern which can be
used in both vertical and horizontal orientation for vast
creative scope. Light refractions on the subtle looking
structure creates an interesting dynamic while flawless
textures and tones capture the industrial flair of loft living.”
Visiosun is ideal for interior design projects such as doors
and partitions, showers and bath screens, display cases,
shelves, tabletops and countertops, as well as external
architecture including canopies, parapets and facades.
Visiosun is easy to process, cut and handle and is
available in a wide range of thicknesses and dimensions.

uk.saint-gobain-building-glass.com/en-gb/visiosun

PLUMSTEAD LIBRARY’S
STORY OF STEEL
Plumstead Library, originally constructed in 1903 and located in the
Royal Borough of Greenwich, has recently undergone a dramatic
renovation project. Having previously been under-used, the building is
now a fully fit for purpose 21st century public library. A significant part of
the project was the full refurbishment of all 33 windows which included
an impressive 124 individual window frames, and Steel Window
Association member ASWS was entrusted with this job. The library is a
Grade II-listed building and so the work required careful consideration,
planning and unparalleled expertise. ASWS removed all windows
for transportation back to their London workshops, where they were
blasted, repaired and decorated before being refixed and reglazed. This
sizeable project involved an impressive 1326 panes of glass, which were
mastic-fronted in order to recreate the original putty sightlines. ASWS’s
work was not complete there as all of the building’s ironmongery was
also extensively refurbished. On top of this, nine more recently replaced
windows were replaced again, to improve quality and remain in keeping
with the building’s original character.

020 3475 8049 | www.steel-window-association.co.uk

SPECIFYING WINDOW SEALANTS

Issues around airtightness and energy efficiency remain top of the agenda for
architects and designers who specify products used in the construction of the
houses and commercial buildings, says ISO Chemie. One approach to improve
energy efficiency is to use self-adhesive foam tapes, which are installed around
the perimeter of the window or doorframe and the surrounding wall, providing
good resistance to driving rain as well as thermal and acoustic insulation and a
robust airtight internal seal as they slowly expand to fill the cavity gap. Sealant
tapes provide a flexible and easy-to-use multi-functional product that is easy to
install in any weather conditions. The tape is applied before installation, ensuring
that the window can easily be installed from inside the building, avoiding the need
to use costly and time-consuming scaffolding and ladder access systems. The
durability, life-long elasticity and UV stability of impregnated foam tapes mean
that once installed, they are effectively maintenance free, with a life expectancy of
25 years plus. Sealant tapes can comply with appropriate standards such BS8213
CoP for window and external door set installations, and meets passive house
performance criteria, specifically where perimeter seals around fenestration and
movement joints in things like brickwork structures perform a vital function.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/

24 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 Glass + Glazing

STEEL WINDOW EXPERTS

Associated Steel Window Services (www.asws.co.uk) is
a family-managed business now into its third generation
and 60th year as a specialist steel window refurbishment
and replacement company. The business started with
a small client base working mainly for large insurance
companies such as Sun Alliance and Legal & General,
originally concentrating on the servicing of steel
windows, general glazing and repairs to fire escapes.
Over the years they have grown considerably, moving
into a more specialised field and developing complete
site packages. Since the third generation of the family
joined the business, ASWS has enjoyed even larger and
more prestigious projects. Part of the company ethos
is the continual support and guidance for clients, which
invariably results in a successful conclusion to projects.
Most recently ASWS are proud to have been involved
in the removal of the historic windows, façade mullions
and spandrels ahead of the major refurbishment of the
landmark Whiteleys shopping centre.

020 8665 5335 | www.asws.co.uk

SMART DOORS FOR

EVERY APPLICATION
The Schüco AD UP (Aluminium Door Universal Platform) door system is a true
all-rounder. It combines the highest quality aesthetics with impressive thermal
performance, outstanding watertightness, PAS 24 security and the ability to integrate
smart building components. As an adaptable system for both residential and
commercial buildings, it provides high performance even in exposed locations. The
AD UP door system offers a range of options for a multitude of applications and is
based on two profile widths: the AD UP 75 (75mm) and the AD UP 90 (90mm). Both
versions integrate seamlessly with the range of Schüco façade, window and sliding
door systems. The AD UP aluminium profile has five chambers, incorporating a
dedicated cable channel to ensure the easy and safe integration of Schüco Smart
Home technology, such as the Fingerprint Easy entry system and keyless access
controlled via a smartphone. The Schüco AD UP Design Edition also features an
illuminated recessed pull-grip.

www.schuco.com

UK’S OLDEST BUSINESS

SCHOOL REJUVANATED
Architectural glazing systems by UK manufacturer Kawneer were specifically
selected for a £18.5 million extension to the UK’s oldest business school for
their ability to meet the building’s design aesthetic and high-performance
requirements. Multiple Kawneer products, including two curtain wall
systems, two door products and three window variations, were used by main
contractor Morgan Sindall Construction for the University House project,
a gateway to the University of Birmingham’s city centre campus. The new
3,000m2 extension features Kawneer’s AA®110 and AA®100 mullion-drained
curtain wall systems with capped and capless mullions as well as AA®100
zone-drained fully-capped curtain wall. The AA®100 system, with 50mm
sightlines, was used in all areas with the exception of two full-height curtain
wall screens which featured on the building’s ‘social space’ characteristic
that utilised the AA®110 system with 65mm sightlines. In addition, Kawneer’s
series 350 and AA®720 HI thermally-superior entrance doors were used
alongside AA®720 HI windows as fixed lights, side-hung open-in inserts and
electrically-operated bottom-hung open-in inserts.

www.kawneer.co.uk

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 25

Case Study

The late Oscar Niemeyer

was tasked with designing
an extension to the factory
canteen in the Techne Sphere
Picture: Margret Hoppe

TECHNE SPHERE
BY OSCAR NIEMEYER
26 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

Celebrated for his modernist, curved
creations, Oscar Niemeyer’s vision for a
white concrete and glazed sphere has
been realised posthumously with Eyrise
dynamic window technology, offering
sun protection while respecting the
purity of his design.
The iconic Brazilian architect was
approached by Ludwig Koehne, owner of
a manufacturing plant in Leipzig, Germany,
in 2011 to build an extension to his factory’s
canteen. Following Niemeyer’s death in
2012, his sketches were further developed
by his assistant Jair Valera and the project
was executed by Leipzig-based Harald
Kern Architects.
Located at the Techne Sphere complex
in the industrial district of Plagwitz, the
sphere measures 12 metres in diameter.
Comprising of an upper and lower
hemisphere that house a restaurant and
bar, the structure is positioned on the
top corner of a nineteenth century listed
building, with views overlooking the city.
Fifty wooden moulds were hand crafted to
construct the framework for the sphere’s
two concrete shells, leaving the challenge
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 27
Techne Sphere By Oscar Niemeyer
of how to provide shade to this complex
spherical glass structure.
Additional elements such as shutters
would have compromised Niemeyer’s
vision as they would darken the interior and
necessitate artificial lighting during the day.
Conventional electrochromic smart
glazing was also ruled out as it was not
possible to create the triangular panels
required with this process. This glass is
also slow to control glare, typically taking
up to 15 minutes to fully transition, and
tends to tint a bluish-brown colour that
is then absorbed by objects in the inside
 Techne Sphere By Oscar Niemeyer

“When the windows are tinted, they look

environment. As the sphere was intended
as a space where food is served, this
would be off-putting.
Using new liquid crystal technology, Eyrise
dynamic windows allowed the geometric
requirements of Niemeyer’s glass sphere
to be kept, while preventing over-heating
and enhancing wellbeing for occupants.
“Niemeyer liked the idea of creating a
building that would benefit working people
and the element of surprise that comes
with seeing such a futuristic structure in
the heart of an industrial space,” said plant
owner Ludwig Koehne. “He was always
open to new developments and would
have approved of the use of innovative
technology to realise his vision.”
The resulting lattice pattern glass facade
comprises 144 individually manufactured
triangular glass modules of assorted sizes
that darken and lighten instantaneously,
and are controlled by a bespoke app.
dark from the outside. This corresponds
well with the black and white contrast
seen in much of Niemeyer’s architecture,”
added Koehne.
The glass remains a transparent neutral
grey colour across the tinting spectrum
when viewed from inside, so natural light
is preserved and the view to the outside is
always retained.
“A fusion of art with technology, the sphere
sets new standards in architecture for
our increasingly digital world,” said Kai
Beckmann, Member of the Board at Merck
and CEO of Merck Performance Materials.
“This space is all about wellbeing,
sustainability and controlling the building’s
energy footprint. Our Eyrise liquid crystal
glass technology makes this possible by
providing invisible shading and preventing
over-heating, all while remaining true to
Niemeyer’s spirit.”
The sphere in Leipzig will count as
Niemeyer’s final work, alongside a project
in southern France. One of the most
respected modern architects, Niemeyer’s
projects include the United Nations
headquarters, Serpentine Gallery in London,
and the masterplan for the city of Brasilia.

Dynamic windows in an extraordinary landmark PROJECT TEAM

An innovative product from science and technology company Merck, Eyrise glass Client: Ludwig Koehne, Owner Kirow-HeiterBlick Techne
uses advanced licrivision liquid crystal technology to produce smart transparent Sphere, Leipzig
windows that can be tinted to provide instant solar shading without compromising on Location: Spinnereistrasse 13, Leipzig, Germany
natural daylight. Building Architect: Oscar Niemeyer
How does it work? Executing Architects: Harald Kern Architects and Jair
The liquid crystal mixture is placed between two sheets coated with a transparent Valera
conductive film. Prompted by a low voltage, the molecules in the mixture change Main contractor: Dechant Hoch und Ingenieurbau
orientation and regulate the amount of light and heat passing through. Glass: Eyrise s350 instant solar shading windows
Surface: 110m²
www.eyrise.com Number: 144 panels

28 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 Spotlight

SMART WINDOWS
Eyrise have developed windows powered by liquid crystal technology
that have a positive impact in the workplace for well-being and productivity.

Dynamic windows that use advanced design,” said Alkyoni Papasifaki, afternoon by suppressing melatonin
liquid crystal glass technology to Environmental Design Engineer at levels and raising alertness. In contrast, by
achieve solar shading offer the most Elementa Consulting. “Our investigation maintaining a neutral environment across
positive impact on well-being and shows that Eyrise dynamic liquid crystal the tint spectrum, Eyrise windows support
productivity in the office environment, windows outperform other smart glazing occupants’ natural circadian rhythms
new research reveals. in supporting health and well-being. The throughout the day.
technology enables windows to maintain “In modern architecture, sustainability
The study, by deep green engineering a neutral colour across the tinting range and aesthetic needs are fuelling demand
practice Elementa Consulting, compared and instantaneously deliver high levels of for smart innovations,” said Celine Glipa,
two smart window technologies on the visual comfort on demand.” Managing Director at Eyrise. “Eyrise
market, which alter the optical and thermal Elementa’s study also examined the supports both, bringing creative visions to
properties of external glazing to control impact of dynamic window technologies life and transforming the workplace into a
solar glare and heat. Research focused on occupants’ health, focusing on the comfortable environment where people
on the impact of smart facade design on alignment with their natural body clock, can be at their most productive.”
human experience. which is triggered by dedicated receptors This independent research by Elementa
Using best practice lighting simulation on the retina and responsible for the Consulting is the first in-depth study on
tools to undertake a series of visualisations sleep-wake rhythm. the well-being impact of smart facade
and analysis, Elementa investigated how All three glazing products tested met technology. Read the full report here:
two types of established electrochromic minimum requirements of light exposure www.eyrise.com/out-of-the-blue/.
glass compared with the recently and intensity during their bright and
developed Eyrise glazing, which uses dark states. However, glazing that uses
its proprietary Licrivision liquid crystal electrochromic technology, producing
technology. Elementa looked at a blue colouration to the glass when
performance in three areas: colour, speed tinted, induces an environment that FOR MORE INFORMATION
and circadian well-being. disrupts occupants’ body clocks in the www.eyrise.com
When tested for colour rendering, Eyrise
windows maintained a neutral grey tone
across the entire tint spectrum, while
electrochromic glass displayed a blue
colouration, which can impact perceived
colour and brightness of illuminated
objects in the indoor environment.
The transition time of controlling glare was
examined to ascertain if a comfortable
working environment, supporting
productivity, was maintained. Research
showed that occupants were able to
modify shading states of liquid crystal
windows instantaneously. Electrochromic
products needed at least 15 minutes to
restore visual comfort levels, meaning
people are at risk of high levels of glare
and may seek alternative ways, such as
blinds or curtains, to protect themselves
from sunlight.
“According to the latest National Human
Activity Pattern Survey, people are
spending 87% of their time indoors,
so welfare should take priority when
embarking on smart facade building

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 29

 Spotlight

WINNING SEAFRONT
DEVELOPMENT Schöck Isokorb delivers for seafront Passive House Award Winner.

Seaton is a traditional Devon seaside A TECHNICALLY ADVANCED SOLUTION of structural thermal breaks, Schöck
resort town, but the eye-catching new Schöck Isokorb thermal breaks are is able to offer planners complete
development on the seafront is anything installed where the balconies meet the construction dependability and almost
but traditional. clay block structure. Ineffectual insulation limitless freedom of design with the
at these cantilever connectivity points options available. There are solutions
Seaton Beach Apartments offers will result in local heat loss, requiring for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-
innovative, award-winning luxury more energy to maintain the building’s steel, steel-to-steel, a thermally insulating
beachfront apartments, complete with a internal temperature. Low internal connection for reinforced concrete walls –
penthouse, and is the first multi-residential surface temperatures around the thermal and even a maintenance free alternative to
development in the UK to be certified as bridge can also cause condensation, wrapped parapets. The temperature factor
passive house plus. leading to structural integrity problems used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI)
The ground floor is concrete, with with absorbent insulation products and which must be greater than, or equal to,
monolithic clay block construction used the potentially serious occurrence of 0.75 for residential buildings, is easily met
from the first to third floors and timber mould growth. The Schöck Isokorb is by incorporating the Isokorb. All products
frame for the penthouse. Combined with one of the most technically advanced meet full compliance with the relevant UK
high-performance external render and countermeasures against thermal bridging. building regulations and the NHBC. They
internal plaster, the result is an entirely It thermally separates components from also offer LABC Registration and have
mineral hygroscopic wall build-up, which one another and also acts in a structural independent BBA Certification.
helps regulate humidity and provide a design capacity. The product type
comfortable internal environment. used has an innovative HTE Compact Photography by Dug Wilders
compression module and transfers both
USES 90% LESS ENERGY negative moments and positive shear
Other features include low forces with cantilever balconies.
electromagnetic field wiring and a highly FOR MORE INFORMATION
efficient mechanical ventilation system ENORMOUS FREEDOM OF DESIGN 01865 290 890
with heat recovery and exhaust air As the leading international supplier www.schoeck.co.uk
heat pump for hot water supply. There
is constant filtered air within the triple
glazed, airtight construction and PV roof
panels generate more energy than the
building uses – which is 90% less energy
usage than a typical new build. Because
passive house standard is easier to achieve
with simpler, box-like forms, buildings
can be considered aesthetically limited.
However, design ingenuity and the use
of Schöck Isokorb thermally broken
balcony connectors defies that notion.
The potentially unexciting building now
features large sea-facing balconies with
generous curves. The detailing of these
balconies is critical though, if thermal
bridging is to be minimised and the energy
performance not compromised.

30 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 IN MY WORDS

MY INSPIRATION
Jim Richards, Director, Nissen Richards Studio, shares a trio of inspirations,
from quietly nostalgic memories to loud contemporary experiences.

Growing up in Weston-super-Mare, it was impossible not to be

fixated on – and, in my case, inspired by – the town’s Birnbeck
Pier. Although created by the master architect of promenades
and piers, Eugenius Birch, who put his name to a total of
fourteen pier structures in Great British resorts, Birnbeck Pier
was unique for several reasons. First, because the end of the
pier is actually located on a rocky outcrop, which technically
makes it an island, and secondly because local architect Hans
Price, responsible for many of the town’s notable buildings,
created its unusual end-of-pier buildings, embodying an almost
domestic vernacular many miles away from the usual pier-end
pavilions. Its timber jetty used to serve the paddle steamers
arriving from Wales - my Great Aunt and Uncle amongst them
on their regular visits to see my grandmother.
As a child, I spent many hours playing beneath the pier’s
elegant iron walkway when the tide was out, watching as it was
washed away, almost in real time, until it reached its current
state of ruin. For my A Levels, I created a series of art projects
based on it and, much later, I was part of an architectural team
shortlisted for a scheme to rejuvenate it. Sadly, the project
never went ahead. In spite of that near miss, the pier’s industrial
language and fascinating embodiment of the battle between
the weather, tidal range and man-made architectural heritage,
had a long-lasting effect. The new viewing tower we’re just
completing at Sutton Hoo for the National Trust, for example,
embodies elements of this relationship.
The amazing black and white photographs of Bernd and
Hilla Becher are also a continuing source of inspiration. The
German photography duo, who met in the late 50s at the
Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, specialised in shooting industrial
structures - including water towers, coal bunkers, gas tanks
and factories. Their work, which never included people, was
shot in a documentary style and grouped according to sets or
typologies. This grid arrangement, as well as their veneration
for underloved industrial buildings, makes them a firm favourite.
My third great inspiration comes from the common experience
of being part of a large crowd – either at football grounds
(Bristol City, now you ask) or music gigs. I love that shared
emotional elevation as a crowd reacts to a particularly great
goal or the sound of a guitar playing the first note of a well-
loved song. Wanting to enable this feeling has very much fed
into our recent series of performance and event spaces, such
as Magazine London, the project we completed in 2019 on
the Greenwich Peninsula, to serve as a backdrop for music
or commercial sets, shows and events, and the ongoing
redevelopment of iconic music venue Clwb Ifor Bach, in the
heart of Cardiff.

www.nissenrichardsstudio.com

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 31

Interview
RODDY LANGMUIR
©CullinanStudio
Roddy Langmuir, a Practice Leader at Cullinan Studio, discusses his fascination with the relationship
between buildings and landscape, and the value of collaborative working and shared experiences.
Roddy is a Practice Leader at the award-
winning architects firm Cullinan Studio,
and chairs design forums for Architecture
and Design Scotland. He communicates
persuasively and lectures widely, talking
and drawing with skill and passion.
Having been raised in the rugged beauty
of Scotland’s Cairngorm Mountains,
twenty years on, Roddy found empathy at
Cullinan Studio with a world in transition,
looking to make buildings that engage
with their environment. He has developed
a design method based on storytelling - a
layered approach that begins with context,
topography, micro-climate and the cultural
drivers of his clients and their chosen
setting - inspiring expressive, clearly
articulated buildings.
32 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
A lifelong love of the outdoors has led
to an affinity with place-making and
recognition of the importance of the
space between and beyond buildings.
This has steered the distinctive character
of his work on masterplans, cultural and
education buildings over his career.
Here, Roddy discusses the need to reconnect
people with the natural world through
building design, and how Cullinan Studio have
always been moving towards architecture that
considers the climate: “it’s as though we have
been ‘practicing’ for this moment.”
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF
DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE?
I grew up in an outdoor pursuits centre
called Glenmore Lodge in what is now
the Cairngorms National Park. My father
ran the centre with year round climbing,
mountaineering, skiing and canoeing
courses for students. It was a timber
frame building of long wings clad in warm,
scented cedar boards – a bit unusual
for the time I guess - you could see the
mountains all around and run out straight
into the remnants of the great Caledonian
pine forest. As an 8 year old I used to join
the groups of students on trips across
the mountains so I was introduced to big
landscapes, the power of weather and to
the importance of shelter. I still love that
blend of exposure and shelter you get as
the wind and rain beats on your tent. It’s the
simplest form of architecture and yet with
the right materials and detailing, incredibly
effective. It’s a great lesson in doing a lot
with very little.

WHERE DID YOU STUDY?
At Edinburgh University. By then it was my
home city and studying architecture there
opened my eyes to the way buildings and
public spaces interact. When an entire city
is made of one material you appreciate the
world between more - the streets, squares,
closes and courtyards. Izi Metzstein was
professor at the time and was a brilliantly
ruthless dissector of an architectural
proposal. We had a great studio culture
and I really valued that sense of being in-it
together and learning from each other.
HOW DO YOU FEEL THE ARCHITECTURAL
EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS CHANGED IN
RECENT YEARS?
I hope the studio as a base for learning
architecture can continue, as clearly a lot
of courses are set up with the expectation
of independent study with more limited
shared experience. We also need more
collaborative, interdisciplinary learning. I
Open research at the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC)
think new ideas happen on the margins
of fields of study and architecture needs
to open its horizons as far as possible. It’s
great to see many schools embracing the
biggest issues for the built environment
– social exclusion, climate change,
biodiversity loss, and imagining the
possibilities of major new infrastructure, but
where are the joint degrees? The high cost
and the 5 year course are major problems,
and the growth of part-time working
alongside study helps students finance
their education and suggests a future for
apprenticeship learning too.
Despite all the technological change I’ve
noticed a continued delight from any
audience in free-hand drawings. The
directness of editing what you decide to
show or exclude in a drawing is often best
learned by hand drawing. It’s still one of
the most powerful tools of communication
we have at our disposal and it needs to be
nurtured at Architecture Schools.
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 33
Roddy Langmuir
Photo by Hufton+Crow
WHAT KIND OF ARCHITECT DID YOU
ASPIRE TO BE?
I’ve always felt that buildings should be
expressive – of their purpose and how they
are made. Growing up in the Cairngorms
probably left a big mark in terms of a
fascination with the relationship between
buildings and landscape. Nature is the big
daddy of it all – how buildings respond to it
defines them in every way.
WHO ARE YOUR DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE
INSPIRATIONS?
I spent my year-out near Vancouver
and loved the brave, direct work of the
pioneering architects working in timber
along the west coast of the US and Canada.
I also visited many of Scarpa’s buildings as
a student, and hugely preferred his values
and expression to the pomo crap that
filled the mags of the day. You can see his
whole thought process laid bare by the way
materials are layered and pulled apart, by
Interview
the way the junctions are celebrated You
can draw inspiration from this at any scale
from masterplanning to detail. Clearly we
can rarely afford the time and cost of such
crafted details, and across much of our
built environment standard products are
allowed to collide unhappily together at
interfaces. A new syntax borne out of more
sophisticated design and manufacturing
methods opens up a promising future in
this regard.
The last paradigm shift in architecture was
brought to us through the soul-searching
quests of the great modernists. Brilliant and
flawed, it has led to our shared architectural
language – and we all design within this
frame of reference. Now we are entering
another period of transformation, centred
on how we all respond to the challenges of
climate change and the digital revolution.
In the current eclectic design environment,
it’s difficult to see how it’s going to play out
or who is perhaps showing the way, but I
think we do need to beware of claims of
an ethical, morally superior architecture to
prevent history repeating itself. The enduring
quality of buildings can never be determined
by measurement or carbon alone - it’s how
you do it, not just that you do it.
WHAT DOES CULLINAN STUDIO
REPRESENT AS AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM?
Openness, collaboration, we enjoy the
34 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
larger ‘design team’ working mentality for its
richness of ideas and surprise contributions.
We want to continue to have a role in how
ideas for buildings, develop on into ideas
about how they are made. Ted Cullinan
was a tour de force and we want to keep
his adventurous spirit alive in the practice.
Since Ted started out 60 years ago, the
practice has always been driving towards a
low-energy architecture that is responsive
to local context, local topography and local
culture and climate. Now, at a time when
there is a mass re-awakening towards the
urgency of addressing climate change,
it’s as though we have been ‘practicing’
for this moment. The need for a broader
interpretation of sustainable design, and the
need to reconnect people with the natural
world through the buildings we design is in
our blood – it’s our DNA.
HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO CARVE
YOUR OWN PATH IN THE INDUSTRY AS A
STUDIO AND AN INDIVIDUAL?
We are not a large company, but we still
tackle all scales and all types of buildings
– we know they cross-inform each other
in so many ways. I think that once you
start reaching for the shelf of ready-
made solutions rather than thinking more
deeply about the problem to be solved,
you’ve probably missed the opportunity…
Once the brief has taken shape and a
Inside Clach Mhor; a ‘Skye Ridge’ and long views to landscape
design approach agreed, a big part of
the architects’ role is in choosing the right
path through ever-increasing complexity;
spotting the pieces that will create a greater
whole. To make a good building you need
to be a good editor, suppressing the visual
noise in one place to let another sing. For
example, the John Hope Gateway performs
the role of a sheltering canopy, a glade
sat amongst the arboretum of Edinburgh’s
botanical garden, and all the details try to
carry this overriding atmosphere of the
design intent.
WHERE IS THE MAJORITY OF YOUR
WORK BASED?
We have built all across the UK and we are
just about to open an office in the Midlands.
We’ve also had some great experiences
working in Singapore, Jordan, and the US.
We’ve worked in the context of 5 Unesco
World Heritage Sites and with many
national and international institutions and
Universities. I’ve learned that our process,
honed in the hothouse of the UK design
environment, travels well, because its
focused on a working method that draws
inspiration from context rather than the
‘object’ you intend to make. As in our design
for a new visitor centre to Petra, which
orchestrates your journey from arrival,
through a grove of frankincense trees, to
the geological drama of entering the Siq.
Photo by Sean Begley
 Roddy Langmuir

It’s about the whole experience.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DESIGN

COMMISSION TO DATE?
The National Automotive Innovation Centre
for Warwick University, Jaguar Landrover,
Tata Motors, and Warwick Manufacturing
Group – its’ all about getting the best out of
researchers academics and manufacturers,
a diverse melting pot of expertise in a
great Aladdin’s’ cave of experimentation.
In terms of impact, it would probably
be in finally managing to stop Libya
constructing a major highway, being built
to usher in tourism development along the
extraordinary Green Mountain wilderness
coastline, by mapping the natural assets
with a team of experts - flora, fauna,
nesting turtle sites, and incredible
archaeological remains on an uncharted
stretch of the Mediterranean. We were
able to promote this natural environment
as the goose that could keep laying golden
eggs through ecotourism. One day the
diggers just stopped.

WHAT DOES THE FACE OF ARCHITECTURE

LOOK LIKE TO YOU IN 10 YEARS TIME?
Climate Change is a calamity but re-
dressing it is a massive opportunity
- for a better built environment. Its a
great time to be an architect – a time
of profound change where ideas to
improve community, wellbeing, better
connections with the natural world, and
Photo by Matt Laver
how we might reimagine our streets when
Botanical entry space to the John Hope Gateway in Edinburgh
all the parked cars have gone are really
gaining traction. Architects need to tag
with the dramatic changes happening
across many disciplines and find the way
to contribute more at the gestation of
projects where the first question is; do
we need a building at all? Architects are
extremely good at organisational change
and their most valuable work is often
unpaid, lumped in with the more easily
quantified work stages. Architects need
to avoid isolation and marginalization and
get back to the centre of things, helping
find creative solutions at RIBA Stage 0. The
continuous churn of the built environment
is embarrassing. We need to be architects
for ‘less’ building, where what we do build,
invests in quality, and is designed for the
long term.

IF YOU HADN’T BECOME AN ARCHITECT

WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
Maybe teaching? But actually I really can’t
imagine doing anything else. Photo by Hufton+Crow
The collaborative hub
inside the Innovation Centre
www.cullianstudio.com

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 35

Case Study

FOREST GLADE
BY HESSELBRAND

At the Forest Glade house,

all bathroom functions are
wrapped in tiles

36 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021


Room with a
bath and a view
Architecture firm Hesselbrand have
completed a family house in east
London designed for working and
entertaining from home. The project is
the first to be completed in a series of
houses designed by Hesselbrand that
re-imagines the traditional terraced
house for contemporary life.
Both floors of the house have been
strategically rearranged by creating new
openings, separations, and a large side
extension on the ground floor. This makes
the rooms of the house connect directly
instead of through a corridor to allow for
unlimited ways to move around the house.
A new passage is opened from the bright
front living room, leading you through
a dark ochre coloured library into the
new kitchen. In the kitchen white painted
concrete blocks and steel columns form
a sharp contrast to the existing house and
exposed concrete foundations in the floor
draws a line of where the old wall used to
be. At the back of the room a large steel
framed window completes the passage
by framing a view of the new garden room
underneath a black painted timber pergola.
This new arrangement of the plan on the
ground floor gives each room two access
points. In that way, there is a wide range of
possibilities of moving through the house.
This makes the house equally suitable for
entertaining groups of friends at home,
as well as working from home. In the first
scenario, different groups of people can
congregate in the ground floor rooms
without feeling like you are leaving the
other groups behind, as there is always a
connecting doorway in the vicinity and no
dead end rooms. And on days when the
owners are working from home, the other
family members can easily avoid whichever
room is being worked in, as there are
multiple ways of reaching all rooms.
Every space on both floors of the house
is given its own spatial quality; bright,
dark, wide, narrow and so on. When the
character of a room is defined by its quality
or atmosphere rather than its function,
it becomes more flexible and open to
interpretation. For example, one of the
bathrooms has the character of a normal
room with the only exception that there
is a bathtub, whereas the other bathroom
is tiled all over in a perfect grid, as if one
continuous waterproof surface has been
wrapped around the whole room.
The economic approach to the redesign of
the plan, with its re-purposing of existing
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 37
Forest Glade By Hesselbrand
A traditional terraced house
reimagined for contemporary life
spaces, can also be found in the use of
materials. In keeping and re-using as much
of the existing building as possible, the
design is aimed at finding new use for old
materials. Bricks left from the demolition
are re-integrated into new parts of the
building and left over block-work is turned
into a new kitchen. The structural steel
is left exposed and painted to match the
existing mouldings, forming a visual link
between the old and new. This approach
of re-purposing both plan layout and
materials ultimately gives each room more
purpose and character, and the house
becomes significantly richer in experiences.
The existing property is a single family two
storey semi-detached Edwardian terraced
house with a narrow passage to the back
along the north east side. Built in 1895 and
renovated in the 1970’s the building was in
much need of repair. All of the exterior has
been carefully restored, from the red brick
façade to the ornamental roof finials and
the carved wooden element. The existing
windows were are replaced with new
wooden framed sash windows that had
been specially designed and fabricated in
a local workshop to make the frames as
thin as possible, resembling single glazed
windows from both interior and exterior.
 Forest Glade By Hesselbrand

The property is located within a

conservation area and the design has
been considered very carefully in order
to enhance the historic environment and
details of the property. The rear extension
is made clearly contemporary in its
expression in order to complement the
character of the existing building. This
gives the expression of a building where
history and local heritage is valued, but
where contemporary life is present.

www.hesselbrand.com
Images ©2020 Hesselbrand

PROJECT TEAM
Lead Architect: Martin Brandsdal, Magnus
Casselbrant, Jesper Henriksson
Project Architect: Jonathan Wilson
Structural Engineer: Solid Geometry
Approved Inspector: MLM

SUPPLIER LIST
Lighting: Flos, Lehni, Orluna
The meeting of old and new materials
Tiles: Domus

The kitchen features white painted The connection between

concrete blocks and steel columns the library and kitchen

38 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 Spotlight

VICAIMA NEWNESS Vicaima showcases the timeless elegance of white doors

Simplicity in design is often thought to be in White Smooth and Woodgrain finished Where performance criteria is demanded,
the secret to creating timeless fashions foils; Dekordor HD White, a continuous The White Collection is also available in
and one way to achieve that desired blank pressure laminate for demanding areas and fire, acoustic and security solutions. And
canvas, is by using flush white doors. for those who still prefer to paint their own as care for the environment is paramount
This opportunity to rejuvenate and add a doors, Primed 2 Go, with its revolutionary in our minds, everything is covered by
fresh clean look to interiors has now been surface that requires no face sanding or FSC® certification. Products can be
given new impetus and inspiration with priming and which will accept paint straight supplied as door only, door and matching
the introduction of the White Collection onto its smooth face to achieve an excellent frame assemblies or even
from Vicaima, a selection of quality end result. as corresponding wardrobes.
interior doors for home, hospitality and
commercial projects.
Bringing together some truly distinctive
finish options in white, the collection
demonstrates that this fundamental hue is
not actually a single colour, but has in fact
a myriad of sheens, surfaces and shades
to suit every application. In addition, doors
can be customised to allow even greater
decorative freedom, with the inclusion
of face grooves and inlays, together with
many glazed patterns.
The White Collection includes Lacdor in
White and Pure White shades, with its ultra-
smooth lacquered paint finish; Dekordor SD

Experience the Vicaima heartbeat with new video for tomorrow’s world

If music be the food of love, then Vicaima’s
new video demonstrates just how deep
the love for doors exists and how it plays
in perfect harmony with nature.
Crafted with sophisticated design and
accompanied with a melody that strikes a
chord for the future, this communication
reinforces the Vicaima brand values. With
its recognizable signature “Unexpected
Harmony”, the video embodies aesthetics
and emotional inspiration.
This modern video reiterates the
fundamental pillars of the Vicaima
brand, taking the audience through
varying scenarios and unusual situations,
with beauty, safety, comfort and an
unpredictable and bold design, capable
of projecting with a universal language. A
video with music and imagery that reveals
the constant heartbeat of Vicaima.
This audio visual content has enormous
significance for Vicaima, as it represents
a path, where the future approaches the
present and is seen in infinite possibilities,
representing continuity and hope, the
latter symbolized by childhood, nature and
sustainability. The video can be viewed at
www.vicaima.com/Corporate/VICAIMA_
New-Corporate-Video%202020-.mp4
FOR MORE INFORMATION
+44 (0) 1793 532333
info@vicaima.com
www.vicaima.com

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 39

 Interiors

NATURE MEETS FASHION

In the world of design where patterns and textures are
fundamental components, Antolini has created an extraordinary
collection which presents natural stone enhanced by all those
tactile perceptions and suggestions that fabric textures give
to Haute Couture - the Textures+ Collection. In the Texture+
collection, natural stone is treated to make its texture stand
out and give it the tactile and visual sensation of a stupendous
piece of fabric. This collection transforms the concept of natural
stone, introducing a language that, like never before, brings
together the worlds of architecture and fashion. With Texture+,
Antolini presents the most creative minds of interior design
with an innovative and sophisticated tool: a collection of several
designs so different from each other that they can satisfy even
the most original interior décor ideas. Interweaving, knots,
inlays and irregular pigmentations create an expressive new
intensity: movement and three-dimensionality permeate the
entire collection, mixing with a variety of facets and making each
material inimitable.

www.antolini.com

SOPHISTICATED AND
CLASSIC DESIGN
Homeowners spend 60% of the time in the kitchen on
average, and with sinks and taps being the most used
appliances it’s important to make sure they look flawless
and perform perfectly. The CATRIS-S Flexo in Black Matt
from BLANCO is perfect for homeowners who want to
embrace the new kitchen trend for a black, industrial,
concrete, colourful or urban look. This brand new single
level monobloc mixer tap exudes sophistication with
classic design features combined with modern appeal. The
benefits of this professional quality tap extend far beyond
appearances. With 360 degrees swivel spout, flexible
rubber hose and a removable handset, BLANCO has
covered every kitchen requirement. The variable jet options
make it possible to go from a gentle stream flow, perfect
for rinsing delicate ingredients, right up to a powerful jet
spray for filling deep pots and pans at super speed.

01923 635 200 | www.blanco.co.uk

EARTHBORN - DOING
THINGS DIFFERENTLY
Earthborn is delighted to introduce The Earth Collection, a palette
of five harmonious new paint shades inspired by the natural
world, themed around the earth, land, sand, sea and clouds. The
Classic Earthborn colour card will remain unchanged for now;
instead a simple bookmark is available displaying real painted
swatches of the five new colours. The new colours: Crocky Road,
Up Up Away, Grassy, Skipper and Sandy Castle, along with the
full range of 72 shades on the Classic shade card, are available
to buy online now, or from Earthborn’s network of stockists. With
Earthborn you get no acrylics or oils, but you get high quality and
high performance and a full list of ingredients to help you make a
more informed choice.

www.earthbornpaints.co.uk

40 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

Case Study
PAUL MEURICE
BY LAMBERT LÉNACK
The Paul Meurice home for disabled
adults required a gentle balance
between intimacy and openness
to the outside world. Paris-based
architecture practice Lambert Lénack
responded carefully through generous
and accessible spaces with a variety of
architectural flourishes.
Lambert Lénack have imagined a south-
facing, stepped building which allows light
into the inner courtyard and whose volumes
stretch out, recede, and produce sliding
variations in the grid of staggered windows.
The facades open generously out towards
the city, through large domestic windows for
the apartments, and large urban windows
for the common areas. The generosity of
the spaces relies upon the legibility and
continuity of the common areas.
The successive tiers of the building,
induced by its stepped volume, were
designed as “open-air rooms”: terraces
42 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
surrounded by facades so that residents
can enjoy outdoor spaces without the risk
of falling. The final level opens onto a vast,
panoramic collective terrace.
The building is organised around two
circulation cores; the primary core being
situated in the north and a secondary, in
the south. This functional arrangement
responds as much to a need for flexibility
of use as to security constraints.
A large entrance hall and the day reception
centre are located on the ground floor,
with access to the garden, while the first
floor hosts a restaurant, rooms for activities
offered to residents, and spaces dedicated
to administration.
The accommodation units form groups
of two levels situated on the second and
third floors and on the fourth and fifth
floors. No apartment is mono-oriented
north and the services are installed back-
to-back with the adjoining building to the
North-East. The structure is load-bearing
 Paul Meurice By Lambert Lénack

Large domestic windows have been

used for the apartments, and large
urban windows for the common areas

The Paul Meurice home for disabled adults has

been carefully designed by Lambert Lénack

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 43

 Paul Meurice By Lambert Lénack

between the facade and the circulation

Light fills the inner courtyard
cores, which facilitates the modification
of interior divisions. A large elevator, like a
moving room, connects the entire program
by opening onto a living room at each floor.
The choice of materials contributes to
domestic atmosphere desired for the
centre. The building envelope, consisting of
an externally insulated concrete wall lined
with solid bricks, is particularly efficient
and robust. The aluminium windows offer a
resistant materiality and an anodized colour
in harmony with the grey brick.
Glazed guardrails integrated into the
window frames allow for the incorporation
of external textile blinds guided over the
entire window height. An interior sheer
curtain completes the window design.
Homes for adults with disabilities are
commonly horizontal and introverted
institutions. The dense urban context and
the desire to include residents within the
urban environment lead to a profound
questioning of this typology: a vertical
organization, a nuanced institutional
character and an emphasis on openness,
comfort and domesticity.

www.lambertlenack.com
Photo credits: © Simone Bossi © Maxime
Delvaux © Cyrille Lallement

PROJECT TEAM
Contracting authority: Paris Habitat
Acquirer: Philanthropic society
Team: Lambert Lénack, Architect
Evp, Structural Engineer
Betem, Mechanical Engineer
Vpeas, Quantity Surveyor
Project manager: Pierre Charny-Brunet
General Contractor: Leon Gros
Building Control: Groupe Bati Plus Consultants
Health & Safety Coordinator: Groupe BTP Consultants
Fire Safety Coordinator: Groupe Casso & Associés
SCMC: IM Projet
Decontamination Consultant: Letourneur Conseil
Social Inclusion Consultant: Face Paris
Clean Work Site Consultant: QCS Services

44 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

We don’t take design
flexibility sitting down
Millboard decking. Innovatively designed and developed to have the look
of natural timber, whilst out-performing it in every way. Our 150mm Bullnose
Board is no different. Like our decking, it’s beautiful to look at, yet its curved
edge gives you more design freedom than ever before.

Ideal for seating, planters or as a finishing touch for decks and steps; its wider
profile providing the perfect space for lighting. Resistant to moisture, stains
and algae, it won’t rot, warp or splinter. And, like our decking, it’s easy to fit,
saving on installation time and cost.

Millboard: Live. Life. Outside.

Live.Life.Outside.
Discover our collections at millboard.co.uk

BREAKING NEW GROUND
Changing the face of facades: Millboard launches ground-breaking cladding collection.
Millboard have launched a suite of
cutting-edge cladding materials that
will cement the company’s reputation as
one of Britain’s leading home and garden
material manufacturers.
In its thirteen-year history, Millboard has
continually broken new ground, notably for
its flagship UV, split, rot and slip-resistant
decking product that has been used in
builds as prestigious as the Burj Al Arab,
Kew Gardens and Wimbledon.
The new range of cladding takes its cue
from the first-rate attributes of the decking
range. Available in two styles (‘V Groove’
and ‘Board and Batten’) and a wide range
of colours, it provides the same assurance
of UV resistance and eliminates the risk of
warping, twisting or rotting. And just like
the decking range, the cladding has been
hand-moulded from carefully selected
natural timbers, to provide an unmistakably
organic look.
From the smooth finish of the V Groove to
the pleasing grain variance of the Board
and Batten style, there’s a Millboard
cladding style for every property type.
A year in development, this product is
perfectly designed to stand the test of
time and to require minimal maintenance.
In fact, the distinctive chamfered cut of
the profiles enables the rain to wash the
boards, dramatically reducing the need for
manual cleaning.
The boards are made from a
polyurethane-mineral composite that
boasts greater eco credentials than
rainforest-depleting timber. The unique
properties of this enduring material mean
that you’ll never suffer from streak marks
around window seals, be disappointed
by dramatic colour changes, or have
to maintain it with expensive and time-
consuming treatments.
The extra-wide sizing of the boards means
that the cladding can be mounted quickly,
providing a lightning-fast renovation of the
exterior of a property, and the boards can
also be used internally, for feature walls
and dividers. Additionally, the cladding can
be mounted vertically or horizontally to suit
the tastes of the architect or homeowner.
As well as providing an instant refresh
to a property, the boards can also help
homeowners to achieve a better energy
rating. As it is made from polyurethane
foam, Millboard cladding has good
insulation properties and protects against
extreme heat or extreme cold. With a
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 47
Spotlight
growing domestic focus on thermal
efficiency, cladding can help to sell your
property, or to achieve the energy rating
you need to rent it out. Some homeowners
have struggled with building regulations
for putting bigger windows in, but with
the insulation provided by cladding, it
can often be possible to design bigger
apertures into the building.
The team at Millboard are excited about
their latest development, and the launch
of the new cladding range represents a
significant milestone for the company. The
new cladding collection marks Millboard’s
expansion into a broader range of high-
calibre home and garden products.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
02476439943
enquiries@millboard.co.uk
www.millboard.co.uk
48 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
 Spotlight

THE FINISHING TOUCH With over 80 years’ experience Mapei continue to

research and develop innovative grout collections.

Despite the current climate, the tile is segmented into five collections: decorative, two-component acid and stain
industry continues to grow and evolve Serene, Traditional, Natural, Romance resistant grout, which delivers a smooth and
which is reflected in the countless numbers and Glamour. These five collections consistent finish to the grout joint. The grout
of styles, finishes and colours available. make choosing the correct colour easier can be mixed with MapeGlitter to create
according to the requirements of each various unique effects.
COLOUR AND TEXTURE tiling project. With over 80 years’ experience, you can
Although shades of grey remain popular Innovation through research and be sure that as Mapei progress through
for Architects and Specifiers, Mapei development is always at the forefront the decades that fashions, tile styles and
are seeing a resurgence of flamboyant of Mapei’s philosophy, with the some of requirements will evolve but they will be
colours as customers seek to break up the its latest additions to the coloured grouts at the forefront of technology, adapting to
monotony: a splash of red, green, blue or range developed using a sophisticated change in trends in colour and installation.
purple depending on the desired mood. 3D imaging programme with the latest tile
These final touches of colour can complete design trends in mind. Image credit: Tile Mountain
an effect the designer is trying to create. For a flamboyant edge to tile installation,
Along with colour, Mapei look at texture. Mapei’s Kerapoxy Design should be
Their grouts can be developed to tie in considered. Available in a palette of 32 FOR MORE INFORMATION
with the texture of the tile to create an different colours, Kerapoxy Design is a highly www.mapei.co.uk
overall desired effect. If they’re installing
a stone material with heavy texture, this
theme can also be carried on through the
grouted joint as it can appear strange to
feature a heavily textured tile alongside
a perfectly smooth grout finish. On the
other hand, a highly textured grout finish
may look disjointed next to highly polished
tiles. The environment and use of the area
that is being grouted is also considered;
using an overly textured tile and grout
finish for an area with heavy traffic would
be impractical and hard to maintain as the
textures would grab and hold onto any
passing dirt.

THE GROUTING ENVIRONMENT

With the increase in investment and
popularity for installing outside living
areas, Mapei are recognizing an increase in
porcelain patio areas.
Careful consideration must be given to the
installation of these materials; hardwearing
porcelain is durable but suitability of the
tile adhesive and grout, as well as the
longevity of the product is paramount.
Grout must be considered as an integral
part of the process as it is vital for a
successful installation.

MAPEI’S RANGE OF “SET THE

MOOD” GROUTS
Mapei’s ‘Set the Mood’ colour collection

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 49

Case Study
LAHOFER WINERY
BY CHYBIK + KRISTOF
Nestled in the Moravian countryside,
the design of the Lahofer Winery brings
together a longstanding wine tradition
and contemporary wine-making
processes. Housing a visitor center,
tasting room and production facilities,
the structure immerses itself in the
landscape, achieving a subtle symbiosis
with the surrounding vines.
CHYBIK + KRISTOF ARCHITECTS & URBAN
DESIGNERS have completed construction
of the Lahofer Winery in the Czech
Republic. The Lahofer Winery fuses the
region’s longstanding wine tradition with a
contemporary design in constant dialogue
with the surrounding vines. Reflective of
modern wine-making processes, the building
brings together three distinct interconnected
structures – a wine-making facility, the
winery’s administrative base, and a visitor
center and adjoining tasting room. Emulating
50 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
archetypal wine cellars of the region, the
vault of the winery rests on a grid of arched
beams. Acting as a mirror of this shape, an
undulant roof serves as an amphitheater
for cultural events open to both locals and
visitors, merging the winery into the ground –
and the culture – on which it rests.
CHYBIK + KRISTOF’s project finds its roots
in the legacy of the Lahofer Winery – one
grounded in a storied cultural heritage
and a profound respect for the natural
environment. Responding to Moravia’s
topography and architectural tradition,
rooted in the culture of wine, the architects
conceive a design in symbiosis with the
region’s landscape. Reminiscent of the
region’s characteristic arched wine cellars,
a colonnade of vaulted beams frames
the interior space into its storied curve.
On its exterior side, draping the winery, an
undulant roof acts as an inclined open-air
amphitheater and cultural venue. Lightening
the volume of the building as it rests on the
fertile soil, below lie three separate spaces
– each attributed with a distinct function,
they share a constant concern for the
adjoining nature.
An open space emerging from the
rhythmic vines, the amphitheater invests
the boundless roof, overlooking a horizon
nourished by its history. Expanding on the
Lahofer Winery’s function from a production
site into a witness to the local culture, it acts
as a community space dedicated to cultural
events, including local grape harvest
celebrations and theater performances – a
hub for its lasting community to connect
with visitors of the region and wide-ranging
wine connoisseurs.
www.chybik-kristof.com
Photography by Alex Shoots Buildings.
 Lahofer Winery By CHYBIK + KRISTOF

The Lahofer Winery fuses the

region’s longstanding wine tradition
with a contemporary design

Above: The vault of the winery rests on a grid of arched beams

Below: Each reinforced concrete arch is individually designed to fit a specific angle of the ceiling

PROJECT TEAM
Structural engineer: Hladík a Chalivopulos s.r.o.
Plumbing: SANIproject, s.r.o.
Heating, cooling (building): CM projekt, s r.o.
Heating, cooling (technological): FaBa engineering, s.r.o.
Ventilation: Ing. Marek Nos
Electrical installations: ELSPACE s.r.o. + Alexa-projekce
s.r.o., projekce sdělovacích rozvodů
Building Management System: Ing. Zdeněk Tulis
Traffic engineer: Rostislav Beneš
Energy Performance Certificate: SUCHÁNEK s.r.o.
Roof safety: Mojmír Klas, s.r.o.

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 51

 Industry Article
COLLABORATION
IS KEY
Clare Pascoe, Director Pascoe Interiors Ltd, discusses the relationship between Interior
Designers and Architects, and why collaboration leads to winning results.
Thankfully the days where Architects
and Interior Designers were
believed to have a divisive, cat v dog
relationship has now well and truly
passed. It is now widely recognised
that there are several mutual benefits
to a project, the client and the design
team when Architects and Interior
Designers collaborate.
52 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
This is underscored by the intimate
partnership between the RIBA & BIID
(British Institute of Interior Designers).
Both are world recognised professional
bodies, who together have agreed
best working practices to streamline
relationships and processes.
As an BIID Registered Interior Designer ®
with 20+ years’ experience, and a bed rock
of skill sets from an engineering-based
Design BSc Hons degree, I have always
approached projects with the mindset and
planning of an engineer. Calling myself
an ‘Interior Engineer’ would be a more
accurate term. I relish projects where I
am part of a wider design team; not least
because I purposely keep Pascoe Interiors
Ltd small so that I am personally involved
in every project and can run an efficient
company to keep my fees competitive; but
also because projects that have a wider
base of skills can only deliver better results
for longevity, sustainability and design.
The best projects I’ve worked on have a
full design team – consisting of Architect,
Interior Designer, Contractor, Structural
Engineer, M&E / Smart Home consultant,
Project Manager & Quantity Surveyor.
Granted employing such a skilled design
team comes at a high cost to a project, so
it is only projects of a certain size where
such an investment in skills is justified
to offset the mistakes and pitfalls that
could blight the time line and budget
if professional foresight wasn’t in place
to prevent such things happening in
the first place. Slightly smaller projects
might simply have an Architect, Interior
Designer and Contractor. The size of the
team indicates to the Design team the
scale of the project; the Clients viewpoint
in investing in professional skills and how
efficiently the project is likely to be run.
Different Design Team experts bring
different skills to a project. While of course
there are many grey areas and overlaps, in
simple terms you could view an Architects
role as dealing with fixed assets that would
be covered under Buildings Insurance; and
an Interior Designers role as dealing with
loose assets that would be covered under
Contents Insurance. The overlaps between
 Industry Article

the skill sets should not be seen by the Vernon House, a 64 studio apartment
Client as points where they are charged building, that Pascoe Interiors was
twice for the same service(s); instead it commissioned to re-design

is vital to have an overlap to seamlessly

blend the Architects’ & Interior Designers’
role – without an overlap, you would have a
gap where some things could get missed.
Both Architects and Interior Designers
will consider the interior and exterior of
a property and both will focus on the
ergonomics and anthropometrics of a
space, but I think it’s fair to say we typically
approach projects from different angles
– with Architects, the interior is often led
by the exterior; while Interior Designers
will – as their name suggests – design
the interior first. By approaching a project
from different angles, we can brainstorm
together to consider the redesign of a
property from a fully rounded viewpoint.
Collectively we will consider elements
the other won’t have broached yet. By
giving priority to decisions in different
Clare has successfully collaborated with
orders we consider more elements of Lukasz Gruszczynski of Modulor Studio
the project at earlier design and planning
stages, delivering our Client a more
informed design, that leaves less room
for unforeseen complications during the
construction phase.
Let’s take the design of a kitchen
extension for example, as this offers a
perfect microcosm of a full house project,
to give an example of this in practice. An
architect would, quite rightly, look at how
to extend the property aesthetically, to
the Client brief and in line with local area
constraints (planning, conservation, listed
etc); while the Interior Designer will plan
the layout of the space to consider the
lifestyle, comfortable movement within
the space by the occupants alongside
practical and aesthetic considerations.
Both points of view will influence the other.
Where I have worked on projects where
the extension has been designed without
detailed analysis of the interior, I have often
found that the kitchen design needs to be
compromised because the extension falls
slightly short of allowing a fully symmetrical
run of units, or we have to compromise
the depth of a storage unit because waste
pipes have been boxed in internally to save
them being an unsightly addition to the
exterior. Had I been involved earlier in the
project this would have been highlighted
to the Client earlier when they had more
opportunity to consider, and possibly
choose, a different solution.
From the Interior Designers point of view; Originally tired and dated nurses
a project that has an architect at the helm accommodation, Vernon House was
redesigned and refurbished into high
tells us straight away that the Client values
specification rental studio apartments
professional opinion and that they are

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 53

 Industry Article

prepared to invest in the design, planning technical specifications for the tender of separation, both teams are there too
and management of their project to get pack and construction, then place orders support each other’s roles. Together we
the best results. It also indicates that the and oversee the installation of the interior have each other’s & the clients back, too
Client is a busy professional themself who FF&E (fixtures, furniture & equipment – an run the best project that will ultimately
will entrust their team to run the project interior design term that encompasses all exceed our client’s expectations.
for them. Knowing this allows us to deliver that a project needs). The Architect can In short, when Interior Designers &
a far more accurate Service Schedule fee quickly divert interior related queries to Architects collaborate a project is more
structure, as we can more confidently rely the Designer, avoiding time consuming efficient, encounters fewer setbacks and
on quick decision making smoothing the distraction. Likewise, the Interior Designer complications that delivers better results with
process. doesn’t have to invest time on the tender less stress for the client. It’s a win win win.
Clients shouldn’t be put off by the cost and contractor selection, planning or
of a fully diverse design team. While building control. Even with a degree www.pascoeinteriors.com
surrounding themselves with a multifaceted
design team comes at a cost, the true
value of which can be more than easily
justified when you consider the wealth of
experience leading the project without
undue distraction and stress, avoiding costly
mistakes then can and do happen without
professional involvement, while allowing
the Client to focus on their own professional
commitments so they themselves can
function to their optimum value.
From the Architects point of view, having
an interior designer on board with a similar
design style, ethos and work ethic makes
for a very complimentary relationship. The
Architect can focus on their role, without
having to spend time considering the
minutiae of interior details and finishes.
The Interior Designer will steer the Client
Exterior shot of a Vernon
through the material choices, provide
House studio apartment
lighting plans, calculate quantities, provide

54 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 Industry News

REYNAERS REDUCES NOISE INGRESS WITH NEW PRODUCT

Supplier of aluminium solutions, Reynaers,
has launched MasterLine 8 SoftTone®; a
parallel opening window which supports
natural cooling and ventilation in urban
environments, while innovatively filtering
out noise to deliver comfortable spaces
for occupants.By 2050, 68% of the world’s
population is expected to live in bustling
urban areas, increasing the need for
living and working spaces which are both
sustainable and comfortable. As outlined in
the Acoustic, Ventilation and Overheating
(AVO) Guide, achieving these desired
results is reliant on innovative architectural
solutions which aid the management
of noise.With the inclusion of SoftTone,
indoor sound levels can be reduced by 9
decibels when compared to a traditional
open window, decreasing external noise
to create more comfortable spaces. To
achieve this, the window uses a carefully
designed interface between the frame
and sash, which includes sound absorption
foam, together with a parallel opening
system. This reduces noise while improving
natural ventilation, with 0.6 square metres
of ventilation gap provided in a typical
2m x 1m window.In practice, the system
allows occupants to open their windows for
effective natural ventilation, without having
to suffer excessive noise from the urban
environment. This enhances comfort while
reducing reliance on mechanical ventilation,
improving sustainability.As a parallel
opening window, MasterLine 8 SoftTone®
delivers a larger open area per m2 than
traditional opening windows. Coupled
with SoftTone, acoustic performance
is significantly increased, providing an
architectural solution fit for the future.

www.reynaers.co.uk

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
CARPET SOLUTION
Rawson Carpet Solutions has developed
a new product for interior textiles.
Recover is made from 80% recycled
material and is a fully recyclable carpet
tile with no additives, no Latex and
made from one single polymer, so that
nothing needs to go to landfill. Utilising
the highest grade Polyester PET, and
advanced machinery, a soft luxurious
surfaced product in a selection of
aesthetic pleasing bold colours has been
created. This, backed with a specially
designed single polymer robust backing
for the tile, provides a product to the
market with proven recyclability back
into PET, offering a multitude of further
life uses. Recover is available in sheet
and tile and there is a large stock holding
of standard colours with fast delivery to
suit requirements. However as a long-
standing manufacturer, bespoke colours
and designs are always an option,
providing opportunities for our clients
to ensure that they are able to meet
with company colours of specific colour
schemes.
www.RawsonCarpetsolutions.co.uk
01924 382 860
rcsales@werawson.co.uk

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 55

 Industry News

DECORATIVE PANELS GROUP CLEANS

UP WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTS
Partnering with Addmaster (UK), which
pioneered the use of antimicrobial
additives with its Biomaster product range,
Decorative Panels Group can offer products
with surfaces that are able to inhibit the
growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds by up
to 99.99%!
What is more, Decorative Panels Group
have offered antimicrobial products within
their portfolio for over 8 years! But now, as
can be imagined, the interest for these has
accelerated rapidly.
As a trade laminator of sheet materials
for the furniture and allied industries, dp-
lamination offer an extensive range of
surface designs laminated to many different
substrates. By incorporating Biomaster
technology, dp-lamination can offer the
highest possible protection for the lifetime
of the product incorporating this technology
laminated to many different substrates.
These substrates can then be converted
either in house at sister companies dp-
furniture and dp-components or externally
to fellow manufacturers in many different
market areas.
The continued passion dp-lamination feel
for the industry and their company, lead the
way in the production of laminated sheet
materials with surface finishes ranging from
woodgrain paper foil veneers through to
high-gloss and matt acrylics, under the
brands dp-décor, dp-specialist and ever-
expanding unique surface solutions of
dp-limitless.

www.decorativepanels.co.uk

STORACALL TELEACOUSTICS
WALL-MOUNTED PHONE HOODS
Open plan offices are ubiquitous
in workplaces today. While that
has many benefits, there are also
downsides, especially when it
comes to privacy.
By focusing mobile phone use
to an acoustic hood, users can
speak with increased privacy,
quiet and reduced distraction from
surrounding noisy environments
whilst at the same time not
disturbing and irritating other
people with the conversation.
Storacall TeleAcoustics offers a
range of T700 wall mounted phone
hoods covered with premium New
Zealand acoustic fabric with other
high-end fabric finishes available.
The colour palette is an exciting
mix of solids and mélanges across
the full colour spectrum that blend
in with the interior design of hotels,
restaurants, offices, cafeteria and
other public spaces.
Retail prices start from £328.
sales@teleacoustics.co.uk
www.teleacoustics.co.uk

January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 57

 Materials

BUILDING IN WET WEATHER

When Horsham-based construction, renovation and oak framing company
Cartwood UK was ordering materials for its latest project, merchant D W
Nye Ltd of Kingsfold, Horsham suggested trying Norbord’s CaberShieldPlus.
It is the first time that Cartwood had used a fully waterproof system like
CaberShieldPlus on their developments. “We were impressed with the
versatility of the product and how easy it is to use,” said Peter Woodley,
co-owner of Cartwood, “It handles well and there are no fussy storage
requirements for the sheets pre-fitting. It cut nicely with a circular saw and
fitted together without issue using CaberFix D4 adhesive”. Cartwood used
CaberShieldPlus over the entire first floor level at a property development in
West Sussex, and, as is all too common in the UK, the construction company
was challenged with the usual rainstorms. “We had experienced extreme
rainfall over the whole floor but we were really pleased it has dried without any
signs of failure”, commented Peter. CaberShieldPlus is a P5 flooring protected
on both sides with a tough, waterproof coating. It is BBA approved for 60 days’
exposure to the weather when used with CaberFix D4 adhesive.

01786 812 921 | www.norbord.co.uk | www.cartwood.uk

NEW PACKAGING MACHINE

Extruded polystyrene insulation manufacturer Ravago
Building Solutions have introduced a new stretch wrapping
packaging machine, installed for their Ravatherm XPS X
product range at the plant in Kings Lynn. This new packaging
equipment offers many benefits including: a stretched
process that results in less plastic being used making the new
Ravatherm XPS X branded packaging a more sustainable
option, significant energy saving benefits to support green
statistics, and protecting the product from ultra-violet light,
water and contamination damage. Customers will soon start
to see the new Ravatherm XPS X branding on all products
being delivered to both customer premises and direct to site.

www.ravagobuildingsolutions.co.uk | LinkedIn @
RavagoBuildingSolutionsUK | Twitter @RInsulationUK

EXTRAORDINARY BRICKS,
FOR EXTRAORDINARY BUILDS
UK Brick presents statement bricks. On paper they stand at just
38mm tall, and they are double the length of a standard brick.
They tick the ‘long format’ box. But they are not just long format
bricks. Whilst they tick every technical box, you have to lift them
off the paper to appreciate their beauty. There you’ll find an
unparalleled feel, and a surface texture that tells an honest story.
They are so special, they have a unique name to match. Ultima
Linear. It means ‘exceptional form, and a design led feel that calls
for extra special projects.’
So, it’s true. UK Brick waterstruck bricks are not right for
every build, but they make a statement in luxury housing, city
apartments, office buildings, museums and University buildings.
Ultima Linear bricks add serious personality to any residential or
commercial project, but remember, they are not for the mundane.
Architects and housebuilders love them, and our cities need
them. So if you’re working on an exciting project, UK Bricks would
love to hear about it.

www.uk-brick.com

58 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021


BUILDING SAFETY
Georgia Plant, Construction and Engineering team specialist,
Irwin Mitchell LLP, provides an overview of the Building Safety bill.
The independent review by Dame Judith
Hackitt following the Grenfell Tower
fire concluded that building and fire
safety regulations needed major reform
including the appointment of a building
safety regulator. The Government’s
Building Safety Bill (with the Fire Safety
Bill) seeks to make “the biggest change to
our building safety regime for 40 years.”
The Bill imposes a new regime for building
control from the design and construction
phase to eventual occupation which
will apply to all new buildings, with an
enhanced regime for those defined as
“higher-risk.” The Secretary of State will
have the power to define which buildings
are higher-risk but it is currently proposed
that all multi-occupied residential buildings
with a top storey over 18 metres from
ground level, or 6 storeys above ground
level should fall into this category.
The first major change is the introduction
of a Building Safety Regulator within
the Health & Safety Executive who
will be responsible for facilitating the
implementation of the regime for higher-
risk buildings, will be the building control
authority for higher-risk buildings and will
be responsible for enforcement. Time
limits for enforcement will be significantly
extended, from two years to ten years.
Failure to comply with new compliance
or stop notices will be a criminal offence
punishable by a fine and up to two years
imprisonment. Where the offence is
committed by a corporate body with
the ‘consent or connivance’ of a director
or manager, that person will become
personally liable.
The Regulator will have the power to
impose competence requirements on
Principal Designers and Contractors with
a duty on the person appointing them to
ensure requirements are met.
The Bill also introduces a power for the
Architects Registration Board to monitor
Legal Update
the competence of architects. Those not
meeting the competency standards can
be publicly identified on the register and
ultimately removed from the register.
The Bill provides for a new dutyholder
regime during the lifecycle of a higher-risk
building including those appointed under
the CDM regime. This will be implemented
by secondary legislation.
There will be a three gateway system for
planning approvals, to be implemented by
secondary legislation:
• Gateway One uses the existing planning
process before dutyholders are required
to be in place and its requirements will
be fulfilled by those applying for planning
permission for developments containing
a higher-risk building. The proposal will
need to demonstrate that fire safety
requirements which impact on planning
GEORGIA PLANT
have been considered and incorporated
Georgia Plant is in the specialist
into the proposals. Construction and Engineering
• Gateway Two involves the full design team at law firm Irwin Mitchell LLP.
intent being provided. This gateway is a She has been involved in advising
‘hard stop’ and construction cannot on construction contracts, disputes
begin until the Regulator is satisfied that and settlements.
the proposed design meets the
requirements of the building regulations
and does not contain any unrealistic safety
management expectations.
• Gateway Three is the final stage where
construction work has finished. At this point
all prescribed documents and information
relating to the finished, as-built, building.
Once the regulator is satisfied, a completion
certificate will be issued..
Although published in July 2020, the Bill has
not yet come into force and it is possible
that changes will be made to the draft.
Architects should monitor any changes to
ensure that they are able to comply with the
requirements once they come into force.
www.irwinmitchell.com
January 2021 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE 59
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60 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021

 Architectural Features
Architectural features Doors &
& Windows
Windows Storage

Our ultimate guide to the best suppliers and brands

To be considered for a space contact Holly on
07736 945689 or email holly.dennis@mediaone.co.uk
Architectural features Doors
holly.dennis@mediaone.co.uk
holly.dennis@mediaone.co.uk

FORMICA GROUP
FORMICA GROUP
Coast Road,
Coast Road, North
North Shields,
Shields,
Tyne & Wear, NE29 8RE
Tyne & Wear, NE29 8RE
Tel: +44
Tel: +44 191
191 622
622 0106
0106
Email: samples.uk@formica.com
Email: samples.uk@formica.com
Web: www.formica.com
Web: www.formica.com
Formica Group
Formica Group is is aa leading
leading global
global
manufacturer of
manufacturer of innovative
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surfacing
products for commercial
products for commercial and and
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residential applications. Formica®
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laminate is the
the ‘original’,
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Working closely
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designers and specifiers,
designers and specifiers, the the
company is
company is able
able to
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that respond to market needs and and
complement current
complement current design
design trends.
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Flooring
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THE TOP SELECTED SUPPLIERS

To see
SCHÖCK LTD LTD
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SCHÖCK
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Staniford
Bicester,
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Wedgwood Rd,
OX26 4UL4UL
Rd, advertsied here
Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26
SIMONSWERK UK
SIMONSWERK
Tel: 0121
0121 522
UK LTD
522 2848
2848
LTD Tel: 0845 241
Tel: 0845 241 3390 3390 contact
Tel: Email: design@schoeck.co.uk
design@schoeck.co.uk
Email: sales@simonswerk.co.uk
Email: sales@simonswerk.co.uk
Email:
Web: www.schoeck.co.uk
Web: www.schoeck.co.uk Holly Dennis
Web: www.simonswerk.co.uk
Web: www.simonswerk.co.uk The Schöck Isokorb range
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Web:
Catalano, anan Italian
Italian sanitaryware
sanitaryware DRU produces
DRU produces gasgas fires
fires and
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wood We can
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produce complete
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panels toto
Catalano, We
brand based
based near
near Rome,
Rome, waswas stoves that
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combine contemporary
contemporary order including
including cutting,
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and
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founded in in 1967
1967 inin Civita
Civita Castellana
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by a team of expert ceramic technology. They
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production, Catalano
Catalano isis aa market
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throughout the UK and Europe. Europe. DRU
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leader in manufacturing and fires and stoves have been specified
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radial matched
matched panels
panels to
to laser
laser
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its ranges
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by some of
of the
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an accredited RIBA CPD provider.

ZERO MISCONCEPTIONS
Adam Strudwick, Principal, Perkins & Will, delves into
why interior design is set for its own radical makeover.
Historically, interior design focused
on creating beautiful, fit-for-purpose
spaces. How this was achieved, and what
materials were used, were more of a
means to an end.
This is now changing, largely thanks to
businesses putting sustainability at the top of
the agenda to respond to the global climate
crisis, and the need to adopt sustainable
practices to meet government targets.
Interior design needs to adapt to this new
environment as although architects are
already making progress with designing
net-zero new builds, the interior fit-out
industry has not kept pace.
According to data from the Crown Estate,
interior fit-out is responsible for 40 percent
of energy in a building, while over 300
tonnes of fit out goes into landfill every day.
These stark figures show just how much
carbon and material is used in creating
and replacing workplaces; a problem
exacerbated by increasingly shorter lease
lengths in the commercial office sector.
Frankly, it is our responsibility as designers
to consider the environmental impact of
our decisions. But interior design can -
and must - successfully marry this need
for sustainability while still delivering
aesthetically pleasing interiors.
While we may not be able to exactly
replicate the interiors we have traditionally
labelled as aesthetically pleasing, we can
redefine what a beautiful interior is.
Aesthetics will always be important, but
we should, as an industry, be promoting
the idea that design that has a positive
impact on our planet, is by its very nature,
something to be celebrated. Sustainability
can then add an additional layer of beauty.
We must evaluate the provenance and
effectiveness of the materials we are using,
as the broader progress being made with
sustainable architecture will be limited
without corresponding action from interiors.
62 ARCHITECTURE MAGAZINE January 2021
THE LAST WORD
“There is also a
misconception that
waste happens
during the construction,
rather than the design
process”
Placing sustainability at the centre
of the design process is an essential
step to helping companies realise their
sustainability pledges. Research by JLL
shows nearly 25 percent of Fortune 500
companies have set ambitious deadlines
to become carbon neutral by 2045, with
Microsoft going even further and pledging
to be carbon negative by 2030.
One example of how sustainable design
can enhance the aesthetic value of a
space is through the use of greenery as
partitioning. Not only does this reduce
material waste, but it also creates unique
and thought-provoking environments,
which simultaneously support wellbeing
(for example, plants act as natural air-
filtration systems).
Another example is using locally sourced
timber joinery. Timber adds to the aesthetic
appeal of a building but can also be easily
disassembled which maximises flexibility
and minimises waste if a space needs to
be adapted.
There is also a misconception that waste
happens during the construction, rather
than the design process. However, a report
found that 33% of on-site waste is related
to project design. This means that reducing
waste should not and cannot be the sole
responsibility of construction companies,
and interior designers have a pivotal role
to play.
We sit in between investors, developers,
and suppliers, meaning we are perfectly
positioned to encourage conversations
at both a top-down and bottom-up level
about how to achieve net-zero design.
If everybody involved in the design and
construction process is accountable to
make micro-changes, we can create
long-lasting macro change.
As part of our recent net-zero interiors
pledge, we are offering as standard, a
net-zero embodied carbon or circular
design strategy up to RIBA Stage 2. We
will ensure that by the end of 2021, half our
projects, and by 2025 all our projects, are
100 percent circular. By 2030, all projects
will be Net-Zero Embodied Carbon as
demonstrated through a Whole Life Carbon
Assessment.
As we move towards sustainable design
being the norm, we must break down
traditional misconceptions and redefine
our standards of beauty so to be fit for the
green and clean age we are now living in.
www.perkinswill.com
BECAUSE
YOU CARE
ABOUT
INSPIRATIONAL
DESIGN
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Because that’s what you care about too.

BY
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