黑洞社区

A. Because it keeps the chimps chirpy

When asked to design a comfortable home for Edinburgh Zoo鈥檚 chimpanzees, Cooper Cromar Architects decided to do the natural thing and take some of the jungle direct to the site in the form of timber rainscreen cladding made from sustainable tropical black sucupira.

Far from primitive, James & Taylor鈥檚 Senses Timber system combines short, tightly toleranced planks that can each expand and contract while still being securely held in position. The timber is also managed for sustainability by the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure the forest and woodland environment is protected and enhanced.

B. Because it takes the rough with the smooth

Rough meets smooth at the new Liverpool Science Park where Burlington鈥檚 honed natural stone cladding panels contrast with the random walling stone on the 4,500m2 office facility.

Burlington鈥檚 Kirkby blue/grey cladding panels are set within an expressed stainless steel frame, designed by architect Falconer Chester Hall to complement the building鈥檚 clean line architectural style and contrast with the random walling stone used at the building鈥檚 base. Each 1,000mm x 650mm panel, installed by CGK Systems of East Kilbride, sits within a specially adapted rainscreen grid that incorporates protruding stainless steel fins.

C. Because it comes in one piece

The latest addition to Dundee University鈥檚 Institute of Sport and Exercise is the 鈥楧rum鈥� 鈥� an elliptical extension that unusually houses rectangular studios and provides a front for the campus building.

When specifying the cladding, architect Ron McHoul of Nicoll Russell Studios chose Euroclad鈥檚 Linear facade system because it 鈥榤et our requirements in terms of panel size and 鈥渙ne piece鈥� panelling鈥�, plus aesthetic and technical requirements.

The system comprises a series of cassette panels fixed to vertical support rails and is made of metal composite materials, including aluminium and copper, to increase flatness and rigidity. The system can be installed in wet and dry jointed variations.

D. Because cutting corners won't do

The sinuous curving form of the new 拢27m Failsworth School in Manchester is a radical departure from the regimented rectangles of its Victorian forerunner. One of the flagship buildings under the government鈥檚 黑洞社区 Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, the school incorporates a covered curving 鈥榮treet鈥�, flanked by a two-storey block containing the school offices and classrooms and four other classroom blocks.

Corus Panels and Profiles鈥� Guardian composite panels using Colorcoat HPS200 pre-finished steel were used for both the walling and the complex roofing system where complex faceting meant the 120mm panels could follow the curved facade of the building footprint. For subcontractor Briggs Amasco, this helped overcome the biggest challenge of constructing the five rotundas topping staircases and lightwells throughout the complex.

E. Because it saves energy

Sustainability was high on the agenda during construction of Northumbria University鈥檚 拢47m City Campus East buildings, which has achieved an 鈥榚xcellent鈥� BREEAM rating.

Architect Atkins specified AA110 curtain walling from Kawneer for the main facades of the first two storeys of the two main buildings as well as for the walls of a lightwell that runs through the Law and Business School building.

鈥楾he lightwell allows natural light to penetrate into the middle of this deep-plan building, reducing the need for artificial lighting and therefore saving energy,鈥� said Natalie Sarabia-Johnston, associate principal architect at Atkins.