An innovatively
designed new retirement complex in Winchester has become the latest
state-of-the-art development to feature bronze rainscreen cladding from Proteus
Façades.
Chesil Lodge is a
£16 million Extra Care facility that provides contemporary style homes for
local residents of Winchester aged 55 and over.
The development,
commissioned by Winchester City and Hampshire County Council, features striking
Proteus’ HR TECU Bronze rainscreen panels on the upper levels and traditional
Winchester red brick on other elements.
During
the design stages a series of workshops were held between Winchester Council
and designers PDP Architecture in conjunction with local architect’s Design
Engine, where it was envisaged that the building should be developed to be as
sympathetic to its surroundings as possible.
Proteus HR TECU
Bronze was specified because the material’s ochre, brown and red tones
perfectly complement the brickwork colour to create an aesthetically pleasing
yet unobtrusive façade.
Working alongside
Main Contractor Galliford Try, Proteus Facades fabricated the panels, which
have a lightweight aluminium honeycomb core structurally bonded between two
thin gauges of metal, with the outer veneer in this case being the specified
TECU Bronze material. This rainscreen system minimises weight loadings on the
underlying structure whilst helping the panels achieve near perfect optical
flatness, strength and rigidity. The cladding panels were installed by MK
Facades.
The rich diversity
of the TECU range of copper and copper-alloy materials such as bronze allow
unparalleled variety and high-quality aesthetics for architecture especially as
the material weathers and mellows over time. This subtly changes the façade’s appearance
as it develops a tough, maintenance-free and beautiful patina, as will be the
case at Chesil Lodge.
During the
weathering process, the matt surface of the Proteus HR TECU Bronze rainscreen
cladding panels develop an oxide layer that will provide additional protection
from rain, frost, wind, UV rays and other external elements. This brings with
it striking colour variations through an entire range of warm russet tones that
change depending on the level of natural light and time of year.
The overall building
design is based around a clever syncopation of two and three storey blocks that
feature integral balconies, which, in combination with the Proteus HR Bronze
rainscreen cladding and glazing elements, visually interrupt the skyline, avoiding
what could otherwise have been a large, monolithic structure.
This massing of the
development and the façade treatment are what sets this project apart, creating
a development that is sympathetic with its location. PDP Architecture
orientated the building so that it faced on to the rear of Chesil Street along
Barfield Close, again, a measure to avoid imposing on existing buildings and
the local area.
All factors which
resulted in the development securing the Best Inclusive Building Award at the
annual Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Awards 2019. In addition, Chesil
Lodge has been shortlisted for the 2019 SPACES Civic Building of the Year award.
Proteus Facades
offers one of the widest ranges of TECU copper and copper alloys in the UK.
This includes TECU Brass, TECU Copper, TECU Bronze, TECU Gold, TECU Zinn, a
tin-plated copper that offers all the advantages of copper but weathers from
silver to subtle grey tones.
All the materials
are available pre-patinated, which bypasses the gradual weathering process, so
that the cladding panels take on the beautiful earth tones from the day the
façade is installed. Proteus Facades also offers a range of other surface
treatments that avoid, delay or accelerate the weathering process.
Chesil Lodge
comprises of 52 self-contained Extra Care Units supported by a number of shared
facilities including a reception area, cafe/restaurant facility, a lounge and
activity rooms, as well as a Day Care Unit which allows families respite from
care for the morning or afternoon.
