The development achieved Level 3 of the Code for sustainable Homes, which represents a 25 per cent improvement in energy efficiency over Building Regulations Part L1 (2006).
Marley Eternit’s Natura Plus was installed as a rear ventilated rainscreen cladding system that partly helped the building meet the energy saving measures required by the Code. This cladding system is unsurpassed in helping designers meet thermal, condensation, noise and fire protection requirements.
Natura Plus offered an aesthetic and cost effective method of cladding the exposed upper levels of the buildings. The cement grey through-coloured fibre cement panels, which have a smooth, pure surface with subtly textured colours, were specified because they provided a maintenance-free alternative to traditional cement render.
Natural Plus is available in nine standard colours and is resistant to insects, mould growth and fungi.
Cedral Weatherboard provided aesthetic detailing around the balcony areas on the apartments as well as various feature walls throughout the development. Cedral Weatherboard, which is made from fibre cement and has an appealing textured surface, is a rot-free alternative to timber. It is available in 22 standard colours plus six woodstains and can be produced in any factory approved BS colour.
The light oak woodstain selected for Concept House helped to create the visual appearance of timber without any of the ongoing maintenance issues.
Neil Traylen, Senior Partner at NRT Carpentry Contractors, the company that fitted the cladding, said: “Marley Eternit’s Natura Plus and Cedral Weatherboard were simple to install and created a really stunning appearance. It is a light-weight, easy to handle dry-fix method that will provide the client with a long term facade solution.”
Concept House is a mixed-tenure scheme, comprising 235 apartments across five units along with 18 three-storey houses.