Sovereign Quay in Cardiff Bay pays homage to the area's seafaring past. The architect Goddard Manton likens the building to a futuristic white cruise liner and the specification of horizontal steel "ship's railings" and external white render certainly give the building a nautical air. The sharply defined building is softened by five curved roof structures, which distinguish Sovereign Quay from other waterfront developments that Goddard Manton has created for Barratt in London Docklands.
The composite roof system is Topdek from Ward and features a corrugated steel lining, insulation and single-ply membrane. The terraces are built of reinforced concrete slabs and built up with insulation, asphalt for waterproofing, and paving slabs and plant beds. The landscaped areas are managed by the building owners and are designed to help create a barrier between each penthouse terrace. The scheme steps down from seven storeys in the south-east to three in the north-west and comprises 60 apartments. There are commercial units on the ground floor, which are designed to breathe life back into the newly regenerated Cardiff Bay area.
Project team
Developer
Barratt Homes
Architect
Goddard Manton Partnership
Landscaping
Kings garden services
Structural steelwork contractor
Dollcast
Roofing asphalt
Briggs Roofing and Cladding
www.briggsroofing.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 900
Roof build-up
Ward Topdek
www.wards.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 901
Insulated render
Sto
www.stocorp.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 902
Louvres
Merlin Sunscreen Systems
www.merlinsunscreening.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 903
Windows
Denver Construction Services
www.denverconstruction.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 904
Handrails
Dragon Engineering Services
01202 639328
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 905
Tough-tastic tiling
The Nu-Lok tiling system has been introduced into the UK. Nu-Lok Roofing Systems claims the metal batten fixing system is particularly suited to the composite panel market. Nu-Lok claims that its patented link design means fewer tiles are required. It also says there is less wastage during installation because of the resilience of the metal components and ceramic tiles. The system includes Italian ceramic tiles that Nu-Lok says will never fade or degrade. The vitrified tiles are also impervious to freeze/thaw cycles, are guaranteed colourfast and will never warp or lose their shape. The system can also be used with traditional slate tiles and has been used for some years in Australia, Ireland and the US.
Nu-Lok
www.nu-lok.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 907
How to break falls
Tarmac has created the SafetyDeck lightweight platform system to stop falls from height. The SafetyDeck is formed from lightweight sections and is designed to be laid temporarily over precast concrete flooring. SafetyDeck is available for hire or buy and is delivered and installed on site between 24 and 48 hours before work is due to commence.
SafetyDeck
www.safetydeck.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 908
Heavenly Slate guide
Eternit has published a guide to its range of slates. The Heavenly Roofs guide provides product and technical information on Eternit Slates. It details the slate sizes and colours, and includes information on dimensions, lap and pitch tables as well as the strength and thermal qualities of the slates. There is also information on the Building Regulations and details of Eternit's Technical Advisory Service.
Eternit Slates
www.eternitslates.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 909
Absorbent underlay
Glidevale has introduced a new impermeable roofing underlay. Protect A1 absorbs condensation that is not removed by roof space ventilation and releases it when the temperature conditions improve. It is UV resistant, rotproof and waterproof, according to Glidevale. The Cheshire-based company has also published a guide to ventilation in warm roofs, called Important New Technical Recommendations – Condensation Control in Warm Pitched Roofs, which explains how to comply with Building Regulations when designing a warm roof. Glidevale manufactures both permeable and non-permeable underlays.
Glidevale
www.glidevale.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 910
Cornwall slate look-a-like
www.ssq.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 906
Solar power on cloudy days
www.schott.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 911
Green tiles of random colour
www.sandtoft.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 912
Trends
Green roofs have now taken firm root in both the public and private housing sectors. Housing 21 is the latest social housing client to opt for a grass roof. The 40-unit sheltered housing block at Ash Grange in Liverpool has a sedum roof, which consists of Alpine rock plants and requires less maintenance than turf roofs. It is laid over a felted roof with a slight pitch and a drainage layer that retains moisture. The sedum roof was specified by Housing 21 to improve the view of occupants in two existing high-rise blocks. John Sherrington, the project manager at main contractor Gleeson, says that the Erisco-Bauder system was user-friendly from a builder’s point of view as it could be craned into position and then rolled onto the roof. For architect Silvia Ullmayer, a sedum roof compensates for a lack of garden at her new terrace home in Dalston, East London. Ullmayer and fellow architects Annalie Riches and Barti Garibaldo live in the three-house terrace they designed. As in Ash Grange, the monopitch sedum roof gives neighbours a pleasant view of their new development. Ullmayer says she was also keen on the 20-year warranty supplied by Erisco-Bauder. Canmore Housing Association has specified a green roof system over a barrel-vaulted roof for a residential scheme in Duff Street, Edinburgh. Architect Hackland & Dore says the roof was specified because of its sustainability and the fact that it offered high thermal and acoustic standards. English Nature has published a 61-page guide to green roofs, which can be downloaded from its website. It outlines the benefits of the system and includes information on the design and construction of grass roofs and case studies. Erisco-Bauder
www.erisco-bauder.co.uk English Nature
www.english-nature.org.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 913
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