La Charroterie

ARCHITECT - LOVELL, OZANNE CHARTERED ARCHITECTS

CLIENT - DANDRA LTD

FABRICATOR - STRUCTURES (UK) LIMITED

CONTRACTOR - RJ FALLA

PROJECT VALUE - £7m

LOCATION - La Charroterie, Guernsey

Architectural aluminium provides the architect or specifier with the ability to achieve even the most demanding design concept. Computer simulation and technological advances in production techniques mean this high strength to weight ratio metal can house the most complex of curved, facetted, vertical or horizontal facades. Aluminium answers many of the environmental concerns that the construction industry is being demanded to answer: Are materials sustainable, re-cyclable and offer longevity? Aluminium, an abundant material, is probably the most well known re-cyclable material and its longevity is renowned. The first anodised example was used on the top of the Empire State Building.

With other advances in glazing materials such as reflective, mirrored, coloured glass and panels, aluminium seamlessly houses these options in slim colour co-ordinated finishes, such as polyester powder coating in a multitude of RAL or Syntha Pulvin colours or anodised finishes. As extruding processes have advanced, framing can be designed to provide one colour to the outside of the building with another colour to the inside of the building: dual colour profiles. This opens up a realm of design options for the architect and enjoyment of the building for the client.

Building regulations have placed the onus on the architect to ensure that buildings are energy efficient. Aluminium, yet again provides a dramatic design solution with its use as Brise Soleil, which can quite simply be said to be the ultimate in form meeting function. Dramatic aesthetic styles provide feature to the building, whilst providing solar shading to minimise the impact of solar gain in the summer and in the winter maximising light and solar gain.

The use of aluminium in the façade with colour, tinted glass, Brise Soleil and panels can be seen in this recently completed project by Lovellozanne & Partners in Guernsey for their client Dandra Ltd. Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems were specified, providing integrated curtain walling, door, window and ground floor framing suites with one of their approved fabricators, Structures (UK) Limited, completing the fabrication and installation.

The concept was to design the site to maximise residential and office accommodation on the development and "La Charroterie" now forms a stunning addition to the local area. The area has the inherent beauty of Guernsey, with surrounding wooded areas and stone walling. The use of green meant that the building now forms a natural part of the landscape.

Specifiying Comar's aluminium systems was a natural solution. Comar offer a range of ground floor framing, louvres, Brise Soleil, curtain walling and door suites that seamlessly integrate, ensuring that the project could be polyester powder coated, then delivered to Structures (UK) Limited for fabrication, from a single architectural aluminium source.

Comar 6 stick-build, step cut 50mm curtain walling was selected to create the large glazed facades which create dramatic features along all four elevations of the 7 storey building. The curtain walling was housed in complementary high-glass pink granite that was imported from Spain. Comar 6 was polyester powder coated in a dark grey RAL. A feature of Comar 6 is the wide range of beads that allow glazing materials of different widths up to 70mm to be incorporated into the same façade, allowing the design of "La Charroterie" to incorporate the glazing of green tinted Pilkington's glass and spandrel panels with sage backing.

To create the main entrance, Comar 3 ground floor framing system was used which integrated with Comar 7 swing doors.

Comar supplied the over-slung, fixed Brise Soleil, from their Climate Active Façade Range, which extended the pitch of the aluminium roof as well as providing solar shading.

Structures (UK) Limited were involved at the design stage, providing critical design advice and drawings with calculations from Comar's Technical Department. This meant that costly site deadlines were met and, most importantly, the achievement of the original design concept.