Project Spotlight -
Shackerley supplies engineered stone façades at Kew Bridge West
Shackerley has demonstrated the extraordinary design potential and versatility of its Sureclad® ventilated cladding offer by supplying an innovative engineered stone façade system for a challenging installation at Kew Bridge West, an exclusive development of 336 luxury apartments in North London.
2400m² of fully prefabricated Sureclad® engineered stone cladding in a natural limestone colourway and honed finish has provided a premium quality aesthetic for the lower storeys of the nine apartment buildings that form this stunning complex, designed by Stockwool and developed by St James, part of the Berkeley Group.
Two circular towers called for smooth and flawless rounded façades, presenting Shackerley and Kent based specialist façade installation contractor Stanmore with a significant technical challenge. Shackerley's Sureclad® Hang On system had to be customised to cater for large format curved panels, cut to a radius from solid blocks of engineered stone. In addition, elegantly faceted façades were required to clad curved elevations of adjacent buildings.
Shackerley and Stanmore worked very closely together, developing bespoke solutions at every stage, from the design of the Sureclad® façades to the meticulous scheduling and non-standard palletisation of the prefabricated system for safe delivery to site. Stanmore's installers also visited Shackerley to receive expert training in the use of the Sureclad® system.
As this was the first time that the Sureclad® system had been used in conjunction with curved engineered stone panels, the two companies arranged for the bespoke Sureclad® system to be tested at VINCI Technology Centre UK where it was shown to meet all NHBC criteria.
Stanmore Commercial Director Peter Baker said: "Close collaboration was absolutely crucial. We hadn't worked with Shackerley or its Sureclad® façade system before, and it was also the first time that either party had worked with curved engineered stone panels, so there were many challenges to overcome.
"However, by meticulously planning and modelling the installation and working hand in hand with Shackerley's technical team, we achieved superb results for our client. The overall experience was very positive and we're looking forward to working on other Sureclad® projects in the future."
Construction Director at St James, Brian Paterson, commented: "It was only when we came to value engineer the Kew Bridge West project that Shackerley's system was brought to our attention. As a result of switching the engineered stone specification to Sureclad®, we've undoubtedly benefitted from a more flexible and lighter façade solution than originally planned and, most importantly, from very substantial cost savings, whilst still achieving our architects' original design intention.
He concluded: "We're delighted with the results and the project has received very favourable feedback from colleagues throughout the Berkeley Group. The quality of Kew Bridge West has also been recognised within the wider industry, and in October, St James received an NHBC Seal of Excellence Award for achieving the highest standards in house building at this prestigious development."
