The properties were built to replace a 1918 bungalow that originally occupied the site. This was bought by Alison Dudgeon and her husband who wished to replace the run-down bungalow with two multi-storey properties. However, a key stipulation from the local planning department was that the new construction had to maintain the look and feel of the existing street, so a clever design was required to create two properties, with the appearance of one, single bungalow.
The architects at AR Design Studio proposed two semi-detached properties that fan out at the rear into a Y shape, providing two homes that deliver both privacy and space. Appearing as a single-storey pitched roof bungalow from the front, the steeply sloping landscape allowed for the properties to have a lower ground floor, providing the two-storeys the client desired.
For a contemporary finish and to ensure the design continued to be contextually appropriate and complement neighbouring properties, natural slate was requested by Alison for use on the roof and for the cladding on the upper storey. CUPACLAD 101 RANDOM was specified by AR Design Studio.
Anna Rezin, Architectural Designer at AR Design Studio, said: “This was our first experience of using CUPACLAD and the natural slate played an important role in helping to maintain the aesthetic and rhythm of the surrounding environment. We have since gone on to specify CUPACLAD on another design too. We would highly recommend the slate cladding, as its external finish is sleek and all the fixings are concealed.”
CUPACLAD is a fully BBA approved, Class A1 non-combustible, back ventilated and drained façade system, offering architects and specifiers a myriad of design options from traditional to contemporary. The system is sustainable and ecological, thanks to the use of a natural material and recyclable aluminium substructure as opposed to prefabricated products. In addition to this, the natural slate goes through a simple production process that requires no chemicals and less water and energy than alternative roofing products. This sustainable approach has resulted in the slate gaining BRE Global Certification.
The CUPACLAD 101 series is designed with an invisible fixing system to ensure that the natural slate is the main feature of a façade. CUPACLAD 101 RANDOM specifically comprises three different slate sizes installed horizontally on to the aluminium frame, creating a dynamic composition and utilising self-drilling screws to ensure quick and easy installation.
Regarding installation, the building contained several complex details including the join between the roof and the clad wall, hidden gutters and a low pitch.
The contractor, Joe Mew of Mew Developments, commented: “Although there were challenging aspects of the design and I had never worked with CUPACLAD before, I found the slate worked well with the design and left a nice finish.”
The homeowner, Alison Dudgeon concluded: “We love the finish and would highly recommend CUPA PIZARRAS natural slate to others.
