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 | | ZINC CHOSEN FOR ROOFING AND CLADDING WATERFRONT ARTS CENTRE IN ORKNEY | | | VM Zinc (Umicore) Ltd | | 13/12/2007 | | | | As a roof covering, zinc offers exceptional flexibility as it can be formed into complex shapes and used at extremely low pitches. Stimulation of interest, however, has been driven by media attention in projects such as the £4.5 million refurbishment and extension of ‘The Pier Arts Centre’ in Stromness, architects Reiach and Hall having used VM Zinc Plus® in an Anthra-zinc (black) pre-weathered finish for both roofing and cladding. Architect David Anderson commented ”It was chosen for its known performance in a typically harsh marine environment. The form of new building to extend and link the existing Pier Arts Centre buildings comprises a simple two and a half storey pitched roof structure, recalling the various seafront warehouses that pepper the Stromness foreshore. In order to signify the public use of the building, we chose to abstract this form by cladding most of it in one material. Zinc provided continuity of material for the south facing roof, rear wall and gable, without gutters. It also fulfilled our desire to clad the ribs to the fully glazed north facing roof and wall. The ‘Anthra’ colour from VM Zinc is very muted and responds well to thin, low northern light revealing subtle changes in plane and texture. The standing seam details also provide a subtle texture to the building surfaces when viewed from a distance. Closer inspection is rewarded by the richness of the hand-built quality. The flexibility of standing seam zinc cladding could extend to junctions with the adjacent existing linked structure. The resulting building and its construction is not traditional yet it has a resonance with the place, a zinc-clad building that is a natural extension of the vernacular of the shore. The debate with the local planners has focused on the degree to which this building will emerge as a modern intervention into the street beyond. | |
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