Case Study

A beautiful and sustainable façade in Northern Ireland

Tim Robinson and Aron Ramage, GM Design Associates

Location

Northland, Derry, Northern Ireland

Material

Dekton

colour

Strato

Quantity

400 m2

Architecture / Design

Tim Robinson and Aron Ramage, GM Design Associates

Application

Ventilated façade

End date

2021

Thickness

12 mm

Dekton is the star of the new AXA building’s façade

The new building of the AXA insurance company in Northern Ireland boasts a contemporary façade with a combination of materials and textures. Designed by architects Tim Robinson and Aron Ramage of GM Design Associates and installed by Heron Brothers, the façade brings together design with efficiency and sustainability. The chosen surface was Dekton, not only because of its design, but also because of the technical advantages it offers for this type of application, making it the ideal material for façades.

“I was familiar with Dekton as I had seen it in the Cosentino Belfast showroom, as well as in some Heron Brothers projects, and it has always impressed me. As an ultracompact surface, it suits façades perfectly. The fact that it is resistant to harsh weather conditions and UV rays means that its colour will not fade with prolonged exposure to the sun”, explains Michael Connolly, Commercial Director at Heron Brothers and head of the project.

A trendy colour

The façade of the new building features a variety of materials, among which Dekton Strato, in perfect combination with the glazed areas and the aluminium cladding, stands out. Although ventilated façades are considered the best option in terms of sustainability and efficiency, the planning permission did not allow for a façade clad entirely with Dekton. The solution was to choose Strato, a grey shade with darker particles inspired by cement. “I met with the Cosentino team in Belfast and went through five or six different colours”, explains Michael Connolly. “Nayla, Lunar, Kreta and Keon were some of them. But in the end we thought that Strato, with its classic grey cement look, would be the ideal choice”. As for the anchoring system, from the beginning of the project it was agreed to use the Nvelope system for concealed fastening. KEIL KH anchors were used for the rear fastening of the Dekton panels.

A highly durable material

UV, frost, thaw and stain resistance. These are just some of the features that make Dekton a perfect material for outdoors and guarantee its colour stability. This was precisely one of the concerns that Michael Connolly posed to Darrel O’Kane, manager at Cosentino Belfast, when choosing the cladding material for the façade of the building. “Traditional materials always need maintenance, either to keep them clean or to repaint them in a couple of years”, he explains from his experience with other Heron Brothers projects. “When we looked into Dekton, we realised that this durable surface was perfect for this project”, affirms Connolly.

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“The fact that it is resistant to harsh weather conditions, scratches and UV rays means that its colour will not fade with prolonged exposure to the sun. Furthermore, Dekton is a carbon neutral product for its entire life cycle. It is good for everyone!”.

Michael Connolly

Commercial Director at Heron Brothers

A sustainable façade

“In addition to all of its technical advantages, Dekton is a carbon neutral product for its entire life cycle”, adds Michael Connolly. This means added value for any architectural project. Furthermore, it guarantees a long lifetime, which is also a plus in terms of sustainability, as the façade will not scratch or crack and therefore no intense maintenance will be required.