Cosentino Flagship Project
Archway Tower: concrete gives way to Dekton
Grid Architects
Location
London, United Kingdom
Material
Dekton
Colors
Danae
Quantity
3,000 m2
Architecture / Design
Grid Architects
Developer
Essential Living
End date
2019
Thickness: 8 mm
12 mm
An innovative facade for a traditional building
Archway Tower has been a feature of the London skyline since 1963, when the 17-storey building was first erected. According to the trend of the time, the original facade was clad using a combination of concrete and glazed panels.
In 2016 the tower underwent a complete refurbishment that involved updating its facade, completely transforming the exterior thanks to the ultracompact surface Dekton by Cosentino.
Cladding needs are covered with Dekton
Archway Tower’s new skin uses a total of 3,000 m2 of Dekton in the colour Danae and 12mm thickness. This new aesthetic has helped the office block to blend into its surroundings - a neighbourhood that is very close to the centre of London and which, in recent years, has seen significant architectural and urban changes. Danae’s matte finish helps to preserve the classic quality of the original building, however.
The tower’s refurbishment has not only been about looks: it has also been converted from an office block to a residential building. Understanding that its needs have changed, the developers decided to remove the concrete panels in favour of Dekton® cladding, using insulation technology by StoVentec.
A surface built to withstand inclement weather
Thanks to its new ventilated facade, Archway Tower now has both thermal and acoustic insulation. The comfort provided by the building since its refurbishment goes hand in hand with its improved appearance. The design of the Dekton cladding panels in the main elevations follows a regular grid of openings.
Aesthetics and engineering combine to form Dekton’s technical characteristics, such as its high resistance to UV rays and staining, and its colour stability, which combine to make it the perfect material for facades.
Dekton by Cosentino Certifications
Dekton has obtained the ETA 14/0413 (European Technical Evaluation) document and the CE marking for its external ventilated facade cladding. Thanks to its properties, Dekton surfaces can be perfectly incorporated into facades using different types of concealed fixings made from stainless steel or aluminium./p>
Cosentino’s ETA (European Technical Assessment) includes the characterisation and experimental evaluation of the suitability of the Dekton surface for use in cladding facades: resistance to wind, impact and fire, durability and the characterisation of the fixings necessary to be properly incorporated onto the facade. The performance of exterior cladding for ventilated façades with the CE marking has been assessed by a third party and it presents proven performance characteristics in compliance with European methods.
Dekton has replaced heavy concrete and is complemented perfectly by StoVentec’s insulation technology