Kraft dust off BRE Ravenscraig Research Centre
September 7 2012
Kraft Architecture has completed work on the BRE Research Centre at the Ravenscraig Innovation Park - achieving one of the highest UK scores for a net zero carbon building in the process.Acting as a visitor centre for the ‘community of the future’ it will also double as a research hub for monitoring building performance and renewables on each of nine exemplar houses to be built on the site.
Pre-fabricated using CCG’s modular iQ system from homegrown timber, the structure is clad in reconstituted stone rainscreen with cross laminate timber walls.
Novel features of the build, which helped it earn a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ accreditation, include a phase change ceiling to assist with cooling and a whole building mechanical ventilation heat recovery system.
Bruce Newlands, Kraft Director said: "This will hopefully demonstrate that homegrown timber can be used successfully for light industrial and commercial applications when used alongside other technologies, we hope that the building can act as a catalyst for others to build innovative housing solutions on the rest of the site"
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4 Comments
#1 Posted by p on 7 Sep 2012 at 12:05 PM
That's re-constituted stone?
#2 Posted by b on 7 Sep 2012 at 12:31 PM
Product called 'Petrarch' from CEP Cladding - 7mm thick board made to order sizes with in this case a composition of natural slate dust, resin & glass reinforcing fibres.
#3 Posted by p on 7 Sep 2012 at 12:57 PM
Very nice slight variation in tone over the surface of it - Does it weather?
#4 Posted by b on 7 Sep 2012 at 13:11 PM
Yes I agree, the slate helps and I think it will weather a little but only very subtly. very tough material, a lot harder than traditional laminate / cement fibre based cladding panels although there is a small studio also on the site that uses Eternit's new Eter-colour product which has an even more apparent 'velvet' sheen, almost chalkboard effect, see more if it here www.hoos.co
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