For the landmark £6 million conversion and new built extension of one of Stockport’s most iconic buildings, The Royal Oak Brewery, developer Equity Housing wanted to create a stunning contemporary exterior. To create a contrast between the new buildings and the existing brewery building, a modern façade was required. Carea’s cladding system met the precise requirements.
Designed by TADW Architects and built by affordable housing specialist Southdale, the development is a combination of new build construction, demolition and historic conversion. Set to provide 51 affordable and high quality apartments, the development of the brewery is part of a wider regeneration of part of the town.
To create a clear distinction between the original brewery building and the new extension, a range of cladding materials were specified. This included grey rainscreen cladding, white render, Terracotta tiling and Carea’s Acantha cladding.
Specified in grey Rhodes matt finish, the 14mm thick Acantha cladding was installed by specialist contractor Broseley Building Services. Forming a crisp contract to the other cladding materials, the Carea cladding was used to create a base around the new extensions along with a vertical strip up the outer elevations.
A key feature of Carea cladding panels is their ease of installation. Supplied with specialised horizontal rails that fit onto vertical cladding supports, the panels have precisely routed grooves on the top and bottom for a simple fix that’s totally seamless – ensuring the good looks of the project.
Developed over 30 years by the company’s expert technicians, Carea panels comprise of a cutting edge composite that contains 95% mineral elements. This means they can be recycled at the end of the usable life , making them a highly sustainable cladding solution.
As well as helping to provide an outstanding look for the landmark scheme, the Carea cladding also provides excellent thermal benefits. Thanks to its high insulation properties, it helps buildings to optimise their thermal efficiency for a higher BREEAM rating.
Once installed, the panels offer a range of further benefits. Most importantly for residential schemes, they hold superb acoustic performance. This ensures peace and quiet for residents. The panels are also exceptionally low maintenance. Their non-porous composition makes them resistant to climate and graffiti and they can be easily cleaned.
Modern urban residential projects strive to represent the best in contemporary design. Key to this is creating a positive visual impression that elevates the area, ensuring a good atmosphere for locals. By artfully utilising Carea’s attractive cladding at this iconic development, the designers of The Royal Oak Brewery have done just this – and benefited from a host of enviable performance benefits at the same time.
