ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1826, BLACKBURN CATHEDRAL HAS BEEN A BELOVED PLACE OF WORSHIPS AND HAS AMASSED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS IN NORTHERN ENGLAND. IN JUNE 2012 IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT PLANS TO CONSTRUCT A £8.5 MILLION CLERGY COURT AND CLOISTER GARTH TO GO ALONGSIDE THE GRADE II LISTED BUILDING WERE TAKING PLACE – THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE UK FOR NEARLY 600 YEARS.
The structure now stands proud, combining a traditional aesthetic with modern building systems to striking effect.
Global architect firm, Purcell, took on the task of finding new building materials that complemented the existing structure and a walling solution that would minimise wastage on-site. The answer to this was found in Wienerberger’s Porotherm clay block walling system. The system offers a winning combination of precision-engineering, efficiency and simplicity, making it a perfect fit for a project that needed a meticulous and speedy build.
The build itself was a challenging one: the town centre location meant it was vital for materials to maximise storage capacity and ensure that access to the compact site remained as easy as possible. Porotherm offered an effective option because its thermal strength, density and all-round performance ensured it could be the only block type required, thus easing the pressure of both storage and access. It was also important that the build was efficient so as to minimize disruption to the surrounding town - and again Porothem was perfectly suited to that objective. The precision engineered clay block has a unique interlocking design that removes the need for mortar in the vertical joint, making it possible to build to story height in a single day.
Richard Brown, Category Marketing Manager – Wall, at Wienerberger commented:
“Being part of Heritage projects is always something we love doing, especially when it includes enhancing an existing structure of real social and historical significance. A system like Porotherm offers mix of the traditional and the innovative to create some wonderful benefits: a natural lifespan of over 150 years, reduced time on-site, reduced on-site wastage and superior thermal and acoustic performance.”
Canon Andrew Hindley, Project Client, said:
“When Wienerberger’s Porotherm clay walling system was specified by our architect, he assured us that this modern building material would work well with the adjoining Grade II building. And he was right - it has enabled not only a speedier build but also proven how well modern engineering can combine with the historic fabric of the Cathedral.”
Chris Murphy, Project Manager, John Turner, commented:
“Given my experience of using Porotherm on this very challenging build, I would have no doubts in using it in future projects for John Turner“.
