8 FRONT COVER SPOTLIGHT
Perforated Metal Cladding
Where form meets function
THERE ARE FEW CLADDING SYSTEMS OR SOLUTIONS THAT CAN
PROVIDE THE SHEER SCOPE AND DESIGN VERSATILITY OFFERED BY
PERFORATED SHEET METAL CLADDING. A BOLD CLAIM, PERHAPS,
BUT ONE WHICH THE WORLD’S LARGEST PRODUCER OF
PERFORATED METALS, RMIG, IS KEEN TO DEFEND AND SUPPORT
THROUGH THE DIVERSE RANGE OF INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL
PROJECTS THAT ALREADY USE THEIR SYSTEMS.
“
J
ust consider the fact that metal can be for 170 students as well as a theatre and
formed and cut to meet almost any was refurbished using more than 4500m
2
of
specification as well as including perforated aluminium cladding under a
different sizes and shapes of perforations and scheme designed by architects Vincent
you begin to get some idea of the reasons Parreira and Antonio Virga.
why metal cladding is being specified by an
increasing number of architects,” explained Night time lighting and illumination was also a
RMIG’s architectural specialist, Paul Quigley. consideration for international architectural
“However, it’s not just the mechanical and engineering consultants, the Scott Wilson
properties of metal that is providing the appeal Group, when designing the four-storey White
to architects and designers, but the freedom Star House building, which is situated beside
of design that it can bring,” he added. Thompson Dock, the last place that the
famed ‘Titanic’ ocean liner was berthed
One of the first advantages of perforated before leaving Belfast. More than 1.3km
2
of
metal cladding to be recognised and decorative aluminium cladding, which was
exploited by architects was its ability to supplied to site in 42 different panel sizes by
interact with natural and artificial light both as RMIG, with each panel incorporating
a tool for night-time creative lighting effects hundreds of 10mm square perforations that
and as a method of providing versatile solar act as diffusers for low level interior lighting.
shading during the day.
While RMIG has a range of standard
By using perforation patterns to create perforation patterns and sizes that can be
geometric shapes, logos and even two- produced in a range of different materials,
dimensional renderings of complex images, the company is also regularly called upon to
the use of creative exterior and interior lighting produce ‘custom’ or bespoke designs, to
has been used in a number of projects to give meet the specifications demanded by
added appeal to a building and reinforce its innovative architectural designs. In these
position or role within the built environment. In situations, the material selection can be
addition, reflective metallic surfaces have also influenced by both practical and aesthetic
been considered by some architects as part of considerations, while the inspiration for the
their designs to allow ambient light from street perforation patterns can come from some
lamps and passing cars to create their own unusual sources as discovered by RMIG on
constantly changing ‘lightshow’. two recent projects in France and Norway.
One particularly striking example of how Reichen & Robert Associates, the architects
perforated metal façades from RMIG helped behind the recently opened Ruban Bleu retail
give a new lease life to an existing building is and commercial centre in St Nazaire, took their
the Maison du Portugal building in Paris. As inspiration for the pattern in the structure’s
White Star House,
Thompson Dock
part of the Cité Internationale Universitaire de 1,300 m
2
of cladding from the town’s nautical
Paris, the building provides accommodation heritage in ship-building and port operations.
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