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EXTERNAL ENVELOPE Natural slate, natural beauty


Allan Liddell of Cupa Pizarras explores the inherent beauty, as well as the environmental credentials, of natural slate


late is formed through the regional metamorphosis of mudstone or shale under low-grade conditions. This happens when shale or mudstone is exposed to heavy pressure and heat from tectonic plate activity, which metamorphoses its clay mineral components into ‘mica minerals’. These are the main components of slate, and determine the colour, depending on the minerals and the amount of them within any given location. These mineral components vary greatly from location to location which is why different quarries will produce different coloured slate, offering architects a palette of beautiful, natural tones.


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As a 100 per cent natural material, slate is a sustainable choice. Independent studies, such as one carried out by the Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE, University of Bath), have confirmed that it is the material with the least negative effects on the environment. Unlike other materials and roofing adhesives that leave volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air around the building for years after being installed, natural slate uses only water in the production process. We have taken this one step further as recycled water from a closed circuit is used, to prevent water wastage and further minimise the environmental impact. Furthermore, the extraction of slate, if done correctly, can have a minimal effect on its surrounding environment. For instance, most manufacturers, as part of the production process, will conduct geological, mineral and geotechnical surveys and sample testing. This is to determine the quality of the slate and the potential reserves of the deposit, so only high quality slate is extracted. Once the reserves of slate have been exhausted, the quarries can also be restored by hydro-seeding native plants, which will ensure the natural recovery of the local flora and fauna. Slate’s unquestionable beauty, structural


quality and environmental credentials mean it is often the preferred choice from a design


ADF OCTOBER 2018


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stance. For instance, a private residential, new-build in Cambridgeshire recently required a circular roof to accommodate the property’s shape. 12.5 metres in diameter – with a circular, 30º pitch meant the project required a durable product that could easily be cut. Starting with 24 inch x 18 inch slates at the eaves, working up the roof with 20


SPLIT


Split House in Sussex, featuring Cupa Pizzaras’ Cupaclad slate cladding


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