LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS
87 Porcelain performs inside and out
Jamie Gledhill of Brett Landscaping looks at how porcelain paving can deliver on aesthetics and function in both domestic and public realm settings in the context of Covid
W
hen creating community or shared spaces, architects are balancing a raft of overlapping
priorities: from place-making, community cohesion and connectivity to sustainability and even public health.
The Covid-19 pandemic has added a sense of urgency to long-pondered questions about what civic leaders and property owners want our buildings and public realm to do. Architects and designers need to look at how building and space design must adapt to accommodate a future where people can gather, live, work and socialise, while the building design at the same time forms a part of an airborne disease control strategy.
The easy answer may be to sacrifice form for function, but with architects challenged to create schemes and homes that can have true longevity, they understandably do not want to compromise a reduction in aesthetic finish.
In this environment, the use of porcelain paving can provide building designers with an answer to maintaining quality while ensuring that floor space, inside and outside of a property, can adapt to many different functions.
Why porcelain?
Porcelain paving has long been used for high-end garden patios but advances in technology mean that large developments can benefit from the low-maintenance qualities of porcelain paving – inside and out.
Porcelain paving uses the aesthetic of natural stone while adding the benefits of modern paving manufacturing. Using innovative manufacturing techniques, a composite porcelain unit can be made at a thickness of 60 mm, which makes it suitable for use in areas with very high pedestrian traffic.
Originally an Italian development, porcelain tiles are made by selecting suitable raw materials, such as fine clays, ground to make them incredibly fine, combined with a suitable mix design and a
Greenford Quay
precisely controlled manufacturing process. This includes finely grading the right type of clays and firing them at an extremely high, controlled temperature in a kiln. Porcelain is increasingly popular for large projects due to its stylish appearance. However the material’s lack of water absorbency also helps with stain resistance which means that porcelain tiles are easier to clean and maintain. Having a very low porosity, this enhances the frost resistance and provides longevity to the installation. Porcelain is ideally suited to use outdoors as it is extremely strong, hard-wearing and low maintenance. Using such paving can bring a unique aesthetic, with a mixture of light and shade. A premium finish can be achieved which will retain its looks for years to come. Its versatility in working in an indoor and outdoor setting also provides architects with an elegant way to design large flexible spaces that can adapt to environmental factors.
Modern manufacturing techniques mean that there is now a solution for large projects without compromising on the quality of finish
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ADF FEBRUARY 2021
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