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type of building envelope. The majority of zinc roofs and walls weigh less than 10 kg/m2
which is far less than tiles, stone
or indeed lead, this not only reduces the environmental footprint but can also reduce the size of the substructure beneath the zinc. If you watched the 2024 Paris Olympics you may have admired how many Parisian monuments were used as backdrops for many of the sporting venues. This almost automatically means that zinc roofs and ornaments were also part of these backdrops, whether it be the quays by the Seine and grand boulevards of Paris or the many zinc ornaments, for example those found on the Grand Palais. Whilst zinc does still have somewhat of a heritage image in France and other parts of continental Europe it has far more of a contemporary image amongst UK architects. One such example is Sheppard Robson’s transformation of 68-86 Farringdon Road in London from a car park to a mixed use scheme, with an exciting streetscape which includes the use of pre-weathered QUARTZ-ZINC flat lock wall panels. Another site that has undergone a significant change is the Rosebank distillery in Falkirk. Michael Laird architects have beautifully blended existing structures with new ones clad in dark grey pre-weathered ANTHRA- ZINC panels. Last but not least and in a way going back to how zinc is used in the French capital, Simpson Brown architects designed a new visitor centre for Lincoln Cathedral which is designated as a Grade 1 listed site thus showing how in this case, QUARTZ-ZINC roofs and walls can be used in such a sensitive setting. In addition to BRE Environmental Product Declarations and extensive historic examples showing how durable and recyclable and therefore sustainable zinc is, third party accreditation such BBA system certificates and Brooft4 fire tests are also available. Additionally, architects can tap into a wide range of design services whether it be CAD drawings, BIM models or detailed information on substrates. Correct installation is vital and lists of recognised contractors who regularly install zinc roofs and walls in the many systems that are now available can also be issued. All of these contractors can also install the sometimes forgotten zinc rainwater systems.
Jonathan Lowy is operational marketing manager at VMZinc
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF OCTOBER 2024
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