Cladding
panels fibre cement
Cembrit Blunn - Work of Art
Cladding panels from Cembrit Blunn form an integral element
in one of the world’s largest public art commissions at the
Young Vic in London. In an unusual project for the company, 180
black Cemtone fibre-cement cladding panels have been
hand-painted by celebrated modern artist Clem Crosby and
installed behind an eye-catching grid to form the outer wall of
the main auditorium.
Specially commissioned at the beginning of the theatre’s £12.45m
rebuild by Young Vic artistic director David Lan and architect
Steve Tompkins of Haworth Tompkins, the huge-scale artwork is
fundamental to the fabric of the building. The 180-panel
installation has been described as a ‘beacon for theatregoers’,
signalling the Young Vic’s return to The Cut in Lambeth, two
years after it closed for refurbishment. Steve Tompkins
explains, “We wanted to express the importance of the auditorium
as a separate object in the street, stay true to the robust
roots of the Young Vic building and allude to the live, one-off
events happening inside. We were nervous about a slick,
off-the-peg cladding system and so we started to imagine a
façade that would be absolutely unique to this theatre and to
The Cut.”
Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager at Cembrit Blunn adds, “This was
an unusual and exciting project for us. The Cemtone product was
highly appropriate for the effect the artist wanted to achieve
as it is available in a range of colours – including matt black.
Cemtone combines superior strength and durability, offering long
lasting performance with the minimum of maintenance costs and,
bearing in mind it is installed behind an extensive silver mesh
screen, Cemtone could be specified with the reassurance that it
will perform for the theatre with the minimum of fuss.”
The artist Clem Crosby hand-painted in a deep cadmium yellow the
black panels supplied by Cembrit Blunn. The design is a
constantly shifting surface that transforms the appearance of
the new building in changing light conditions throughout the
year. In the evenings, a soft light will illuminate the panels,
making the Young Vic a sight to behold.
Cemtone surface coloured cladding panels are suitable for a wide
range of external cladding applications including rainscreen
systems, cladding of ventilated facades, gable, eaves and fascia
boards, balcony lining panels, infill panels and pre-fabricated
constructions. The range is available in any RAL colour and the
high quality factory applied finish ensures water staining does
not deface the panel. Made out of cement and selected mineral
fillers, Cemtone Cladding Panels are environmentally friendly,
contain no hazardous substances, and no solvents. Cemtone is a
durable, easily maintained material.
The Cembrit Blunn range now includes the newly launched Incolor
through-coloured external cladding boards. The boards are
hydrophobated to prevent water staining and offer excellent
colour stability.
Using skills built up over 80 years, Cembrit Blunn offers a wide
range of cladding panels, corrugated sheet, natural and man-made
roofing slate. Quality levels at Group factories are rigorously
maintained to high standards with many products manufactured
under the control of ISO 9001.
Email:
eleanor@wildwoodpr.co.uk