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CPD Seminar "An Introduction To Natural Roofing Slate"
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For further enquiries email: info@ssq.co.uk
Case Study
1. Seamless Integration
SSQ's Del Carmen was specified on the recently completed extension of the Cassal Hospital in Richmond, Surrey. The main hospital building is centuries old and Grade II listed. It stands within an English Heritage conservation area. The specification of the roofing material was subject to stringent requirements. Lincoln Barker, of Daryl Jackson Ltd., the architects for the project, explains further: ”The new wing adjoins the original brick-built, slated building, so we had to get as close a match as possible to meet the approval of both the local planners and English Heritage.” Del Carmen was the perfect match. ”We found SSQ Del Carmen slates to be a good, natural product, and excellent value for money; the planners agreed!”
2. Sensitivity & Support
Del Carmen natural slates from SSQ Ltd have been specified for the roofs of a sensitive housing development at Steamer Quay Wharf in Totnes, Devon. The durability and aesthetics of the slate, as well as the support and expertise of SSQ were the main factors in the selection. A wide range of slates were considered by the designers, R&S Howes Partnership, who specified Del Carmen for a number of key reasons. ”Del Carmen slates come with a lifetime guarantee of 75 years, which was important.” States Stuart Howes, Project Architect. ”Not only that, but the on-site services promised - and - delivered by SSQ enabled a smooth and easy work flow.”
3. Community Conservation
Del Carmen natural slates from SSQ have been widely specified for a new housing estate at Stoke-sub-Hamden in Somerset. The housing has been designed to conform to the Prince of Wales's belief that developments of this nature should be sensitive to the local vernacular building styles and the needs of indigenous communities. The selection of Del Carmen emphasises their ability to provide quality, tradition and value for money within an environmentally sensitive village location. Richard Robinson, Managing Surveyor of the developers, Countryside Homes states ”SSQ Del Carmen provided the high standard of slate - in terms of quality and aesthetics - that was required, at a competitive price”.
4. Faith in SSQ Slate
Two architectural designers based in Yorkshire have shown their faith in SSQ natural slate by specifying the material for projects that are poles apart in terms of architectural context. Del Carmen slate was specified by Architects & Designers One17AD for the roof of the Huddersfield Methodist Mission, a new build project funded by Kirklees Metropolitan Council and Henry Boot Inner City Ltd. The challenge was to design a two-storey building to complement the three-storey buildings on each side, within the Huddersfield Town Centre conservation area. The difficult blending of scale and linkage with the existing building was achieved along the 9m high front elevation by means of a glass wall forming a transparent shroud over the entrance link, a parapet-style wall and an octagonal stone-faced tower with a 20m high, lead-clad spire. The use of natural materials was central to the design ‘celebration'. The external leaf comprises natural split-face walling stone, with ashlar details such as plinth, frieze, string, parapet and tower. The Del Carmen blue/lack slate roof, fitted over a timber and steel support structure, rounds off the traditional feel of the design. The architects insisted on the material because it met strict life-cycle cost objectives and sensitive conservation area requirements. In a design celebration of a different denomination, Del Carmen slate was specified by Archi-Structure for a new Madrasah or Islamic School on behalf of Mount Pleasant Islamic Trust. Described as the largest purpose-built Islamic school for the under 14s, the designer's objective was to achieve a smooth line of roof curvature with the shallowest pitch possible and no valley gutters. Archi-Structure worked alongside SSQ's design and specification team to solve the problems of alignment and symmetry associated with curved roofs before settling on the blue/black Del Carmen slate (400 x 275mm) to cover a roof area of 1450 sqm. Both of these projects reflect the versatility of SSQ slate and the company's ability to address a broad church of architectural interests. On the one hand the slate contributes to an ‘English heritage' architectural statement; on the other, it is central to the achievement of a mosque-like architectural style (‘Madrasah' is the name of a Muslim theological school arranged round a courtyard and attached to a mosque, found from the 11th century on in Egypt and Iran.) The Del Carmen quarry, in the Leon region of Spain which is recognised as having high quality slate seams, has been in operation since 1983 and the slate is available exclusively in the UK from SSQ. It is a traditional, blue/black, riven slate with a distinctive texture, noted for the rare characteristic of a longitudinal grain. It will not fade in sunlight, is unaffected by changes of temperature and can withstand environmental pollution. As with all major SSQ brands, Del Carmen conforms to the stringent French P32/302 Classe A standard, the BS 680 part 2, is tested to American ASTM S1 performance criteria, and has a life expectancy guarantee of 75 years.
5. Ogilvie Homes
Two architectural designers based in Yorkshire have shown their faith in SSQ natural slate by specifying the material for projects that are poles apart in terms of architectural context. Del Carmen slate was specified by Architects & Designers One17AD for the roof of the Huddersfield Methodist Mission, a new build project funded by Kirklees Metropolitan Council and Henry Boot Inner City Ltd. The challenge was to design a two-storey building to complement the three-storey buildings on each side, within the Huddersfield Town Centre conservation area. The difficult blending of scale and linkage with the existing building was achieved along the 9m high front elevation by means of a glass wall forming a transparent shroud over the entrance link, a parapet-style wall and an octagonal stone-faced tower with a 20m high, lead-clad spire. The use of natural materials was central to the design ‘celebration'. The external leaf comprises natural split-face walling stone, with ashlar details such as plinth, frieze, string, parapet and tower. The Del Carmen blue/lack slate roof, fitted over a timber and steel support structure, rounds off the traditional feel of the design. The architects insisted on the material because it met strict life-cycle cost objectives and sensitive conservation area requirements. In a design celebration of a different denomination, Del Carmen slate was specified by Archi-Structure for a new Madrasah or Islamic School on behalf of Mount Pleasant Islamic Trust. Described as the largest purpose-built Islamic school for the under 14s, the designer's objective was to achieve a smooth line of roof curvature with the shallowest pitch possible and no valley gutters. Archi-Structure worked alongside SSQ's design and specification team to solve the problems of alignment and symmetry associated with curved roofs before settling on the blue/black Del Carmen slate (400 x 275mm) to cover a roof area of 1450 sqm. Both of these projects reflect the versatility of SSQ slate and the company's ability to address a broad church of architectural interests. On the one hand the slate contributes to an ‘English heritage' architectural statement; on the other, it is central to the achievement of a mosque-like architectural style (‘Madrasah' is the name of a Muslim theological school arranged round a courtyard and attached to a mosque, found from the 11th century on in Egypt and Iran.) The Del Carmen quarry, in the Leon region of Spain which is recognised as having high quality slate seams, has been in operation since 1983 and the slate is available exclusively in the UK from SSQ. It is a traditional, blue/black, riven slate with a distinctive texture, noted for the rare characteristic of a longitudinal grain. It will not fade in sunlight, is unaffected by changes of temperature and can withstand environmental pollution. As with all major SSQ brands, Del Carmen conforms to the stringent French P32/302 Classe A standard, the BS 680 part 2, is tested to American ASTM S1 performance criteria, and has a life expectancy guarantee of 75 years.