Making an Entrance

A bold sign, strategically positioned against a back-drop of coloured cladding panels, double glazed windows and powder coated trims signals the way to enter the recently completed Llanedeyrn Hub extension. The new building houses a library and cafe on the ground floor and offices for South Wales Police on the first.

Curved steps form a route down from the road with an outside seating area bordered with laser cut railings.

Rain Screen Cladding

Trespa cladding panels and powder coated glazing coming together on the east elevation wall at the Llanedeyrn Hub extension.

Ceiling Study

Clients wished to explore the visual effect of a suspended ceiling made up of individual acoustic panels in an open plan office area. This visualisation shows a symmetrical plan arrangement of rafts, where suspension wires, cable trays and ventilation ducts can be glimpsed above. The height of individual panels varies in a random manner.

Windows in Modular Cladding

3-D computer modelling has been used to assist the coordination of detailing by cladding installers, window suppliers and panel manufacturers. Special head and sill transoms will frame out the vertical battens above and below windows/fixed glazing panels to provide weathering and continuity for the ventilation of the rain-screen system.

Llanedeyrn Progress Update

The steel frame went up at the Powerhouse Hub extension just before Christmas. Now the ground floor slab is being poured on a deep layer of thermal insulation and a Radon barrier. Further Radon protection measures involve the placement of a couple of sump boxes, connected to underground drainage pipes. If Radon is measured above a critical level at the completion of the project then an extract fan can be installed on the end of the pipework to draw out the gas from below the slab.

Random Distribution

JIA are preparing detailed production information for an extension to a community hub, conceived by City of Cardiff Council architects, in a suburb called Llanedeyrn. The main contractor is Ian Williams Ltd.

Trespa laminate panels on a timber rain screen framework have been selected to clad the first floor because proprietary powder coated insulated panels, as originally specified, could not house the seemingly random arrangement of opening windows and fixed glass modules.

This pixelated elevation theme is going to be reinterpreted into the planting plan for landscape surrounding the new building. The intention is to provide a yellow/orange quilt of planting beds which will change colour as the seasons progress.

As a post script on randomness, we initially used numbers generated by a website called 'random.org' but found the results had to be tweaked to make them appear more unevenly distributed.

Through the Curved Window

Our client wanted more appealing windows for her studio/workshop in Hotwells, Bristol. The old single glazed joinery spoiled the appearance of the building and let in a lot of cold in the winter.

JIA prepared a design to break up the large expanse of glass into smaller panes with curved tops and introducing a cornice, fascia, capitals and pilasters.

Works inside the studio included re-wiring, installation of a composting toilet and redecoration.

Planning and Conservation Area Consent was granted for the proposals, which were brought to a successful conclusion by EJ McGrath Construction.