NEWS ARTICLE: Salford skies

(BD, 10 October, 2007,www.bdonline.co.uk)

Conran and Partners lays claim to UK's tallest timber-clad tower

Conran & Partners, Terence Conran's architecture and design practice, has completed the UK's tallest timber-clad tower, in Salford. The 19-storey building stands opposite the Lowry Centre, and next to the proposed site of the new BBC buildings in Salford Quays. The main tower links to a nine-storey building, and both elements of the scheme are clad in a combination of almond-veneer panelling by Spanish supplier Prodema, and full-height glazing.

The external cladding is a high-density panel of resin-bonded cellulose fibre – also known as Bakelite – faced with natural wood veneer. “It has a warm tactile finish, and the natural variation in the wood helps the scale of the building,” says Tim Bowder-Ridger, associate director at Conran & Partners. “The only challenge was getting the wind loadings right. In the end we used enhanced fixings, which performed very well, even during heavy storms earlier this year.”

The development provides a range of one- and two-bedroom apartments, many with views over the waterway. The six top-floor apartments have roof terraces, while other flats have internal Juliet balconies. Flats with front-facing aspects have projecting balconies made of steel and glass. The scheme is Conran’s fifth project in Manchester.

For more information please contact: Emilie Lemons, Conran & Partners: cp@conranandpartners.com

October 2007