Kalwall translucent cladding has been extensively used to clad the multi-million pound Exeter Road leisure development in Bournemouth, designed by architects Broadway Malyan.
Almost 1,000m2 of Kalwall have been used in the scheme which has transformed a former bus station into a 10-screen multiplex cinema, café, restaurant and retail complex.
Recognised as a key material in this project, the translucent cladding envelopes the building across all nine elevations and encloses the external fire escapes. At night, the cladding is said to create a warm, inviting and ethereal glow, providing a beacon for visitors while mitigating any issues with light pollution to the surrounding residential and commercial buildings.
Kalwall says it is frequently specified for this type of project where high-end performance and quality need to be coupled with aesthetics, practicality and a long life-cycle. Kalwall says that not only does it provide a neat and cost-effective solution, but it also offers complete line-of-sight protection, maintaining privacy for building occupants while bathing the interior with diffused daylighting regardless of the weather.
Kalwall says it will also eliminate shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system is said to enhance simplicity by doing away with the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is flooded with natural daylight which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced. The standard Kalwall 70mm thick panel offers insulation up to 0.28W/m2K – equivalent to a cavity filled solid wall.
