Kebony receives the head teacher’s nod of approval at Colindale Primary School
Colindale Primary School in Barnet, London called on the expertise of architectural firm, Sprunt to deliver a fresh design for the visionary premises. The architect selected Global Cleantech 100 company, Kebony’s award-winning sustainable substitute for tropical hardwood and preservative-treated timber as an integral element of the innovative project.
This September saw the anticipated cutting of ribbon to welcome pupils back to the school, where they are now able to enjoy creative new learning spaces, specialist facilities and cutting-edge technology. Most importantly, the children are able to see materials with inspiring green credentials in practise, which was an integral part of the brief.
One of the eco products used was Kebony – a hardwood-replacement preferred for its environmental qualities and non-toxic attributes combined. It not only added to the aesthetics, but its durability, resistance to decay, long life span, easy maintenance and cost benefits were also well suited to the nature of the project. Reflecting on the choice, Robert Sprunt, managing director of Sprunt commented: ‘There were three important priorities when selecting Kebony. Firstly, it guarantees a long lifespan; secondly it meets our green aspirations as it is responsibly sourced and FSC-certified and, last but not least, whatever we used had to look good for the lifespan of the building. We believe Kebony is an excellent product, which doesn’t cost the earth.’
Developed to withstand the harsh Norwegian climate, Kebony demonstrates comparable properties to tropical hardwoods, without the need for costly treatments and ongoing maintenance – an important consideration for any public sector project. The Scots Pine cladding was used in the development, acting as a robust and effective rain screen on a large proportion of the buildings, including the main and pool halls.
Enveloping the school, the material gives the establishment an air of rustic charm, which complements its leafy surroundings. The soft texture and natural appearance creates a contrast between the hardness of the traditional brick and the transparency of the glazed curtain walls, forming an unusual combination of materials. Over time this look will evolve to acquire a subtle silver-grey patina. It adds character to the build and bridges the all important oak tree branches that lie at the heart of the scheme with the modern forward-looking approach of the new school.
At the time of completion, Jan Terje Nielsen, director of marketing for Kebony commented: ‘We are very pleased to be involved in this exciting project, heralding the future of cutting edge sustainable building. Our product is perfectly suited to projects such as this – environmentally friendly, hard-wearing and cost effective – and, because of this, we are seeing growing numbers of enquiries in the public sector and beyond.’
Architects, contractors and developers alike are increasingly turning to high quality, durable and environmentally-friendly products within their designs. This development offers an opportunity for future generation to witness how a striking result can be achieved using a product that won’t cost the earth.
Contact
Kebony: www.kebony.com
