Pier recognition
14th June 2016

Aluminium façade systems from TECHNAL have been specified for a new visitor centre and gateway to the Bournemouth seafront that forms part of a £4 million redevelopment programme.

The resort has seven miles of coastline characterised by sandy beaches, a sea wall and a promenade backed by steep sandstone cliffs. Pier Approach, at the southern end of the Bourne valley that connects the town with the beach, is now being completely redesigned and redeveloped to create a family focused public space to complement investments elsewhere.

Developed by Bournemouth Borough Council, the new visitor centre at Pier Approach uses timber and glass. The transparent structure is fully enclosed in glass with a leaf-shaped roof, the underside of which is timber clad for acoustic and thermal performance. Technal’s MX SG, structurally glazed, faceted curtain walling is used around the building.

The curtain walling was specified by Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects for its robust, low maintenance properties to suit the marine environment and to aesthetically enhance the overall appearance of this attractive new public space.

Designed, fabricated and installed by LSC Special Works, the curtain walling system was glazed in solar control glass and has a grey, marine-specification finish to withstand the coastal elements.

3D modelling was used in the development of the design and to assist with its fabrication and site installation.

Paul Perry, Project Architect at Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects said: “We are familiar with Technal’s façade products, having used them on a number of previous schemes. This project had a very detailed performance specification that the glazing had to meet. This was particularly critical because of the building’s coastal location. We needed a very robust system that was also aesthetically pleasing.”

“The façade design also had some challenging geometrics which the Technal system could accommodate.  We are very pleased with how the glazing is performing and would definitely specify Technal again in the future.”

Technal’s automatic sliding door was used for the main entrance and single manual rebated door system to the rear elevation.

Features of the Pier Approach project include new hard and soft landscaping, interactive lighting, water play, and leaf-shaped canopies for shelter and shade. Both the visitor centre roof and the free-standing canopies have recessed channels to house accent lighting effects around the undersides of the structures.

Other parties involved in the project are Willmott Dixon as contractor, Mouchel as project manager, CEC Ltd as lead consultant and landscape architect, Hydrock as the engineer, Aecom as quantity surveyor, Ustigate as water play specialist and Michael Grubb Studio for lighting design.

www.technal.co.uk