SIG Design & Technology has been Highly Commended in the 2021 SPRA Awards for their work with roofing contractor AJ Lucas on an unusual project in Finchley London.
Tucked behind terraces which front Regents Park Road the neglected site, which was originally a timber yard, has been transformed into Spencer Courtyard, a private courtyard of three single storey houses and refurbishment of an existing office block into apartments.
Turning what was once a derelict eyesore into a sustainable and lush haven were key considerations for the architects kennedytwaddle on this project. Closely overlooked by the neighbouring properties the architects adopted a sympathetic design to offer the most privacy which included orientating the houses and opting for a palette of natural and tactile materials. Referencing the surrounding area and industrial use of the site, the pitched roofs with a lush green roof are a dominant feature on this project.
Chris Twaddle, director at kennedytwaddle explains the reason for this. "The decision to plant a green roof makes this project, the wildflower blanket attracts local flora and fauna as well as providing drainage control and thermal benefits to the building. What was originally a harsh concrete wasteland scattered with ramshackle buildings has been transformed with 75% of the site now covered in greenery.”
Covering an area of 600 square metres, the 13 individual roofs are separated by narrow, membrane-lined and pebble-filled gutters. The roof area proved to be a technically challenging installation due to the pitch and design of the roof and the roofing materials had to be mechanically fixed to prevent the membrane from rolling.
SIG Design & Technology worked closely with the architects and contractors AJ Lucas to specify IKO’s Armourplan PSG, a glass tissue reinforced PVC membrane which provides heavy-duty protection under the green roof. The membrane has been designed to include a fleece-backed layer which adds a separation level for additional functionality.
Unusually, the plywood roof deck is exposed internally in place of a conventional plasterboard ceiling. This meant that the membrane could only be mechanically fixed along the rafters to maintain a fixing-free aesthetic on the exposed inner face of the plywood.
The roofline has been further articulated by crisply detailed metal capping trims, which are applied to each gable end. Fabricated by AJ Lucas, the trims were supplied with IKO Armourplan already bonded to the top surface.
Ross Finnie, Sales Director at SIG Design & Technology said: “The SPRA Awards recognise high levels of workmanship and excellence in single ply projects. Designing and building Spencer Courtyard is a clear example of how it is possible to create new homes in the most unorthodox pockets of land. This proved to be a very technically challenging project and by working in partnership with the architect and contractor has overcome the difficulties to produce this stunning project.”
