Case Studies

Striking New London Offices

2nd April 2012

These new offices, just completed in East Finchley, London,  feature Cast Stone by Amber Precast.   An imaginitive combination of Wet Cast and Dry Cast stone has been employed by innovative London based architects, Parritt Leng.  Designed and built by the architects themselves Wet Cast Stone from Amber Precast was used for the window accents, boundary wall copings and pier caps.

Dry Cast Stone has been used for some of the more decorative elements of this fine 21st Century design statement.  Where repeated decoration was needed the architect chose to maximise mould utilisation and enjoy the benefits of the resulting cost savings.

The complimentary use of the two product types has ensured that the colours blend well together, whilst ensuring that the stonework for building was brought in on budget.

If you have a project that requires the best quality Cast Stone, be it Dry Cast or Wet Cast, please contact us.  All our products are designed to exceed all current UK Cast Stone quality Standards and conform as a minimum to BS1217:2008

Dry Cast and Wet Cast combine in new Library

25th April 2011

The Jean Duffield Library,

St Helen and St Katherine School, Abingdon.

In order to augment the educational excellence at St Helen and St Katherine School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, a new library has been built by Benfield and Loxley to the architectural design of London based architect Peregrine Bryant.  Specialising in the thoughtful adaptation of historic properties for contemporary use, Peregrine Bryant is also adept at applying classical and vernacular design principles to twenty-first century construction. A new building is conceived in relation to its setting – addressing the landscape, surrounding architectural fabric and greater environment.  This has been achieved to a very high degree of excellence in the execution of the design for the new library.  Taking reference from the 19^th Century neighbouring structure, the architect has used Amber Precast’s bespoke services to create an eaves detail that evokes the style and grace associated with the architecture of former times in a totally contemporary setting.  

The contractor and architect chose many aspects of Amber Precast’s range of products and services to create this new build.  For example, a thoughtful combination of Wet Cast Stones used for the decorative main entrance and Dry Cast Stone used for the more decorative elements combine to produce a façade that both compliments the historical surroundings whilst making a 21^st Century design statement that will stand the test of time. 

Wet Cast Stone was chosen for the main entrance owing to the strengths of the material.  With the ability to be able to reinforce the product with steel bars larger pieces of stone can be made.  This cuts down the number of joints in the finished design thereby giving a clean and contemporary feel to the main focal point of the structure.

Dry Cast Stone too has its part to play in the overall scheme.  With smaller aggregate size it has the attributes necessary to create fine detail and produce items that would otherwise be very costly to carve in Natural Stone. 

If you are considering a new build of any proportion, whether it be a commercial build or a private scheme, why not contact the team at Amber Precast who will be pleased to discuss your requirements.  The main office number is 01773 540707.

Dry Cast in the West Midlands

25th April 2011

Private residence in the West Midlands

Amber Precast’s Semi Dry Cast Stone manufactured to BS1217:2008 has been used to great effect on this new build house in the West Midlands.  It features a bespoke arched door surround working in harmony with standard design window surrounds, corbel blocks and band courses to the brickwork entrance pillars.  The colour of the stone chosen by the owners is standard Ivory.  The traditional solidity and use of stonework, sets off the multi coloured brickwork to create a pleasing aspect to the architecture of this contemporary house design.

External boundary walls are also of brick, capped with standard CP21 twice weathered and moulded copings, made to a bespoke radius at each end to produce a welcoming appearance to the driveway.  Standard pier caps of complimentary design to match the copings from the Amber Precast range were used for the brick piers with all this finished off with hand carved and painted name plaques to each of the curved walls.    

For more information on this and other projects please contact Simon Tibble at Amber Precast’s headquarters and purpose built Derbyshire manufactory on 01773 540707.

Amber Precast in Coutts conversion on the Isle of Man

6th July 2010

The project to transform the former Coutts Bank Off-Shore Headquarters in the Isle of Man into 16 lavish apartments is now nearing completion.  The conversion of the former banking headquarters is a unique and exclusive example of modern apartment living.  Coutts House incorporates a 12-metre swimming pool, sauna, spa and gym as well as a Concierge service and meeting room, all designed with luxury in mind.

An important part of the scheme has been the design and build of a new annexe to the existing building.  Amber Precast, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Cast Stone, has supplied a variety of bespoke stonework pieces to the project, which most notably included: Balustrading, two new Porticos, window surrounds, plinths, band course, quoins, copings and pier caps for the main building and the external works.

The significance of the work commissioned was vital to the overall finished look, feel and appeal of the project with the historical match, not only of the items against the original Coutts building, but also an exact colour match of the stone from the original building being of key importance.

Case Study: Mansion House

15th February 2010

Mansion House is an apartment building at the centre of a large housing development in Chartfields, Kent. The £18m project by Ward Homes features cast stone architectural dressings from Amber Precast Ltd. The exterior style of Mansion House was created with cast stone heads, cills, cornice, stringcourse, door surrounds and an entrance feature portico. Each cast stone detail was hand finished and vapour cured, to ensure quality and durability. Cast stone is ideal for adding character and personality to newly built housing developments. The material provides visually attractive features, which resemble the texture and finish of natural stone. The advantages of cast stone are that it is less expensive and is available within shorter lead times than natural stone.

Once a mould has been made for an item of cast stone it can be re-used to produce a number of identical stones. A considerable cost saving was made on Mansion House, due to the fact fewer moulds were needed to produce the large quantities of repeated stonework on the building. Ward Homes specified a bathstone colour cast stone to contrast with the redbrick work. Amber Precast manufactures bathstone to stock in its’ standard Homestyle range, for an even faster delivery to site. However, several items for Mansion House were bespoke due to unusual dimensions – something Amber Precastis no stranger to and is able to accommodate. For further information on cast stone products contact: Amber Precast Ltd, Meadowstone House, West Way, Somercotes, Derbyshire, DE55 4QJ. Tel: 01773 540707  Fax: 01773 528119 or e-mail: info@amberprecast.co.uk

Case Study: Hanbury Manor, Ware, Herts

15th February 2010

Hanbury Manor is Marriott Hotels’ top Hotel and Country Club in Ware, Hertfordshire. Laing Construction and the Architects RWP specified extensive ashlar walling to be used on the new extension. Although we weren’t provided with terribly detailed drawings we produced our own detailed sheets showing how the ashlar walling and other details would work. The ashlar walling was used to integrate elements of the design with window surrounds matching walling panels which, in turn, matched arches and quoin details. Even the herbaceous flowerbeds were topped off with matching copings. The end result is a building that works well and all parties concerned are extremely pleased.

Case Study: Gala Bingo Club, Chatham, Kent

15th February 2010

The Gala Bingo Club at Chatham, Kent was designed by the Henry Mein Partnership and combined the bold use of colour and geometric shapes to create a huge visual impact. A mix of ashlar cast stone walling with vibrant blue steel and curved glass was used to create a stunning new Bingo Club. The mix of textures made the building interesting and the blocks were laid in a random coursed way to break up the elevation, thus giving the building dimension. The Architects wanted to create a bold piece of contemporary architecture hence the use of bold colour and geometric shape.

Case Study: Brook House

15th February 2010

Brook House situated in the historic village of Repton in Derbyshire, has been refurbished and converted into 16 apartments, with an extended newly built section at the rear. Originally an old Victorian boarding house, Brook House is one of thirty-listed buildings in Repton and was therefore subject to planning restrictions. The exact style and period of the building had to be maintained both in the replacement and replication of original stonework. Mainstream Properties were able to comply with planning authorities by the specification of Cast Stone, which is an approved material, supplied in this case by Amber Precast Ltd. Mainstream Properties were eager to retain the original Victorian architectural features in the refurbishment of Brook House, ensuring the existing design was not compromised. The design of Brook House is in line with PPG3 planning guidelines, which give preference to re-developments asking that they be of a high quality design and layout with the most efficient use of land. Each of the apartments at Brook House was individually designed to maximise the potential of the original Brownfield site and the new three storey mews houses were adjoined without detracting from the listed building or its surroundings.