Asbestos is a group of fibrous minerals used to strengthen materials. As such, it has been used in the construction sector until it was banned in many countries for health reasons. Today, it’s banned in more than 67 countries, including the UK and all the European Union members. The importation, supply and use of all […]
Do you know what technically constitutes as a mansard? As it can be difficult to define, legislation when constructing a mansard can be confusing. Here, we try to shed some light on this and explain the benefits of using natural slate rainscreen cladding. Popularised by architect Francois Mansart in the 17th century, a mansard roof […]
Does slate burn? For anyone who works with this rock, this is an easy question to answer. It even seems a bit silly. Obviously slate does not burn. In fact, until relatively recently it was quite common for workers to use it as a griddle to cook their lunch, by using fire to heat it […]
The word façade originally comes from the Italian word “facciata”, and is defined as the outside or all of the external faces of a building. The term is frequently used to refer just to the main or front face of a house. Along with the roof, it is one of the most important elements of […]
The roof is one of the most important parts in any building, acting as the first line of defense from all environmental hazards. Roofs have evolved over the years, with pitched roofs often associated with a more classical appearance. That said, the truth is that they remain the most common and efficient solution to ensure […]
We already know that there are several types of roofing slate in the world, and that they are not all the same in terms of quality and versatility. As we have said before, not all roofing slates are slate. Slate for roofing is a metamorphic stone that can be split into thin tiles to be […]
The CUPACLAD Design Honeycomb is becoming increasingly popular. Over the last few months, we have seen some spectacular projects featuring this natural slate rainscreen cladding system which is inspired by nature. A perfect design for any unique modern architecture project! The hexagons can be found everywhere in nature. From turtles’ shells to snowflakes and bees’ […]
Natural resources are the cornerstone of the construction industry and human civilization. Everything we use in our daily life has been extracted from nature, although, sometimes through damaging to the environment during the process. Natural slate is not an exception, but its extraction process has the lowest environmental impact among all the roofing materials. This […]
Enclave Headquarters, USA Location Fargo, North Dakota Year 2021 Architect Cuningham Group Architecture Inc Fargo rose to global fame in 1996 with the film directed by the Coen brothers. The never-ending snowy landscapes became the icon of the city, where the snow season lasts almost half the year. In such extreme weather, it is extremely […]
A well-installed slate roof can last without any problems for decades or even centuries. Slate is a durable, compact, dense, fine-grained rock, but above all a natural product, which makes it unique. Each slab is unique and slightly different from the rest with its own character. As it is a natural rock, slate is alive […]