Architects Stiff and Trevillion selected Proteus HR panels in Aurubis Brass and Bronze for the roof terrace. These materials were chosen for their durability, minimal maintenance, and the elegant patina they develop over time. The bronze and brass panels blend seamlessly with the surrounding architecture, maintaining a cohesive style with the stone walls and enhancing the building’s aesthetic appeal.

The project incorporated a crown-like brass-clad rooftop extension with a distinctive profile echoing the main elevation. This new structure features a pleated facade that adds depth and dimension, breaking up the mass of the rooftop and creating an intriguing visual effect when viewed from different angles. The complex installation process involved crafting 11 different components, including bespoke panel faces tailored to fit the specific curvature of the roof structure.

Given the central London location, careful planning and coordination were crucial. Deliveries were meticulously scheduled to fit together on-site, ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding area. Each panel was individually manufactured and grouped to ensure flawless on-site assembly. The collaborative efforts between Proteus and installers OAG Ltd ensured timely delivery and precise installation, overcoming the logistical challenges of working in a busy city centre.

The project was completed on time, within budget, and to the client’s utmost satisfaction. It met the highest standards of safety, functionality, and aesthetics. This thoughtful refurbishment not only preserved the building’s historical elements but also reimagined it into state-of-the-art offices, creating a dynamic workspace that respects its rich history while embracing contemporary functionality.

The revival of Arding & Hobbs breathes new life into this historic building, enhancing its natural features without compromising the original architecture. By carefully preserving and highlighting its historical elements, the building has been transformed into a modern workspace that blends heritage with contemporary design. This project exemplifies the successful integration of traditional craftsmanship with innovative engineering, setting a benchmark for future refurbishments of historical buildings.

The existing stands on the ground’s Nursery (eastern) End had become inadequate due to the needs of modern spectators, with restricted sightlines in the lower tiers and upper tiers entirely exposed to the elements.  A decision was therefore taken to replace them with two new build stands, named after the famous cricketers Dennis Compton and John Edrich.

WilkinsonEyre architects were commissioned by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for the £53m redevelopment of the new stands, which flanks either side of the Stirling Prize-winning Media Centre.

The curved, elliptical form of WilkinsonEyre’s design makes the stands appear like ‘objects landed from outer space’, while providing a range of additional seating and hospitality areas (increasing the previous capacity from 9000 to 11,600 seats), new concourses and circulation areas which overlooking the Nursery Ground, public realm and landscaping allow the spectators to enjoy the facilities and hopefully a good game of Cricket.

Proteus HR Solid and Perforated cladding panels in PPC aluminium with a RAL 7040 finish were specified for the corporate facilities at the rear of Compton and Edrich. A number of these panels had to be curved to accommodate the radius of the hospitality spaces.

The wall build-up on these elements comprises an SFS frame with cement board and insulation. A Proteus railing system comprising of bespoke helping hand brackets and the company’s 50x50mm mullion grid allow the panels to be installed in a landscape pattern, giving the hospitality boxes on level one some horizontal definition in contrast to the portrait feel of the primary roof cladding.

Around the first floor soffit, Proteus SC Perforated panels were introduced in a 3mm aluminium with a RAL 9003 finish. These were installed at an angle to generate a zone for the various M&E routes that were required between the two stands. They extend at an angle from the service access up to the projecting first tier level. These angled soffits are again on a curve that follows the overall stand design. This required a number of elliptical and shaped panels manufactured to specific locations on the detailed plan.

The positioning of the panels and structural connection points meant that there was a relatively large drop down from the concrete slab to accommodate M&E services. A combination of L and U aluminium extrusion sections and brackets developed a standard framework to which  Proteus’s 125mm x 50mm mullions could connect to. The spanning capacity of the 125mm x 50mm section allowed a reduced framing structure which improved the access zones for the M&E installation trades.

This considered approach to the structure and panels allowed for a simplistic installation through an agreed installation sequence, allowing the manufacturing process to keep the sites teams busy during a condensed installation periods created by the Covid pandemic.

As cladding projects go, Compton and Edrich stands have generated more than their fair share of interest. And deservedly so. Blending harmoniously with the previously constructed Media Centre,  the aluminium clad, elliptically shaped, 24 metre high designs soften the bold media box and blend the new with the historical aspect of this great amphitheatre for the home of cricket.

Based in Eltham, the new Vue Cinema development is designed by architect Chapman Taylor in collaboration with contractor Wilmott Dixon. The building forms a major part of Greenwich Council’s ambitious plans to transform the high street into an entertainment destination for the community, with the aim of increasing footfall and business opportunities in the area.

Proteus Facades fabricated flat and pre-curved Proteus SC perforated panels, with a bespoke pattern designed by Chapman Taylor in a light grey (RAL 9006) finish, for the upper levels. The single skin panels were manufactured from a sheet of 4mm aluminium with a polyester powder coat (PPC) finish, which offers the ideal combination of high strength and a good resistance to chemicals, chipping, scratching and other service wear as well as corrosion and UV weathering.

The bright façade complements illuminated and glazed elements of the building whilst masking the box like structure of the upper storey. The smooth corners on the first floor, achieved through innovative use of the curved cladding, offers a subtle nod to the Art-Deco cinemas of the 1930s; paying tribute to a time-honoured design with modern materials and methods of construction.

Each panel, installed by Express Group Ltd., is supported by the Proteus aluminium carrier system and ancillary components anchored to a cantilever steel frame from the underlying masonry structure. These allowed the panels to be hooked-on from behind, accentuating the sheer, smooth façade interrupted only by the perforated design.

The six screen cinema, which accommodates 731 standard seats and 126 VIP seats, is complemented by two restaurants and a ‘Sky Bar’ which wraps around the building on the first floor and cantilevers the lower levels. The underneath of the terrace is clad in bespoke, twisted soffit panels manufactured by Proteus Facades, with a dark grey (RAL 7023) PPC finish.

Eltham Town Centre is part of the council’s focus on four sites within the borough which also includes Charlton Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich town centre; all identified as key places that can best promote their overall vision for growth and prosperity across the district.

During development, the cinema provided more than 100 apprenticeship weeks across the construction, supply chain and design, and 60 per cent of the total spend has been spent within 10 miles of the project.

Proteus SC is an engineered panel system that is offered in either solid, perforated or mesh panel formats. By utilising an extensive range of metals, colours, textures and forms it can add another dimension to any façade cladding project. The system can be manufactured in a variety of metals and from 1mm to 6mm in thickness. For internal applications Proteus Facades can provide contrasting fabric inserts and an acoustic insulation layer can be encapsulated within the perforated panels.

Although Spanish City closed in 2002, it has remained a local beacon and so became the focal point of North Tyneside Council’s £36m seafront masterplan, undergoing a £10m restoration and regeneration to bring it back to its former glory.

As a listed building protected by English Heritage, it was essential that the redesign by ADP architects retained as many of the building’s original features as possible, including the copper Terpsichorean female figures or ‘dancing ladies’, which were restored and positioned on top of two redeveloped Cupolas.

Alongside this was the addition of a bold extension featuring Proteus SC perforated TECU Patina, which was applauded by the judges when ADP’s vision for Spanish city secured a RIBA North East Award 2019.

ADP Architects specified TECU Patina for Spanish City, a copper material that features the natural green patina from the outset, as it created a beautifully aged aesthetic that complements the ‘old’ copper finish of the dancing ladies.

The homogenous pattern featured on the Proteus SC perforated cladding covers the entirety of the new extension at Spanish City, making it difficult to discern the position of the different floors and giving the structure a monolithic presence that is able hold its own against the imposing dome on the original building.

Choosing round perforations or ‘holes’ was no accident, it creates a contrast with the right angles of the surrounding cityscape, but mirrors the internal layout. A defining feature of the building is its extremely complex geometry, in fact only four rooms have walls in a square format, every other space is curved or a polygon, including the impressive rotunda which the panels were designed to meet.

The Proteus SC TECU Patina perforated copper cladding panels were fixed over extensive glazed areas at Spanish City, so both sides were visible by people inside the building and from those outside. This presented an engineering challenge because the architects envisaged large perforated panels due to the sheer size of the façade (larger cladding panels on large facades can look more visually striking), which can require thicker gauge metal.

Working with ADP architects Proteus devised a rear supporting aluminium PPC framing system that was discrete and avoided having to increase the thickness – and cost – of the copper material. The outcome was that it enabled the panels to be designed to meet the maximum optimisation of material, whilst meeting the challenging geometry of the project.

As Spanish City occupies a spectacular seafront setting overlooking the North Sea coast, it is susceptible to harsh coastal climatic conditions, which include high winds and salty sea and air. The Proteus SC perforated cladding panels will go some way to protecting the building from the elements, which was a major factor in causing the wear and corrosion that saw the demise of the original structure.

After more than two years of redevelopment work, by Robertson Group, the magnificent building is back to its former glory, transformed into an impressive mixed-use leisure venue that once again acts as a hub for tourists and members of the community.

The new extension block, clad by Chemplas Ltd, in Proteus SC perforated TECU Patina, to the rear of the building houses the new level-access entrance, toilets, plant and staircase that ensure compliance with modern standards.

Spanish City remains an iconic part of Whitley Bay’s heritage and a striking example of how old and new architectural styles and materials can work together. The building is now home to a Fish & Chip restaurant and takeaway, waffle and pancake house, Champagne bar, fine-dining restaurant, traditional tearooms and an event space.

Proteus Facades Ltd is able to offer a wide ranges of TECU copper and copper alloys in the UK. This includes TECU Copper, TECU Bronze, TECU Brass, TECU Gold, and TECU Zinn. Some of these materials are also available pre-patinated, which bypasses the gradual weathering process, so that the cladding panels take on the beautiful earth tones from the day the façade is installed.

Spanish City in Whitley Bay, is a collection of Edwardian seaside pleasure buildings and grounds. Built in 1910, the iconic structure, which once included a concert hall, restaurant, tea room, ballroom and funfair, attracted thousands of people from across the UK until it fell into disrepair in the 1970’s.

Photography by Andrew Heptinsall.

Wells Maltings, a former 19th century malt house in Wells-next-the-Sea, has undergone an award winning refurbishment and extension in a bid to revitalise the building and turn it into North Norfolk’s premier Arts & Heritage Centre.

Choice of façade material for the newly built extension was always going to be critical to the overall success of the project. Proteus HR TECU Brass was specified because it created an aesthetic that was distinct yet sympathetic with the Grade II listed brick and flint walls of the existing building.

The TECU Brass will gradually mature over time to warm earthy tones, creating an aesthetically pleasing patina that will continue to complement the original brick and flint walls on the Malthouse. The Proteus HR TECU Brass rainscreen cladding was installed by Varla Cladding Ltd.

The brief to architects Chaplin Farrant was to create a new, year-round destination for artists, locals and tourists that serves as a cultural heart of the community. The designers succeeded in this, creating a flexible space that is used by a diverse range of groups, as well as maintaining the heritage of the existing Maltings. A new glazed full-height atrium acts as a buffer between the two distinct structures with an expansive roof lantern flooding the space with natural light.

The Proteus TECU Brass clad extension is a similar size to the original building and now announces Wells Maltings as one of Norfolk’s most significant new architectural designs in a long time.

Featuring vertically elongated Proteus HR TECU Brass rainscreen panels on the impressive façade with a traditional handcrafted zinc roof, the new art building is a striking design that establishes a new identify for the whole town. While clever detailing between the zinc roof and Proteus HR TECU Brass panels offer a seamless transition between the two elements, removing bimetallic corrosion challenges and providing a modern twist to a historic old building.

Proteus HR is a lightweight honeycomb panel system that delivers a high strength, exceptionally flat, cost effective solution. This enabled Chaplin Farrant to design this unique, eye catching and award winning project within the client’s original budget. The Maltings secured support from Heritage Lottery Fund and a range of partnership funders and individuals

The Proteus HR TECU Brass cladding at Wells Malting creates an outer rainscreen that protects the inner structure from wind and rain. The majority of Proteus rainscreen cladding systems, like those at Wells Maltings, are baffle jointed, allowing a rear ventilated cavity to circulate air, protecting the inner structure from moisture.

Rightly so, the Wells Malting project has been nominated for a number of awards. Highly Commended in the Graham Allen Awards, which celebrates projects considered to have made the most significant contribution to the built environment within the district, and recently shortlisted for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) East of England Awards in both the Commercial and Community Benefit categories. The awards recognise excellence in the built environment and showcase the successes of RICS professionals and their impact on local communities.

Proteus offers one of the widest ranges of TECU copper and copper alloys in the UK. This includes TECU Brass, TECU Copper, TECU Bronze, TECU Gold, TECU Zinn, a tin-plated copper that offers all the advantages of copper but weathers from silver to subtle grey tones.

The materials are available pre-patinated, which bypasses the gradual weathering process, so that the cladding panels take on the beautiful earth tones from the day the façade is installed.

Wells Maltings remains a historic building but with a twist; a striking example of how old and new architectural styles and materials can work together. The completed project creates a cultural landmark and an inviting, contemporary community space featuring a state-of-the-art theatre and cinema, Heritage Centre, Visitor Information Centre, attractive café and bar and art gallery.

Photography by Sarah Toon Photography

Skilful design by Space & Place Architects has avoided the large hill-top building imposing itself in a part of High Wycombe that contains areas of outstanding natural beauty.

High Wycombe Leisure Centre is clad mainly in aluminium, with Proteus HR TECU Patina used to create a striking Verdigris green copper clad entrance pod that projects outwards from the main building and overhangs the reception foyer.

A combination of skilful design and careful choice of façade material overcame the main challenge on this project, which is common to all sports centre buildings; that of minimising the visual impact of what are large square box-like structures.

At 10,750 m², including an 8 lane 50m swimming pool, 12 court sports hall, health suite, 150 station fitness suite, squash courts and bowls hall, the building had the potential to overly dominate its surroundings.

Avoiding this was helped by choosing copper cladding fixed to lightweight composite panels which enabled Space & Place Architects to minimise weight loadings on the overhanging entrance pod, accentuating the ‘floating’, gravity defying aesthetic. Supporting by only two slender steel pillars, the TECU Patina copper clad pod appears to hover over the main building like an otherworldly, organic apparition.

The rectangular TECU Patina panels are fixed in a vertical arrangement to create an eye-catching contrast to the thin, elongated, horizontal aluminium panels of the main façade. This mix of materials, panel design and colours compartmentalise the building, again minimising its visual impact on the landscape.

TECU Patina from Proteus offers the beautiful natural Verdigris green appearance of aged copper from the outset, and which would otherwise build up over the years through the natural oxidation process. This innovative cladding material bypasses the gradual development of the earthy tones through natural weathering.

Proteus HR, which has a honeycomb core, is an integrated modular rainscreen cladding system that offers a flat façade with recessed joints. It is available in steel, aluminium, zinc, stainless steel, copper alloys and other materials. The honeycomb core on Proteus HR minimises material use, whilst still retaining an optically flat panel, meaning it is a practical solution on a wider range of projects.

The Proteus HR TECU Patina cladding was fixed to lightweight Paroc composite panels with fire resistant stone-wool cores by MIZ Consultancy Ltd. The combination of insulated composite panel to form the inner leaf of the overhanging pod and visually striking copper clad outer enabled the architects to realise their vision for a ‘floating’ entrance feature.

Paul Clayton, Associate Director at Space & Place architects, said: “We choose to clad the entrance area at High Wycombe Sports Centre in pre-patinated copper panels because it created a distinct yet subtle point of arrival for visitors. We went through options for appearance of the building with Wycombe council, as it’s positioned at the top of hill in a residential area. We felt that the copper cladding from Proteus softened the building’s appearance on the side that faces open country and beyond.”

Proteus worked closely with the glazing partner on this project to ensure that the large glass panels integrated seamlessly with the copper cladding, accentuating the sheer smooth aesthetic of the entrance façade.

Copper is one of the most versatile, attractive and adaptable architectural cladding materials available, providing consistent performance and a high level of aesthetic appeal. Advances in the oxidation process means that Proteus us now able to offer a wider diversity of green Verdigris patinations as well as alternative colours such as blue and red tones.

For those seeking the bright copper aesthetic before oxidation takes place, Proteus offer TECU Classic, optionally available with a special coating to stop the natural weathering process.

TECU Oxid offers a softer, aged beauty of natural earthy copper tones but which hasn’t yet reached the green Verdigris appearance.

Wycombe Sports Centre has doubled its membership since it opened. The main contractor on this project was Wilmott Dixon.

To read our blog about the options available with our copper cladding, click here.

Executed in Proteus HR TECU copper, the ribbed, abstracted rainscreen clad fins envelope the 150-seat studio theatre that sits on top of the main auditorium, creating a presence like no other.

The copper fins announce the new studio theatre, jutting outwardly and inwardly, with their slotted appearance being described as a touch of ‘1920s German Expressionist theatre’.

Clad entirely in Proteus rainscreen cladding this ‘copper pavilion’ jauntily points to the Chester skyline, bookending the western corner of the elongated square building, which is framed at one side by the town hall and cathedral at the other.

It was Cheshire West and Chester council that stepped in with a bold plan to deliver this £37m vision for transforming the Grade II-listed Odeon cinema building. Charged with implementing this ambitious plan was multi RIBA-award winning architects Bennetts Associates.

Bright and bold, the Proteus rainscreen clad studio theatre sits confidently above the much larger 800-seat theatre, comprising the new build elements. What was the existing Odeon has been transformed into a 94-seat ‘boutique’ cinema, library, restaurant/bar and café.

Visitors to the building cannot fail to notice that Bennetts Associates’ striking design makes a central play of the Proteus copper cladding. The gleaming, protruding copper-clad box will transition over time to an oxidised green that will echo the appearance of the original Odeon roof.

The Proteus HR cladding now cuts across the green tinged cast-glass panels and striated brickwork of Storyhouse, compositionally breaking up and blurring the lines between the refurbished and new build elements.

“The success of the Storyhouse design lies in the way the extension containing the theatre spaces was added to the shell of the Grade 2 listed 1930s Odeon. Whilst the proportions of the extension relate directly to the historic brick cinema, we used copper and glass to create the elevations, to provide contrast and to identify the main elements of the new building.

Proteus HR TECU cladding is used to clad the studio theatre and bar, which is expressed as an overhanging element on the skyline of the building. The flatness of the panels and the long-term beauty of the natural copper finish were key to this decision,” said Simon Erridge, Project Director, Bennetts Associates.

Storyhouse has been designed to the highest standards for audience comfort and sightlines. The same rigour has been applied to the rainscreen cladding, both visually and technically. The Proteus HR copper panels are fitted to rigid vertical mullions that are anchored to the backing wall with adjustable support brackets.

The intimate space that is enveloped with Proteus copper cladding looks set to become the hardest working space in the building. Retractable seating has been incorporated to allow for a flat floor for workshops and rehearsals, while as a performance space its intimacy allows for a close relationship between actor and audience.

Main contractor at Chester Storyhouse was Kier North West, with the cladding installed by Curtis Moore (Cladding Systems) Ltd.

Proteus HR panels in artisan burnished TECU brass form a solid rainscreen base to the lower ground floor of the RIBA award-winning 35,000ft2 building while perforated single-skin Proteus SC panels, installed outside full-length glazing, screen elements of the first and second floors.

Ten years in the making, the project was the brainchild of Dame Vivien Duffield after she toured several Jewish Community Centres in America and was inspired by their values, in particular their principle of inclusivity, and by the quality of the facilities and programming they offered.

She set about laying the foundations for a “Jewish Community Centre without walls” in London, initially in borrowed venues, and then eventually in its own purpose-built BREEAM rated “Excellent” building in Hampstead.

Beautiful, functional and state-of-the-art, this building consciously seeks to foster community and inspire creativity through its design and its very fabric – the Proteus cladding, over brick and cast stone.

To support its ambitious programming, the building features diverse facilities arranged hierarchically over four storeys, with the most public at ground level, spilling out onto a piazza which hosts food markets and outdoor cinema as well as ice-skating during the winter.

Designed to be a place of action, of creation and output rather than consumption of culture, robust, quality materials were chosen to support the various activities.

The heart of the building is Zest, JW3’s restaurant, bar and café run by award-winning Ottolenghi-trained chefs. This is complemented by a multi-purpose hall with retractable bleacher seating and semi-sprung floor, 60-seat boutique cinema, demonstration kitchen, dance studios, crèche, meeting rooms and classrooms.

Vertical Proteus HR and SC panels also help to break up the brick street-facing façade on a nine-storey residential tower that houses 14 two-bedroomed apartments and an office level, the sale of the apartments helping to fund the community centre.