Refurb Projects - November 2018

Cedar shingles help enhance the sound of
music at Cumbrian Therapy Centre
PROJECTS
Marley Eternit’s Western
Red Cedar Shingles have
been specified internal
and external building
material for an award-winning
music therapy centre that is helping
to make a real difference to people
of all ages.
Created near Penrith in the Lake
District, the Sunbeams Music Centre
is a 600m sq. therapy centre which
houses a number of meeting rooms,
therapy rooms, a recording studio
and a performance space, as well as
administration facilities, supporting
over 1,500 people each month.
One of the critical objectives for
the centre’s design was to ensure it
sat seamlessly within its local
environment. This led the design
team at MawsonKerr to the use of
natural building materials; the
extensive use of Marley Eternit’s
Western Red Cedar Shingles has
helped achieve this perfectly.
Marley Eternit’s Western Red
Cedar Shingles delivered a renewable
and sustainable cladding solution for
the centre, providing one of the
lowest carbon footprints of any
widely used building product. In
addition, the colour blend ensures
the centre fits seamlessly into the
local environment.
A primary design theme was the
wish to connect the inside of the
centre with the exterior façade, and
the use of cedar shingles both
internally and externally brings with
it a connected symmetry that
accentuates the building’s
positioning within the landscape. In
addition, the natural aesthetics of
timber add to the welcoming vibe
the building designers wished to
create.
The unique design is the
fulfilment of an original vision by
the centre’s architect, Will Mawson
co-founder of MawsonKerr
Architects. He says: “The simple
concept of running exterior
materials internally encountered a
number of technical challenges
especially given the sensitive nature
of the buildings use. We worked
with Marley Eternit and their
technical team on the specification
to ensure the enduring natural
qualities of the timber shingle were
not lost. We have been able to put
the use of Marley Eternit’s Western
Red Cedar Shingles at the heart of
the Sunbeams Music Therapy Centre
as a welcoming, natural and wholly
appropriate building material
solution.”
As part of the project’s
conceptualisation, MawsonKerr, who
were crowned Architect of the Year
at the 2017 Structural Timber
Awards following the success of the
project, worked with music therapy
charity Sunbeams Music Trust to
help design and develop a true
community building, which is now
enhancing the daily experience of
young and old who find music
therapy supportive when
confronting challenging neurological
conditions such as childhood
Alzheimer’s and dementia in older
people.
“The Sunbeams Music Centre is
the culmination of 13 years work as
I first started working on an original
design as part of a university
project. Over time the charity has
acquired the funding to establish
the new centre, which gives it the
ability to provide badly needed
therapeutic services within a natural,
bespoke and welcoming setting.
“Timber is a warm material and
can enhance well-being and
generate a sense of calm. The
building has to offer a sense of
belonging so that those visiting for
therapy and support feel at home
there and the important work
carried out is managed within a
peaceful setting. By using the
timber to draw together the interior
spaces and exterior look, we have
successfully brought the entire
building together as a whole which
also helps the centre’s visitors to
orientate themselves and navigate
the internal spaces far more easily.”
said Will Mawson.
The sustainable characteristics of
cedar shingles were another major
plus point, helping to underpin the
long-term and supportive values of
the centre. With a 25-year lifespan,
not only does cedar shingle offer
hard-wearing performance within a
heavily-used facility, they promise
longevity as well. This is an
important factor for the charity
where cost effectiveness is a key
consideration.
Furthermore, the Marley Eternit’s
Western Red Cedar Shingles, which
are Certi-grade accredited as ‘Blue
Label’ by the CSSB (Cedar Shingle
and Shake Bureau) were specified as
they guarantee the highest quality
shingles and are PEFC accredited.
Furthermore, the shingles specified
were also treated with MicroPro®, a
clear treatment which not only
protects against wood rooting fungi
and insect attacks, but also lets the
shingle weather naturally without
any staining sometimes associated
with other treatments, and can
deliver an extended life span of 40
years.
Daniel Redfern Marketing
Campaign Manager from Marley
Eternit said: “Having worked
alongside MawsonKerr from the
onset of the project we were able to
suggest a suitable cladding solution
which not only complemented the
wider surroundings, but which also
helped meet the design vision for
the project. Meeting regularly with
the architect and contractors
involved in the project meant we
were able to offer extended support
on some of the key benefits and
considerations associated with Cedar
Shingles in order to bring the design
vision to life.”
Tek: 01283 722588
Web: www.marleyeternit.co.uk
REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS, NOVEMBER 2018 31