The UK's first purpose-built fine art and crafts studio
complex provides a range of facilities with public access for up to
89 fine artists and craftspeople on a highly prominent site in
Sheffield's cultural quarter.
The challenge was to ensure the concrete used in the building
would not darken or become stained with prolonged exposure and that
the concrete was visually pleasing.
The concrete surface would be water proofed and protected
against dirt ingress. A number of trials were carried out by the
contractor using a range of water proof coatings. In the end it was
not much more expensive than applying a coat of domestic paint and
when it was applied you could not tell the difference between the
uncoated and the coated concrete surface colour. When it rains
there is no change in the concrete colour.
The build
Phenolic resin faced plywood was eventually selected for casting
the facade walls. The wall panels were laid out in 1.2m by 2.4m
long sheets to an agreed plan and then screw fixed to an SGB Logik
60 metal backed panel support system, with a feature recessed 'V'
joint formed between adjacent panels. Screws were countersunk on
the fair face panel, filled with car body filler and then rubbed
with wet and dry papers. Every cut edge and tie-bolt hole
was coated with fast drying paint, all joints
between panels were silicone sealed and wiped clean to
reduce the risk of formwork panels warping and any
grout leakage.
The GGBS success
In the architect's search for a very light coloured
concrete, samples of concrete containing 80%, 70%, 60%
and 50% of ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS) were made. In
the end a 60/40 GGBS to OP cement mix was settled on and after
trials with a local 20mm limestone aggregate, 10mm single size
gravel was used with a target slump of 125mm.
The 750mm by 250mm columns were cast using Ischebeck Titan
metal forms with a ply-faced lining. They were easy to handle and
quick to erect. A pair of joiners could assemble
six, seven-metre-high columns for the large studios in a
day.
The acid test is to see the finished concrete surface three
years after the building was opened. For such a low cost building
the concrete is a magnificent achievement - the external curved
wall of the entrance is marble smooth to the touch. From street
level wherever your eyes take you the building is clean, unmarked
and refreshingly crisp.
The result
This is no frills architecture with an Ando-like concrete
finish that is honest, bold and of exceptional quality
Project
team
Client: Yorkshire ArtSpace Society
Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects
Structural and services engineer: Buro Happold
Project manager and QS: Citex
Main contractor: M J Gleeson, Northern Construction Division
Landscape architect: Grant Associates