The French name ‘Beaulieu’, given to this immaculate new development in Chelmsford, Essex, means ‘beautiful place.’ It was originally the name given by Henry VIII to one of his summer houses, which still stands today only 20 minutes’ walk away.
True to its name, this development is the beautifully opulent achievement of main contractors Kier, architects GSA Studios, under the watchful eye of Countryside developers.
With the need for bespoke rainwater management and roofing systems to meet design requirements, Plasufix installed Alumasc Skyline aluminium soffits, fascias and column casings, alongside Alumasc Rainwater GX Pressed Aluminium Gutters for the mixed-use development, at the specification of Kier. Voland Roofing installed Alumasc’s Euroroof and Hydrotech roofing for the project.
While the overall development will include a massive 3,500 new homes, the Neighbourhood Centre consists of five buildings containing a variety of community, commercial and residential uses.
The area comprises a public square, community centre, health centre, nursery, a retail space of over 1000 square metres, and 34 apartments, in a mixture of different tenures.
Alumasc Rainwater GX gutters, a box section gutter range designed for traditional wet joining on site, were specified by Kier for this project as they offered a robust, engineered solution that was compatible with Alumasc’s Skyline fascia and soffit system.
GX gutters are available in 3 profiles, in either a plain mill finish or polyester powder coated with a BBA approved process. Aside from the 26 standard colours, there are additional BS or RAL colours available on request. The gutters are lightweight, durable and non-corrodible, as well as being easy to handle and fix.
With a life expectancy of 40 years in this application, alongside the rainwater downpipes, GX gutters form an impressive colonnade along the front of the commercial area that will last a lifetime.
Alumasc Skyline aluminium soffits, fascias and copings were designed bespoke for the development to accommodate its distinctive design and colour specifications.
All Alumasc Skyline soffits, fascias and copings are manufactured using high quality, polyester powder coated aluminium and are available in a range of bold generic shapes with bespoke designs available to order.
Featuring linear components jointed by internal brackets, Skyline soffits and fascias are designed to avoid stepped joints, and feature mitred and welded fabricated fittings, for a smooth finish.
Skyline Copings provide an economical and easily installed capping to upstanding parapets, in conjunction with flat or pitched roofs. The strap fixing method avoids penetration of the capping, whilst allowing ventilation over the top of the wall. They are maintenance free, available in a wide range of colours and are equally suited to retrofit and new build projects alike.
More a collection of ideas rather than a range, Skyline gives the architect design freedom, while Alumasc ensures every creation comes to life.
Up on those peaked rooftops, a combination of Euroroof Mono single layer waterproofing, and Hydrotech Hot Melt waterproofing will ensure the roof stays watertight for up to 35 years.
Euroroof Mono single layer offers the Neighbourhood centre all the benefits of high-performance bituminous membranes combined with quick and safe, flame-free installation methods. Euroroof Mono is widely specified on new build projects, but is equally suited to roof refurbishment and offers high tensile strength and pliability, along with excellent resistance to puncture and UV degradation.
With zero product failures in over 50 years, the Hydrotech MM6125 hot-melt waterproofing system is a 6mm thick bituminous rubber blend system with inter-laid reinforcement and a fully bonded cap sheet. It offers lifetime performance, ideal for podiums and highly detailed waterproofing. This BBA approved, fully warranted system is designed to last for the lifetime of the structure it is applied to and has European Technical Approval.
Establishing an attractive and coherent townscape, the onus when designing the complex was on building a sense of community. With this in mind, bespoke, contemporary architectural styles create a friendly atmosphere, with plenty of accessible, green spaces and meeting places that encourage community living.
The community buildings are arranged around a central square and events space, giving a heart to the new community.
Find everything on Alumasc Skyline and Rainwater, alongside other Alumasc brands, here: www.alumascwms.co.uk/
Find more on Alumasc Euroroof here: https://www.alumascroofing.co.uk/products/waterproofing/bituminous-membranes/euroroof-mono-flat-roof-membrane/
Find more on Derbigum Hydrotech here:
Find more information everyone involved in this project here:
GSA Studios: https://gsa-studios.com/
Kier: www.kier.co.uk/
Plasufix: www.plasufix.co.uk/