hawthorn bank lane
We were approached by artist and designer Hedi Munroe to detail and fabricate concrete elements for a renovation of a listed property in the dean village in Edinburgh. This involved a worktop with an integrated sink in the kitchen alongside an island to match. The bathroom required a cantilevered sink, and large format wall tiles. A bathroom shelf was also required. There was a specific surface riven finish requested, which we developed a solution for in response to the brief. A late request that we were happy to accommodate was the design and fabrication of a fire surround for the living space, for the installation of a water vapour fire.
Due to the constraints of the site, weight was a major consideration. In order to meet these demands, we employed Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete. Using alkali resistant glass fibre in concrete allows for a dramatic reduction in weight, making large installations manageable in sensitive spaces. The casts are hollow with an outer skin of around 15-20mm. We used this technique alongside more traditional pours, offering a hybrid solution, balanced for maximum authenticity in the poured elements, yet still achieving the brief. Working with a main contractor, and in close cooperation with a cabinet maker, we provided a set of construction drawings for the contractor to work with to allow for realisation of the project that was well communicated, efficient, with minimum fuss.
The finish requested was a “riven” on the face reminiscent of hand hammered brutalist surface present in mid century buildings such as the barbican. The practical surfaces such as worktops and sink interiors were finely filled to remove any blemishes or blow holes, and highly polished. The project was sealed with an impregnating marble sealant as the designer was keen on a natural look, and regular maintenance was intended to be carried out in the future. Also the “riven” surface provided a challenge for top coat sealants, that need a consistent surface for optimum performance.
We worked closely with Colin Parker Furniture who provided the cabinetry in the kitchen.
