Petrarch, one of the first engineered stone rainscreen facades, celebrates turning 50 this year!
Since 1972, over 1,000,000m2 of this aesthetically striking panel has been specified for more than 1,000 buildings across commercial, residential, education, healthcare and transport sectors worldwide. Helping to ‘unlock the potential’, it has changed the face of working and living spaces internationally, and been showcased on numerous award-winning buildings.
To mark the anniversary, Architectural Panel Solutions (its manufacturer) is holding an architectural photo and drawing competition with chances to win three special golden tickets throughout the year. The prize consists of a hot air balloon ride for two (see Show some love for Petrarch and architecture, with our 50th year anniversary photo competition. – Petrarch Architectural Panels (petrarchpanels.com).
Blending both form and function perfectly, Petrarch has been manufactured in the UK for 50 years, currently at its factory in St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex.
On the form side, it features more than 1,500 shades and five distinctive textures, and just like natural stone, it matures over time, giving character and depth to any architectural scheme. The reconstituted stone panel can also be custom ribbed or routed.
On the function side, Petrarch is BBA and CWTC approved and carefully designed to be extremely weather resistant yet low maintenance and lightweight. The panels will not delaminate or decay under any conditions. They are also impact resistant and boast an A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire rating (EN 13501).
Petrarch is a reconstituted stone panel created predominantly from natural by-product materials such as stone and marble. Highly durable and impact resistant, it is considerably lighter than natural stone systems and is extremely weather resistant – designed to withstand severe environmental conditions.
Used on a myriad of award-winning projects worldwide, UK projects include Pawson Williams’ Natural History Museum in London (riven Graphite), TP Bennett’s The Filmworks in Ealing, London (smooth Alabaster), Engles’ Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham, North Wales (riven Heather and Graphite), and WCEC Architecture’s Royal Wharf at the Royal Docks in London (smooth matt custom colour).
The competition and the introduction of new features on the Petrarch website triggers the start of a year of celebrations and initiatives to mark 50 years of success and #petrarchpassion.
Petrarch has already launched a “Lookbook” on its website where architects and specifiers can select their own swatch of inspiring projects worldwide, to read at their leisure. Go to Petrarch turns 50! – Petrarch Architectural Panels (petrarchpanels.com).
Show some #petrarchpassion
