Designed by Make, this exceptional 拢100m 23-storey mixed-use scheme has pushed the boundaries of design and construction.聽 The 42,000m2 development was inspired by Birmingham鈥檚 jewellery and engineering heritage, and is based on the concept of a jewellery box.聽
The bespoke fa莽ade was constructed and installed by HAGA using Wicona unitised curtain walling to provide a geometric blend of projecting gold, silver and bronze anodised aluminium panels and glass.聽 This intricate design is complemented by a decorative metallic fretwork screen.
The 20,000 panels have three different depths, casting a variety of shadows to add texture to the external fa莽ade.聽 The internal elevations are different but no less dramatic, designed to emphasise 鈥榯he jewels within the box鈥�.聽 Here, glazed unitised panels twist up through a central courtyard and 鈥榚xplode鈥� at the top to crown the building with the city鈥檚 first rooftop restaurant.
The Wicona unitised fa莽ade was engineered to allow a higher degree of movement, and removed the need for scaffolding and material storage on this constrained city centre site.聽 Its off-site fabrication also allowed each floor to be clad ready for earlier fitting out as the building rose upwards.聽
Commenting on the building鈥檚 design and specification, Frances Gannon, Partner at Make, said, 鈥淭he building acts as a protective metal box, pure in form, assembled from a multitude of glistening components, which give way to a glassy, crystalline interior of light and colour.鈥�
鈥淭he specially-designed unitised cladding solution has been an important part of the building鈥檚 identity and successfully echoes the city鈥檚 heavy engineering heritage.聽 We are delighted with the end result, which is very beautiful, providing a strong contrast between the external fa莽ade and the crisp appearance of the courtyard elevations.鈥�
Paul Ruddick, Specification Manager at Wicona in the UK, said, 鈥淭his is Wicona鈥檚 largest project in the UK to date and demonstrates how unitised fa莽ades can deliver an architect鈥檚 ambitious vision for a project, different aesthetic requirements for a single scheme and a demanding specification, as well as site-related advantages, such as minimising work on site, and removing the need for material storage space and scaffolding.鈥澛�
鈥淭he Cube is very different to any other Wicona application 鈥� both in the UK and internationally 鈥� and its striking, elegant and intricate appearance is testament to the creativity of the design and development team.鈥�
The Cube is a high profile mixed-use project, which has a low energy design. 聽The modular cladding gave the architects the flexibility to tailor the glazing on the external and internal elevations in response to potential solar gain, and provide a high degree of insulation and air tightness, as well as a low U value fa莽ade. 聽
The project has created a spectacular new 鈥榚ntrance鈥� to the canal network and city centre, accommodating a 44-bedroom boutique hotel, four floors of waterside retail and restaurants, 244 apartments, Grade A offices for a regional department of the Highways Agency, a rooftop restaurant, and sky bar.
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