Briefing: Innovative cladding at the ‘Think Tank’

In 2007, a new cladding with several innovative characteristics was introduced to the market. A crystal layer beneath its mineral fibre façade refracts light into a range of different colours to create an iridescent quality. Its colour changes according to the time of day or angle from which it is viewed. The manufacturing process, in which mineral wool fibres are compressed at high pressures, creates an extremely tough substance that is as hard wearing as stone but as flexible and workable as wood. It is also eco-friendly, being fully reusable/recyclable (without any downgrade) and manufactured from at least 30% sustainable sources. This briefing explains the circumstances that led to its first specification and instalment on a building called the ’Think Tank‘ in the UK.