The project that we're talking about today, the Zabalotegi Tower of Bergara in the north of Spain, was built in 1967, when there was a great need for housing due to the economic situation at the time.
The initial objectives: repairing and insulating the structure
As with many buildings from this period, one of the main obstacles is the instability of the structure, in addition to the need for thermal insulation.
The restoration project was carried out by the BEB architectural studio (Iñaki Berasategi, Elisabeth Ena and Xabier Berasategi), who decided to cover the old facade with the Stoneo facade cladding, thus giving it a fresh new appearance and providing the building with thermal and acoustic insulation.
The facade systems leave a ventilated chamber between the cladding and the insulation, which is why it is considered one of the most efficient and profitable building solutions (for new buildings or restorations), due to its ability to combine:
Comfort, durability, strength and energy savings.
Prior work is essential: wind and structural calculations
It is essential to be fully specialised in the design and installation of these types of buildings and also to have a team of specialists who can provide personalised technical advice.
Before we begin work, our installation protocols require that we carry out anchor extraction testing on the supporting walls, in accordance with the recommendations of the ETAG 020-B standard.
We also follow the standard’s recommendations when choosing the type and geometry of the anchors that the panels will be fixed to, taking into account the properties of the base wall materials, including both the brickwork and the type of concrete used.
With towers, these points are even more critical, as wind loads must also be taken into account to ensure safety.
Well-designed aesthetic
In order to adapt to the scale of the building, large format panels (1600 x 900 mm) were chosen for the 2,500 m2 facade, with the slate texture of the Stoneo Pure range in three different colours: white (M24), cream (M29) and grey (M06). These panels were installed horizontally, to balance out the vertical nature of the building.
