Complex settings, complex facade When nb4 decided to enter the competition to design the new townhouses, lead architect Jesper Martin Højriis Hansen understood how important the building's facade would be. "The municipality wanted the design to fit the shoreline building site at the harbour," Mr Hansen says, "and we felt that complex settings called for a complex facade." The architects chose a handsome mix of ETICS, glass, wood and steel for the facade. The challenge would be to find a way to bring all these materials together.
One material supports both ETICS and ventilated technology
Mr Hansen and his team knew they needed a good insulation that could be used for the entire structure - no matter what the outer layer. This would streamline installation and reduce the risk of mistakes. The team felt that ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation was the best product for the job. Where the ETICS part of the building involved a surfacing applied directly as the top layer of insulation, the wood cladding was installed as part of ROCKWOOL's FlexSystem ventilated facade solution. With this system, the mechanical properties of ROCKWOOL insulation support the cladding, with no need for sub-constructions and the thermal bridging they often cause. Mr Hansen notes several additional practical advantages in using the ventilated solution: "For one thing, stone wool doesn't absorb water, which can seep in through knots in the wood," he says. "Also, the wood facade sticks out somewhat from the ETICS below it and helps to protect it."
Faster to install, better at protecting
Looking back on the project, Mr Hansen sees three main advantages to going with ROCKWOOL solutions. "First, since stone wool insulation accommodates both ventilated facade and ETICS, we saved time by installing the insulation in one go. Second, it minimises the risk of thermal bridges, which can be a real problem in this type of design. And finally, stone wool doesn't absorb water, so the insulation does a great job protecting the wood cladding," Mr Hansen concludes.
"We saved time by installing the insulation in one go." Jesper Martin Højriis Hansen, architect
