Rockpanel were very pleased to be specified for this high specification, low energy, state-of-the-art six-bedroom luxury residence, which is set in a spectacular two acre site within beautiful rolling countryside in the South of England. 

The property is the work of LEATHWAITE®, an award winning property development and sustainable construction company, committed to developing and building homes that are thoughtfully designed for modern living whilst minimising their environmental impact. They adopt contemporary architecture, design and construction methods, and employ passive principles supported by the latest renewable technology, to achieve ‘A Rating’ for energy efficiency and environmental impact (CO2) of all their new homes.  

Enhancing the contemporary aesthetic 

The house is embraced within lawned terraces which lead to a forecourt at the entrance and a stunning pool area to the rear. The balconies with their glazed balustrades, along with cantilevered elevations and projections, bring together crisp angles and sweeping curves using a limited palette of superior materials to create a contemporary home which exudes a feeling of chic modernity. 

Rockpanel facades were used to great effect for this stunning development, adding an organic aesthetic by the use of Rhinestone Oak facades from the Rockpanel Woods collection of nineteen super realistic surface designs, which are almost indistinguishable from those found in nature. The panels embody the workability and warmth of wood without the up-keep and deterioration associated with it. Slim, structural detailing is then picked out in light RAL 9010 colour-matched Rockpanel, adding visual contrast to the otherwise muted, elegant tones. 

Rockpanel is supremely durable, completely weather, temperature and UV resistant and require little or no maintenance throughout its long life. As its name suggests, Rockpanel is made with a core of basalt rock, a naturally occurring and self-regenerating consequence of volcanic activity and, as such, is non-combustible. The panels also have the advantage of being lightweight, making them easy to transport, cut and install, saving construction time and money.  

A fabric first approach was adopted for the A Rated Low Energy Home, which is built using Insulating Concrete Formwork, a modern method of construction which creates a high performance building envelope that requires external cladding. Rockpanel was selected as one of the cladding materials due to its high performance characteristics. The contemporary design language benefited from the wide choices of Rockpanel finishes, with a combination of Colours and Woods. The durability, fire-rating and sustainable credentials all supported the choice of Rockpanel as a cladding solution.

- LEATHWAITE® Managing Director, Jon Moon.

Specified for performance, sustainability and choice 

LEATHWAITE® Managing Director, Jon Moon, "A fabric first approach was adopted for the A Rated Low Energy Home, which is built using Insulating Concrete Formwork, a modern method of construction which creates a high performance building envelope that requires external cladding. Rockpanel was selected as one of the cladding materials due to its high performance characteristics. The contemporary design language benefited from the wide choices of Rockpanel finishes, with a combination of Colours and Woods. The durability, fire-rating and sustainable credentials all supported the choice of Rockpanel as a cladding solution.” 

Commenting on the recent accolades garnered for their luxury, low energy new build, LEATHWAITE® said, “We are delighted to have won both the ‘Eco Living Award’ and ‘Best Boutique Development’ at latest Evening Standard New Homes Awards.” 

LCA, EPD and our approach to sustainability 

A good way to measure the environmental aspect of sustainability is by a tool called the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) The LCA monitors the impact of a product in its full life cycle: from manufacturing to the use phase and the end-of-life situation – where recycling possibilities are relevant. This makes it a very complete assessment. With a Life Cycle Analysis, you can make an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). 

Our Rockpanel products have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) according to the EN15804 issued by Institut Bauen und Umwelt e.V. (IBU). In addition, they have also been independently certified for their environmental performance by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), complying with all requirements identified in the scheme document SD028.  

Rockpanel area manger, Rob Shirville, “BRE granted Rockpanel an Environmental Product Declaration acknowledging our Durable board material as amongst the best in its category, with A+ and A ratings for various structures. As an EPD is a standardised way of presenting the performance of a product, it makes it easier for architects to compare products on various indicators. The results of an EPD can be used in a building evaluation scheme such as LEED or BREEAM.” 

We have developed our technology in a way that allows us to recycle our own products and also use waste from other industries during our production process. By reusing our own stone wool fibres and also upcycling secondary materials, we reduce both the amount waste going to landfills and the use of virgin raw materials. We’ve been doing this for over 25 years.