FEATURE WALL – A DESIGNER’S PERSPECTIVE

Most facades are about the final finish, the layer that looks fresh and new. But behind this shiny facade there is often a complicated sandwich. Each layer designed, installed and co-ordinated with other design and site teams. The feature wall at 50 Finsbury Square was in part such a project. The scope to form a wave of stone that rises from the ground and cascades at its apex. Resulting in a randomised pattern above the foyer entrance. The feature wall is visible from both sides at the upper levels which added some degree of complication to the fixing strategy. The substrate for the stonework, comprises of 2 types of block-work intersected with steel box section windposts. Spanning the entrance to the foyer is a large lattice beam, with a void above to be filled with a pattern of stone blocks interspersed with voids.
The stone used was Jura stone reclaimed from the original façade, consisting of 250x250x40(t) with 4mm open joints with each stone effectively standing alone. The design office had to come up with a solution of how to support each stone individually, while allowing for the versatility and accuracy of being able to position each at the prescribed depth. Additionally we had to design a feature frame capable of supporting the stone above the beam.

Read more about how we have explored the problems, design challenges and the fixing solutions to this beautiful aesthetically pleasing stone feature wall in our latest Finesse Magazine from pages 50.