Cembrit Blunn - Work of Art

Cladding panels from Cembrit Blunn form an integral element in one of the world’s largest public art commissions at the Young Vic in London. In an unusual project for the company, 180 black Cemtone fibre-cement cladding panels have been hand-painted by celebrated modern artist Clem Crosby and installed behind an eye-catching grid to form the outer wall of the main auditorium.
Specially commissioned at the beginning of the theatre’s £12.45m rebuild by Young Vic artistic director David Lan and architect Steve Tompkins of Haworth Tompkins, the huge-scale artwork is fundamental to the fabric of the building. The 180-panel installation has been described as a ‘beacon for theatregoers’, signalling the Young Vic’s return to The Cut in Lambeth, two years after it closed for refurbishment. Steve Tompkins explains, “We wanted to express the importance of the auditorium as a separate object in the street, stay true to the robust roots of the Young Vic building and allude to the live, one-off events happening inside. We were nervous about a slick, off-the-peg cladding system and so we started to imagine a façade that would be absolutely unique to this theatre and to The Cut.”
Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager at Cembrit Blunn adds, “This was an unusual and exciting project for us. The Cemtone product was highly appropriate for the effect the artist wanted to achieve as it is available in a range of colours – including matt black. Cemtone combines superior strength and durability, offering long lasting performance with the minimum of maintenance costs and, bearing in mind it is installed behind an extensive silver mesh screen, Cemtone could be specified with the reassurance that it will perform for the theatre with the minimum of fuss.”
The artist Clem Crosby hand-painted in a deep cadmium yellow the black panels supplied by Cembrit Blunn. The design is a constantly shifting surface that transforms the appearance of the new building in changing light conditions throughout the year. In the evenings, a soft light will illuminate the panels, making the Young Vic a sight to behold.
Cemtone surface coloured cladding panels are suitable for a wide range of external cladding applications including rainscreen systems, cladding of ventilated facades, gable, eaves and fascia boards, balcony lining panels, infill panels and pre-fabricated constructions. The range is available in any RAL colour and the high quality factory applied finish ensures water staining does not deface the panel. Made out of cement and selected mineral fillers, Cemtone Cladding Panels are environmentally friendly, contain no hazardous substances, and no solvents. Cemtone is a durable, easily maintained material.
The Cembrit Blunn range now includes the newly launched Incolor through-coloured external cladding boards. The boards are hydrophobated to prevent water staining and offer excellent colour stability.
Using skills built up over 80 years, Cembrit Blunn offers a wide range of cladding panels, corrugated sheet, natural and man-made roofing slate. Quality levels at Group factories are rigorously maintained to high standards with many products manufactured under the control of ISO 9001.

Email: eleanor@wildwoodpr.co.uk