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Natural Stone vs Cast Stone - what's the difference?
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Project Round Up – 2024
It has been a big year for Vobster Architectural, as we come to the end of our 60th year of trading, having recently waved a fond farewell to our long-standing director, Tom Brewster.
Once again, we’ve had the pleasure of working on a number of fantastic projects, collaborating with our valued customers, including many we are proud to have long-standing relationships with. Take a look at some of our favourites from 2024 below.
Pembroke College, Cambridge - Education
Mill Lane is the first £10.3 million phase of Pembroke College's impressive £75 million masterplan to expand and renovate their existing library space. Haworth Tompkins Architects were chosen for their considerate and purposeful designs, with main contractors Cocksedge Building Contractors managing the development of the Mill Lane site with the aim to deliver a modern ‘retreat space’ for entertainment, education and social purposes.
Vobster Architectural were selected to supply wet cast Bath stone, for window surrounds, band courses and landscaping features. Synonymous with elegance and superior quality, cast stone was the ideal material to pair with the facing brick and produce clean, textural definition to the new spaces, which will additionally weather incredibly well. The longevity of the material respects the history of the site and supports the aim to develop a long-standing enhancement to the college space.
Read the full case study here.
Signal Park, Tolworth – Residential/Mixed-Use
Signal Park is part of the impressive first phase of the shared ownership development by Lovell Partnerships and Guinness Homes in Tolworth, London. The £58.5m development has transformed 11 acres of formerly vacant government offices into a hugely beneficial space for the local community. The site features three ten-storey blocks, which link across at the lower level.
The mixed-use development offers 221 affordable homes, in one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a commercial space and creche. PRP Architects consciously designed the build to maximise wildlife and plant biodiversity, for a development that benefits all in the local area. Vobster Architectural worked with Taylor Maxwell to manufacture and supply wet cast Bathstone for entrance features, cills, band courses, window surrounds and copings.
Read the full case study here.
Audley Fairmile, Cobham – Residential
The Audley Group have recently expanded their luxury retirement village offering to Cobham, a beautiful and natural part of Surrey. Having worked in partnership with Gaunt Francis Architects for over 15 years, Audley Group once again chose their trusted team to design the new care-focused Fairmile, which provides 74 premium two-bed properties with top facilities, including a restaurant, pool and health club. The area is surrounded by serene greenery in the form of award-winning 158-acre landscape garden, Painshill Park, as well as nearby National Trust landscape garden, Claremont.
Graham Construction were selected to manage the new development and Vobster Architectural to manufacture and supply the wet cast Portland stone that defines the premium nature of the retirement village, all perfectly installed by Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd. Taking inspiration from some of the local architecture, Fairmile’s use of cast stone features distinct columns, chamfered window surrounds, lattice design entrance panels, architraves and protruding cornices that differentiate the sophisticated mansard roofs from the main facade, as well as final touches such as pier caps.
Read the full case study here.
Bracken House – Commercial
Bracken House underwent a major refurbishment, which we had the pleasure to be a part of. McLaren Construction Group managed the impressive refurbishment of the building originally constructed in 1959, which used to be the main home of the Financial Times and other major printing press companies.
We were proud to supply the Portland wet cast stone in the rooftop landscaping. The outdoor space reinforces the incredible site location, with St Paul’s Cathedral commanding attention in the surrounding skyline. Portland wet cast stone lines the ground and borders the walkways, seamlessly transferring into curved cast stone seating.
Read the full case study here.