Surface Design Awards – Complete

• COMMERCIAL BUILDING - EXTERIOR
  Commercial Buildings that are used for commercial purposes, and include retail, hospitality, workplaces, factories and warehouses and buildings where commercial services are provided. At least 50 percent of the buildings’ floor space will be used for commercial activities.

A.J. Wells & Sons Limited is proud to present a remarkable vitreous enamel architectural artwork that brings colour and joy to the new external soffit on the sixth floor of The Rowe, Whitechapel, London. Our fantastic team manufactured and installed this bold and captivating large-scale public artwork which is the brainchild of the highly acclaimed London-based artist, Yinka Ilori.

The vision for this prestigious artwork came to life as an integral part of a six-story building extension, expertly designed by Architect Allford Hall Monaghan Morris in collaboration with developers, Frasers Property. A testament to creative collaboration, the building's twelve floors now exist in harmony, with the upper six elegantly reflecting the essence of the original structure below. A visually striking external terrace, adorned with the beautiful vitreous enamel external soffit, serves as the bridge connecting old and new, leaving an indelible impression on both the occupants of the sixth floor and passersby on the street below.

The multi-coloured panels, meticulously crafted, each tell a story through a carefully chosen array of 19 Pantone colours, handpicked to align precisely with the artist's vision. A.J Wells' skilled operatives, conducted exhaustive tests to ensure an exact match with the artist's references. This was primarily a manual colour-matching process that utilised the latest technology and years of expertise.

The Rowe's vitreous enamel external soffit has enriched London’s urban landscape and provided the city with a powerful artistic statement that is a testament to the power of collaboration - a union of art, architectural design and exceptional craftsmanship.

Completed in November 2022.

Costs: £330,000

A.J. Wells & Sons Limited are a leading UK manufacturer of vitreous enamel, a heritage material with many positive traits (listed below), including its non-fading colours and exceptional fire safety properties. It is fused at temperatures exceeding 800°C, and offers a smooth, glassy, and enduring surface. It can be decorated in many ways from vibrant colours to unique textures while allowing the application of text-based graphics.

Our Wellsclad vitreous enamel cladding system, crafted from 1.5mm thick low carbon mild steel, allows for flexible panel application, seamless integration of services, and adaptability with various backing types making it ideal for diverse environments, from railway stations and road tunnels to retail areas and building exteriors.

Vitreous enamel takes centre stage in the ambitious project at The Rowe, demonstrating its adaptability across varied and challenging urban landscapes.

We firmly believe that our Wellsclad vitreous enamel cladding system, underpinned by this exceptional material, is deserving of recognition and consideration for a Surface Design Award.

Reasons to use Vitreous Enamel:
-Heat and fire resistant between -40°C to 650°C.
-Resistant to the elements be it rain, sun, snow or hail.
-Lasts up to 4 times longer than standard powder-coated panelling.
-Resistant to virtually all alkali, acids, organic solvents & detergents.
-The hard surface of enamel resists shock abrasion and scratching.
-The smooth, sealed surface enamel requires very simple and only periodic maintenance and is easy to clean.
-The elements that are used to produce enamel are non-toxic and fully recyclable.

At A.J. Wells & Sons, sustainability is a fundamental principle. Throughout our operations, from switching to renewable energy sources, design process, raw material selection through to transportation, we prioritise environmental considerations and continually strive to minimise our ecological footprint.

Vitreous enamel, the key component of our cladding system, is non-toxic and fully recyclable at the end of its long life. The longevity it offers ensures that the energy invested in its production yields substantial value over time.

The Rowe project is built with cutting-edge technology and stands as a benchmark for sustainable architecture and design. The building is poised to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' certification, reflecting dedication to best practices in sustainable building design. The Rowe will operate on 100% renewable electricity, achieving a remarkable 45% reduction in carbon emissions. This significant reduction underscores the project's environmental credentials and positive impact on the community.

Additionally, The Rowe has secured a WELL 'Platinum' Certification, reflecting the integration of WELL principles into its core design. Health and wellness are not mere considerations but integral aspects of the occupier experience at The Rowe.

The multi-coloured panels required an array of 19 Pantone colours, handpicked to align precisely with the artist's vision. A.J Wells' skilled operatives, conducted exhaustive tests to ensure an exact match with the artist's references.

Additionally, integrating the individually sized panels seamlessly with the building cladding design demanded high levels of precision and innovation. To validate our design and system approach, we undertook the creation of a full-scale mock-up, allowing us to fine-tune the details to ensure flawless execution and achieve a perfect fusion of art and architecture.

Installing the soffit cladding high up on the sixth floor of the external working area presented significant environmental and logistical challenges. However, our experienced installation team navigated these with skill and precision, culminating in the successful realisation of Yinka Ilori's inspiring artwork.

As part of our design, we were tasked with incorporating a third-party contractor's illuminated channel. This required prototyping and development to ensure that the item remained in line with our panels and could be easily maintained.

Due to the individual nature of these bespoke artwork panels and the very tight access to the installation location, a series of ply crates on wheels were manufactured so that the cladding panels could be protected all the way up to the installation location.

These crates were used multiple times on this project and upon completion the materials were subsequently stripped and used for other projects as part of their packaging procedure.

We’d like to give a mention and thank you to Zoe Dolcevita from Artistic Statements who was the Client Artwork Advisor.