The Requirement
Reducing the visual impact of guttering systems on the design of buildings is always a challenge for designers and architects. One solution is to use these systems as an architectural feature in themselves. The Justice Court collection of retirement homes in Cromer is one such case. These beautiful red brick and stone buildings have an aluminium guttering system combining the gutter, fascia and eves functions together with fascia panels above and below the large bay windows. The design intention was that these aluminium elements should resemble the feature stone band running across the building and to become a design statement in their own right. A close match to the shade and texture of the stone was required, and a consistency of colour throughout to emphasise the clean lines of the guttering & fascia system.