Tata Steel’s A1 fire-rated cladding used on Portsmouth residential regeneration scheme

The Goldsmith Avenue development provides a total of 70 high quality flats in the two, six-storey buildings, built by PMC Construction for VIVID, providing a much-needed mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, with two designed specifically for wheelchair users.

The exterior of the two buildings features a mix of red brick alongside Tata Steel’s Urban Seam Façade in Merlin Grey, which was selected for its aesthetics, increased fire performance and longevity.

Matthew Edwards, associate director at HGP Architects said: “We were looking to create a pair of buildings that offered something architecturally different but still reflected the local area. We looked at a range of options, but the standing seam was the one that best suited the surroundings of former industrial and railway buildings. The grey steel cladding provides an excellent contrast with the classic red brick and creates the sharp lines that give the buildings their character.”

The development was in the planning and design phases during late 2017 and therefore, the design and specification of the façade was influenced by the increased focus on fire safety that followed the Grenfell tower fire in the same year.

Richard Crane, technical design consultant at PMC Construction, explained: “The importance of maximising safety has been underlined in the most horrifying way and with regulations likely to change, we adapted th