For those who are convinced that you can only use shades of grey to create a municipal office, here is a project designed to dispel the most traditional stereotypes. In the town of Baronissi, in the province of Salerno (Italy), two twin buildings were built that will house the municipal services. Both buildings are 3 metres in height and have a portico that is 1.80 meters wide. Thanks to the Rockpanel Woods facades, the look and feel of the buildings is warm and vibrant instead of boring.
The creation of the particular geometry of the outer shell of the buildings was made possible thanks to the use of a metal substructure, covered with a new "skin" of facade cladding. This, in fact, made it possible to create a portico that runs along the full perimeter of the building up to one of the most distinctive entrances, which slanted shape outlines a new architectural image that perfectly matches the urban context and the landscape.
Rockpanel Woods: a durable, low-maintenance alternative to wood
At first glance, the facades of both buildings seem to be made of wood, creating a strong visual impact that has already attracted the interest of many passers-by during the construction phase. The secret? By using Rockpanel Woods facade cladding, made from stone wool, the architects managed to create a very realistic wood-effect structure that lasts over time. This is the ideal solution when trying to create the warm look and feel of real wood while benefitting from all the advantages of compressed stone wool.
The designers deliberately chose to have these facade boards installed with a so-called "slatted effect", which is obtained by engraving the panels in such a way that over time the natural colour of the panel itself will reappear. After a few weeks, the engraved part will change into a slightly darker shade of brown that goes well with the Corten steel bands installed between the Rockpanel boards.
