img(height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2939831959404383&ev=PageView&noscript=1")

Words:
Jan-Carlos Kucharek

Non-porous rainscreen mineral composite panels

Crumpled paper anyone? Surface in silicon chip effect? Strange Mother of Pearl-like finish? Ooh-la-la! The R&D guys at French firm Carea have really been working overtime to pull together their latest range of non-porous rainscreen mineral composite panels – influenced by everything from ancient Egypt (Papyrus) to ‘The Matrix’ (Urba). But here, says the firm, you’re not forced to choose between ‘Red pill’ or ‘Blue pill’, as its surface effects come in any colour you want, even metallics. And it seems keen to shout about the bits you can’t see too: its patented fixing structure invisibly holds both panel and insulation layer in place; making them, like the benefits of French employment law, effectively non-removable.

Latest

With the knowledge to create sophisticated designs, Minesh Patel's next task is to find the scale that makes the most of it, while becoming a role model practice for diversity

Several aims lie behind an ambition to grow and work on larger projects

From technical explanations to evocations of mood and experience, architects have used drawings to understand and explain buildings. Enjoy these highlights though time

Highlights of architects' representations of buildings over 400 years

Issues such as workplace equality and opportunity, fees, a culture of long hours and the environmental damage of the pursuit of growth exercised the minds of the latest winners of Rising Stars at a recent roundtable

Tomorrow's influential architects mull over issues from equality to fees, growth to long hours