Case Study
Covering the old stone with a ventilated façade in Dekton: the perfect solution for updating the exterior of a house
David Pardo González, Wink Group
Location
La Moraleja, Madrid (Spain)
Fitter
Euroclad
Color
Albarium
Thickness
4 mm
End date
2023
Architecture / Design
David Pardo González, architect at Wink Group
Material
DEKTON
Aplication
Ventilated facade
Quantity
6,458 sq. ft.
Photography
Eduardo Martín
It may be hard to believe, but the exterior of this house was once traditional, with cement mortar and stone cladding. But the most extraordinary thing is that it was not necessary to demolish it to give it a new, contemporary look: all that was needed was to clad its old façade with Dekton slabs.
“The Dekton ventilated façade gave the house a seamless appearance, without different materials, and created a more powerful, horizontal volume thanks to the cutting and design chosen”, says project manager David Pardo González, architect at Wink Group. “Its zero maintenance and ability to be installed over the existing cladding made it the perfect material for the project.”
Dekton for an insulated, resistant and carbon neutral façade
Ventilated façades are the most efficient construction system for building envelopes, as they create an air chamber in the exterior façade that protects the temperature of the building’s interior. In this case, an additional insulating layer was created to improve the energy efficiency of the house, adding to Dekton’s excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. Furthermore, its high resistance to UV rays, scratches, frost, thawing and even fire, together with its low water absorption rate, ensure a pristine appearance for many years to come, as its 25-year warranty attests. This surface, which combines low maintenance and a long service life, is also beneficial to the environment.
Dekton is also a carbon neutral product for its entire life cycle. This means that, right from the extraction of the raw material, only the most demanding, efficient and environmentally friendly processes are used, and that the greenhouse gases generated are offset by investing in UN-backed offset projects. For all these reasons, it was the perfect choice for this house with a sustainable approach in La Moraleja, one of Madrid’s most exclusive residential developments, overlooking the countryside on the northern outskirts of the city.
Excellence in every detail
The greatest challenge for Pardo was to integrate the cutting into the existing architecture so that the rhythm of the façade would be a hallmark of the project. This was achieved by placing the slabs in such a way as to enhance the horizontality of the house and its openings.
“We created a fully detailed installation project, taking care of every detail and every joint to fit window sills and indirect lighting to the façade,” explains the architect. Euroclad, the fitter supplied by Cosentino to the Wink Group, took great care to ensure that the job was completed successfully.
The result is a modern, off-white cladding with transparencies and colour gradations typical of Roman stuccoes. Although it has a matt finish, depending on the incidence of light, reflections and shine that simulate marble dust can be seen. “Working with Cosentino has given us the peace of mind that comes from working with a great company and high quality materials,” the studio says.