High-end CUPACLAD facade addishes opulence for the latest Travelodge hotel construction
The new Abbey Wood Travelodge hotel near Bristol sports a premium facade, graced by CUPACLAD® 101 Random natural slate rainscreen cladding. Shortlisted for the Facade Awards UK 2024, this architectural project prioritized a quality design and sought a timeless finish. To meet these ambitions, CUPACLAD® presented a smart choice, delivering the classic charm of natural slate alongside market-leading fire safety and environmental credentials.
The building, designed by architect Stride Treglown, is one of Travelodge's new Budget-Luxe Hotels. To create an impressive first impression, the facade's appearance was meticulously considered. Stride Treglown designed an striking exterior encompassing two linked volumes, each clad in contrasting yet complementary materials.
CUPA PIZARRAS' CUPACLAD® 101 natural slate rainscreen cladding was selected due to its harmony with the design team's objectives. It also provided an A1-fire rating at a competitive price. This was combined with aluminium panelling in three shades of green for the second volume, offering striking contrast and color vibrancy.
Associate Architect, Juan Lopez from Stride Treglown, commented: "CUPACLAD® integrated seamlessly with our elevation strategy for the hotel, vividly illustrating the aspirations for this new hotel typology." The two interlocking volumes of the hotel were designed to be distinct, and the dark, uniform coloration of the natural slate, combined with its rough texture and the size variation created by the Random system, contributed to this distinction against the colorful aluminium panels of the other volume.
CUPACLAD® 101 Random utilizes three different sizes of natural slate to produce a more diverse and visually captivating facade. Despite the appearance of increased complexity, CUPA PIZARRAS' straightforward installation process ensures a smooth and effortless installation.
Tim Gray, Director of A2O Facades, the company responsible for installation, said: "We have been operating for over 20 years, and this project marks our first experience with natural slate installation. CUPACLAD®, with its innovative fixing system, ease of installation, and versatility, is a highly fire-resistant rainscreen system anchored in natural, resilient materials." The system's aluminium subframe and pre-drilled holes in the slate allowed for hassle-free installation.
Juan highlighted: "There are few reasons architects would need an excuse to specify a natural material, but in this case, we had an additional incentive. CUPACLAD® permitted us to incorporate slate in an alternative manner to the traditional pitched roof – and sustainability was another deciding factor."
Unlike ceramic or metal alternatives, natural slate requires no heating or chemical application during production. Consequently, and given its sustainable business practices, CUPA PIZARRAS has achieved Net Zero certification, EcoVadis Gold, and BRE global verification. These sustainability credentials were a key consideration in the specification process, fostering a low carbon facade system.
[For more information on the environmental and fire safety benefits of CUPACLAD® 101 Random cladding, click here.]
- The Budget-Luxe Hotel by Travelodge, designed by Stride Treglown, incorporates CUPACLAD® 101 natural slate rainscreen cladding to achieve a striking facade that balances design aesthetics, fire safety, and sustainability.
- Architects Stride Treglown intentionally selected CUPACLAD® 101 natural slate cladding for its eco-friendly credentials, as CUPA PIZARRAS has achieved Net Zero certification, EcoVadis Gold, and BRE global verification, contributing to a low carbon facade system.
