Timber ceilings: National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff

Profile:
The geometry of this highly complex structure incorporates six elliptical domes, beneath which a visually stunning Western Red Cedar lining system sympathetically follows the dramatic undulating contours created by the roof.

Constructed directly over the debating chamber is an impressive twelve metre high circular "funnel" which is clad on the outside with cedar panels and internally with 90mm diameter aluminium tubes, arranged horizontally to follow the profile of this structure.

Over 4,000 bespoke prefabricated panels were produced off-site as part of BCL's ISO 9001 2001 quality control process, guaranteeing joinery workshop standards thoughout both the manufacturing and installation stages of the project.

The Western Red Cedar species was selected not only for its beautiful appearance, but also for its inherent flexibility which enabled preformed panelised shapes to be produced with radii of less than one metre.

Specific lamination techniques were developed for the project, which enabled slats as thin as 6mm to be utilised and the entire installation to be completed without the need for visible fixings.

Over 60,000 linear metres of Cedar were installed on this 4000m2 project, all of which was supplied under the F.S.C. Chain of Custody Certification Scheme.

Special Syntha-Pulvin powder-coated Aluminium panels were also designed, supplied and installed to the eaves of the building, as well as special Alanod high reflectivity panels to the top of the funnel.

Client:
Government

Architect:
Richard Rogers Partnership

Main Contractor:
Taylor Woodrow Construction