Metal Composite Panels Positioned to Reflect a Whole New Light
An innovative way to use a standard metallic finish
Merrifield City Display Center
Victoria, Australia
When it comes to metallic finish panels, it is commonly understood that installation must occur in the same direction to insure a uniform appearance. The protective film applied to Vitrabond™ Aluminum Composite Panels has clearly visible arrows to achieve this typical installation.
Some architects and designers have learned to use this directional finish to create a non-uniform appearance. Panels can be cut and installed in varying directions, reflecting the light sporadically thus creating a visual illusion of differing colors or textures, a look that can only be achieved using coil-coated finishes.
Aesthetics aren't the only reason for employing this novel approach. Architects can save substantially on material costs by using a standard color and simply rotating the direction of the installed panels. Traditionally, multiple custom colors have been used to achieve a similar effect. Vitrabond™ alternatively offers a color-changing Chromatic series of colors called the VITRA FX line.
This concept was also used on Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts by DiNisco Design Partnership of Boston, in the same Vitrabond™ color as the Merrifield project - Vitrabond™ Champagne Metallic VB9205.
