Statesville, N.C.-based 3A Composites USA Inc. supplied its Alucobond aluminum composite material (ACM) to create a tasting room at the 60-acre Painted Rock Estate Winery Ltd., Penticton, British Columbia, Canada, with a flowing form, radius curves and surface color.
John Skinner, winery owner, says the bluish Alucobond material in Seafoam Metallic features a luster that seems to change as natural light changes. “From bright sunny days to dark hazy days, the building’s appearance evolves profoundly,” Skinner says. “One day, it’s one building; the next day, it’s another. We’re very excited about it.”
Painted Rock Estate Winery was clad with 2,400 square feet of 4-mm Alucobond ACM, including 1,800 square feet of Alucobond in Seafoam Metallic and 600 square feet of Alucobond naturAL with a Reflect finish. The Alucobond naturAL in Reflect was selected to accent two building-wing areas with a mirror-like finish that reflects the area’s natural beauty. Guests can view the cladding as they walk to the tasting room, its open patio areas and the winery’s landscaped event lawn.
Dominic Unsworth, architectural designer at Fallowfield Design + Development, Kaleden, British Columbia, and Robert Mackenzie Architect Inc., Penticton, designed the project. Unsworth says the building wings are tipped with a mirrored surface that reflects the moonrise in the east and the sunset in the west. “In daylight conditions, it changes nicely and picks up a lot of the naturally lit surroundings,” Unsworth says. “There are fantastic views of the lake as well as the hills and mountains visible in this cladding.”
Unsworth says the building approach curtains the view to Skaha Lake and the vineyards to the west, and the eastern walls draw you into the entry, forward to the view beyond. “It’s a flowing form on the site and works nicely against the natural setting,” he says.
The metal panels bring the lake and mountain views into the building, Skinner says. “In our context, it really works; it’s beautiful,” he says.
Greyback Construction Ltd., Penticton, was the general contractor; Keith Panel Systems Co. Ltd. (KPS), Vancouver, British Columbia, was the fabricator; and Laing Roofing Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia, was the installer.
Paul Dalzell, KPS operations manager, says he is impressed by the consistency of the Reflect panel surface. “We know how difficult it can be to work with mirror-finish products from past experience, but Alucobond Reflect was extremely easy to fabricate and produced great results,” he says. Dalzell notes Alucobond naturAL Reflect material may be selected for more projects. “Previously, you’d have to use expensive, heavy-gauge stainless steel to get this type of effect,” he says.
Skinner purchased Painted Rock Estate Winery, which overlooks the eastern shore of Skaha Lake in Penticton, in 2004 and opened the 1,600-squarefoot, one-story tasting room in September 2013. It was recognized as “Winery of the Year” in British Columbia in the 2013 InterVin International Wine Awards, which gave gold medals for Painted Rock’s 2010 Cabernet and 2010 Syrah wines.
Skinner says they wanted to honor consumers and the Painted Rock community with the design. “We chose a contemporary building design-one that seems in place,” he says.
Alucobond by 3A Composites USA Inc., www.alucobondusa.com
