PHPD discovers how a bespoke piece of artwork was included on an outside courtyard wall of an exclusive Notting Hill property – with help from Medite Smartply.
Medici Developments is known for creating aspirational homes that leave a lasting impression. Developing luxury, high-end properties across London and the commuter belt, they use impactful design and craftsmanship to create visually stunning spaces.
When recently tasked with creating an external wall art installation for a luxury residential property in London’s Notting Hill, they consulted timber panel manufacturer Medite Smartply who identified the company’s Tricoya Extreme timber panels as a solution to their challenge.
External feature wall
The aim was to create a tropical design for an external feature wall, which was originally intended to use a specific carved stone from a Balinese quarry. However, when speaking to the team at Medite Smartply, Medici discovered that they could replicate the desired effect with a material that would fix more easily and securely to the outdoor wall. That, combined with the product’s strength, durability and its ability to be shaped with ease, led to the Tricoya Extreme timber panels being selected for the task.
“It’s a real testament to the versatility of our product that it is specified for projects as prestigious as this art installation.”
Justin Bottaro from Medici Developments said: “I needed a material that was very dense and could be shaped on a CNC (Computer Numerical Cutting) machine in order to achieve an accurate 3D image. It also needed to be durable and have the ability to cope with the unpredictable climate of London as the fixture is six metres tall and based in an outdoor courtyard with no cover.”
Offsite construction
Much of the work on the wall installation was completed offsite. Several panels were bonded together to create a thickness of 65mm, from which the design could be carved. The constituent parts of the artwork were carved and assembled on backing boards once they arrived onsite.
“Assistance and advice from the Medite Smartply team was invaluable and made our decision a straightforward one. We looked at many different materials, but Tricoya Extreme was best suited for our desired finish,” continued Justin. “The panels gave the piece an earthy look and feel, which was accentuated with greenery in the courtyard. We also placed reflective surfaces in the voids of the design, which added an air of perceived depth and volume when glancing at it.”
Peter Clifton, Product Manager for Medite Tricoya Extreme, added: “It’s a real testament to the versatility of our product that it is specified for projects as prestigious as this art installation. The finish that this panel delivers makes it hard to distinguish from natural woods, or the original stone finish that Medici originally specified. Added to that the fact that it is guaranteed to withstand external elements for up to 50 years, and you’ve got a market-changing product.”
