Every material specified in a project is a decision that must later be justified on-site. In this article, we speak with UNO EN UNO architectural firm about the DEPART project, and how specifying ATRIM anodized aluminum profiles and skirting boards preserved the core design concept—from drawings to completed construction—without compromising quality.
When Specification Meets the Job Site
In DEPART, the relationship between residential living and the surrounding park laid the foundation for the entire architectural scheme: open views, outdoor expansions, and material selection all responded to that central vision from the earliest design stages.
In this context, specifying skirting boards and profiles shifted from a secondary consideration to an essential design strategy—reinforcing the building’s architectural language while meeting the rigorous functional demands of high-traffic common areas.
Materials That Uphold the Design Intent
For the common areas, ATRIM anodized aluminum profiles and baseboards were specified, prioritizing a technical solution capable of enduring heavy use without sacrificing aesthetic quality.
Three key technical attributes justified this specification:
Water resistance: Crucial for high-traffic shared spaces.
Low maintenance: Eliminating the need for frequent post-construction interventions.
Durability: Preserving the initial surface finish and visual quality over time.
These three factors fulfilled the building’s technical requirements, while the metallic finishes introduced a contemporary design language consistent with the overall identity of the project.
Profiles were applied as linear elements that interface seamlessly with various materials, adding a subtle contrast against an architectural backdrop dominated by dark tones.
Specification As an Identity-Building Tool
The choice of Gold-finished profiles was not purely aesthetic. It established a dialogue with the surrounding railway landscape, using linear metallic accents as a subtle nod to the site’s historical context.
When these specifications are established during the design phase—rather than improvised on-site—it becomes significantly easier to maintain consistency between the original concept and the finished build, while confidently backing those decisions before the client.
The Value of Technical Support
Throughout the development of DEPART, the ATRIM Projects team worked directly with the firm to resolve critical architectural joints: from continuous transitions between materials of varying thicknesses to expansion joints across large surface areas and perimeter details.
This technical assistance ensured the correct selection of aluminum alloys and profile geometries for each surface—safeguarding design integrity and driving execution efficiency on-site.
Specify with Technical Backing
If you are defining profile specifications for an upcoming project, the ATRIM Projects Department can support your team with detailed technical data sheets and specification documents to substantiate every decision on-site.
