The timeless aesthetics of Alutec’s aluminium rainwater systems have led to them being specified as part of a leading sustainable homes project by the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community.
As an educational charity focused on promoting timeless and ecological construction methods, the Prince’s Foundation has designed and built three exemplar properties, with the intention of demonstrating that new build homes can be sustainable, beautiful and imaginative.
All three homes have been built according to the Prince’s Foundation’s Natural House model, which is designed to achieve high standards of sustainability through the careful selection of materials, while simultaneously maintaining a focus on traditional design. Alutec’s Traditional and Tudor ranges were specified for the properties, as they delivered the required combination of environmental performance and classic visual appeal.
The Prince’s Foundation specified Alutec’s Traditional Half Round 113mm gutter system and the Tudor 63mm downpipe. Alutec’s Traditional and Tudor ranges offer the classic look of cast iron rainwater systems, but with the modern performance characteristics expected from 21st century homes. Critically, the Traditional and Tudor ranges deliver performance benefits that could never be achieved using cast iron, such as easy installation and minimum maintenance, as well as excellent longevity, durability and sustainability.
Made from marine grade aluminium, the Traditional and Tudor products are 65 per cent lighter than cast iron, making them easier to handle on site, and boasting excellent environmental credentials. Aluminium can be recycled again and again without loss of quality – in fact 75 per cent of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. Coupled with the fact that the products will benefit from an extremely long, maintenance free lifespan of 50 years or more (in normal UK atmospheric conditions), this made Alutec’s products a perfect fit for the Prince’s Foundation properties.
The Prince’s Foundation said: “The three Prince’s Houses aim to showcase how modern eco-homes can still take inspiration from tradition whilst providing all the benefits and comforts of modern living.
“All the elements that make up the house, ranging from the sheep’s wool insulation and timber-frame windows, to the Alutec rainwater system, play a key part in the creation of these homes that have now found a permanent place on the Dumfries House estate.”
