Type of works: specification of Natura Plus fibre-cement cladding for facades.

Marley’s fibre-cement Natura Plus cladding has been specified by architects to create a striking facade on the Etap Hotel in Southampton.

The 124-bedroom city-centre hotel has been partly clad in Amber coloured Natura Plus panels.

Natura Plus fibre-cement cladding was specified because of its excellent weather resistant qualities, which will protect the building from strong winds and sea spray that sweep inland from the nearby coastline.

Paul Upton, General Manager at Etap Hotel, Southampton, explains: “Natura Plus gives the hotel a really modern and fresh appearance and proved to be the ideal solution because it is low maintenance. An additional advantage was that it is available in a range of colours, which allowed the designers to meet Etap corporate guidelines.”

Marley’s fibre-cement Natura Plus is a beautiful, smooth and solid cladding panel with a pure, through-coloured core and natural fibre-cement finish, which is available in nine standard colours

The panels have an installed life expectancy of at least fifty years and provide a long term, low-maintenance solution for building owners; having excellent weather resistance as well as being resistant to insects, mould growth and fungi.

Diana Bullock, Campaign Manager at Marley, commented: “Our Natura Plus panels are widely used for external cladding on a variety of public, commercial and residential projects because they offer all round benefits. We are delighted that Etap choose it for their striking new hotel.”