Designed by GilBartolome Architects, SIG Zinc & Copper’s zinc shingles were chosen to roof this stunning cliff house, Casa Acantilado in Salobrena, Spain.

GilBartolome Architects is known for their innovative use of both modern technology and traditional techniques to create amazing architectural forms.

The first layers of the zinc roof structure are a network of rebar woven over strip steel curves at intervals up the roof pitch, supported on acrow props. On first inspection they look almost like they might be timber and woven willow, the forms are so complex.

This network of rebar was then cast into a single span, undulating reinforced concrete roof slab. The roof is finished with some fantastic zinc shingles made from elZinc® Natural, each with a turned-up corner to evoke a reptilian surface reminiscent of a horned viper.

Simon Walker, Category Manager for SIG Zinc & Copper commented about the structure for the Casa Acantilado, and how it might be constructed in the UK. “Whilst it would be possible to cast such a complicated roof in a similar manner,” he said, “it might also be possible to do something very similar using timber, with canted rafters, similar to a complex eyebrow roof. If the roof is to have a single curvature, flexible ply might also be a solution.”

In either case, he stressed, it would be important to ensure the roof build up was correctly detailed with an appropriate substrate for the conditions and to meet UK building regulations.