Creating the wayfinding signage for these stunning waterside apartments in Gillingham
Project: The Kell
Location: Gillingham
Sector: Residential
Client: Long Harbour
Partners: F.r.a. Creative
Modern and spacious easy living rented apartments designed to incorporate the stunning quayside views of Chatham Docks
Completed in 2021, The Kell sets a new standard for renting apartments. Situated on Gillingham’s Chatham docks with stunning views, light and spacious interiors and a host of services and amenities. Ready-to-move-in accommodation, it allows its residents to make a home integrating stunning design, lifestyle and a great neighbourhood.
Working with F.r.a. Creative, a leading wayfinding design consultancy
After a rigorous but thorough tender process, we were delighted that F.r.a. Creative, contracting for Long Harbour, selected us to build and install their wayfinding design. The entire development comprises of The Kell, The Gessner which are have both been completed and The Sessile, which we ae currently working on. As this is an ambitious and impressive build compromising of 192 rental units with waterfront facing ground floor retail units, F.r.a.’s tender proposal was extremely detailed. Their specification documentation stipulated their expectations for the entire project, outlining the exact requirements for design and materials, to construction and installation.
We are proud that we consulted on and met all elements of F.r.a.’s brief. For some insight into how we dealt with some of the specifications most significant challenges, please see The Kell: Spec challenges below.
Stylish brass wayfinding signage inspiring a sense of place
After submitting quality brass prototypes, which were all approved by the F.r.a. Creative team, we manufactured and installed the complete wayfinding scheme for the entire project.
The theme throughout was mainly brass as this traditional material compliments the architectural design and inspires a sense of place for its residents.
As brass signage specialists, this was a wonderful project to work on. We were able to create unique brass signage with fabricated built-up 3D letters with illumination on the outside of the building along with exquisite hand painted gold leaf sign writing coupled with symmetrical plaques with etching across the scheme. All gold leafing was delivered by our traditional sign writer who has over 50 years of expertise. We also used a customised chemical etching process for all the brass plaques throughout the project.
The complete signage for this project which comprises of 192 units consisted of various disciplines of signs ensuring that the whole project inspired a sense of place by using a brass theme throughout the project ensuring that F.r.a.’s design vision was delivered.
A satisfied client and a continued business partnership
Overall, we are proud to have produced and installed The Kell’s signage to F.r.a.’s specifications, on time and within budget.
We continue to have a good business partnership with F.r.a. and are presently working on several ambitious projects with them.
Consultation
Upon reviewing F.r.a.’s spec, we identified that many aspects of their design proposal raised significant build challenges.
For their floor identification signage, F.r.a. had specified it to be built from 10mm brass. As a brass signage specialist, we recognised that not only would this be very expensive, when laser cut its near impossible to get a smooth finish, posing a health risk for residents.
In light of this, we advised to create this signage from 6mm brass with hand-polished edges.
In turn, for their reverse-etched signage, F.r.a want a unique asphalt-styled textured finish. As a leader in chemically etched signage, we advised that there was no standard manufacturing process for this finish.
To deliver this unique asphalt-styled textured finish for F.k.a., we created it with our supplier. We then mechanised the process to be able to roll it out on a large scale.
Quality Assurance
F.r.a. work with the top building contractors in the industry and to maintain the utmost quality control, their specification requirements are very challenging, stipulating the highest standards across every phase of the signage project. We worked very closely with F.r.a. to ensure that we upheld the design intent throughout the entire signage project.
To ensure that our signage principles met F.r.a.’s comprehensive requirements, we followed a rigorous quality assurance process.
Before constructing any signage:
• we used a professional art worker to visualise F.r.a.’s creative vision
• we prototyped a range of F.r.a.’s more challenging sign finish requests
• we welcomed F.r.a.’s to visit the workshop to review the signs
When installing the signage:
• we used software called Siteworx to send F.r.a.’s monthly progress reports
• conducted an on-site review
Procurement
F.r.a.’s brief and design proposal clearly required a vast quantity of brass. Due to global trade shortages caused by both Brexit and Covid-19, brass is currently very difficult to procure. However, our solid network of suppliers we were able to source brass from a mill based in Germany. Due to lead time issues, this was an involved and time-consuming process.
Timescale
Delivery and Installation
In order to guarantee an orderly site, we were meticulous in how we installed each sign, making sure that once done the site was immaculate and met all safety regulations.
