High end courtyard installation made from MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME by Medici Developments

When recently tasked with creating an external wall art installation for a luxury residential property in London’s Notting Hill, they consulted experts at innovative timber panel manufacturer MEDITE SMARTPLY who identified MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME as the perfect solution to their challenge.

Their ambitious aim was to create an elaborate, tropical design for an external feature wall, which was originally intended to use a specific carved stone from a Balinese quarry. However, when speaking to the team at MEDITE SMARTPLY, Medici discovered that they could replicate the desired effect, but with a material that would fix more easily and securely to the outdoor wall. Crucially, however, it was MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME’s strength, durability and ability to be shaped with ease that led to it being selected for the task.

“I needed a material that was very dense and could be shaped on a CNC (Computer Numerical Cutting) machine in order to achieve an accurate 3D image,” said Justin Bottaro from Medici Developments. “It also needed to be durable and have the ability to cope with the unpredict-able climate of London as the fixture is six metres tall and based in an outdoor courtyard with no cover.”

Much of the work on the wall installation was completed offsite, a construction method to which MEDITE SMARTPLY materials are particularly well suited.

Several panels of MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME were bonded together to create a thickness of 65mm from which the design could be carved. The constituent parts of the artwork were carved and then assembled on backing boards once they had arrived on site.

“Assistance and advice from the MEDITE SMARTPLY team was invaluable and made our decision a straight forward one. We looked at many different materials, but MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME was the best suited for our desired fi nish,” continued Justin. “The panels gave the piece an earthy look and feel, which was accentuated with greenery placed in the courtyard. We also placed refl ective surfaces in the voids of the design, which adds an air of perceived depth and volume when glancing at it.”

“The finished wall art looks very impressive,” said Peter Clifton, Product Manager for MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME. “It’s a real testament to the versatility of our product that it is specified for projects as prestigious as this art installation. The finish that this panel delivers makes it hard to distinguish from natural woods, or the original stone finish that Medici originally specified. Add to that the fact that it is guaranteed to withstand external elements for up to 50 years, and you’ve got a truly innovative, market changing product.”