Maple team up with IMAR for decorative panel project at Glasgow Fort car park

Maple teamed up with IMAR to create a car park façade that is as attractive as it is functional.

However, when designing a car park extension for the Glasgow Fort retail park, architects Cooper Cromar envisaged something that would make a positive visual contribution to the urban realm.

So, the ambitious project featured more than 700 square metres of Corten steel panels, etched individually to create a unique, nature-inspired design.

Maple played a central role in the design, finishing and installation of the panels, which the client wanted to be 'beautiful as well as functional'.  However, for the manufacture, we chose metal experts IMAR.

Spain-based IMAR have been creating perforated, expanded sheet metal cladding for more than 80 years - so were a perfect partner.

Using 100% recycled material that required no further coating, IMAR used the naturally weathering (but durable and non-flammable) steel to create an image of an autumnal forest that changes colour over time and complements the sustainable timber in other areas of the construction.

Now complete, the five-storey car park provides 601 spaces for the shoppers.