Gulf Construction Online - Crystallised cladding adds a touch of class

The Fairmont Dubai

Crystallised cladding adds a touch of class

01 December 2001

Rich, textured crystallised glass cladding has been used extensively on The Fairmont Dubai's interiors to accentuate the elegance and sophistication of the property.

The cladding material called Neoparies is manufactured by Nippon Electric Glass (NEG) of Japan and was supplied to the project by the Dubai-based Trade Engineering.

"The main entrance lobby of the hotel has extensively used Neoparies to make a bold statement of sophistication," says a company spokesman. "It has been used on the floors, walls, stairways, flower boxes and bathrooms and its design concept has added to the beauty of the property."

"Neoparies," he says, "has a soft, rich appearance similar to granite and marble, but with none of the maintenance problems of natural dimensional stone. Launched in 1974, the product has been well accepted by the industry as effective and attractive wall cladding.

"The cladding is manufactured under a special crystallization process and is brighter, smoother and more uniform than marble. Furthermore, it is superior to natural stone in strength and resistance to weathering. The result is the classic lustre of marble and properties that are indispensable to modern architecture. Neoparies, available in 24 colours, is an ideal solution for the future of architecture.

"The multi-faceted material has been used to clad flat exterior walls, flat interior walls, curved exterior walls, interior beams, exterior columns, interior columns, floors, elevator floors, stairways and flower boxes. It has a high resistance to weathering, a zero water absorption rate, is harder and lighter than natural stone and can be easily used to form curved panels.

"Impervious to moisture and more resistant to acids, alkalis, heat, cold, scratching and abrasion than granite or marble, Neoparies is the ideal cladding material for all interior and exterior applications. With its high-gloss surface, the cladding is as beautiful as it's strong. It reflects light subtly and delicately, creating an incomparable visual effect."

Trade Engineering's management team comprises experienced engineers and personnel who have successfully completed many prestigious projects with renowned consultants and construction companies in the UAE.

"Our success and reliability stems from the fact that we believe in using high-quality materials," the spokesman says. "We are a spirited team that ensures every project is organized to the finest detail on time and to our customer's satisfaction. We know through experience that a satisfied customer is our gateway to success."

The crystallised glass cladding has also been used at the Dubai Creek Tower, various office entrances and royal palaces.

Neoparies has been used in a number of projects worldwide. These include the British High Commission, UK; Airside Terminal A at Tampa International Airport, Portland International Airport's new North Terminal, and Barneys New York, all in the US; The Majestic Centre, New Zealand; Forrest Chase, Australia; Hong Kong Matsuzakaya, (Hong Kong); and Orchard Point, Singapore.

Trade Engineering is the exclusive GCC agent for Neoparies and NEG glass blocks, Nitto Granite pavers from Japan, Nitto Siesto fascia ceramic tiles from Japan and KPT products from Taiwan. The NEG glass blocks come in various types and sizes such as ordinary, coloured, solar reflective and 'opaline milky'. Trade Engineering provides structural and technical support in the execution of all jobs undertaken.