With every fibre

Future-proof, sustainable materials for attractive façade designs are in high demand. One of these is fibre cement, which can even compete with wood in terms of environmental friendliness and also scores with many other advantages.

Since 1901, fibre cement has stood for timelessness, modernity, building culture, functionality, durability and universality. With this in mind, Cedral continues to develop products, systems and services and turns roofs and façades into an aesthetic experience with sustainable materials, healthy surfaces, simple processing techniques and a wide range of options for customising energy-efficient building envelopes. This can be implemented with a range of collections, such as the Classic Collection with a harmonious colour palette that creates a calming and inviting atmosphere, consisting of light and soft tones for an atmosphere of lightness, beauty and timelessness.

With the Natural Collection, a colour palette guided by nature, homes are created in harmony with their surroundings. The colours are inspired by the scents, sounds and textures of nature and awaken many senses. The Expressive Collection, on the other hand, complements and contrasts existing materials. Here, deeply saturated colours dominate, derived from clinker, metal and steel, creating a unique and eye-catching look. Last but not least, the Design Collection impresses with a monochrome colour palette that emphasises the lines of the house and sets clear accents. Based on black and grey tones, it creates a sense of timeless consistency where less is more.

The four collections are the result of a selection of 21 colours. With this innovation, Cedral is ensuring sustainable use of its products and has been able to reduce stock levels by more than half - both for the company itself and for retailers. The clear aim of this development was to be able to offer timeless classics and modern colours in a carefully curated collection. The ‘Cedral Collections’ are the answer to the principle of sufficiency in the construction industry - a colour system that specifically includes the timeless colours desired by users.

In this way, Cedral responds to an extensive market survey and meets the need to minimise the consumption of resources through conscious and moderate building. Instead of striving to maximise the use of materials or the greatest possible equipment, the focus is on reducing to the essentials. The aim is to design buildings that are durable, functional and resource-efficient. This approach contributes to a more sustainable construction method and reduces the ecological footprint.

The trigger for the comprehensive market research was the realisation that the large variety of colours and different colour ranges in different countries led to uneconomical and ecologically questionable storage capacities. Product and brand management initiated a change, sifted through all the available material and called in colour experts from the iVisual agency.

A total of 39 colours from the entire colour selection were included in the survey, with end consumers being the first to be questioned. The focus was on average homeowners between the ages of 35 and 65 from various countries, who primarily carry out renovation projects. This also allowed international preferences to be recorded. The aim was to understand the needs of these 251 homeowners surveyed with regard to façade materials in order to adapt the product range accordingly. As a result, the results were discussed and adapted with experts from the processing and trade sectors. This was followed by preparations for sales, marketing and product communication. This included the development of a visualisation tool as an app, a sample folder for fabricators and a campaign for the market launch. The entire process from analysis to market launch took around two and a half years.

The strategic approach behind the Cedral Collections was to offer selected colours for different (lifestyle) styles. Cedral chooses timeless colours that are perceived as versatile, contemporary and in keeping with a high-quality premium brand. The colour palette should make it possible to design a façade that blends harmoniously with the surroundings and at the same time sets individual accents.

Thanks to its different textures, fibre cement offers great design freedom, making it a flexible design element for every architectural task and style. At the same time, the major advantages of fibre cement panels are becoming established, such as the durability of fibre cement, which is extremely resistant to weathering, insects and rot. Due to its durability, fibre cement requires little to no maintenance, which saves time and money in the long term. As a non-combustible material, fibre cement is also suitable for use in buildings with strict fire safety regulations. Last but not least, it is environmentally friendly, as fibre cement is made from natural raw materials and is fully recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly choice. In a nutshell, it can be summarised that Cedral façade panels are valued as a low-maintenance product, especially as a multi-faceted and durable alternative to wood.

© All images: Cedral