Casino Kursaal
Ostend, Belgium
- Client: Casino Kursaal
- Project Manager: NV (plc) IBT
- Main Contractor: NV (plc) IBT
- Masonry Contractor: Stone Connections, Belgium
- Material: Bowers Lynham Whitbed
The Casino Kursaal is a listed building built in the late 1940's on the coastline of Ostend. The construction at the time utilised Portland Stone on a steel framework cladding system. After approximately 60 years the steel frame-work used to support the stone cladding began to deteriorate therefore the affected Facades needed restoration.
Albion Stone were introduced to the project by Rony De Smet of Stone Connections, who specialises in the use of Portland Stone.
Being a listed building the project team were under pressure to ensure that Portland stone selected for the restoration would be an exact match aesthetically and would have the durability to withstand coastal weathering.
IBT carried out detailed surveys on the building to establish the extent of the restoration and the quantities and dimensions of stone panels required.
Albion Stone visited the Casino to view the original Portland Stone Cladding and the extent of the restoration. Aesthetically suitable beds of Portland Stone were discussed and compared to the existing stonework with the Bowers Lynham Whitbed being selected as the closest match.
The project team lead by IBT and Stone Connections visited Albion Stone's Quarry and Factory at Portland to view the range samples for Bowers Lynham Whitbed and the blocks available prior to visiting sites in London where Whitbed Stones had previously been used.Specially phased testing programmed were organised by KIK the testing house in Brussels to ascertain the durability of Bowers Lynham Whitbed.
Once Bowers Lynham Whitbed was selected, as the most durable and aesthetically correct stone for the Project, detailed costings were prepared and reviewed prior to a production programme being schedule to meet tight deadlines. The restoration project took approximately two years with Albion Stone supplying in the region of 2000m2 of worked stone. The value of the stone element of the restoration of the Casino Kursaal was approximately £350,000.