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Background
Officially opened to the public in 2001, the Cardiff Bay Barrage created a freshwater lake with over 13km of waterfront, and was the catalyst for the regeneration of the old docklands of Cardiff and Penarth.
Situation
The landscaped Cardiff Barrage embankment provides an attractive promenade where the public can view the estuary and Cardiff Bay. It also has 'The Age of Coal', an outside exhibition that celebrates the historical link between Cardiff and the Valleys. The Red Welsh Dragon, centuries-old emblem of the Welsh people, was a very important part of that link, and thus had to form part of the Barrage landscaping.
Why Sureset?
For such an intricate design, a range of colour finishes plus proven durability was paramount. This led Harbour Authority Operations Manager, Roger Thorney, to specify the SureSet resin bound surfacing system to achieve the desired result. |
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From the 1000+ SureSet formulations available, 'The Age of Coal' Dragon uses natural aggregates and recycled glass in an assortment of colours. The crystal-clear resin enhances the colour of the raw materials, and the versatility of SureSet enabled intricate patterns to be designed and bult for the Dragon.
Solution
For the Dragon's construction, 3mm Bright Red recycled glass created the main body, with natural gravel for the surrounding areas. The eyes use 3mm black and elswhere 4mm green, 4mm grey and 3mm dark terracotta provide the final, stunning effect.
Because of the strong contrast between the principle colours, the edging had to be totally accurate, so SureSet incorporated a metal strip which enhanced the over-all appearance. Coal bands were laid colour to colour to provide subtler colour changes, as they would have been in reality. |
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Result
The Harbour Authority Opreations Manager, Roger Thorney, says:
"'The Age of Coal' Dragon is a clear reminder of our region's heritage, and the choice of colours was critical in its success. This selection of SureSet ensured a consistent, accurate and durable finish for this very popular project."
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