CUPACLAD Rainscreen in the Lang/St. Marie Residence | Cupa Pizarras

The Lang/St. Marie Residence, designed by Richard Pedranti Architect (RPA) is a prefabricated, Net Zero eco-home. Located in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey. The concept behind the facade design of the home was to create a modern twist in the existing setting of the shore town. The front facade blends into the existing architecture of the neighborhood, while the back facade has a modern twist using natural slate tiles from Cupa Pizarras.

Sustainability in Design

Both passive House design principles and building science strategies were used to create a sustainable home that has a low energy consumption for heating and cooling. The results of these principles and strategies create a comfortable interior environment that uses natural heating and cooling mechanisms. The residence not only achieved Net-Zero Building (NZB) certification but also won the Architectural Excellence COTE Award 2020 granted by AIA Pennsylvania for the performance of the building for the health and wellness of the occupants and the environment where it is placed.

CUPACLAD Application

Among the advanced technology used to build the sustainable architecture, CUPACLAD, by Cupa Pizarras, a natural slate rainscreen system was used on multiple facades. Originally the facade design was planned in a new plastic product however testing showed that it was not as durable as required for an all-weather rainscreen system. Matt Berk of EcoSupply introduced RPA to CUPACLAD natural slate rainscreen, a system new to the states, but highly successful throughout Europe and Scandinavia for years.

CUPACLAD 101 Logic

The CUPACLAD 101 Logic rainscreen system consists of 40×20 cm (roughly 16” x 8”) slates installed horizontally. CUPACLAD’s 101 series offers a single fastening system with self-drilling screws, while remaining invisible to avoid impacting design. CUPACLAD slate is a sustainable, natural and maintenance-free product, that ensures quick and easy installation.

Sustainable Benefits of CUPACLAD:

• Environmentally friendly and sustainable
  Natural slate is only subject to extraction and mechanical transformation; there are no chemical or heating processes involved as with alternative materials.
• Efficient as a rainscreen cladding
  Now considered the most efficient system for construction envelope purposes.
• Complementary to external insulation systems
  Reducing energy consumption and helping to keep the building cool in summer and temperate in winter.