Ventilated facades Cembrit - in harmony with tradition and nature

One of the fundamental starting points of architectural design should be the site of the building itself. The stronger the genius loci of the place, the greater respect the architect should have for it in their work.
The tradition of the place or the natural environment can be particularly impressive.

In harmony with nature


The influence of nature can take various forms, whether it is temperature, wind, humidity, or plants. Harsh climatic conditions can be found both in the mountainous areas of the Czech Republic and on the shores of the Faroe Islands. It is precisely here that the first example of unconventional use of fiber-cement roofing for the facade of a building stands. This solution was driven by several fundamental reasons. The area around Thorshavn is characterized by the proximity of the Gulf Stream, which brings relatively cool weather to the region. Moreover, it is known as one of the places with the highest cloud cover in the world. As a result, heavy and frequent rains occur in this locality.
All of this places high demands on the building materials used here. Common building materials in this subpolar oceanic climate are wood, steel, and plastic. The combination of wood and fiber-cement slabs is a relatively unconventional choice, but it has proven to be excellent in this harsh environment.
The use of roofing slabs on the facade of the house, in the same laying principle as that used for the roofing, reflects the challenging climatic conditions well in this environment.


The perfectly smooth appearance of the facade creates a great contrast to the rough structure of the wood used in the main parts of the building.
Material used: Cembrit - English Rectangle

Respect for Tradition
Another factor that influences the genius loci of a place is tradition. It does not always have to be a building authority regulation that enforces the use of a sloped roof or its traditional red color, but it can also be a natural respect for the place and the surrounding buildings. Even in such cases, however, an architect can design a modern house that naturally integrates into the given locality.

A good example is a family house in Ládví (Prodesi).
The red cloak of fiber-cement roofing covers both the roof and the facade of the house. In combination with the wood used on the terrace and around the windows, it creates a pleasantly warm impression.

"At first, we were a bit afraid of the Cembrit roofing, which our architect recommended. We weren't sure about using the red Rhombus slabs on the facade; we feared they would be too vivid and preferred natural wood and plaster. However, we are very satisfied; the red color beautifully complements the greenery of our garden, and the Rhombus slabs are completely maintenance-free. While the areas where we have plaster or wood have already suffered from the weather, the Cembrit roofing just needs to be rinsed with water and it looks as good as new." say the owners of the wooden structure.

Material used: Cembrit Rhombus - red

Fiber-cement roofing Cembrit combine perfectly with all natural materials thanks to their natural appearance. They are made exclusively from natural raw materials.