Portavadie Marina Resort North Sea oil industry.

Portavadie Marina Resort has been developed on the derelict brown-field site of a failed initiative in the 1970’s to build concrete platforms for the North Sea oil industry. Its popularity as a leading tourist destination with outstanding views over Loch Fyne towards the Isle of Arran belies its past.

A £10m spa and leisure centre, boasting the largest heated infinity pool in Scotland, marks the latest chapter in the remarkable story of Portavadie. The ethos of the entire project was to be sympathetic to the beauty of the Highland landscape. Designed by Stewart Associates, the spa uses sustainable materials throughout: glass, local stone, white oak and walnut, “to create a picture frame for the changing seasons, the changing moods, the changing skyline, and the changing colours of the landscape.”

In keeping with these values, Lang+Fulton were asked to supply louvred screening to provide shelter and a visual barrier for the café and outdoor pool areas.

A 2.5m high screen of Italia-100 panels was installed to provide 100% visual screening. The louvres have a free area of 29%, which helps to reduce wind loading, but, in order to cope with potential storm force conditions, the RHS posts were specially designed in accordance with BS EN 1991-1-4.

The steel louvres were polyester powder coated in a muted grey (RAL 7015) to a marine grade standard of finish to blend with the surroundings and withstand the harsh coastal climate.

Portavadie Marina Resort received the Argyll and Bute Design Award for leisure and spa building.

Architect: Stewart Associates
Client: Portavadie Estates
Product: Italia-100 cladding and screening