Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest

Brett Martin spans Center Parcs’ subtropical swimming paradise with sustainable rooflight solution

Brett Martin’s Marvault rooflights have been installed as part of a multi-award-winning refurbishment at Center Parcs’ Whinfell Forest holiday village in Penrith, Cumbria. The customer required a solution that would increase the thermal efficiency of the large, subtropical space in order to reduce heating costs and the sites carbon emissions. Brett Martin’s vaulted multiwall polycarbonate rooflight system, which covers an area of approximately 2,785m2, provided the ultimate solution, enabling the existing roof to be kept whilst reducing heating usage by 11.14%. 

Part of a 400-acre site, Whinfell Forest in Cumbria has accommodation for nearly 5,000 guests. At its centre is the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, with pools and tropical plants all enclosed under a widespan roof. However, Center Parcs found that there were increasing heat loss problems with the old roof. This meant that maintaining the level of heating required to create a comfortable environment for both guests and plants was generating significant costs, as well as effecting the park’s overall environmental impact.

To address the issue of heat loss through the roof, the team from Center Parcs, led by Project Manager Marc Preite, reached out to Brett Martin in the hope of finding a solution that would continue to allow the maximum amount of natural light into the space, whilst improving environmental and cost efficiency.

Brett Martin put forward its Marvault rooflight system which utilises aluminium and polycarbonate to create a barrel-vaulted shape. This shape increases light penetration and enables spans of up to seven metres to be bridged with no restriction on length. This suited the requirements of Center Parcs as the existing roof utilised long unbroken rooflights that spanned four metres and ran from 30m to 61m in length.

Unlike the old, single layered polycarbonate rooflights installed at Center Parcs, Marvault is glazed with two layers of Brett Martin’s 16mm Marlon ST Longlife polycarbonate. This lightweight, multiwall insulated panel provides increased efficiency by reducing heat loss through its seven layers, as well as providing UV protection. These attributes combine to make a strong, lightweight rooflight that maximises light penetration whilst minimising harmful UV and costly heat loss. As a result, Marvault has a U-value of 1.09W/m²K, balancing excellent light penetration with improved thermal performance.

Brett Martin worked closely with the roofing contractor Central Roofing to ensure that the Marvault rooflights could be incorporated into the complex curved roof that defines the striking project. Rising from 6 metres to 27 metres, with a 24-degree incline, the saddle roof posed multiple challenges for the team from Brett Martin who designed and detailed the Marvault glazing to curve with the roof’s striking form. The installers then had to grapple with the Cumbrian weather and night installations in order to complete the project.

Brett Martin was able to demonstrate the aesthetic and technical benefits of its Marvault system by taking the team from Center Parcs to see the product in situ on another project. Recently completed, Porsche’s new High Wycombe showroom utilises Marvault to bring light into the deep plan building. This helped to demonstrate the benefits to the team from Center Parcs and played a vital role in securing the contract. 

Adrian Lukic, Sales & Commercial Director at Brett Martin noted that “This was an exciting project to be involved with, and it was great to have it recognised with awards from the LWRA and the NFRC as well as a second place at the IFD International Roofing Awards in Bratislava. Efficiently heating such a large space to a degree that makes it comfortable for guests is a difficult feat, but our Marvault has demonstrated what a crucial role new and efficient rooflights play in achieving great thermal and environmental efficiency.”