RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products delivers an advanced engineering solution for a contemporary cliffside home in Guernsey’s south-coast cliffs. The project highlights the synergy between the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN F Bright system and solar technology, which achieved a measurable 8% increase in photovoltaic yield while preserving a sensitive natural landscape.
Constructing customised, modern, and efficient homes within sensitive rural environments requires specialised material technologies that enhance sustainability without disrupting the local landscape. To bring this vision into life architects must rely on advanced roofing solutions capable of blending technical excellence with environmental goals, as perfectly shown by the Val Au Bourg project on Guernsey’s south-coast cliffs.
In this residential project, RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products successfully contributed to realising property owner’s vision of a home that maximises natural light and panoramic views while carefully protecting the site’s original ecosystem. The technical solution involved the deployment of the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN F Bright system, which delivers exceptional thermal management alongside durable weather protection.
Rather than acting solely as weatherproofing, the white membrane functioned as a technical driver for the property’s renewable infrastructure, optimising solar panel performance to secure an 8% increase in clean energy production.
Architectural vision and technical integration
The development of Val Au Bourg represents a rational response to the specific site conditions and rural setting of Guernsey’s south-coast cliffs. Led by David De La Mare and Simon Cottell, with technical design by David Radford, the project evolved from an initial attempt to refurbish the existing building. However, it soon became clear that a new build was necessary to fulfil the shared vision of a contemporary home that suits a modern lifestyle.
The resulting structure is specifically oriented to maximise natural light and panoramic views while carefully preserving existing mature planting and trees.
To manage the visual impact on the landscape, the architects used a long, low-profile geometry and a strategic material palette. Architectural harmony was further achieved through untreated timber cladding and grass roofs, elements that allow the building to blend naturally into the cliffside environment. Heavier masonry elements were restricted to areas requiring ground retention, where DLM Architects used stone gabions filled with material excavated directly from the site.
This approach ensured the principal structure remained simple and achieved low embodied energy. This structural simplicity was complemented by the choice of a high-performance roofing solution designed to integrate seamlessly with the building’s environmental goals.
Technical drivers of environmental performance at Val Au Bourg
To support the desired energy efficiency, the project implemented “Cool your roof” principles through the specification of the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN F Bright membrane. This mechanically fixed solution is engineered with high solar reflectance, which actively reduces the temperature of the roof surface and the building’s interior.
The technology works in synergy with the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system, providing a stable and efficient base for a high-performance photovoltaic installation. The integration of this system increased the solar panel yield by 8%, demonstrating how sustainable material choice directly enhances renewable energy production.
The success of the Val Au Bourg project is also the result of a long-term partnership with Sarnian Roofing Ltd, the expert contractors responsible for the installation. As RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products approved contractors for over 30 years, Sarnian Roofing Ltd was among the first in the UK to adopt “Bright” technology. Its commitment to mastering advanced sustainable solutions has not only ensured a high-quality finish for this project but has also served as a significant driver for their business growth on the island of Guernsey.
“The implementation of our systems at the Val Au Bourg project highlights how technical innovation and environmental responsibility can operate in total synergy within highly sensitive landscapes”, states Robert McNeilRegional Business Development Manager for London, Southeast & Channel Islands.
“Seeing a long-term partner like Sarnian Roofing Ltd deliver exceptional results with advanced technologies is a point of significant pride for us. This project demonstrates that Bright technology is not merely a product choice but a strategic component that enables contractors to deliver measurable environmental benefits and drive business growth through innovation”, he adds.
About RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products
Part of the German RENOLIT Group, RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing products is one of the reference points for the production of durable, versatile, and high-quality certified synthetic membranes for waterproofing roofs and covers, swimming pools, and civil engineering works. Headquartered in Sant Celoni, north of Barcelona, the market unit has about 350 employees and a production of one million rolls of membranes a year.
Reliability, impeccable style, energy saving, sustainability, quick installation, and high durability are the strengths of RENOLIT ALKORPLAN roofing membranes.
Main characteristics of the Roofing Division are the wide range of products, a flexible customer-oriented approach, strong know-how and all-round technical assistance on site, thus providing suitable roofing solutions to each specific problem.
About the Company
The RENOLIT Group is a globally active specialist for high-quality plastic films, sheets and other polymer solutions. With more than thirty production sites and sales units in over twenty countries, and with annual sales of about EUR 1.200 billion, the company with headquarters in Worms – around 70 km south of Frankfurt-am-Main – is one of the world’s leading plastic products manufacturers. Around 5,000 employees continue to further develop the knowledge and expertise gained from 80 years of business.