The Alchemy of Art and Metal.
Design & Development.
Catalytico will appraise the design intent whether it's an artwork of simple sketches or detailed drawings for an architectural element.
We will choose who to work with to realise the project in the best way.
The design development will be made using our team to produce full design and shop drawings for approval. Only then will it go to manufacture.
There is a unique culture of small and medium size family run businesses in Italy, John has worked with Italian craftsmen for over 30 years. The projects are made in workshops in Italy. The elements are made and assembled in the workshops, inspected and approved before dismantling and shipping to site.
Manufacturing.
Installation.
Catalytico’s usual method of installation is to send a small team from the workshop who have made the piece to assemble on site. There is a team of UK based fabricators and installers who site manage the installation to comply with UK H&S legislation. They are a team Catalytico founder, John Dunbar Roake, has worked with for 10 years. The projects are overseen by John from viewing initial design intent to handover of the final pieces to the client. It’s a personal service.
Catalytico’s founder John Dunbar Roake’s first degree was in Environmental Sciences and whose thesis was on energy accounting, long before it became fashionable.
All the workshops Catalytico works with, are people who have policies and a mindset to minimise the use of materials and energy during fabrication, it reduces costs to recycle even the metal swarf from milling or burn wood off cuts to produce heat for the workshops.
Sustainability.
Metal : The Culture of Artigiani.
Catalytico works with a number of small workshops and artisans.
The skillset is the best in the world of fabricating raw metal into finished artworks or architectural elements from a small sculpture to a full facade or 10m portal, whatever is designed.
The workshops have access if not in-house to every process to rationalise the construction of the finished pieces. It is a team of specialists of high skill that engineer and make the projects.
Catalytico has a long history working with Venetian artisans and workshops and has connections with a number of furnaces to develop projects in Murano, Blowing unique pieces, a series or producing cast glass artworks. It has a history and experience that goes back a thousand years, it is a unique resource of knowledge in this material.
For more information click here.
Glass, Fire, and Alchemy.
The art of making bespoke windows.
For all doors and windows, Catalytico works with Capoferri, a family run company celebrating its 125th year. They started as a wood workshop and now make bespoke windows , doors and mechanisms all in-house. There are now two workshops, the wood in Adrara where the technical office and admin and the other metalwork shop is in Telgate.
Ask about your requirement and their team will study solution. The reverse mentality to selling a standard profile adapted to the specification. Craftsmanship with the latest technology is Capoferri’s modus operandi.
The creation of the corten steel portal for 80 Charlotte Street - Derwent London with Make Architects
The tools of the trade
The creation of the corten steel portal for 80 Charlotte Street - Derwent London with Make Architects
The creation of the corten steel portal for 80 Charlotte Street - Derwent London with Make Architects
The crafting of the frame for Bill Viola ‘Martyrs’ in St Paul’s Cathedral - Caroe Architecture with Foster & Partners
St Paul’s Cathedral - Bill Viola ‘Martyrs’ Caroe Architecture with Foster & Partners
