Powder Coated Perforated Metal Screening
Think Perforation, Think Graepels. Precision Perforation for Perfect Results
Graepels manufactured bespoke powder coated perforated steel panels to create a durable, cohesive and visually striking feature across the building’s lower façade.
Why Choose Graepels?
We have almost 70 years of experience across the UK and Ireland, with expertise in perforated metal, woven wire, metal fabrication, laser cutting, and ISO 9001 certified manufacturing.
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The Project at a Glance
The Client
The Project
We Are Fully Accredited & Award-Winning
The Brief
13a Portobello is a contemporary family home constructed on the site of a derelict garage within a constrained rear laneway site in Dublin 8. The project sought to transform an underutilised urban plot into a high-quality residence while addressing a number of complex architectural challenges.
To maximise daylight and usable space, the architects adopted an “upside-down” layout, positioning the bedrooms at ground-floor level and the principal living accommodation on the first floor. While this approach responded effectively to the site’s limitations, it created challenges around privacy, security, ventilation and natural light at ground level due to the home’s north-facing orientation and close proximity to neighbouring properties.
The design required a solution that could provide privacy and protection without sacrificing daylight or airflow, while also contributing positively to the building’s architectural character. The material selected needed to perform multiple functions simultaneously and form an integral part of the home’s visual identity.
Graepels was engaged to manufacture the bespoke perforated metal elements required to achieve this balance of performance, aesthetics and durability.
The Solution
Graepels worked closely with the project team to manufacture bespoke folded and perforated steel panels that became a defining feature of the building’s lower façade. Rather than using perforated metal as a decorative addition, the panels were designed as a key architectural element, creating a unified treatment across the ground-floor elevation.
Manufactured in lengths of up to three metres, the panels featured Graepels’ GRAE F030 R064/S111A perforation pattern, providing a carefully controlled balance between openness and screening. The perforations allow daylight and natural ventilation to reach the bedrooms while maintaining privacy and an additional layer of security.
The project demanded a high level of manufacturing precision. Hole alignment, panel flatness, dimensional accuracy and the relationship between perforated areas, folds and fixing points all required careful control to achieve a consistent appearance across the façade. The use of long-format panels minimised visible joints, while folded edges provided additional rigidity and contributed to the clean architectural expression of the design.
Through its specialist perforation expertise and manufacturing capabilities, Graepels translated the architect’s vision into high-quality, repeatable components that integrated seamlessly into the wider fabricated metalwork package before being powder coated for long-term external durability.
The Outcome
The completed project demonstrates how perforated metal can successfully address multiple architectural challenges within a contemporary residential setting. The panels provide privacy, security, daylight control and ventilation while contributing significantly to the home’s distinctive appearance.
The perforated façade creates a dynamic visual effect that changes throughout the day. During daylight hours it reads as a robust protective layer, while at night the illuminated interior reveals the perforation pattern, creating a softer and more permeable architectural character without compromising privacy.
Beyond its functional performance, the perforated steel plays an important role in defining the identity of the building. Its robust industrial character references the site’s former use as a garage and responds to the surrounding laneway context, while its precision manufacturing, folded geometry and refined finish introduce a contemporary architectural quality.
The project highlights Graepels’ ability to deliver bespoke architectural solutions that extend far beyond standard perforated sheets. It demonstrates how specialist steel manufacturing can help architects realise ambitious design concepts while balancing technical performance, visual consistency and buildability.
13a Portobello is also an important example of how perforated metal can enhance residential architecture. By combining innovation, precision manufacturing and thoughtful design, the project shows that carefully engineered steel components can become central to how a home looks, feels and functions, proving that excellence in steel is measured not only by scale, but by impact.