Vita CortX Ind.

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An asymmetrical single-storey red-brick factory in the international modern style, built c.1960, located on the north side of The Cutts, Dunmurry Industrial Estate, opposite Charles Hurst Ltd. The factory is square on plan with flat roof and north-light roof arrangement at centre. Single-storey north-light extension added at south-west c.1963, aligned north-south. Two modern factory sheds of little interest added to south-east side of extension, c.2000. Original red-brick flat roof garage at south-east.

Flat roofs are precast concrete slabs with bitumen based roof coverings, parapet walling and precast concrete verges, concealed gutters and cast aluminium gutters projecting from parapet walling. North-light roof comprises red-brick walling at east and west with concrete coping, glazed north lights and asbestos corrugated sheets at south. Walling is stretcher-bonded red brick with recessed stretcher-bonded brick plinth. Windows are original metal casements contained within painted rendered band and flush splayed concrete sill unless otherwise stated. Some original glazing remains.

Principal elevation faces north and comprises single-storey range, interrupted at centre by slightly higher entrance with projection at left. Projection and entrance are smooth rendered. Projection north elevation contains ‘CortX’ signage, left and right cheek contains large multi-paned metal casement windows. Entrance comprises double leaf fully glazed entrance doors flanked by full-height glazed panels contained within recessed opening with splayed walling containing brick detailing. Entrance can be closed by roller shutter. Single-storey bed-brick range at right contains nine continuous windows; that at left contains three windows divided by brick piers at right and circular window at left. North-light roof visible at rear comprises series of continuous vertically glazed panels abutted by three-storey red-brick block at left.

East elevation comprises three single-storey projecting bays, that at right is blank, that at centre and left contains three continuous high level top-hung metal casement windows; left and right cheeks contain four windows and door; three large metal casement windows at west (principal block). Both recessed areas now covered by modern flat roof construction comprising timber joists, corrugated metal roofing and replacement rainwater goods.

South elevation is abutted by single-storey red-brick range at right containing replacement metal doors at south; right cheek contains central louvered double-leaf timber door accessed by single concrete step; entrance flanked by single window at left and right, that at left diminished and boarded. Original north-light roofed section has asbestos sheeted roof and metal clad walling, abutted at left by north-south aligned single-storey extension comprises series of eight north lights.

West elevation comprises principal block at left containing from left, two windows, red-brick gate pier, double-leaf entrance door with roller shutter, six windows, that at left comprises replacement glazing and replacement timber entrance door. At left a series of eight north-light bays each contain three high level single-pane metal casement windows. Fifth and sixth bays from north contain replacement double-leaf timber entrance doors.

Original square on plan garage remains largely intact, located at the south east corner of the site, now used as storage. Detailed as principal block with two windows at south and west and roller shutter at north.

Setting:

The factory is set back from the road with a large tree-lined parking area to front, yard at south is accessed at east and west, west access is permanently closed. East access remains in everyday use and comprises modern steel gates supported on red-brick pier at east. The site is heavily encroached by modern factory buildings to either side, although remains prominent due to its scale.

Roof: Bitument based flat roof and north light arrangement
Walling: Stretcher-bonded red brick
Windows: Top-hung and pivot metal casements
RWG: Cast aluminium

Historical information

A redbrick factory located within Industrial Estate to the south-west of Dunmurry does not appear on the Ordnance Survey maps until the current edition in 1963 which depicted the factory as a square shaped structure surrounded by a number of larger buildings, all of which were simply recorded as ‘Factory.’ Since 1963 a modern redbrick north-light roofed extension has been added to the south-east side of the factory whilst, at an unknown date, two small modern factory buildings were added to this extension adjoining its south-east side.

Robert Common records that between 1945 and 1964 Government sponsorship attracted nine new enterprises to Northern Ireland, many of which were located in the newly designated Industrial Estate in south-west Dunmurry (Common). This 1960s factory, which formed part of the original estate, continues to be utilised, currently occupied by the Vita CORTX Co. which manufactures polyurethane and polyester expanded cushion foam. The company website records that a new warehouse, one of the two additional factory buildings adjoining the south-west extension, was added to the Dunmurry factory in 2000 allowing further expansion their furniture division (Www.Vitacortex.com).

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/64/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1832-33
2. PRONI OS/6/1/64/2 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/1/64/3 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1901
4. PRONI OS/6/1/64/4 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1920-21
5. PRONI OS/6/1/64/5 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1920-31
6. PRONI OS/6/1/64/6 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1920-39
7. Ordnance Survey map 146-15 (1963)

Secondary Sources

1. Common, R., ‘Changing Dunmurry’ Dunmurry: Robert Common, 2003.

Online Resources

1. Vita Cortex Website - www.Vitacortex.com

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An asymmetrical single-storey red-brick factory, built c.1960, located on the north side of The Cutts, Dunmurry Industrial Estate, opposite Charles Hurst Ltd. The factory is square on plan with flat roof and north-light roof arrangement at centre. Single-storey north-light extension added at south-west c.1963, aligned north-south. Two modern factory sheds of little interest added to south-east side of extension, c.2000. Original red-brick flat roof garage at south-east. The factory continues to be used for the manufacturing and comprises two main factory units, containing north-light roof arrangement with exposed metal truss roof structure supporting asbestos corrugated sheeting. The factory is an good example of a building type and style that was constructed in the mid twentieth century to encourage new enterprises to start production in N Ireland. Whilst the original design can be clearly appreciated, it has been extended, and is not of listable quality.