Click
here for Project Archive Page
Click
here
for Project of the Week Index
Property
Renovator Chooses Sheerframe VS for Home DIY Project
A
turn of the century Fen Cottage in Norfolk has been given a face-lift
with an installation of Sheerframe
PVC sliding sash windows to replace old timber sashes without losing any
of its traditional charm.
The
two-storey cottage, typical of the Norfolk Fens, had traditional wooden
sliding and casement sashes, which like most timber windows, had deteriorated
over time making them costly and time consuming to maintain, and difficult
to operate.
Owner of the cottage, David Spicer, who trained as an architect and who
also has experience in the double glazing and house building industries,
completed the installation himself after seeing a sample of a Sheerframe
sash at a nearby showroom. He says, 'I was immediately struck by the smoothness
of the joints on the glazing bars and the overall good looks of the window.
To be honest I wasn't expecting to be so impressed; in my experience the
compromise of PVC sashes over timber has always been a visual one.'
Sheerframe VS windows have a smooth surface in white or timber effect
and sight lines to match traditional styling. Bottom rail size can be
altered and there is a choice of three different sash profiles. The VS
tilts in for easy cleaning and can be produced with both Gothic and Norman
arched top sashes. Decorative additions include horns, and glazing astragals.
Mr Spicer continues, 'The design team at L.B. PLastics was able to recreate
the pattern of the original windows perfectly and the quality of service
was second to none. My friend, who is a window fitter by trade, and I
had no problems with the installation, and the mess and disruption was
minimal, which really pleased my wife! The windows are really easy to
clean and to operate and have made a big difference not only to the look
of the house, but also in terms of retaining heat and ventilation.'
Tel: 01773 852311
Web: http://www.litchfield-group.co.uk
Pilkington Activ™ in its Element at Briary Court
Sash
UK Ltd
has fitted Pilkington Activ™ in
a conservatory installed as part of a refurbished sheltered housing project.
Whilst providing a comfortable, light and attractive communal area for residents,
the conservatory presented serious problems in the cleaning and maintenance
of its top-level windows and roof glazing. The self-cleaning glass is proving
to be a good solution to the problem, banishing health and safety concerns
about cleaning by simply doing the job itself. The conservatory is installed at Briary Court in Clayton Brook, Preston, a group of flats owned and maintained by the Places for People Group (PfP), one of the UK’s largest housing associations. Briary Court, which is managed by New Leaf Supporting Independence Ltd, is a supported occupancy building, many of whose tenants are elderly and have care needs that are fulfilled by on-site care staff who provide the extra support that allows them to remain in their own homes.
An aluminium conservatory was built onto the inside corner of the building some years ago as a communal lounge area for its residents, but was proving to be a maintenance issue for New Leaf. Adrian Smith, Technical Services Manager for the Places for People Group, comments:
‘We recently received a major repair budget allocation for Briary Court to replace windows that were at the end of their natural life, but we knew that the conservatory was also a priority. Ongoing repair costs for the conservatory were very high due to the fact that persistent rain had eroded the strength of the aluminium frame, resulting in a series of leaks during the last 5 years.’
Sash UK, a national partnering contractor of PfP, was appointed to replace the aluminium conservatory with custom-built PVCu frames, and was consulted as to the best cost-effective solution for the glazing problem. Brian Oxley, Commercial Director of Sash UK, believed he had found the answer in Pilkington Activ™:
‘The design of the conservatory makes it an ideal hub for the residents, letting in the maximum daylight for a pleasant communal environment. However, unfortunately its location also makes its nearly impossible for the roof and the windows in the flats above it to be cleaned safely from the outside. Pilkington Activ™ is a proven product in the market – it was really made for applications such as this, and we knew it would be perfect for Briary Court.’
Adrian Smith of PfP agrees:
‘We are really pleased with the work that has been done by Sash UK and the use of Pilkington Activ™. Our own trials of the product proved that it works and we no longer have to worry about ongoing maintenance and health and safety concerns. Feedback from our tenants is also very good, with many comments received about how pleasant it is to sit in the lounge now and how much better the building looks and feels after its ‘facelift’.’
Developed in the UK by Pilkington and launched following extensive field and laboratory testing, Pilkington Activ™ keeps itself clean by harnessing the two natural elements of ultra violet light and rain. The technology uses UV light to break down organic dirt deposits on the glass, and then uses the rain to wash the dirt away.
Web: http://www.pilkington.com
Technal’s
New GXi Balcony Door Used for UK’s Largest Modular Housing Scheme
Raines
Court in London is one of the largest schemes to incorporate Technal’s
new GXi aluminium sliding balcony door. Developed by the Peabody Trust,
it is also the UK’s largest affordable housing project to be built
in a factory and the first to be offered for sale.
Designed
by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and manufactured off-site in York by Yorkon,
this mixed-use urban development provides a total of 61 apartments, including
8 live/work units. The main contractors were Wates Construction and the
glazing fabricators, Securefront Systems.
Built to Housing Corporation standards, the apartments occupy the site
of a former dairy in Stoke Newington. The scheme has pushed back the boundaries
of modular technology and innovation in construction, in line with the
Government’s Egan agenda.
The design ethos for the project was to use high quality, low maintenance
materials and products, which are strong and highly durable to maximise
longevity. Each apartment module incorporates an integral entrance ‘court’
for access and a balcony to the front elevation, which is glazed using
Technal’s new GXi sliding balcony door.
GXi is a robust and high specification sliding window and balcony door,
which has been developed by Technal for apartments and prestige office
schemes. It was used at Raines Court to maximise natural light, giving
each apartment a spacious feel, and to allow access to a private balcony.
Rigorously tested to 20,000 open and close cycles, GXi features clean,
narrow 41mm sight lines, a 9mm flush polyamide thermal break for performance
to meet the revised Building Regulations, and the option of flat-faced
or curved profiles. A strong, unobtrusive track and roller system ensures
a smooth sliding operation, even with the heaviest leaf sizes.
Externally, Raines Court has a chequerboard appearance, emphasised with
the use of colour. Each apartment has its own colour for the entrance
door and cladding panels, selected from a palette of shades of blue and
green with splashes of yellow. This contrasts successfully with the dark
grey GXi sliding doors and FXi46 casement windows.
Double glazed in clear glass, the windows from Technal’s FXi46 range
were specified in a tilt/turn configuration where the units could not
be cleaned from the outside. Top hung casements were used where the windows
could be accessed from balconies or walkways. Both the windows and the
balcony doors were pre-installed before the apartment modules left the
factory.
FXi46 is part of Technal’s recently expanded and fully integrated
FXi window suite. Available in a wide choice of configurations and three
module sizes – 46mm, 52mm and 65mm, FXi uses a flush polyamide thermal
break to deliver enhanced thermal performance to meet the current Building
Regulations. The system can be inserted into curtain walling or used as
punched hole, composite or ribbon windows.
For further information on Technal’s portfolio of curtain walling,
door, window and ground floor framing systems, including downloadable
specifications for the GXi and FXi suites, visit http://www.technal.co.uk
Poolside Wedding Vista Enjoyed in all Weathers
The
supply of this Victorian conservatory at the Grand XIV Hamanako hotel,
Shizuoka, Japan, is one of the latest of BDG’s
many overseas projects. Set in one of the most striking locations overlooking
a large purpose designed ornamental pool, the 13.5m x 7.4m glazed structure
enables weddings to be conducted in all weathers while the happy couple
and guests enjoy the white marble panorama in comfort. The installation
was carried out through BDG's local distributor Alpha Inc of Tokyo.
Belfast based architectural glazing and conservatory specialist BDG has
completed many overseas installations in recent years as the popularity
of the 'English-style' conservatory continues to grow. BDG now has outlets
around the world, with three distributors in the United States, and four
in the Far East (two in Japan, and one each in China and Korea). Other
overseas markets include Canada, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and Slovenia.
BDG has been a trade supplier of conservatories and roofing systems for
20 years, with business in this sector booming as the demand for glazed
structures grows across both the domestic and the commercial sectors.
BDG also offers its trade customers a full design consulting service and
after-sales technical support.
Order to delivery usually takes only two weeks, which includes design,
manufacture and pre-assembly with a numbered photographic record, and
with all glass or polycarbonate cut to size and ready to install. The
company’s System 21 roofing system is adaptable and can easily incorporate
features such as hips, valleys and lanterns, and can also be designed
at a pitch of anywhere between 3 and 45 degrees, making it a suitable
choice for many large scale projects.
Available in PVCu or aluminium, a touch of individuality may be added
by selecting from a choice of special colours including dual exterior/interior
combinations for that perfect match to any property.
Tel: 028 3832 7741
Email: mailto:tradesales@bdg.co.uk
Web: http://www.bdg.co.uk
CellGlazing™
Treatment for Kent Hospital Extension
Providing
additional consulting and procedural facilities at a hospital in Kent
has involved constructing a complete new wing, with HansenGroup member
company, MagHansen being involved
in supplying both curtain walling and individual high performance windows.
Working
as a package contractor for Wallis (a Division of the Kier Group) , MagHansen
designed, manufactured and installed more than 550 square metres of its
CellGlazing™ system at the Benenden Hospital; operated by the Benenden
Healthcare Society Ltd.
The Project Architect for John McAslam & Partners, Mr Richard Ellis,
comments: ‘The Benenden Hospital was established in the 1900s by
the Post Office Workers as a TB sanatorium and is still a trust in the
original sense of the word. The ground floor is a mixture of storage and
sterile packing facilities while upstairs the new clinic comprises examination
rooms plus three procedural rooms
‘We had not used CellGlazing™ before but it achieved the aesthetic
we were searching for: it is not only slender but did not demand additional
mullions and transoms for the opening lights. The rationale for this being
that the new clinic stands alongside the Grade II listed building which
utilised Crittall glazing. We see this as being a modern re-interpretation
of the 1930s design. Then to maintain the language around the building
we chose MagHansen’s Fenster™ for the windows on the other elevations.’
Also utilised to form link walkways between the clinic and neighbouring
buildings, the CellGlazing™ incorporates top hung opening lights,
1500 mm wide and 650 mm high.
As part of its responsibility for the project, MagHansen also coordinated
closely with other package contractors working on the envelope to ensure
the interpretation of interfaces.
Tel: 0113 2555111
Email: mailto:sales.leeds@maghansen.co.uk
Croome
‘Raises a Glass’ to Public House Installation
Croome
Conservatories and Windows
recently installed an L-shaped K2 conservatory
at the Green Dragon public house in Malvern, providing panoramic views
of the Malvern Hills.
Croome,
founded by Simon Dudfield, David Shilvock and Rebecca Shilvock in 1999,
was approached by the Green Dragon to design an installation to extend
its existing eating space, the first stage of ongoing improvements to
the public house. The aim of the installation was to provide a new dining
area, seating up to 50 people, which would be separate from the main bar,
but would also provide diners with views of the stunning surroundings
of the Malvern Hills.
The installation involved the fitting of a K2 Edwardian hip back conservatory
roof with a lean-to section at the front, measuring 9.7m by 8.4m and incorporating
several K2 roof vents.
The K2 roof and roof vents were supplied to Croome by CBK, a K2 key dealer
who has been established since 2001. CBK is one of the largest independent
roof fabricators in the country and fabricates up to 50 roofs a week.
David Shilvock, Managing Director of Croome comments: ‘We were very
excited by the challenge of designing this installation, as it was necessary
to adapt and integrate an L-shaped conservatory into the structure and
surroundings of an older building. We decided to fit an Edwardian style
of installation, which provides incredible views of the surrounding countryside
while maintaining the atmosphere and environment of the hotel.’
Sally Fielding, Managing Director of K2 comments: ‘K2 would like
to congratulate Croome on its innovative and stylish design for the Green
Dragon. K2’s products are suitable for use in a variety of installations
and we are delighted that we were able to be involved in this bespoke
commercial installation, providing diners with a relaxed and comfortable
eating area separate from the main bar, as well as amazing views of the
surrounding hills.’
Web:
http://www.k2conservatories.com
Kaba
Creates a Grand Entrance for Princess
One
of the most prestigious office buildings in the West End of London, Princess
House in Eastcastle Street now has new automatic doors from Kaba
Door Systems to enhance security and further improve access
to the building, whilst complementing the building's aesthetics.
Princess
House's top tenants include fashion houses and media companies. When in-house
managing agents, Langham Estate Management, wanted new entrance doors
for the building, they contacted Kaba Door Systems to come up with a solution
that met their requirements.
'We needed new doors that matched our design guidelines and provided the
performance and quality a building such as this requires,' said building
manager, David Scates. 'Security was important too to control access to
the building.'
Kaba's designers and engineers proposed bi-fold automatic doors with video
entry and coded keypad access controls at the main entrance and secondary
entrance in Eastcastle Street. The doors are manufactured from a high
quality, stylish anodised aluminium and glass.
'The quality of workmanship and professionalism of the engineers cannot
be faulted and we are very happy with the result,' added Mr Scates.
Langham Estate manages a number of highly prestigious offices, showrooms
and retail premises throughout the West End of London.
Kaba designs, manufactures, supplies and installs automatic and manual
doors and entrance systems for offices, shops and all kinds of public
buildings.
Requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act are putting the onus
on managers and owners of such buildings to ensure that they are accessible
to people with a range of disabilities.
'The DDA is going to affect buildings that have public or employee access,'
said Kaba's sales and marketing manager, Keith Way. 'Owners and mangers
of these buildings are going to have to comply. At Kaba, we have a range
of solutions, from new installation to retro-fit which will enable all
the requirements to be met.'
Tel: 020 8980 9067
Email: mailto:marketing@kdt.kaba.com
Web: http://www.kaba.co.uk
SGO
Windows Central to Stunning Contemporary Church Refurbishment
Colourful
contemporary windows created by SGO
are a design highlight of the complete modernisation and refurbishment
of Frodsham Methodist Church in Cheshire. The project, overseen by architects
Kenneth Holmes Associates and incorporating the designs of members of
the church, has not only dramatically improved the ambience of the building
but has also contributed to considerable energy savings.
Built
in 1885, Frodsham Methodist Church at Five Crosses is a central place
of worship for a growing local community in North West Cheshire. Officials
of the church decided a few years ago that the building was in need of
modernisation, both in terms of design and energy conservation. Coventry
based architectural firm Kenneth Holmes Associates was appointed to design
a new reception foyer and to refurbish the main church. Due to the dilapidated
state of some of the church’s old windows, it was decided that new
toughened, double glazed units would be installed to create energy savings.
Dhiran Vagdia of Kenneth Holmes Associates recognised the aesthetic design
potential of the new windows and called in the expertise of SGO’s
Leicester studio:
‘We have worked with SGO a great deal and have an excellent working
relationship with the company. We knew we could rely on SGO technically
and creatively to give us what we needed.’
The modern, abstract design of the new arched windows in the main body
of the church was created by Hilary Picket, a member of the congregation,
and SGO was asked to interpret this design within the bounds of its decorative
glass products. Pilkington K Glass was used as backing glass within the
units to boost energy savings, and the windows were fitted by main contractor
Clegg Building Ltd of Northwich.
At the same time as the windows were designed, other members of the church
congregation created another stunning set-piece behind the church altar:
a multi-coloured tapestry formed from five panel screens overlaid with
small square pictures to create a cross. This piece was then the inspiration
for the design of an additional SGO window installed in the newly built
foyer. This single arched window follows a similar pattern to the tapestry,
with a cross made of coloured squares super-imposed onto five leaded outline
panels.
Says Dhiran Vagdia: ‘Members of the church are delighted with the
work that has been done, and we were particularly pleased with SGO’s
ability to match closely the original design concepts of the people who
attend the church.’
Tel: 01603 485454
Redrow’s
Southbank development of 223 luxury apartments in the heart of Wolverhampton
features doors by Vicaima Ltd. Vicaima
supplies every tier of the construction industry and says that its doors
have become a favourite with home builders, contractors and developers.
Redrow’s Southbank is pioneering the art of urban living in Wolverhampton
and is built around a converted Grade II listed flour mill, alongside
the historic Birmingham main canal and a short walk from all city centre
amenities. It comprises five phases offering a choice of 17 different
apartment styles, with either one or two bedrooms.
Each apartment has entrance and interior doors from Vicaima's 'Exclusive'
range of Natur and Dekordor design flush doors. The entrance doors feature
real wood veneers and inlays and all the doors are finished in steamed
beech with modern chrome door furniture.
Vicaima's range of doors offers a variety of options for any contemporary
domestic or commercial design scheme, including traditional raised and
fielded panel or panel effect feature doors, design flush doors with contrasting
marquetry inlays and plain flush doors with a choice of glazing and feature
bead upgrades.
Tel: 01793 532333
Email: mailto:info@vicaima.com
Web: http://www.vicaima.com
MagHansen
Millennium™ Windows Make Impact on Deansgate Quay
Slim
sight lines combined with good technical performance have motivated a
leading firm of architects in Manchester, to employ MagHansen’s
advanced aluminium window system on a high class development of flats
and penthouse apartments in the city’s waterfront district.
Deansgate
Quay has become one of the area’s most sought after residential addresses.
Stephenson Bell Architects chose to employ the Slimline Millennium™
suite of windows for all of the building’s hole-in-the-wall fenestration;
while MagHansen’s Fasad™ encloses the two stairtowers.
The Senior Partner in charge of the project at Stephenson Bell, Mr Jeff
Bell, comments: ‘The curtain walling and in particular the ‘punched
hole’ windows fabricated using the Slimline sections met our design
aspirations.
‘They look great and we would love to make more use of them on the
projects with which we are involved. The Slimline windows present a vastly
reduced amount of aluminium in the profile compared to other systems.’
The Slimline windows’ slender sections – the outer frame measuring
just 43 mm on elevation even where an opening light is included –
were finished RAL 9007 dark grey metallic polyester powder coat.
The system is still able to accept 24 mm thick glazing units featuring
a 6-12-6 make up with low emissivity glass to ensure the fenestration
meets the amended Part L requirements.
Also within MagHansen’s £800 K contract, the manufacturer provided
automatically opening smoke vents at every level to the two stairtowers.
Operated by Teleflex gearing, these bottom hinged, open out vents are
connected back to the building’s fire control panel.
MagHansen is able to provide a full design, manufacture and installation
service for all types of contract; drawing not only on its own extensive
experience and diverse product portfolio, but also that of its sister
companies within the HansenGroup.
Tel: 0113 2555111
Email: mailto:sales.leeds@maghansen.co.uk
Senior
Aluminium Systems
took a new apartment and retail block at Brewery Wharf, Leeds to great
heights when it supplied fabricators Aire Valley Architectural Ltd with
its glazing package for the six-storey development.
As part of a thriving environment in Leeds, this new build of luxury modern
apartments combines a series of windows and doors from the high performance
Part L compliant SPW 600 range. Access to individual balconies is provided
by SAS’ double swing doors.
Powder coated grey, the thermally broken SCW curtain walls are double
glazed and rise approximately 2900mm high. With a 50mm wide face dimension,
the system offers a range of mullion depths and feature caps to cater
for differing structural and architectural requirements.
Senior Aluminium Systems supplies Britain’s commercial fabricators
from its head office in Denaby and two regional service centres in Newport
and Livingston.
Tel: 01709 772600