Borth - Bow Lintels

The self-build project is situated in the small coastal village of Borth and stands prominent on the cliff overlooking three miles of gently shelving golden sand. The private dwelling offers a breath-taking vantage point for the homeowners achieved by Keystones carefully considered bespoke bow lintel design for a 13.7m curved span panoramic living room window on the upper floor.

Challenge

Keystone’s technical team appreciates the importance of personalisation and were tasked with turning the clients dream vision for the family home into a reality. The unique structure would require a continuous irregular lintel to accommodate the variations of internal and external curves above each opening for the perimeter of the living room.

The lintel was designed to incorporate the distinct feature window which will add interest to the room and soften the space where light would enter.

Solution

Keystone’s technical engineer was tasked with creating a structural steel solution capable of accommodating the curved structure and unusual loading conditions – tailor made to suit the lifestyle requirements of the client.

The engineer worked closely with the client to develop the lintel for the complex curved opening and provided comprehensive technical support from design through to installation. This included a site visit to ensure all measurements were accurate with minimal tolerance. For buildability and logistical purposes, the 13.7m bespoke bow lintel was delivered as five separate components and fixed together on site.

The innovative and intelligent design fitted and aligned perfectly with the contours of the building and achieved the desired continual curved opening bringing a sense of flow and energy to the room. Keystone lintels also provide special lintels in stainless steel to prevent corrosion in buildings that are subjected to aggressive environmental conditions, typically in coastal locations within 500m of the shoreline.

Testimonial

“I was unsure if the vision I had for this project was even possible, but Keystone’s team of engineers offered a creative and effective solution, ensuring an incredibly personalised touch to the building.”

Lee Jenkins

Self-builder