Horizons

Horizons is one of the most recent additions to the skyline on the north bank of the Thames and offers 190 private apartments with stunning views from their substantial private terraces. Two luxury residential developments housed in connected blocks.

One of the architectural challenges was to maximise the spectacular panorama and at the same time conserve the local heritage around. The considerable number of balconies involved throughout the development also demanded the minimisation of any possible structural or thermal bridging problems. The Schöck Isokorb® T structural thermal break comfortably met the specification and as the project involved precast balconies, specialists Marble Mosaic had a big part to play as well.

The joint MD Dennis Vittle: “This particular project required the balcony units to be not only integral with the main structure, but also insulated and fire-stopped from it. The Schöck Isokorb® T type K was the natural solution. There was a requirement for 345 individual precast balconies throughout the two blocks and the project posed a number of new challenges to MMC’s and the Schöck design team. As well as standard insulated balcony to slab connections there were also a number of downstand and upstand connections required. Also the precast columns were supported off the balcony slab at one end only, so there was a heavy eccentric shear load transfer. The agreed design called for the use of a combination of Schöck Isokorb® T types K and Q to ensure structural integrity with the frame, whilst avoiding any clashes with the concrete frame reinforcement”.