"garden"

In 2015, Roger Stretton, an architect and one of the foundersof the practice Berman Guedes Stretton, and Martin Smithcollaborated to bring to fruition their shared enthusiasm forcontemporary, cutting edge, environmentally-friendly residentialdesign.On an attractive, mature garden site near Dorchester in Dorset,two 2,100 sq ft detached, two-storey houses were designedaround south facing courtyards with a one-and-a-half storeyheight living room.When designing the properties, environmentally responsiblematerials, products and processes were at the forefront ofthe specification. To this end, incorporating renewable andinnovative technologies, such as air-source heat pumps and heatrecovery ventilation systems enable the buildings to be highlyenergy efficient.Having previously used Allgood products, Roger recognisedthe brand for its quality and reliability, and consequentlyspecified Allgood’s Alite lever handles and Allgood doorsetsfor the project. He explains, “The new houses have a modern,minimalist design, so it was essential that the ironmongery anddoors complemented this approach, Allgood’s stainless steel Alitehandles and bespoke finished doors met these requirements.”To complement the interior architecture of the buildings, Allgoodsupplied doorsets incorporating fully fabricated and finishedflush doors with rebated frames to create a perimeter shadowgap. An important design feature was a clear line of visionthrough each house along the main axis of the plan. To achievethis, four special, full-height glazed doors with glazed side panelswere supplied. In addition, two 30 minute fire resisting doorswere also specified to the plant-rooms.Arriving on site, factory painted and with hinges and locksalready fitted, the Allgood doorsets provide valuable savings intime, cost and waste as well as a higher quality finish.

The high performance weberend MT multi-coat render system has been applied as the exterior finish on the new-build Woodward Close, a pioneering 60-bed dementia care home in Winnersh, Berkshire.This project has been developed by specialist care home developer Castleoak, Cardiff, for national care operator The Abbeyfield Society.Designed to meet Abbeyfield’s innovative dementia design strategy, this new care home comprises intimate circular bedroom wings which minimise corridors and lead to communal spaces to aid way finding and spatial recognition. Ground floor rooms have patio door access to garden space and internal links to safe and secure inner courtyard gardens. It has been carefully planned to provide a unique approach in residential care for those living in the local area in a manner which hasn’t been seen before.The complex clover leaf layout of the five linked buildings has been achieved using timber frame construction with much of the fabrication carried out off-site including the curved outer skin formed by the render carrier board for the weberend MT system. This off-site construction method reduced time and cost early in the build program, overcoming the requirement of bricklayers and bricks, resulting in a cleaner and tidier site and substantially reducing the on-site program.The weberend MT multi-coat render system by Weber, the leading UK formulator and manufacturer of innovative materials, systems and solutions for the construction industry, has full BBA Certification. This accreditation meets NHBC requirements for new build housing where house builders and developers are constantly seeking modern methods of construction for speed and cost efficiency. The weberend MT system is designed to rapidly finish buildings of frame and panel construction.weberend MT is a light-weight render system which incorporates glass-fibre meshcloth reinforcement with a resin-rich adhesive coat that can carry a choice of finishes in a wide range of colours. This modern render system is designed for large areas of stable render carrier boards without the need for expressed joints to create smooth, modern design aesthetics. Equally, weberend MT is ideal for application to uneven masonry or mixed substrates where a high level of crack resistance is required. Application on to a panel background requires an initial 3mm of weberend LAC. The glass fibre reinforcing mesh is laid in as this coat takes up and a second 3mm of weberend LAC is applied. Sponge finish achieves a flat surface. When fully dry, weber PR310 primer is applied prior to the selected finish. A variety of textured and coloured finishes can be used to produce weatherproof, vapour permeable protection.The weberend MT application was carried out by WHS Exterior Rendering Limited, Bristol, whose director Nick Hood is enthusiastic about this project. “It was really interesting to see this unique design and the fast build program achieved with off-site construction. It gave us a great finished board to work on and as always the weberend MT system is first class. It’s straight forward to apply and the finish is excellent. It involved 1900m² of hand application and four pastel colours really make the buildings attractive and welcoming."Castleoak’s project construction manager Dean Hamblin reports positive comments on the render finish of the buildings. “People are remarking how sharp the buildings look, that’s sharp in colours and sharp in straight surfaces and edges,” advises Mr Hamblin.Woodward Close offers a wide range of highly innovative communal facilities, including a cinema, activity rooms for painting and sewing, a restaurant and a cafe, sensory rooms and wellbeing areas including spa bathrooms, a hair and nail salon, a library, and a shop stocked with groceries.In terms of design, memorabilia and reminiscence will be a strong focus across the development. There will be classic cars and bikes in the grounds and a vintage theme prominent throughout the interior decor. It is hoped that this vision and the calibre of the building will act as a blueprint for future Abbeyfield care homes

Hush Pro, C-TEC’s revolutionary BS 5839-6 Grade C domestic fire detection and alarm system, is now protecting three iconic tower block developments in Manchester.Located in the centre of Piccadilly, Oxygen Towers is a striking set of three new 31-storey, 16-storey and 10-storey buildings consisting of 345 stylish 1, 2 and 3-bedroomed apartments and 12 spacious family townhouses. Designed to provide the ultimate living experience, the futuristic ‘vertical village’ combines luxury accommodation with fabulous five-star leisure facilities including a swimming pool, cinema, gym and spa. The stunning development also features lush garden terraces and rooftop gardens.Selected for its cutting-edge technology and capacity to align with the building’s fire strategy, Hush Pro integrates with the site’s BS 5839 part 1 landlord system to offer higher levels of fire protection than the Grade D unmonitored battery alarm systems typically used in domestic installations. As a fully-monitored BS 5839-6 Grade C system, Hush Pro reports open and short circuit faults and operation faults back to the fire panel and even allows management and maintenance companies to remotely monitor the system. Each of the flats features an easily accessible low-level Hush Pro Controller connected to a series of Hush Pro smoke detectors, base sounders, multi-sensors and heat detectors all seamlessly interfaced to a powerful network of C-TEC 4-loop ZFP addressable fire control panels to provide all-encompassing fire and fault monitoring of the system. If, for any reason, part of the domestic fire alarm is compromised, this will immediately be reported to the building management team to allow them to action the fault and re-instate full fire detection coverage to the flat.Said Dan Perry, Projects Manager at Solid State, the specialist fire and security company involved with the design and delivery of the project: “As well as enhancing the fire safety management, property and life protection of the buildings, a key factor in our client’s decision to invest in Hush Pro was the system’s ability to notify building management in the event of a real fire and, at the same time, its potential to virtually eliminate false alarms.”“Hush Pro’s unique capacity to differentiate between Fire Level 1, usually a false alarm reported locally in the dwelling, and Fire Level 2, almost always a real alarm activated outside of the dwelling, reduces false fire alarms, unnecessary call-outs and the risk of a real fire alarm being ignored. As our client requires immediate notification in the event of a fire but also first-class false alarm management, Hush Pro is ideal.”“Also of vital importance to our client is that, as the project consists of private balconies with an open plan flat arrangement, Hush Pro is the only fire alarm solution that can actually meet the requirements of BS 9991 Annex D3.”Said Jason Lawler, 24-7’s Group Director and the person responsible for delivering the electrical and mechanical systems for the project: “Hush Pro is an outstanding solution. The system provides residents with easy-to-use detection, alarm, silencing and test facilities so they can test their own devices, be alerted to system faults and hush any false alarms at the Hush Button which is positioned at light-switch level for safe and easy access. Hush Pro’s powerful false alarm management capability will also prove invaluable at the site.”Said Dan: “Client satisfaction is incredibly important to Solid State so we were delighted to be able to specify a robust and fully-compliant integrated BS 5839 Part 1 and Part 6 fire alarm solution for Oxygen Towers. With its capacity to provide high levels of fire protection yet also minimise costly and disruptive false alarms, Hush Pro is fast becoming the system of choice for fire strategy engineers and consultants dedicated to enhancing fire safety in high-rise residential and specialist housing projects throughout the UK.”

At Metropolitan Gaming in Mayfair, London, Style worked with architects, Whitebox, and contractors, Modufit Interiors, to create the facility to section off part of the main gaming area for a private VIP lounge. A glass HSW (Horizontal Sliding Wall) was installed, giving staff the ability to rapidly divide the room into two, sectioning off a VIP gaming area to create a unique experience for clients. The moveable wall neatly divides the VIP area away from the main public gaming room, with a lockable full height intermediate door for ease of access. The bronze opaque textured glass allows light to flow through the entire area but offers the level of privacy required for a private room. Decorative transom bars bonded onto the glass add perfectly to the opulent room design.Metropolitan Gaming boasts a wealth of experience in both gaming and hospitality. It is committed to bringing a new perspective to the casino experience and is continually innovating to deliver a unique and authentic experience for its guests in each of its individual locations. “This manually operated, glass moveable wall offers a truly chic, yet practical solution for Metropolitan Gaming”, said Michael Porter, Style’s group sales director.“When not in use, customers enjoy a large open plan gaming area in this very exclusive Mayfair venue. But when a separate VIP lounge is required, away from the public areas, it can be moved into position in a matter of minutes.”According to Mark Cowley, who heads up the glass division at Style, demand for non-acoustic glass moveable walls is growing particularly quickly, with shop frontages, banks, restaurants, reception areas, residential homes, winter gardens, airports and sports stadia/arenas all using these to create flexible space.A new section of the Style website is dedicated to glass partitioning solutions with updated literature ensuring architects, contractors and end-user customers have access to all of the information they need to reach informed decisions.

We are delighted to have recently worked in partnership with Ashby Facilities in Pelsall to deliver a range of high quality aesthetically pleasing and robust bathroom products for eight purpose built mental health bungalows at St Peter's Gardens, Stafford.Ashby Facilities approached TYDE in order to help provide them with a washroom solution for a newbuild development consisting of eight bungalows. The brief we received detailed the extensive requirements which was for a number of high quality, damage resistant anti-ligature sanitaryware products that were to be installed for their resident's safety. It was imperative that the solution we suggested was aesthetically pleasing and not look too overly 'clinical'.Our suggested solution was the installation of a number of products from our Dudley Resan® range. These products are tested and manufactured to the highest standards and offer a perfect alternative to stainless steel. Resan® products are uniquely engineered from an advanced polymer resin material which is shatterproof, exceptionally hard wearing and chemical resistant, making it the perfect solution for mental health institutes.  The TYDE team looked at the entire range and presented all suitable options. The Resan® standard height pan with blue rim was chosen along with the Resan® infra-red basin, Resan® shelf and matching Resan® mirror to complete the look.   Jamie Cooper, Operations Director of Ashby commented, "Our main aim was to provide a safe environment for the residents, so the anti-ligature features were essential. We also wanted the bathrooms to suit the style of the bungalows and many of the alternatives we looked at were dated and not suitable. When we saw the Resan® products from TYDE we knew we had the right products to meet our requirements. We are very satisfied with the products TYDE recommended; so much so that we are already looking at working with them again on other projects as they always deliver top quality products that are not only good to look at and use but more importantly are fit for purpose". 

The structureThis residential property emerged from the ashes of a World War II bomb site formerly occupied by a coach house, and was constructed circa 1945 by a local postman to serve as a family home.The distinctive characteristicsSurrounded by grand white stucco houses, this property was a joyful oddity amongst the archetypal street. With an off-centre pitch, horizonal windows and a central door, the owner was keen to work with and improve the existing fabric. The renovation The property had been re-built under a new centred pitched roof extending across two storeys to the rear. Stepping down at ground floor to a deep brick-finned façade opening onto a protected and peaceful walled garden.At the front, the old and new bricks were sewn together under a coat of bagged lime wash and mineral paint and insulated internally. The rendered base speaks to its stuccoed neighbours and grounds the building; the subtle depth of the relief creates a play of light across the front facade in the evening sun, celebrating its distinctive character.Why KEIM?The owner had been aware of the unique properties of mineral paints for allowing bricks to be painted but crucially to breathe, understanding so often houses are painted with non-breathable paints and the suffocated bricks lead to condensation. A mineral paint was required that can be painted over brickwork as well as the rendered base.The owner reached out and arranged a site visit with James Best, Senior Sales Executive at KEIM Mineral Paints. Following his expert guidance, it was recommended to utilize KEIM Soldalit for the project. Samples of five distinct shades of white were provided for testing across various façade orientations and times of day. The owner ultimately selected KEIM Soldalit in colour 9870, commenting “It is the perfect white. It is warm without being yellow and looks great in direct sunlight, shadow and of course our many overcast days.”

Project: Kingsgate Primary SchoolProduct: Shiluvit by Oranit in White Washed Nordic PineArchitect: Maccreanor LavingtonInstaller: Lacunar LtdKingsgate Primary School, London (2018) Photos by Michael Whitestone PhotographySpecification:
Shiluvit 7-501White Washed Nordic Pine
20 x 45mm Blades with 40mm Gaps
Quantity:
1300m2LSA Projects Ltd are delighted to share with you a new award winning Oranit installation at Kingsgate Primary School in London.The £18 million, 5000m2 school has created over 420 new primary school places at the purpose built facility which is comprised of two connected two storey teaching blocks with generous picture windows throughout for an abundance of natural light.The site also has ample external space including running tracks, a science garden, and covered playing spaces in addition to being part of a community development project linking the site to a neighbouring park developed from unused green space in the area.The saw-toothed roof and external appearance of school was designed to reflect its industrial past and the cool tone light brickwork and generous windows bring the design up-to-date with current trends and the requirements of a modern building.Inside the school there is a consistent airy and neutral palette with white walls and ceiling interspersed with pale wood feature walls and stairways in addition to the white washed Nordic Pine Shiluvit panels.Oranit Shiluvit panels were chosen in part for the ceilings of the spaces due to their impressive acoustic power; the configuration chosen which included LSA Black High Density Acoustic mineral wool achieves an overall rating of Class A for acoustic absorption making it perfect for ensuring minimal reverberation across the spaces helping to keep a calm atmosphere.Nordic Pine timber was chosen for its depth of texture as well as its PEFC Certification, the timber was then white washed for a clean and bright appearance.

A high profile residential development located on the derelict site of the once mighty Wimbledon FC, completed in 2008.OverviewAxter designed and supplied a complete structural waterproofing, insulation, drainage and landscaping solution to all elevated podia. The areas were intensively landscaped combining hard and soft finishes, creating a mixture of meandering pedestrian walkways and landscaped recreational gardens with a combined area of 6000m2.ChallengesThe primary challenge was to achieve a robust structural waterproofing system that could provide construction programme design, installation and cost efficiencies.A complex site drainage strategy, combined with multiple hard and soft landscaped finishes of varying depths, resulted in the need for additional drainage and water retention measures to be designed and implemented throughout the site.A high cost and varied landscaping design, with a relatively short seasonal installation time frame, demanded a waterproofing system designer and manufacturing partner that could meet these challenges.SolutionsThe design supply and installation of Wilotekt-Plus, unique second generation hot melt structural waterproofing system, provided 30% quicker on site installation speeds than traditional first generation hot melt systems. This ensured the waterproofing was completed swiftly, in excess of 500m2/day, which enabled landscaping finishes to be installed within deadline.The drainage strategy was simplified across all podia through the creation of a horizontal drainage zone above the waterproofing. Axter’s combined reservoir and drainage board was installed, retaining appropriate moisture levels for the specified plant requirements, whilst allowing excess moisture to drain freely away. It also acted as a permanent shutter for concrete works that allowed secondary structures to be built off these areas without contacting the waterproofing system or interrupting the drainage zone.Intensive hard and soft landscaping was completed by Frosts Landscapes Ltd using conveyor technology to distribute the soil and plants across the podia with ease.Systems in useWilotekt®-Plus