"elevator"

Facade systems from Technal helped the University of Leeds to set a new benchmark for student accommodation in the city. More than 3,00sqm of Technal glazing systems for the Charles Morris Halls were fabricated and installed, and the £21m student halls of residence comprises of two half-hexagon buildings sited around a central landscaped courtyard, providing 457 hotel-style study bedrooms.The challenging glazing specification involved the construction of large oriel glazing bays that project 300mm in front of the cladding, and contrasting projecting bays to the corners of the two buildings. The oriel bays provide a different architectural feature and an alternative to more conventional recessed panels of glazing. The floor to ceiling glazed units, which maximise natural light were constructed using aluminium curtain walling inset with top-hung casement windows. These were fabricated and installed into the bays in more than 30 different sizes to create a less regimented appearance for the building envelope. Laminated glass with coloured interlayers adds further interest to each facade - in panels of green where the glazing is set into red brickwork on the external elevations and orange for the courtyard elevations to complement the cream-coloured brick cladding. Long runs of curtain walling using 1500mm modules enclose the common room and the link bridge between the two accommodation blocks. The window units in the common room are linked to the air conditioning system, which allows them to open automatically according to CO2 levels. All other opening units on this scheme are operated by low-level levers to allow anyone, regardless of any disability to open the windows.

13 new dwellings situated in the small village of Doddington, Lincolnshire are providing much-needed affordable housing for people working at nearby Doddington Hall.Located on Main Street, the development enhances this area of the village, providing important infill on the site once occupied by the local school, which was demolished in the 1960s and has latterly been used as a car park and general storage area. It is bordered by a mix of farmland, mature trees and shrubs, and existing housing, and lies partially within a conservation area.The development comprises two 2-bedroomed, five 3-bedroomed and six 4-bedroomed terraced and semi-detached dwellings. One of the terraces fronts onto Main Street while the remainder have been sensitively designed to create an attractive group of dwellings centred around a newly-created ‘village green’.Perhaps the most significant element of the appearance of the scheme is the elevation of the terraces towards Main Street. In developing the specifically tailored to design for this elevation, account was taken of the nature of the surrounding buildings within the village.Although not prominent to public view, the balance of the development has been designed in a manner sympathetic to the architectural vernacular found within the village. With a common thread running-through which will serve to unify the development and reinforce the sense-of-place which is presented by the scheme.In particular, simple, uncomplicated/uncluttered designs have been developed. High quality materials have been utilised for the development, essential in reinforcing the architectural character of the development, reflecting the high-quality of other developments which have been executed within the village recently.The brick selected was Forterra’s Butterley Breckland Multi Reserve, a red brick with a tumbled texture.

The school has 69 pupils who have special educational needs, of which around 28 would board on the first floor of the new school.Soundis were contracted to supply an acoustic fabric wall mounted panelling system to the newly constructed teaching areas within the school. The requirement for sound absorption on this project was elevated due to the sensitivity of sensory processing within the children. The panels help to control & reduce reverberation times (echos) providing a calmer environment for the children to work in.The system chosen on this project were the Soundis 40mm Absorb-R SofTone Panels, due to the panels being 40mm thick, they provide Class A acoustic performance.

Premier Loft Ladders has released technical data and a BIM object on NBS Source for the Supreme Vertical loft ladder. This heavy-duty retractable ladder offers safe and easy access to loft spaces and plant rooms that can only be accessed via an elevated wall hatch. As such, it is easier for architects and designers to find and specify a solution for this otherwise challenging access requirement.The heavy-duty concertina ladder offers a load rating of 200 kg per tread, making it suitable for both residential and commercial projects. It also benefits from being very easy to operate.The product data can be found within section L30 (clause 41 and clause 421).

The owners of this attractive, spacious home have recently refurbished and added a kitchen extension. Being situated within a London Conservation Area, it was vital that any new fenestration matched the existing. Clement was chosen to replace the doors and windows with new products from the Brooking and W20 ranges. All the new steel windows and doors are fitted with rectangular leaded lights - not only do they look fabulous, but they also allow a surprising amount of natural light into the house. The client chose dual colour for a number of the windows and French doors on the rear elevation. The outside frames were painted Pure White and the inside Black Grey - perfectly suiting the design and decoration.

A contemporary approach to building design inspires professional learningAt Exeter College in Devon, UK, modular skylights have been installed above an existing steel infrastructure as part of an extension project that connects old and new buildings. Elegant, slim beam skylights and steal pillars mirror one another in length, creating an awe-inspiring design aesthetic that is not only eye-catching, but considerate of building owners’ safety requirements. Roof access for future maintenance played a central role in design planning, as did the need for the skylights to be elevated in a manner that maximizes daylight exposure, across multifunctional college spaces.  For further information on this case study, visit our website.

A redevelopment of the old Foyle’s Bookshop on Charing Cross Road, Ilona Rose House comprises 80,000 sq ft of office space, along with retail, restaurants, an art gallery, nightclub and eight apartments. Spread over 13 stories including four below ground and 14,000 sq ft of south-west facing terraces on the upper floors, MATT Architecture’s design for the highly decorative and cantilevered façade includes rose motifs across each floor of the building.For a commercial building that stands out from the crowd in the heart of Soho, IG Masonry Support was able to meet the architect’s brief through the provision of a range of brick slip products to achieve the desired aesthetic finish and Link Building which links Greek Street to the development. IG Masonry Support designed bespoke brick slip systems for each application, providing practical solutions that enabled brickwork contractor Lesterose Builders Ltd to save on installation time significantly.ChallengeTo achieve the architect’s vision and the needs of brickwork contractor Lesterose, the expertise of the IG Masonry Support and its products came into play to fulfil the requirements of this bespoke project.Central Pier on Ilona Rose HouseThe main façade of the commercial building was designed using several shape requirements. The biggest challenge for this area of the project was the arches which required to come from the central pier to the corners of the building and create an optical illusion of closure into the ground.Another challenge on the main building, Ilona Rose House, was the change in brick type. A solution had to be devised to hide the elevation’s movement joint and facilitate the brick change.12-13 Greek Street, Mews ElevationAlthough similar in design to the main Ilona Rose House building, the 12-13 Greek Street Mews Elevation features balconies in its design. This presented a challenge for IG Masonry Support as the structure featured balcony connectors which had the potential to clash with the Welded Masonry Support and Brick on Soffit Systems required for this building.The VaultArguably one of the most attractive areas of the build is the Vault, which creates a passageway from Greek Street to the Mews Area of the development. The architect’s design required a continuous hanging brick effect utilising IG Masonry Support’s Brick Slip Panels. The challenge for our design was the sheer size of the soffit area and the curved design. We worked closely with Lesterose to manage the size of the panels, trading weight for ease of installation.SolutionThe team at IG Masonry Support collaborated with the whole project design team to ensure our products met the architectural and structural requirements of the project whilst ensuring maximum buildability for the brickwork contractor.Central Pier on Ilona Rose HouseAs a result of the design team discussions, the B.O.S.S. system pushed the boundaries on this project due to the shape requirements. A quarter circle on the corners of the building and a three-level step down feature was required in the brickwork – a challenging yet bold aesthetic IG Masonry Support was able to bring to life with its Welded Masonry Support (WMS) and B.O.S.S units. The two systems also provided the aesthetic finish required including the three different brick types to give further interest to the façade by the use of colour.12-13 Greek Street, Mews ElevationClose collaboration was required with the whole design team to review the structural drawings of the 12-13 Greek Street Mews Elevation and ensure that our products were designed suitably to fit the requirements of the building. This was solely due to the location of the balcony connectors, a critical structural component, and the shadow gap, an engineered break that was implemented in the building design to accommodate the change in brick type. Our Welded Masonry Support systems were designed to step in and drop down at points to avoid any clashes with the surrounding building components. This allowed our B.O.S.S. to be bolted to each WMS system appropriately, blend seamlessly, and ensure ease of installation for the contractor.The VaultTo enable the floating brickwork feature designed by MATT Architecture, IG designed Brick Slip Panels to suit a stretcher course bond pattern, covering a 40.3m2 area. 57 interlocking Panels, made up of nine designs varying in size and curvature, were designed and manufactured. During the manufacturing process, bricks were collected from site and delivered to our Brick Cutting Facility to be adhesively bonded to each Panel. This ensured each would blend seamlessly with the surrounding brickwork when installed.IG Masonry Support also collaborated with Lesterose on the size and weight of the Brick Slip Panels to ensure an efficient installation process. Each Panel was bolted back to a specially designed rail system manufactured by IG Masonry Support. The rail system was bolted back to the building and a keyhole slot was incorporated to allow the Panel to be lifted and slid on to ensure the weight could be taken as quickly as possible. Once in place, final pointing was required, allowing a seamless blend with the surrounding brickwork.The utilisation of IG Masonry Support’s prefabricated components ensured that all installation was undertaken efficiently, resulting in onsite cost savings and increased productivity.For what is a landmark development in Central London, IG’s solutions have covered all bases, helping to achieve the architect’s vision and ensuring this stunning new building stands the test of time.

The project team responsible for a striking residential property in the Channel Islands used our Dualframe 75Si Windows and the Elegance Curtain Walling, supplied by Pallot Glass & Windows, to match the property's modernist styling, as well as providing outstanding weather performance in a very exposed situation. Island-based Pallot Glass & Windows, was awarded the contract by the main contractor, Hacquoil & Cook Ltd, to supply and fit all of the glazing for the two-storey, five-bedroom Jersey home which has earned wide acclaim and been short-listed for several awards. The package included an entrance screen which combined the Elegance 52 elements with a large bespoke timber door and a fully glazed rear elevation with balconies overlooking the gardens.

Installer – Richardson RoofingMain Contractor – John F Hunt LtdArchitect – Scott BrownriggClient – Firmdale Hotels plcSystem(s) – Vantage®️ SF and bespoke flashingsThis is our premium CWCT tested secret fix rainscreen located in this trendy part of London.The rainscreen is 3mm aluminium and powder coated to RAL 7016 and RAL 7037.It is showcased on all 4 elevations of this residential and office development directly adjacent to the Soho hotel.It was an interesting challenge for our logistics team delivering to this urban development with very limited access and plant.BTS Facades & Fabrications smaller sprinter vehicles were used for handball unload on site.BTS are proud to be involved with yet another Scott Brownrigg architectural design.

The ChallengeThe design of two new two-storey, four-bedroomed homes with integral garages on the outskirts of Burnham village, Slough, was to be derived from the historical and varied architectural character of the surrounding area.The SolutionPROJECT INFOPRODUCT DETAILIt was important that the houses were not visually obtrusive in terms of height and detail. Their traditionally pitched roofs incorporate attractive half gable ends, and the front elevation includes detailed brickwork, stone cills and window heads.Forterra’s Hampton Rural Blend brick from the Ecostock range was selected for the build.The BenefitsEcostock is the most sustainable stock brick available in the UK. It is a high quality facing brick with recycled content. The range carries BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification.

TrägerHAUS, an award-winning exclusive new home by HAUS Collective, is designed to take into account every aspect of the external envelope’s design to ensure consistency of form, quality and optimum aesthetic appeal.Whilst the scale and main volume of TrägerHAUS may not be apparent at street level, careful consideration of the materials for the home’s outward-looking elevation and main entrance. Key to this was the decision to utilise an elegant side sliding sectional garage door by Rundum Meir. The door’s manufacture in Siberian Larch ensures consistency with property’s other timber cladding elements which perfectly complement the Caithness stone masonry. Fully automated for ease of opening and closing, the garage door operates with the smoothness and reliability that reflects the level of quality which runs through the whole building.

ASF were specified to manufacture a 3kN channel mounted glass balustrade system for the viewing platform overlooking the Queens House and city of London, located beside the Wolfe Statue in the Greenwich Royal Park.They system used 25.5mm thick sentry glass comprising 2 layers of toughened glass with a 1.5mm clear laminate between them. This was mounted into our own mega-grip channel. This product meets the deflection requirements for both EU and the higher, British Standard.The handrail overlooks the Royal Park, the Queens House and the City beyond and hosts a handrail fixed through the glass as a 'leaning rail' for the comfort of the public. Etched into the glass at a low level is the Royal Parks logo. These adaptions take an already high end glass balustrade system and elevate it into a great looking bespoke product.

Orbis OS211 Glass Infill Top FixOrbis OS221 Midrail Infill Top FixOrbis OS201 Vertical Bar Infill Top FixOrbis OS251 No Infill Top FixThe £4million campus modifications at Accrington & Rossendale College create a transformational green space to enhance the campus environment. Wildflower meadows are the backdrop to improved access, ensuring ease of movement around campus.A modern and refined aesthetic has been created at the new main entrance with the installation of Orbis balustrades with toughened laminated glass infill. Whilst powder coated Orbis with vertical bars guides the way from the street level access elevator to the main entrance.Incorporating Orbis with midrail infill to provide extra support for the high traffic main entrance steps, ensuring safety is paramount on campus.

Fashioning Poplar is a multi-million pound fashion hub, developed by Poplar HARCA in partnership with London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, workspace provider, The Trampery and Public Works.HERTALAN® Easy Cover 1.5mm thick EPDM membrane was installed to waterproof both the flat roof and rear south facing elevation of the building, with an area coverage of approximately 1,000 m2. HERTALAN was chosen by the project’s roofing contractor L R Lima Construction, as it provided an easy-to-install and cost-effective waterproofing solution, as well as the finished façade aesthetic. The purpose of the membrane façade application was intended to create a unique utilitarian aesthetic to the building which would be highly visible from the A12, the main road carrying extensive vehicular traffic between east and south east London.

Brett Martin delivers a gold standard performance at Dublin National ArenaBrett Martins’ Marlon Clickfix VF polycarbonate glazing system is delivering exceptional natural daylight inside Dublin’s National Indoor Arena. The system has been used to create a bright, appealing interior that will help provide the perfect environment for sports, whilst providing exceptional aesthetics.This 18,480m2 multipurpose facility features 2,300m2 of the Marlon Clickfix VF glazing system specified in clear and blue glass polycarbonate for the roof gables and as part of the triangular-patterned façade on the front elevation, a key architectural feature of this multi-sport arena. With aesthetics, light and U-values a vital consideration for the design of the arena, Brett Martin’s daylighting solution offered optimum light transmission, minimal installation time and an ability to accommodate building movement. 

The refurbishment of the car park was one of the first steps in the regeneration of New Covent Garden Market; a project which is projected to take 10 years at a cost of £2 billion.Appropriately for a flower and fruit market, BDP designed a green wall facade. Lang+Fulton’s Stereo-3 panels were chosen to clad three elevations of the 7-storey car park, sections of which will become covered in ivy.The design incorporated an aluminium box section framework and feature panels as well as open spaces to create added interest. In total Lang+Fulton supplied 422 grating panels in various sizes up to 2510mm high to cover an area of 1296m2. The grating panels were framed at the top and bottom with bent over lugs for fixing to the aluminium uprights. 

In 2013, the largest and most impressive Wall-Holla in the world was sold to Ketteler Hof - a family-owned Play Park that wanted something truly extraordinary to add to its playground. After extensive research, planning, and customisation tailored to their unique needs, they got exactly what they wished for - an incredible 36m wide Wall-Holla with not one but three thrilling Drop Zone elevators!Customized Wall-Holla delivers an amazing playground experienceDesigned with safety in mind, the enormous Wall-Holla features multiple climbing, sliding, and crawling elements to keep children entertained while parents watch. In this way, Ketteler Hof has secured its place as one of the premier family destinations in the world – providing visitors with excitement and unforgettable experiences. Families can enjoy the customized Wall-Holla that delivers an amazing playground experience for all!

The ETB building is dedicated to research, development and demonstration (RD&D) in sustainable energy technologies. It incorporates energy efficient materials and is designed to minimise its demands for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation. It actually produces more energy than it requires, heating the neighbouring Institute of Mental Health Building.Approximately 1000m2 of Ash & Lacy Façade was specified on the building’s two main elevations in the VariAL CF1 configuration. VariAL CF1 is a concealed-fix, baffle-jointed cassette rainscreen with a fully adjustable support system, primarily used for horizontal application on walls and for soffits. Designed to fit in with the high-tech building design and to appear to exude their own energy, the panels were manufactured in Alucobond Spectra Sacura ACM finish. This provides a quite stunning two-tone iridescent effect that shows ever changing hues of pink and silver that constantly vary as the angle of view or illumination changes.

The largest SolaGlide retractable glass roof in the UK is the talk of the town! Installed by Breezefree at The Hawk's Nest in London’s Shepherd’s Bush.Working with the team at Birdhouse London, we were presented with the challenge of transforming their outdoor space at The Hawk’s Nest into a flexible all-year space, whatever the weather. Challenges included satisfying the requirements of TfL due to the tube line running immediately above, as well as the venue’s request to have a space to trade in during construction work.The result is a chic hospitality space with a sliding roof that offers options for open airiness or full enclosure from the elements. The roof also offers significant soundproofing, reducing impact on neighbours on their most lively nights. The transformation means that the venue can offer their delicious cocktails, and pizzas that have to be tasted to be believed, underneath an elevated and stylish roof that will help draw diners and revellers for years to come.

The bespoke walnut panels were designed to fit seamlessly with the overall aesthetic of the space, and the end result was a truly unique and stunning interior design. Made from high-quality walnut, these panels not only added a touch of luxury to the space but were also durable and easy to maintain.At Whiteriver Group, we are committed to working with our clients to create bespoke solutions that meet their specific needs. Our team of experienced designers and craftsmen worked closely with Café En Seine to ensure that the bespoke walnut panels were the perfect fit for their renovation project.If you are looking for a bespoke solution to elevate your interior design project, consider Whiteriver Group’s range of bespoke panels. Whether you are looking for a classic and timeless look or something more contemporary and unique, our team can work with you to create a solution that is tailored to your vision.

Sheldon Court is a development comprising of 64 affordable 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. All apartments have a modern finish that delivers light-filled living spaces with an eye-catching, bold, architectural window-lined façade. With good public transport to Birmingham airport and city centre. The apartments also have 60 parking spaces some of which have electric charging points for electric vehicles.Cellecta’s HiDECK Acoustic Overlay 28 was specified by Elevate Property Group due to its high sound reduction performance, protecting sound in gym areas and entertainment areas getting into guest rooms. This highly conductive structural floorboard has rapid heat transfer characteristics, enabling a more efficient underfloor heating system.Centrick Property was awarded this 3,500m² contract to construct this development in East Birmingham.

“It is the first time when technologies like: video analytics, flame detection based on video technology, laser detection, RGB LED displays and RGB LED wall, digital signage, IP based PAVA, IP based clocking with NTP master clock/server, Text-to-Speech technologies wereimplemented for the Romanian railway system. It is also the first integration performed at such level of complexity for a railway terminal.” Alex Vladutoiu explained. Both Fire Detection and Public Address and Voice alarm systems are EN54 compliant and they work togetherin case of an emergency situation such as fire alarm, when PAVA2 automatically plays the evacuation announcements, PACS3 unlock the doors, stops the travellators and elevators and Victor platform delivers with priority to operators the video footage from alarmed zones, andprocedures to react to the alarm in a well defined scenario. 99.9% of time, all subsystems function automatically.

Hurricane Court is a conversion of offices into 84 one and two bedroom contemporary apartments and studios. The name is derived from the Hawker Hurricane aircraft manufactured here in the 1940’s. Within five miles of Heathrow, this development is the first ever courtyard scheme and residential private balcony terraces in Langley. By developing a gated residential space, this project becomes a microcosm, a community within the already idyllic community of Langley.Cellecta’s RUBBERfon Cradles were specified by p-ad due to them being Robust Detail FFT2 compliant and allowing easy integration of an underfloor heating system. RUBBERfon Cradles utilise incremental high impact plastic packers and elevation blocks to level an uneven structural floor quickly and easily. Softwood battens are then used to support the floor decking board.Nacropolis Group was supplied 2,500m² of Cellecta products to develop these apartments in the village of Langley in Berkshire.

The architectural inspiration was exemplified in the bespoke design, characterised by a glazed white brick façade and an intricate arrangement of convex and concave curves. Collaborating closely with Jenner and the balcony manufacturer, Leviat's technical engineers played a pivotal role in delivering support systems that seamlessly integrated into the building's curved design while maintaining an unobtrusive presence. The specification of top-quality materials remained of paramount importance throughout the process.Given the intricate nature of this project where standardardised solutions were never going to be an option, early engagement with Leviat was essential. Leviat’s technical engineers, from both the masonry and structural connections teams, worked closely together to deliver engineering solutions that were compatible for both the design and use of Ancon Masonry Support and Ancon Balcony Connectors within the project scheme. These solutions were used across each of the elevations and as part of the brick façades and balconies.

The centrepiece of the building at 80 Fenchurch Street is a stunning glass atrium that spans the entire length of the core structure, flooding the lower floors with natural light and providing a breath-taking arrival experience when entering the building’s lobby.Radii AG were commissioned to utilize their intricate knowledge of glass to produce a dynamic, multi-storey frameless glazed atrium that matched the ambitious design intent.An additional consideration was for the atrium to accommodate the stepped, angular elevation changes due to the terraced roof gardens on the top five levels.The finished atrium at EightyFen epitomises Radii AG’s core philosophy of extracting the full capabilities of glass as a building material.Structural, acoustic and fire rated performance all formed a part of the finished installation, allowing Radii AG to provide a bespoke, technical solution alongside dramatic visual aesthetics.

As a consequence of the Grenfell tragedy, an assessment of the building envelope was carried out on the 275nr residential apartment block in the centre of Leeds. It was found to be non-compliant with current regulations and in urgent need of replacement.The VariAL-SF system was selected as it complied with an A2 fire rating, with EN13501-1 classification by third parties, and satisfied the detailed planning constraints.The importance of the cladding refurbishment and replacement on this high-rise residential building cannot be understated. The building was identified by West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service late in 2019 as being high risk from the perspective of residents safety, due to the fact it was clad in flammable panels and onus was placed on the building owner to take swift action to make the building safe. As such, an ambitious 52 week programme for complete removal of the existing cladding and replacement was set out and achieved by the project team, despite significant limitations in terms of access and logistical challenges.To the passer-by, there is barely any discernible difference in the aesthetic of the building’s new facade, the colour-matching of the panels is incredibly accurate and allowed for a seamless transition to a much safer environment for the building’s residents.The apartment block was in the middle of a built up residential area. The contractor needed to obtain road closures from Leeds city council for two main roads which ran the full length and one side elevation.Furthermore the other main elevation was a pedestrian walkway with access to the apartment block , a hotel and several commercial buildings therefore safe access routes and segregation had to be installed and coordinated with the various parties involved.In addition, the building had to be reclad using 125ft cherry pickers working off the main road and pedestrian walkways therefore protective tracking systems had to be laid over the tarmac and paving to protect the existing materials.Throughout the building refurbishment, which took exactly 52 weeks, access to all the various buildings was maintained and contractor site personnel worked closely with adjacent building owners and especially the management team of the apartment block which accommodated 270 apartments to ensure minimal disruption.

On the site of a former carpark next to a flyover, Kindred House has become a distinctive silhouette in the skyline of central Croydon.The build utilises over half a million bricks, consisting of Zircon, a white glazed brick and a brown brick, each chosen for their tone and colour variety, which helps create a sense of place and identity for the building.The building is characterised by brick reveals at a depth of three and a half bricks and provides a visual solidity that defines the character of the building.IG Masonry Support was the chosen supplier of masonry support and brick slip solutions for the award-winning project.SolutionIG Masonry Support’s easy-to-install Welded Masonry Support (WMS) was supplied in several variations, including special corner systems for each of the 24 levels of the building, including the parapet. Cast-in Channel was also supplied to the project, providing high adjustability and enabling quick and easy installation of the WMS systems.For the large entrance on the North West elevation, a mechanically-fixed Brick Slip Lintel, compliant with the new Fire Safety: Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, was supplied for a 2035mm opening. The Brick Slip Lintel was designed to suit a soldier course bond pattern with a face height and soffit return of 215mm.For the three brick-deep window reveals, mechanically-fixed B.O.S.S. (Brick on Soffit System) proved the ideal solution. 1242 individual units, in 593 variations were designed, manufactured, and supplied to the project to suit a soldier course bond pattern. A consignment of bricks was collected from site to be utilised on each unit and then once complete, units were delivered to the site, ready to be easily bolted to each Welded Masonry Support system.As well as creating a visually appealing finish, the depth of the window reveals on the Southern and Western elevations has been designed to provide inherent solar shading, mitigating overheating and avoiding the need for mechanical cooling, creating a sustainable benefit of the build.Kindred House is an exemplary build proven by winning the Large Housing Development category at the 2023 Brick Development Association Brick Awards and being shortlisted in the Mixed-Use category at the 2023 AJ Architecture Awards. 

Setting an aesthetic benchmark at the heart of the regeneration of London’s Royal Docks, Oasis Academy Silvertown is a new Department for Education school created by architects Rivington Street Studio. The landmark building serves 11-16 year olds and achieves a BREEAM ‘Excellent' rating while its striking appearance owes much to the use of Vandersanden’s Perla bricks.At the heart of an emerging community in West Silvertown, the Oasis Academy is an all-inclusive secondary school for 600 students on a constrained .25-hectare site. Arranged as a multi-storey ‘superblock’, the building incorporates outdoor social space at different levels and a full-sized sports pitch on its roof.The warm white Perla brickwork and large openings relate to the existing and new residential properties and the monumental listed Silo D nearby. The building’s thick external walls are folded to provide a layered façade in response to the elements. A double-height colonnade to the North Woolwich Road acts as a visitor entrance and engenders a civic quality to the building while also allowing for generous pedestrian movement and a deep threshold between the public domain and secure school environment.The site is surrounded by a mix of red brick residential properties, derelict industrial land and vast stretches of master-planned residential and commercial properties. “We wanted the Academy to stand out from this landscape,” explains Éimear Murphy, associate director at Rivington Street Studio. “Vandersanden’s white Perla bricks give the building a monumental quality, highlighting that it’s for the community and is not an apartment block.”Taylor Maxwell, the brick supplier, suggested Vandersanden’s Perla brick for the project. “What we really liked about Perla is that it’s not only a white brick, with no variation in the colour, but it has quite a rustic, handmade texture that gives it a warm feel rather than a shiny and engineered surface finish,” says Murphy. There were various challenges to creating the brickwork details. The sharp angles associated with the brick fins on the side elevations meant there were a lot of brick specials so these were scheduled with plans drawn through the fins at every other course at the different levels. The contractor then cut the bricks to the schedule. This was made possible because the Perla bricks are exactly the same colour all the way through. For the canted reveals of the double-height colonnade to the main elevation, brick slip panels were used. Rivington Street Studio worked with the brick subcontractor to develop a bespoke detail and different mock-ups were trialled. The brick slips are seamless in appearance, matching with the full bricks used elsewhere. The canted reveals to the windows on the south elevation were envisioned through extensive 3D modelling and the Perla bricks again proved highly versatile during construction.To achieve a homogenous feel to the building, the mortar was matched to the brick. From a distance, the structure resembles a white cube but, as you get closer, the surface detail of the mortar joints and brick texture starts appearing. At different times of the day, the building’s appearance changes as patterns of light and shade move across the texture of the bricks. "The Vandersanden bricks are incredibly high quality and the through colour simplified the construction process because the bricks could simply be cut to suit the building’s geometry, enthuses Murphy. “Another important factor was the excellent consistency of the batches as this was essential to achieving the building’s monolithic, one-colour look.” To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' linkProject photography Simon Kennedy & Rachel Ferriman

Adding a white Plastic Access Panel into the ceiling of a petite bathroom to provide easy access to utilities without detracting from the aesthetic of the customer's bathroom. Prioritizing utility and visual appeal, the Plastic Access Panel is a cost-effective solution that grants homeowners easy entry to concealed utilities, seamlessly merging with the bathroom's ambience. The access panel's white textured surface adds a note of elegance to the surroundings, complementing any interior decor.The installation process for the plastic access panel is streamlined and straightforward. The accompanying images document each phase of the process, guiding you through the steps involved.Ultimately, this undertaking harmonizes practicality with style, underscoring how a modest addition can wield a significant impact. The white plastic access panel eradicates the need for unsightly makeshift access points. Balancing cost-effectiveness, inconspicuous aesthetics, and a dash of refinement, this installation transcends mere functionality elevating both the utility and visual charm of the compact bathroom.

Foxley Lane is a redevelopment of a former residential care home on a prominent corner plot west of Purley town centre in a prime position on one of West Purley’s premier roads. This development comprises of a five-storey building with fifty-seven exquisite one, two and three bed apartments located within a mile of Purley mainline station. All with parking and a private balcony or patio, it also features white rendered façades and prominent gabled elevations, significantly enhancing the Foxley Lane street scene.Cellecta’s Mojave S2-8 was specified by OB Architecture as it offers a dry and robust floor build up from one source. Mojave S2-8 is a high-performance underfloor heating system which performs at a low flow temperature. XFLO-FF boards are manufactured to suit the pipe diameter and spacing required to achieve the desired thermal output.HQ Homes were awarded this 530m² contract to construct this redevelopment.

Gloucester’s dock area today provides a vibrant retail, leisure and residential district. The transformation of the derelict dock area started in 2009. As part of the multi-million pound redevelopment, known as Gloucester Quays, Tata Steel has supplied a wide range of its building envelope products to build the Morrisons supermarket.A solution incorporating Tata Steel’s Trisomet® and Trimapanel® insulated roof and wall cladding systems was chosen to build the Gloucester Quay’s supermarket for Wm Morrisons.Close involvement with the cladding contractor helped to deliver the robust detailing criteria and the air-tightness requirements. Longer length Trisomet® insulated panels supplied with Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® were installed on the roof area to reduce end laps and increase the speed of the installation, and for the wall elevations a combination of Trisomet® and Trimapanel® insulated panels were supplied manufactured from Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® pre-finished steel.

Eden at New Bailey, aka A3 Salford located in Salford, Manchester is Europe's largest living wall. The living wall wrapped on all elevations across the façade was designed, supplied and installed by Viritopia.The living wall is designed with modular plants with an ivy veil with a mix of trailing and climbing plants, almost acting as a camouflage to the building as a whole. The species of ivy has been carefully selected for its hardiness and seasonal appearance. This living wall will absorb and filter the pollution and carbon in the atmosphere, enhance biodiversity, attenuate rainwater, reduce noise and provide biophilic benefits for the health and wellbeing of the users.This 3,900m2 green façade has a 20,000 litre self-sufficient rainwater harvesting tank, helps control the urban heat island, and took around 10 months to install. Eden is also increasing the BNG by 174% with this project, with over 16 tonnes of soil and 33 different plant species and 350,000 plants in total helping it along the way.

The Rock is a 1.6million sq/ft mixed use development aimed at regenerating the town centre of Bury. The £350million project includes shops, restaurants, cinema, bowling alley, parking space and residential units. Lang+Fulton supplied 300 sq/m of custom-sized panels and 20 sets of doors to secure and ventilate the street-front elevations of the electricity sub-stations. These were made to fit the structural openings with concealed ancillary steelwork. Italia-100 steel louvred material was chosen for its vandal-resistant properties and was also impenetrable to any abuse from a foreign object.2.8m high Italia-80 was also used in the car park as an internal visual screen separating vehicle access from a service road. In addition 160m of 2.8m high Stereo grating panels were installed on the upper levels of the car park around plant areas and emergency exits.

Holland Park is one of the UK"s first and most famous comprehensive schools. At a cost of £81m it was financed by selling off part of the original school site to finance the building of the new six-storey school for 1,500 pupils.Situated within a Conservation Area and adjacent to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s largest park, the balustrade fencing was chosen to reflect the prestigious nature of the new school's striking façade of copper, brass and bronze that adds character to the building and was designed to integrate with the heavily wooded nature of the site.The balustrade was designed as a modified version of Lang+Fulton's Novara-34 anti-climb fencing. The grating panels feature a narrow 34mm aperture which is particularly suitable for schools. The installation included a stepped area and an elevated walkway which required face plate fixings engineered to cope with a parapet application.Fencing and posts were supplied in a hot-dip galvanized and polyester powder coated finish.

Britain's sixth-largest supermarket retailer, Lidl, has rapidly expanded over the past decade, with over 800 stores open nationwide.At the heart of Lidl's operations is their network of 13 strategically located depots around the country, the flagship of which is their brand new 1.2 million sq. ft distribution centre on the outskirts of Luton.The largest depot that Lidl has globally, the site will be the workplace for 1,200 recruits and our team was tasked with delivering them a cycle shelter that was both secure and BREEAM compliant.The Solution To meet the requirements necessary for completing this project, the team designed and delivered a bespoke 52-Space Premium Security Enclosure with galvanised Toastrack Cycle Parking.Our team of designers, committed to delivering a solution that met the requirements and enhanced the aesthetics, took extra care to ensure that the materials would seamlessly blend into the state-of-the-art facilities. We used a galvanised BS EN ISO 1461:2022 framework with a specially selected RAL 7016 powder coating that perfectly complemented the warehouse facade.Security was a top priority for this project. Our team delivered front and side elevations with 200 x 50 aperture twin-wire security mesh to meet the project's security requirements. We also installed a single-leaf galvanised mesh swing gate with access control, ensuring only authorized staff could enter the shelter.The team was also tasked with delivering a bespoke smoking shelter, utilising toughened laminate glass to protect users from the elements. This was an exciting project to be part of, and we are proud to have designed and fitted a product that matches Lidl's own ethos of delivering products at a reasonable price.Bike Shelter SpecificationBespoke 52 Space Eastbrook Cycle EnclosureFramework Hot Dipped Galvanised & Powder CoatedFront & partial side elevations clad in 656 security meshBox profile strengthened sheet metal roofSingle leaf galvanised mesh swing gate with electronic access controlInclusive of galvanised toastrack cycle parking to suit 52 bikesMade in BritainSmoking Shelter Specification Bespoke Smoking Shelter with integrated benchFrame Hot Dipped Galvanised and Powder CoatedToughened laminate glass with polished edges and weatherproof interlayerMade in BritainBREEAM compliant

We recently completed a noteworthy project, supplying custom-designed sliding louvre doors for a delighted customer in Goring-On-Thames. Nestled alongside the picturesque River Thames in South Oxfordshire, Goring is known for its charming village and serene surroundings.The star of this project is a stunning detached house that now boasts the distinctive touch of Sunshield's sliding louvre doors. These panels, meticulously crafted to perfection, cover an expansive area, each measuring just over 5 square meters. While two of these panels gracefully glide along rails spanning 4.8 meters, the third panel commands an impressive 10-meter rail.One of the key highlights of this installation is the meticulous attention to detail. To ensure a flawless and seamless appearance, the rails were seamlessly integrated into the floor and ceiling during the house's construction phase. This thoughtful approach not only enhances the aesthetics but also guarantees a smooth operation that aligns seamlessly with the house's architectural integrity.The sliding frames of these louvre doors are made with Western Red Cedar louvres, positioned at a precise 25-degree angle. This angle not only offers a visually appealing touch but also allows for captivating views through the panels. While the wooden louvers remain fixed, the sliding panels effortlessly glide from left to right and back again, all operated manually for ease and convenience.In terms of aesthetics, these sliding louvre doors are coated in RAL 7016 anthracite grey, lending a modern and sophisticated touch to the house's façade. However, these panels are not just about looks; they serve a trifecta of functions. First and foremost, they provide effective protection against both wind and sun, ensuring that the residents can enjoy their outdoor spaces in comfort, regardless of the weather. Secondly, they contribute significantly to the house's overall aesthetic appeal, blending seamlessly with the owner's vision and elevating the property's curb appeal.This project stands as a testament to our commitment to delivering not just louvre doors, but transformative solutions that enhance the functionality, aesthetics, and comfort of outdoor spaces. With Sunshield's sliding louvre doors, this Goring-On-Thames residence now enjoys a unique and dynamic architectural element that not only adds value but also elevates the overall living experience.