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Wadham CollegeBauder Bakor 790-11 Hot Melt structural waterproofing system with BauderGREEN componentsSynopsisThe University of Oxford’s Wadham College graduate centre project was a complex refurbishment. Led by Lee Fitzgerald Architects and main contractor Feltham Construction it involved the careful restoration, adaptation and extension of the 1960’s grade II listed building.Bauder Building BoardProject:Wadham CollegeLocation:OxfordRoof Area:439m²Specifier:Lee Fitzgerald Architects​Main Contractor:Feltham ConstructionApproved Contractor:Deane Roofing & CladdingThe specification The brief for the project was to renovate the graduate centre and to link to the main college by creating a new entrance to the building. This led to the construction of a new building, the McCall MacBain Graduate Centre, which also now provides access to the Barbara Naylor rooftop gardens above the different reading, media and seminar rooms of the graduate centre. With the ageing existing waterproofing exceeding its life expectancy, the roof garden terrace was in need of a replacement roof system.As an accessible area which will experience a significant amount of foot traffic, the Bauder Hot Melt was determined to be the best solution for this roof. With a durability to match the expected life of the building and a self-healing system, the Bauder Bakor Hot Melt System is ideal for use on protected roofs such as inverted, paved, ballasted and terrace roofs.The resultApproved contractor Deane Roofing & Cladding carefully removed 439m² of the existing waterproofing, stripping the rooftop back to the concrete deck surface before installing the different layers of the Hot Melt system.The completed roof terrace now provides a modern and peaceful garden area where graduate students can relax and socialize between their work periods. Following several site visits by Bauder’s expert Site Technicians and a final leak test, a 20 year guarantee was issued for the roof terrace.System installed1 BauderPLANT E 42Green torch-on root-resistant capping sheet.2 790-11Hot melt rubberised bitumen asphalt with a percentage of post-consumer recycled materials that infills and fully bonds to all minor deviations in the deck.3 DeckPrimed concrete.

Breezefree screens are used to provide a protective barrier, and regularly changing signage at the world-renowned Royal Observatory, Greenwich. As one of London’s top tourist attractions, the historical Royal Observatory, Greenwich hosts thousands of visitors every year at its stunning location and vantage point within Greenwich Park. The bronze planetarium cone needed a screen system on its outside perimeter to discourage visitors from touching the structure, which occasionally becomes hot in the sun...

The design requirements to resist flooding meant Polar single glazed with 30 minutes fire integrity was installed. Komfort’s Polar single glazed partitioning was a large contingent to the interior design of the lower ground floor. Polar single glazed minimalist form is designed with the minimum of components, thus facilitated speed of erection without compromising structural stability and rigidity. Komfort’s 3000 fire doors were installed on meeting room doors to meet stringent safety requirements.

A beautiful mix of a traditional kitchen with modern roof-to-wall glazing by Cantifix has successfully incorporated roof shading to reduce heat and glare.R30 Zipped Roller Blinds were specified by DUST Architecture with the roller mechanism concealed within the back wall of the house. The side channels were powder coated to match the glazing structure. Blinds were made using Goodrich 1% Screen material to provide maximum protection without reducing noticeable light.

Architect: AR Design Studio. Sitting on a steep hillside overlooking the River Avon on the Hampshire and Dorset border, Folding House is a stunning three-storey contemporary home that feature six sets of IDSystems' theEDGE2.0 narrow framed aluminium sliding doors. The sloping site provided the inspiration for the design, with the lower two storeys embedded into the hill side, minimising the impact of the home on its surroundings and allowing the structure to nestle within the established woodland that encloses the property.

When property and construction consultants, Thomas & Adamson, wanted to adopt a new way of working with a more flexible mix of home and office based working, it was clear that a different office layout would be needed.To facilitate the move to a hybrid working model, Form Design Consultants were appointed to refurbish the Edinburgh and Glasgow offices. The aim was to create a welcoming environment which would improve productivity, creativity and staff wellbeing by offering structure, sociability, independence and flexibility.

The Greenpeace Field at Glastonbury festival has long been popular among festival-goers thanks to their free hot showers and delicious veggie food available at their cafe. This year, however, will see a new feature to the field with the addition of a show-stopping 20m giant tree structure. Built from SMARTPLY OSB, the huge tree will come alive at night with a colour changing light show and will feature a DJ booth allowing attendees to party into the early hours.

Tegola's black asphalt shingles look like slates and a special kiln firing process ensure a fade free appearance. Tegola only weight 10.5 kgs/sq.m., a quarter of the weight of concrete tiles, and this produced economies in the support structure, and their economic price led to significant cost savings. Tegola shingles have an excellent life span as they are stronger than the British Standard requirements, and have a design life of 35 years and have a top fire rating.

The first homes at Barratt Homes’ new energy efficient Hanham Hall development feature Posi-Joists as the floor system of choice. Each home is constructed using highly insulated materials and is fitted with a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system, which is why Posi-Joist was the natural choice for the floor system. Kingspan Potton have been involved throughout the design and delivery of the project, supplying both Structural Insulated Panels and the Posi-Joist floors.

The new Village Centre scheme at the existing Kidbrooke Village housing development in Greenwich, southeast London, has been designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and developed by Berkeley Homes. With a welcoming ‘village square’ at its heart, this green landscaped area is bordered by the surrounding buildings which have apartments above and a mixture of shops, restaurants and community use facilities below.The new Village Centre will provide a central hub for the community at Kidbrooke Village, which comprises four distinct neighbourhoods. Boasting a central location in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and benefiting from close transport links, including its own overground rail station, the new development offers a mix of housing from one to four bedrooms and access to a number of onsite amenities and facilities.The project also features an attractive combination of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall and low U-value PURe® Commercial Doors.The contract saw Senior work closely with two of its fabricator partners, with Soundcraft undertaking the installation of the curtain wall and commercial doors on several of the ground floor retail units, and R.E.L working on the entrances for both the new supermarket and pub.Ideally suited to meet the demands of commercial projects, the popular SF52 aluminium curtain wall system offers slim sightlines to maximise daylighting and enhanced thermal-efficiency to help create more comfortable interior spaces. When used in conjunction with the PURe® Commercial Door, which is part of the Senior’s patented PURe® range of low U-value aluminium doors and windows, further savings can be made in terms of reducing both operational costs and carbon emissions. As Senior’s largest, strongest and most robust commercial door, the thermally-efficient PURe® Commercial Door is ideally suited for high traffic retail environments and offers both security and safety.

THE PROJECTRecticel’s Eurothane® GP and Eurowall® Cavity provided the quality PIR solution for two city-based social housing developments. Melody Gardens and Corporation Road in Salford, Manchester were built on behalf of Places for People and For Housing. Watson Homes carried out the work on both developments. For Melody Gardens, it involved the building of a four-storey block compromising 48 apartments; nine two-storey houses, and a bungalow. The properties were built on a 0.4-hectare site once occupied by a Catholic church.THE SOLUTIONEurothane® GP, a low-thermal conductivity panel, provided Melody Gardens’ groundfloor insulation. In conjunction with Eurowall® Cavity, it was also installed at Corporation Road which comprises 18 one-bed and 15 two-bed apartments. The products’ durable thermal performance ensured both developments become a valued addition to Salford’s social housing portfolio.Mike Watson, Construction Director at Watson Homes explained:"Recticel’s high-quality products were essential to ensuring the fabric of both developments was fitted with insulation that will fulfil the occupants’ long-term domestic needs. In terms of installation, the panels’ easy-fit properties made quicker and lighter work of a potentially challenging project."Used products:Eurothane GP: Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installersEurowall® Cavity:Eurowall® Cavity is a specialist high performance solution for cavity walls, with precision-cut straight edges to ensure gaps between boards are kept to a minimum. It has a low emissivity facing which delivers improved thermal resistance within the clear cavity.  

Hannah Cecil-Harden is a director at de Gournay, a family business which was founded by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney. De Gournay makes the most beautiful hand-painted wallpapers and fabrics and the company’s work is found in some of the finest buildings around the world. As you would expect, every room of Hannah’s London home has been exquisitely decorated. The property has undergone many transformations in the time that Hannah has lived there, but the most recent changes were needed to accommodate her expanding family. Hannah and her husband wanted their house to work better for life with their four young children.All the floors of the house have been updated, but perhaps the biggest change was turning the existing basement into a playroom with adjoining utility and bathroom. Having worked with Hannah and the team at de Gournay on a previous project, Clement was delighted to be asked to manufacture the new steel doors that were included within the designs. We were excited that the new steel doors were to be painted in unique vibrant colours to match the stunning wallpapers that adorn the new space and we worked closely with Hannah and her team to find just the right match. We always say that our bespoke steel products can be painted in specialist hues from across the entire colour spectrum – these doors demonstrate what is possible!Hannah said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Clement Windows on this exciting project which was for a children’s playroom. I wanted to go with bold and bright colours and they were so accommodating about this, everything about the project was handled professionally and with utmost care from conception down to a flawless install. It was an absolute pleasure to work on such a personal project with a business I have collaborated with before and I look forward to hopefully crossing paths again in the future!”

The Canaletto residential tower at 257 City Road in London is located halfway between Old Street and Angel Stations in Islington, alongside the regenerated City Road Basin. It comprises a 31-storey tower with 190 luxury one, two and three bedroom apartments built to the standards of Code 4 Sustainable Homes Level 4.The tower is concrete frame and has a curving facade of metal and glass that breaks the volume into a series of three-to-four storey clusters. In turn, each cluster contains grouped balcony terraces, which are a striking feature of the building. The balconies are of steel construction connected to the concrete frame and as always with cantilever construction elements of this nature, one of the early design considerations had to be the prevention of thermal bridging.For the high specification Canaletto project the Schöck Isokorb® T type SK offers the ideal solution. It is a concrete-to-steel connectivity module that sits between the outer and inner structural connection points and blocks the outflow of heat through the use of high quality polystyrene insulation foam. The Isokorb® T type SK provides a clean and unobtrusive connection detail, minimises on-site assembly time and enables a high level of prefabrication.

“We are building a structure for the future, not just a team of all-stars” announced Sheikh Mansour in 2008 with reference to Manchester City Football Club.Six years and £200m later, Mansour’s vision has been realised in the Etihad Training Complex; an 80-acre site where over 450 players train each week. The site, home to 17 football pitches and a 7,000-seat stadium for reserve matches, is an epitome of innovation and state-of-the-art design that CLD is proud to have contributed to.The BriefCreating a world class training complex presents a number of key requirements when it comes to the external, internal fencing systems and physical access control.An external perimeter to LPS 1775 SR1Swing gates with guaranteed delay of at least 3 minutes against attackFast operation cycle main gates to prevent tailgatingPitch separation that allows clear viewAbility to stop balls leaving the training area up to 6m in heightMust compliment the Manchester City brandMUGA fencing that can withstand impact from Professional PlayersFull Operation and Maintanence Schedules ProducedCAD Design and ‘as-built drawings’ of all systems used on the project

Hotel Café Royal has just undergone a complete refurbishment and internal re-build. Part of the new complex is a state-of-the-art Spa and Gym which is located in the basement. Directly next to the hotel is Regent Street, below which runs the Bakerloo underground train line.Structure-borne noise levels from the trains were far too high to create the relaxing environment required for a top class Spa. The acoustic consultants therefore specified that all of the noise sensitive spaces must be isolated on a Stravifloor Deck concrete floating floor system.Café Royal’s 1,200 sqm Wellbeing Centre provides a personal and intimate holistic experience. It has a large lap pool and four different areas, corresponding to the four natural elements: spa/water, gym/fire, yoga/air and organic bar/earth.The spa offers a variety of Watsu hydro-experiences, a private and communal Hammam and signature Akasha treatments. Moods are enhanced by restorative music, aromas and gentle lighting. The gym has the most advanced fitness equipment, including Kinesis machines. There is a spacious aerobics studio and a private training room. Yoga, Tai-Chi and Pilates are offered in the calming area, with bespoke classes.

Luxury countryside holiday letsAward winning architectural practice Pocknell Studio were tasked with renovating deteriorating, redundant, two-storey structures in addition to creating new field barns to create spectacular accommodation for a fabulous countryside holiday retreat.This architect has a long-standing preference for using Rainline for their projects so it was no surprise when the galvanised steel guttering and downpipes were specified for the North and South Barns. The Silver Metallic colour option was a perfect selection for the hipped roof design with black and white palette.The field bands are finished in a contemporary take on the traditional black Essex barn and designed to fit into a typical country environment. The brick and timber clad buildings are finished with not only Lindab Rainline rainwater system but also Lindab Seamline standing seam roofing system. The valley roof and staggered fascade design was a particular challenge which required careful detailing and installation to ensure steep falls which allow rapid drainage.Bullocks Farm have tried to create “a quiet haven for people visiting the area and have made each property as comfortable, relaxing and practical as possible”. The architects are very happy that the project has been successful for the client and further development of the site will continue.  

A busy service corridor in a medical education and research facility, has recently been refurbished with the help of products from Yeoman Shield’s heavy duty range.Wanting to protect vulnerable walls and corners throughout the heavily used service corridor, the facilities management invested in a complete Yeoman Shield heavy duty wall protection system installed by their directly employed fixing operatives.A striking and durable protective finish to the corridor walls was achieved with Yeoman Shield Chequer Plate Wall Panels. The panels were paired with heavy duty Rubber E-Fender running at the top and the bottom of the chequer plate at such levels to absorb impact from the most frequently occurring and heaviest of blows from footfall, trolleys and motorised carts.Yeoman Shield HD75 heavy duty Rubber Protection Angles were fitted full height to vulnerable corners protecting the structure.Designed specifically to protect areas in a building that experiences heavier footfall such as warehouses, storage and service facilities, the heavy duty protection products, when installed, keep areas damage free, providing an easy clean hygienic surface whilst putting an end to frequent costly re-pair and re-painting, offering long term savings on maintenance budgets.

Scotland’s Largest Single Office Building with Rooftop Running Track and 360 Panorama.A Sustainable and Futureproof Roof, Harnessing the Power of the OutdoorsBothwell Street in Glasgow is now home to an exceptionally progressive office space – making way fora new chapter in the rich history of the area. If there are any doubts about what Grade A office spacereally means, then think touchless entry, bike storerooms, lux changing facilities, an 8,000 sq. ft roofterrace, a 150-metre rooftop running track, 4 activity zones/terrace spaces and panoramic views.The project complements the sustainable regeneration programme along the Clyde Waterfront also,home to the new financial Northern European hub, firmly cementing the business district at the heart ofmodern Glasgow.GOALSThe architects at Sheppard Robson have made sure sustainability and lifecycle credentials remaincentral to the design specification. Occupants’ wellbeing has been carefully considered with a stunningpanoramic rooftop and 150m running track and general outdoor employee wellness facilities.A roofing solution was required to support the lifecycle of the building along with an excellentproduct reputation for this distinguished office space. Given the quality, longevity and environmentalconsiderations required from the roofing design, the insulation properties and warranty performancewere extremely important from the outset.CHALLENGESOur Technical department assisted the architectural and construction teams to resolve numerouscomplex design elements across the varied roof zones including running track, ballast walkways, greenzones, and pedestal zones, to determine the best roofing solution.Installation of the Davit Arm System for a building of this scale was especially important so personnel canbe safely suspended whilst working at height. This presented us with a unique challenge in providing aworkable solution that aligned with the sequence of works, whilst facilitating future routine inspection ofits base plates, and maintaining waterproof integrity without compression.Careful planning and detailing were required around roof penetrations to minimise aesthetical impact,and roof equipment was safely installed above the roof assembly.SOLUTIONThe construction comprises a composite concrete slab receiving our Hot Melt Hydrotech Waterproofing System. Offering a true lifecycle – Hydrotech high performance waterproofing, through its’ unique characteristics and installation process, now forms part of the building fabric. The result offers complete watertightness for the lifetime of the building.The building is also insulated to a high u-value target offering exceptional thermal performance and achieving a high kPa rating. This was essential to receive loadings from all components including overlying finishes, roof equipment and the end use for the building occupants.Key fire performance standards were achieved throughout including the lift overrun and lower roof terrace areas where the preferred solution was switched to our Derbigum sustainable warm roof system to maintain project performance targets.LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENTDesigned with BREEAM credentials and an EPC rating coming in at below 10 the careful focus on lifecycleconsiderations and the choice of materials throughout the building envelope is exemplary.Hydrotech hot melt is a high-performance solution containing 30% recycled content and zero productfailures in over 50 years, offering lifetime peace of mind, designed for the service life of the roof.PROJECT DATACompletion: Autumn 2022Building Type: Commercial OfficeProduct Application: Hydrotech & Derbigum waterproofing systemsCertification: BBA Approved, European Technical Approval & FM Global Class 1Architect: Sheppard RobsonMain Contractor: HFD Group

This exciting project, situated close to a major wind farm, required a sheathing board with exceptional pull-over performance; and the need for unusual board sizes meant that waste was an issue, particularly in light of the architect’s BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating ambitions.The Project: Hugh Baird Community and Higher Education Centre, LiverpoolProject Value: £8 millionMain Contractor: Wates Construction North WestSub-Contractor: Sound Interiors LimitedProduct: VersapanelSize: 1200 — 2800 — 12mmQuantity: 2,000m2About the ProjectAn £8 million, 2,600 square metre project, the new Hugh Baird Community and Higher Education Centre in Liverpool offers an innovative mix of facilities, not only for Hugh Baird’s students and apprentices but also to the local community, schools and businesses.The facility will incorporate a University Centre, a flexible performance and exhibition space, a public library and a Jobcentre Plus. A new Business Development Centre, providing professional training for local businesses, is also to be a core feature.Architects IBI Taylor Young have created a striking modern design, incorporating a semi-rotunda feature and a three-storey overhanging box structure.The ChallengeThere were two key challenges on this project for sub-contractors Sound Interiors Limited. Firstly, the unusual design called for non-standard panel sizes. This is becoming all too common as contemporary architecture moves increasingly toward the unique and, in some cases, the downright eccentric.Secondly, the five-storey structure is located in a windy area; so windy, in fact, that, less than a mile away, you can find the Port of Liverpool 10MW wind farm, capable of generating electricity for 5,500 homes. Where wind is a factor, the pull-over performance of any building boards used is critical, particularly during construction when wind can penetrate the structure and create areas of negative wind pressure.The SolutionSize is EverythingAs modern British architecture moves away from the conventional, the challenges for construction professionals like Sound Interiors increase. Whilst, in the past, construction has largely been a logistically focused endeavour — the ‘when’ and ‘where’ of it all — increasingly, the question that dominates the pre-construction phase of a project is ‘How?’The skill and experience of Sound Interiors came into play not only in applying their technical knowhow to the challenges of constructing an overhanging box and creating a curving rotunda from flat building boards, it also influenced their choice of materials.Said John Sheeran, Contracts Manager at Sound Interiors Limited, “We opted for Euroform’s Versapanel on this project — and numerous other projects — because it’s easy to work with and reliable. Plus we get exceptionally good technical support from the team at Euroform. For the Hugh Baird project, where lots of unusual sizes were required, the fact that Versapanel is available in a larger 1200 — 2800 — 12mm size meant we could dramatically reduce wastage. This material-conscious approach also helps us support IBI Taylor Young’s ambition of achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ for the building.”Under PressureIt’s no coincidence that four 125-metre Nordex N90, 2.5-MW turbines, capable of producing a total of 10MW of electricity, have been strategically located just a mile or so away. This is a windy area of Liverpool. Thankfully, Sound Interiors’ commitment to Versapanel also resolved this second challenge, reducing the effects of negative wind pressure during construction.John Taylor, Business Development Manager at Euroform, said, “Versapanel makes the ideal sheathing panel for challenging construction environments. For areas of high wind load, such as coastal regions, a board with effective wind-load and pull-over performance can be extremely important. Obviously, no two projects are alike, and we’re only too happy to work closely with professionals like Sound Interiors to ensure the best possible outcome.”ConclusionThis isn’t the first time that Sound Interiors, Euroform and Versapanel have come together to overcome adverse weather condition. At Gogarth School in Llandudno, freezing temperatures and driving rain presented a significant challenge. At Hugh Baird, it was strong winds. In both cases a desire to reduce waste was a key commitment of all parties involved. And in both cases, a successful outcome was enjoyed by all.

In 2018, Cyclehoop designed and delivered two major Cycle Hubs for the London Borough of Enfield. These were the first cycle hubs to be provided in the borough and were delivered as part of the award-winning Cycle Enfield scheme.Both Cycle Hubs are steel and glass structures with CCTV and provide cycle parking for 50 bikes and three non-standard cycles such as cargo bikes. They can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by using an access card. Members can make use of a bike pump and repair stand so that they can make quick repairs and keep their tyres pumped whilst on the go.Cyclehoop is managing the membership of both cycle hubs on behalf of Enfield Council.Cycle Hub FacilitiesThe Enfield Town Cycle Hub and the Edmonton Green Cycle Hub are fitted with user-friendly cycle parking and repair facilities, as well as featuring an industry-leading security and access control system.Each Cycle Hub provides cycle parking for 50 bikes and is fitted with Optima Two Tier Racks. This is a space-saving solution that doubles the amount of cycle parking compared with traditional cycle racks. The Two-Tier racks can accommodate most types of bikes and feature gas-assisted moveable upper sections that make it easy to position them in the racking. Members can easily secure their bikes to the locking bar which has been welded into the design rather than the less secure bolted version in our competitors’ solutions. We have installed 3 ground anchors to accommodate non-standard cycles – each with its own marked out space.The door has been fitted with an industry-leading access control system allowing members to get in and out via access card 24 hours a day. Lighting and CCTV cameras are in operation throughout giving extra assurances of security.The Cycle Hubs also feature a Public Repair Stand and an Indoor Pump which provide members with the resources to make repairs on the go as well as pumping up deflated tyres.Design and Build ProcessEnfield Council chose two locations within the borough, each one connected to a local transport link, as well as amenities and shopping centres to accommodate the footfall. These locations were Enfield Town Railway Station and Edmonton Green Railway Station. Planning permission was required to develop the land.Enfield Council required two secure Cycle Hubs that maximised cycle parking spaces and the structure needed to be modular to allow it to be extended in future. Enfield is a growing borough that is regenerating and constantly growing, therefore this needed to be reflected in the design of the Cycle Hub.Each Cycle Hub is a steel and glass structure designed as a modern facility for securely storing cycles. The use of glass provides both good natural lighting as well as excellent visibility and passive surveillance, increasing the security of the facility.The Cycle Hubs also have a sedum green roof which reduces the surface runoff from rainfall, improves local air quality and supports the local insect population.The two custom and secure structures are comprised of:Toughened glass panesPerforated steel kick plates (over 3 tonnes of steel)Toughened glass sliding doorsLow maintenance sedum roofEnfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said:“If we want to encourage more people to get on their bikes and change their transport habits we need to provide proper, secure parking for cycles. We hope these hubs will encourage people to get on their bikes to visit our town centres and reap all the benefits leaving the car behind will deliver. We are determined to encourage as many people as possible to use sustainable transport as we possibly can and these hubs will play an important role in helping us achieve that aim.”Enfield Council’s Cycle Enfield Scheme aims to regenerate and improve town centres, dramatically improve transport links and encourage more people to use sustainable methods of transport in the borough.

The Crouch End Picturehouse in North London is an interesting example of how Kalwall® can be used to convert an ugly 1950’s concrete building into a state-of-the-art space suitable for the 21st Century.  •   This project by Panter Hudspith Architects forms part of a wider initiative within the London suburb of Haringey aiming to re-establish the area as one of London’s cultural and arts centres. The result is a remarkable transformation of a building, originally a factory then an office, into a £4.5 million cinema complete with café, bar, restaurant and community rooms.  •   The unique style of this four-screen cinema has attracted much interest, not only because of the dramatic transformation but also because of its new external elevation. •   The use of Kalwall, coupled with other sustainable measures including solar panels and a green wall, means the picturehouse has achieved a BREEAM rating of Very Good. The Solution Panter Hudspith Architects replaced the original curtain wall and specified Kalwall® for the front elevation. Unusually, this unique translucent cladding is fitted with a tight 150mm wide grid, known as Verti-Kal™, which not only serves to emphasise height but is the first of its type in the UK. On this scheme the Kalwall panels also insulate to 0.78 w/m2 making the building eye-catching and sustainable. Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is bathed with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced. Kalwall is increasingly being used in the UK for new buildings and also for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. One of the main attractions of specifying Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Although translucent, it offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp and simple. When illuminated at night they emit an inviting ethereal glow.  The CommentsArchitect James Jeremiah comments, “This is the first time we’ve specified Kalwall and it fulfils our vision of retaining the modernist characteristics of the building. One of our original concepts for the building was of a zoetrope (one of the earliest forms of moving image) and there’s a strong history of using transparency in films with people moving behind the shadows. We felt the Kalwall system was a very good fit for what we wanted to achieve”. Amanda Birch, Technical Editor Building Design writes, “To appreciate fully the building’s transformation, it is best viewed from the street. The concrete structure has been retained along with its striking line of concrete columns, which are now a strong feature of the front elevation. The original coloured insulated glass panelled system has been replaced at first and second floor levels with Kalwall’s 75mm thick insulated cladding system creating a dynamic façade that is particularly effective at night.

Privacy glass on a balcony is becoming a more frequent request. This installation by AC Fabrications in Cornwall on a domestic property perfectly displays how a glass privacy screen can be used. The partially frosted glass increases privacy for those on the balcony, people at ground level will not be able to see them. The non-frosted section allows the residents to enjoy their view from the privacy of their balcony. Taller glass on one side extends the privacy even more, and also will act as a windbreak. Frameless glass balustrade is often used as a windbreak on balconies, the solid pane of glass protecting those on the balcony. The installer has used POSIglaze base fit Silver brushed channel. Designed to provide the greatest possible adjustment opportunities, this system enables each panel to be perfectly aligned during, or even after, installation. POSIglaze is the perfect choice for residential to light commercial installations where up to 1.5kN frameless glass balustrade is required. This innovative patented and market leading screw-clamp technology locks glass panels into position effortlessly, with four immobilising fasteners per meter of channel. 

An eco-friendly development targeting the Passivhaus Low Energy Building Standard, Castle Hill House provides undergraduate accommodation for students of St Peter’s College, University of Oxford. To ensure the scheme sits comfortably within the historic environment adjacent to Oxford Castle, Design Engine Architects specified Vandersanden’s Chaucer Suffolk and Majestic bricks.The prestigious scheme provides 54 bedrooms on a challenging site. On one corner is Canal House, the Master’s residence with a large garden, on the other, the Law Centre. It is bounded by New Road, a main route into Oxford, and Bulwarks Lane; between the two, there is a one-storey level change in the topography.To address the level change, a podium was created across the site which houses a bike store, plant rooms, toilets and offices. On top of the podium are the two residential blocks with the front building standing three storeys above the podium and the rear four storeys, the building stepping up as the natural ground gradient increases. Between the two is a central courtyard with bedroom windows of both buildings facing across it. This space also allows connection to the main university campus on the other side of Bulwarks Lane. The scheme is in a conservation area that includes listed buildings and Castle Mound, a scheduled ancient monument. Quite a variety of materials are evident in the surrounding buildings but, within the material hierarchy, brick was the most appropriate and Chaucer Suffolk was an ideal match to the ashlar, ‘Oxford’ buff colour of Canal House and the Law Centre. Vandersanden’s Majestic brick matches the greyer rusticated base of Canal House, so was ideal for the podium that runs into the wall at the rear of the site. “We were struggling to find bricks of the right colours, particularly for the grey bricks where we were looking for a very specific match but, once we found Vandersanden’s Majestic, we didn’t look back, they’ve been incredibly successful,” explains Richard James, associate at Design Engine Architects. “The Chaucer Suffolk provided exactly the right buff colour, not only matching the existing stone of the surrounding buildings but having the texture and tonal variety that gives it a warmer feel.”A fairly natural mortar colour was used throughout for both brick types, helping to blend them together and add a little more warmth to the overall tone of the two bricks.A variety of brickwork details have contributed to the success of the scheme. Within the brick piers of the faceted facades are areas of hit-and-miss brickwork that leave out the headers. These allow the window panels in the bedrooms to be left open to create natural ventilation and also provide some rain protection and security. Panels of hit-and-miss brickwork have also been used to fill in and repair existing walls, including the old stone wall on New Road. A staggered zigzag pattern was employed to replicate the texture of the very rough old stone walls on Bulwarks Lane.The buildings follow the site’s irregular shape so a large number of ‘cut stuck’ brick specials were employed to deal with the changes in direction of the walls. Pre-cast, brick-faced lintels and support units were also used at various points across the facades.The development targets the environmental standard ‘Passivhaus Institute Low Energy Building’. Passivhaus buildings are characterised by especially high levels of indoor comfort with minimum energy consumption. This is achieved by significantly improving the building fabric in terms of thermal insulation and airtightness, thereby minimising energy loss to a level that minimum space heating is required. “We’re really pleased with the bricks, the colour match has been even better than expected and the quality of the brick is probably one of the best I’ve seen,” enthuses James. “They’re not the cheapest brick on the market but the effect and the quality is much greater than their expense. Vandersanden will be the starting point for future projects requiring this level of quality.”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' link

The BriefBishop Milner Catholic College is a large school in Dudley, West Midlands that caters for children from the ages of 11-18 years.They contacted us in October 2012 and requested prices for a large free standing canopy. They were in the process of applying for a grant to cover the costs and needed some prices to enable them to apply for the correct amount required.The SolutionA site survey was arranged and it was agreed that a Hamilton Big Span Canopy would be the perfect canopy structure for the college.

Part of the planning consent for Centerparcs included a roundabout and the creation of cycle bridleways. The aim to complete the work using a method sympathetic to the environment whilst avoiding damage to the tree roots. ABG Abweb TRP has a three dimensional cellular structure which when filled mitigates the vertical load pressure on the sub soils. The Abweb TRP cells act as a permanent form work to the road surface.In this no dig solution water and nutrients can flow into underlying soil allowing trees to flourish.

Helo is delighted to announce the completion of an outdoor sauna in the delightful grounds of this North London mansion. Helo’s TIMO sauna was the obvious choice for the space in question. Constructed from 44mm solid spruce logs it uses precision tongue and groove joining to ensure a quick heating cabin, whilst cedar shingle roofing not only looks the part but guarantees a water tight structure. At just under 2m square with a sociable L shaped bench layout it provided ample space for the client’s family and friends.

This South East Water contact tank has a constant output of 18.1 million litres per day, it contains water which is treated with Sodium Tripolyphosphate and sodium hypochlorite before entering the distribution network. The structure is of a ‘certain’ age and has a number of active leaks that have progressively worsened over time. As the tank is in constant use, it cannot be taken off-line and so a solution was required which could be undertaken against heavy flow of water with the tank still in use. 

Barton Hill Primary School was converted into an academy. As part of these works the structure of the school required renovating and expanded to meet the standards expected. Areas using Polyroof’s systems included new extension roofs, refurbishment of existing roofs, and the creation of colourful dormer pods.The requirements of this project were as varied as they were demanding. With it being a school the works had to be carried out as rapidly as possible and with as minimum disruption. For safety reasons cold-applied systems were preferred to traditional hot-applied solutions.polyroof.co.uk

We were delighted to complete this project for Worthing district council in Sussex, in the summer of 2023. Showcasing our Spiel Bau range of equipment, we installed a beautiful stainless steel multiplay structure, and stainless steel aerial runway. Fun colour combine with excellent play features, with the Mikado tower’s nets, slides, climbing walls and bridges giving children hours of endless fun. We surfaced the area with black with blue fleck wet pour rubber flooring. 

Keywest 3 is one developer to recognise the integral role of effective sound insulation in maintaining the comfort and lifestyle of high-rise dwelling on its latest landmark renovation project in South Shields.The company recognised that ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation could provide superior acoustic performance.With its dense, non-directional fibre structure, ROCKWOOL Sound Insulation effectively traps sound waves and dampens vibration to provide an enhanced noise reducing solution in this type of application.

The Multi-Link-Panel system glazed with Georgian wired polycarbonate from pioneering polycarbonate roofing supplier Twinfix was specified by Network Rail for the entrance canopy element of a £1 million refurbishment of historic Wigan Wallgate station in Lancashire. The glazing panels, each comprising fast-track “fix and link” aluminium structural bars glazed with 6mm solid Georgian wired polycarbonate, were pre-assembled at Twinfix’s factory in Warrington, Cheshire, for delivery to site for installation by specialist contractor Everlast Rail.

Designed by Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen and opened in 1999, the Black Diamond is an extension to the Royal Library in Copenhagen that doubles its size. Its exterior of two glossy black cubes slightly tilted over its harbour-front walkway, reflect the sky above and the sea before it.This glass-and-black-marble structure, which changed the face of the city’s harbour, features a stunning eight-story atrium, whose undulating walls and balconies echo the ebb and flow of the harbour’s waterway.

The Ochiltree Community Hub is in the heart of the Cumnock community in Ayrshire, Scotland. EGGER were delighted to donate EGGER Protect structural flooring boards and Joint & Joist Adhesive to this community project. Located less than 2 miles from EGGER’s Barony plant in Auchinleck, the contribution to the redevelopment by the company helps to benefit the residents of the local area. The aim of the community centre development has sought to support the local community and surrounding areas with a number of initiatives in line with their charitable aims.

Originally known as Britannic House or Britannic Tower, was the former headquarters of the oil company British Petroleum, with 35 floors and 122m. Its structure began to be “outdated” with the passing of the years, while home prices in the area began a rapid ascent. In the early 90’s the oil moved to its former headquarters in Finsbury Circus. In order to protect the façade elements against moisture, driving rain and wind avoiding corrosion, insulation deterioration and mould growth, Effisus Breather FR System was applied.

Johnstone’s Trade were approached by the Commissioners of Irish Lights to improve the condition of the walls and the railings as the structure indicated that it had not been painted for a number of years. The products that were specified for the project included Johnstone’s Stormshield Pliolite Masonry, a solvent based paint that was applied on the exterior walls of the lighthouse to provide a smooth matt finish in Brilliant White. To complete the makeover, the metal railings of the lighthouse were painted in Johnstone’s Steel & Cladding Semi-gloss Top coat in Signal red.

ASF Manufactured this large planter and seat from corten steel. The structure of the planter is 100% corten, manufactured as modular sections that were transported to site in sections and simply put together in situ. The seat area is a lowered platform alongside a running edge of the planter with hardwood seat slats attached to the top with invisible fixings. The seat area brings the lowered side up to full planter height so people can sit alongside the raised garden bed the planter creates.