"swimming pools fittings enclosures"

Boardwalk Short break experts Center Parcs contacted Gripsure when replacing its iconic wooden boardwalk with a new structure. Center Parcs Longleat Forest in Wiltshire needed to replace the boardwalk, which formed a main thoroughfare for the village and had been well used by visitors for the past 20 years. Gripsure Heritage was the perfect choice to revamp the walkway. Its innovative non-slip decking guarantees the safety of guests and staff, whatever the weather. A representative for Center Parcs Ltd, said: “The Heritage board within the Gripsure range very much matched what we were looking for by giving good coverage in terms of non-slip but also retaining the feel of using a natural product. We are very pleased with the results. We had trialled some of the boards in another area of the village so were confident about how it would perform but the decking has really helped to give an excellent finish to the whole look of the boardwalk.” The structure was designed and installed by B and B Innovations, who chose the thicker 50mm decking, due to the span and use of the boardwalk. The firm created an innovative boardwalk with no bolts passing through any of the structural timbers. Unusually the decking was also fixed underneath to minimise water ingressions and maximise the life of the boardwalk. The team at Center Parcs were so impressed with the quality, safety and finish of the product that they have since used Gripsure non-slip decking on bridges, boardwalks, steps and deck areas. Subtropical Swimming Paradise Gripsure supplied 1,200 linear meters of solid green Gripsure Aquadeck® for part of the development of the Subtropical Swimming Paradise at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest. The water park is considered the crown jewel of the family friendly short break destination. The refurbishment of the pool marks the 30th anniversary in the UK for Center Parcs, which had its first British site in Sherwood Forest. The Subtropical Swimming Paradise is heated to 29.5c all year round. It is adorned with tropical plants and features water rides, flumes, a wave pool and family cabanas. New additions to the water park at Sherwood Forest include Tropical Cyclone, an exciting four-person raft ride, as well as family-friendly water play areas Venture Bay and Venture Harbour. Vibrant green Gripsure Aquadeck® was used for an outdoor poolside lounge area. The non-slip decking features two anti-slip rubber inserts that are soft underfoot and therefore suited for barefoot use. Unlike other rubber crumb products Gripsure Aquadeck® benefits from drainage channels designed to allow water to drain through the timber board. This ensures safe use in both wet and dry conditions for guests of all ages, making it the perfect non-slip solution for any poolside application.

Winchester Council has opened a new multi-functional sport and leisure centre to cater to activity needs of the local population. Designed as a highly sustainable building, Winchester Sport and Leisure Park is one the UK’s greenest leisure centres, achieving a BREEAM rating of excellent. The new sport and leisure park by LA Architects provides state-of-the-art facilities for the community, including a 50m eight-lane swimming pool, a 20x10m teaching pool, a large fitness suite, two exercise studios, a spin studio, an eight-court multi-use sports hall, four squash courts, a café, and a climbing area. The large sports hall and squash courts have been fitted with Junckers solid wood sports flooring systems, offering a safe, high-performing, and long-lasting floor which fully complies with EN 14904 class A4. Junckers’ approved flooring contractor Courtcraft Ltd installed Junckers 22x129mm solid Maple flooring in the sports hall over the New Era UnoBAT undercarriage system; as well as SylvaSquash Beech Champion in the four squash courts. Junckers flooring is a product with a long-standing history of caring for the environment, an important consideration for the architect in the specification process. Said Mike Lawless of LA Architects: ‘When designing to change the face of sports and leisure facilities in the UK and create a place of quality everything matters. Every detail, material, and every specification matters. It is enormously important to consider quality in every part of the building; to seek out manufacturers who can work with us to deliv- er the quality and creativity that the UK sports and leisure industry must strive for.” Junckers’ floors hold independently verified sustainability accreditations to verify its environmental credentials, including EPDs, FSC®, PEFCTM, the Danish Indoor Climate Label, and an A+ BREEAM rating. Junckers’ sports floors are made in solid hardwood, one of the most durable surfaces available and virtually unbeatable in terms of life cycle costs. The floor has a very long lifespan and can be sanded and re-finished eight to ten times during its life. With 12-year intervals between sandings, a typical lifespan of 60 years will comfortably be exceeded. And, at the end of its long life, a Junckers floor can often be re-used or re-purposed or it will degrade naturally without adding to landfill sites. All Junckers sports floors meet the design guidance provided by Sport England and SportScotland. 

PROJECT OVERVIEW Jaguar planned a £500m investment for their first in-house engine manufacturing facility. Opened by Her Majesty, it currently produces 400,000 Ingenium petrol and diesel engines a year. Norwood worked with Interserve to deliver this ground-breaking project to the highest standards. The overall project won the Regeneration award at the RICS Awards Grand Final.OUR SCOPE OF WORKThe main challenge was to provide a 120Min fire-rated demountable compartment wall at 11 meters high. Norwood teamed up with Interserve, developing our 200mm Mediline system, which was subjected to excessive laboratory testing to achieve the 120Min Fire Rated certification. In addition to solid partitions, Norwood supplied a 90Min fire-rated 9-meter high glazed partition wall which provided a viewing gallery from the grand reception onto the manufacturing floor.In addition to the fire-rated compartment walls, Norwood provided a self-supporting machine and QC enclosures. The enclosures had to give a clean environment to a GMP standard; therefore, they had their own mechanical equipment, which was all supported by the Norwood enclosure. This was delivered by designing and installing a bespoke PodSolve system which consisted of a hidden ceiling joist system that provided the structural support for the mechanical equipment.Norwood often returns to Jaguar Land Rover providing modifications without business interruption to the build as their product cycle changes.

Project BackgroundDesigned by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid in 2004, before London won the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50-metre (160-foot) swimming pools and a 25-metre (82-foot) diving pool. Its iconic wave-like roof sweeps up from the ground and was inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion, creating spaces and a surrounding environment in sympathy with the river landscape of the Olympic Park.Project SolutionPowrmatic Wall Opensky louvred ventilators were at the heart of the smoke and natural ventilation system at the London Aquatic centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. The ventilation systems were designed and installed by Air Design Systems Ltd.The wall mounted Opensky louvred ventilators are used to provide a high-free area at the back of the stands for heat exhaust and smoke extract. The units were double-stacked and provided with a white polyester powder-coated finish.Air Design Systems Ltd also made provision for the control system that included local control panels, electrical wiring, override switches and full commissioning and demonstration of the system.Project ResultTested for use as smoke ventilators to BS EN 12101-2, Powrmatic’s Opensky ventilators can be roof or wall mounted for exhaust or inlet and can be supplied with a hinged base for use as an access hatch. They have been specifically designed for both smoke and heat exhaust and natural ventilation applications and combine an attractive style with a discreet, low profile.

The scope of this ambitious project was to restore and transform an abandoned Neo-Gothic Cemetery Keeper’s Lodge with adjoining public facility into a luxurious mansion in just 12 months.  Works included demolishing the adjoining public facility to enable the construction of a new basement.The proposed new build construction would be a luxury ground floor extension which would run the footprint of the redundant public facility to offer a 4,000 square foot subterrain space with key features such as 13-meter swimming pool, 2 additional bedrooms, a tv games room and office space.Simon Gill Architect designed the ambitious project and was appointed as Project Manager.Delta Registered Installers 5 Star Basements were employed to undertake both dig out and installation of the structural waterproofing with Delta’s Technical Waterproofing Consultant, Paul Callaghan representing Delta. This approach at the design stage, allowed Paul to attend design team meetings and to ensure all criteria’s of BS8102:2009 were met.As aired on Grand Designs on 6th January 2021.

Architect: Saunders Boston ArchitectsProduct: Geschwender Lockers, Cubicles, and AccessoriesLSA Projects Ltd and Geschwender installed close to 1000 lockers at Wymondham Leisure Centre near Norwich in Norfolk. The public leisure facilities include fitness studios and a 100-station gym, a four court sports hall, a 25m fitness and teaching pool, as well as a spa.Saunders Boston chose 2 different locker and changing room styles to suit each space, reflecting the family, adults, and spa areas with distinctive colours and textures of HPL to represent each environment.

Part of Firmdale Hotels, Number Sixteen stands seconds away from South Kensington’s museums and the Old Brompton Road in the heart of lively South Kensington. The hotels handsomely vibrant rooms look and feel charismatically British. Majestic were invited to supply and install Ponente enclosures.

The ProjectProject Triathlon was conceived as a new build warehouse development at DP World London Gateway. It was designed specifically for use by DHL Supply Chain, the world’s leading contract logistics provider. This brand-new structure would have an internal volume equivalent to 645 Olympic-size swimming pools.Shire Flooring Ltd was employed as the flooring contractor for this huge project. As the new warehouse involved areas which would be used for differing purposes, a range of floorings would be necessary throughout the facility. This meant that a range of flooring accessories would also be needed, to complement the different floorcoverings.The ApproachShire Flooring spoke to Quantum Flooring about supplying the accessories for the project. They would need cove formers and capping strips, to be fitted with resilient floorcoverings. Two types of stair nosings would also be necessary; one to be fitted onto wooden steps, and one to be used on carpeted staircases.Quantum’s QCF35 cove former would be used to curve the vinyl at the floor-to-wall junctions, protecting the floorcovering from damage at the join and making it easier to clean. UCS1 flexible capping strips were selected in both black and white for a mix of colour designs in different parts of the building. These would create a neat finish to the floorcovering up the wall.On the carpeted staircases, Quantum’s ZHF1 stair nosings were chosen. These heavy-duty profiles were fitted with mist coloured tread material, to contrast with the black carpet. For the wooden flooring, ZF125R stair nosings were used. These profiles have a ramped back, so they can be fitted straight onto wood or concrete steps without creating a slip hazard. Black inserts were used to contrast with the natural wood colouring.The stair nosings were fitted using Q-Fix, Quantum’s contact adhesive. Q-Fix is a single solution to fix Quantum stair nosings, with no need for screws or plugs. With a strong and durable bond, there is no more reliable stair nosing adhesive on the market.The OutcomeShire Flooring completed their work on Project Triathlon in 2022. By the end of the project, they had fitted an immense 3000sqm of flooring. They had also fitted 400m of Quantum stair nosings, and 200m of Quantum capping strips and cove formers.Quantum’s UCS1 capping strips in both white and black look great in the warehouse, with the QCF35 cove former assisting in protecting the integrity of the floorcovering where it meets the wall.Meanwhile, the ZHF1 and ZF125R stair nosings look fantastic on their respective staircases. With Quantum’s slip resistant tread material, they are helping to prevent slips, trips, and falls for the many workers at the facility.Shire Flooring did excellent work with Quantum Flooring products in this extensive project. DHL Supply Chain can be happy with a great design scheme, along with products that will keep its workers safe going into the future. 

The Living Concrete team are highly experienced at working with leading designers to create bespoke furniture for beautiful spaces. That’s why Charlotte Crosland came to us to discuss the design, manufacture and installation of this stunning outdoor kitchen and entertainment space, housed in a purpose built oak building at her client’s Great Missenden home.We cast a number of items including work surfaces, kitchen cupboards with shelving and drawers, fridge enclosure, BBQ, cast in sink with copper fittings and seatWe used a unique eco concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption and the smooth Silk Mist finish was treated and sealed with Satin Stain protection to make it damage proof. Our high-performance concrete doesn’t corrode or degrade, making it a long-lasting, practical choice that will keep its good looks. It’s fireproof too – a major advantage inside the home, but equally so in an outdoor oak-built structure such as this.

Inspired by and integrated within the natural landscape around it, the River Building at Grace Farms, which was designed by SANAA, gently slopes, bends and ‘pools’ with its surroundings.For a place in which people gather to experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community and explore faith, the use of glass, steel, concrete and wood is particularly fitting. In the building’s bathrooms, d line sanitary ware was used for its simple lines and the natural rawness of its material.

Recently opened, the Engine Shed is Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre, based in Stirling. Working with contractor, ESH Border and architect Reiach & Hall, Style Scotland installed a Skyfold operable wall to quickly separate the exhibition space from the auditorium, allowing educational seminars to be conducted in privacy whilst the rest of the space remains open to the public. Skyfold, a hugely innovative partitioning solution, is a vertical-rising moveable wall that retracts into the ceiling cavity at the turn of a key, creating an acoustic barrier of up to 59dB Rw.

Various collections in stone-effect porcelain stoneware and in marble- effect porcelain stoneware by Atlas Concorde were used in the prestigious renovation project of a semidetached-house near Morchiuso (CO) be it indoors, outdoor floors or garden floors.The Marco Castelletti architectural studio added the finishing touch to the project, following energy efficiency criteria, using materials to reduce consumption. In the house ambiences, the bathroom and kitchen claddings were designed to meet the highest technical and aesthetical standards.The bathroom claddings, created by Atlas Concorde, bestow an added value to the project as a whole, perfectly complying with the needs of practicality and by outlining spaces where well-being and relaxation come to the fore.Indoors in the core area, a suggestive swimming pool takes centre stage, located in an area that requires high technically performing products.The Trust collection, a prestigious stone-effect porcelain stoneware series with a strongly substantial and contemporary look, dresses surfaces with hues recalling the most precious quarry stones.The Style collection, in its Bianco Winter version, traces all the beauty of marble- effect porcelain stoneware tiles, enriching bathroom claddings and kitchen claddings with elegant and refined charm.

Suma International Manufacturing Company fabricated 26 Halspan FD90 64mm for Jawaher Residential Building.Halspan 90 internal fire door blanks feature Halspan's unique 3-layer particle board. Specifically designed for the purpose, using a complex combination of chemical and engineering development, these blanks produce doors of altogether superior quality, strength and overall preformance.The Jawaher Residential Building is suited in Salmiya, Kuwait, and compromises of 13 floors featuring luxury apartments, a gymnasium, and a rooftop swimming pool overlooking the city.This project featured 26 fire-rated doors fabricated using Halspan’s FD90 64mm unique 3-layer particle board that is durability tested to severe duty and is suitable for veneer, laminate, or paint finishes.The doors were used in the primary entrances for all floor levels and are latched single-acting single doors (LSASD) featuring a wooden frame and solid red meranti lipping with beech veneer facing.This project was contracted by Main Contractor; Al Daleel General Trading & Contracting Co and was fabricated by Suma International Manufacturing Company.Photography courtesy of Suma International Manufacturing Company.

The £15million new Tarka Leisure Centre in Barnstaple, was designed to link with the existing Tarka Tennis Centre. There is now a natural flow between the existing and new part of the completed facility. Sport England invested £1.8m of National Lottery funding into the development of Tarka Leisure Centre to support the ‘get active’ initiative by making the facilities accessible and inclusive for the local community. The new centre, officially opened by British Winter Olympics hero Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards, provides a much-needed swimming pool facility, an ‘endless’ indoor ski slope facility, a sports hall with four badminton courts, a large gym, two multi-purpose exercise studios, a spin studio, indoor soft play area, new reception area and café.With leisure centres having a high footfall and being a naturally noisy environment, it was paramount to consider the fire safety and acoustics of the building.  Lusso 105FR, a double-glazed fire-rated system, which provides acoustic performance of up to 54dB and fire performance of up to 60 minutes integrity and insulation was the ideal choice for this environment. Lusso Structural Glazing was installed where a higher specification level was required for edge protection.

The original Ironmonger Row Baths site was built in the 1930s with swimming pool and traditional style bathing house of hot rooms and cold plunge in the basement. These facilities were completely upgraded in 2012 with saunas and steam rooms added.  In January 2022, the basement spa was destroyed by a fire. A complete restoration of the area was required of the builder’s work, fabric and services and Sauna360 UK was honoured to be commissioned to design and install all wellness areas. In January 2024 the "bathing house" re-opened to a wonderful reception.There has been a transformation of the area and a feeling of space, tranquillity and relaxation. Huge full height tiles adorn the walls throughout. Longitudinal floor tiles subtly take the eye to the glass fronted Salt sauna at one end and the backlit image and relax zone the other.  On arriving from the changing area the guest has a choice of contemporary facilities of saunas, aroma steam rooms, feature showers and ice to the left or traditional hot rooms, cold plunge and massage slabs to the right with large relaxation areas in the centre.  In the contemporary zone there are two large saunas: The Juniper Sauna This sauna  is operated at 75-85C with automatic infusion for a medium humidity. To the front a Juniper wall provides a beautiful detail with its own natural spicy aroma.  Behind the benches, and hidden within the wall, are Infra red panels. These allow the room to be operated in separate sessions at a lower temperature 40-45C with the benefits of IR bathing.The Salt Sauna The Salt Sauna is hot (85-95C) and dry like a traditional Finnish sauna and provides the ideal environment for the large salt wall. The impressive sauna has the height for a third bench in the hottest zone. The glass front allows the backlit salt wall and attractive finishes to be viewed from outside and the feeling of space appreciated from within. The Aroma Steam Room This opulent room has copious amounts of steam infused with seasonally changing essence. The stunning, large format, dark marble tiles are paired with subtle underbench lighting to create a relaxing ambience. Inclined backrests are used for ultimate comfort.Salt Inhalation Steam Room Contrasting beautifully with Aroma Steam Room, this thermal experience infuses the area with a mint or lemon essence to complement the automated salt spray within the steam environment for enhanced inhalation benefits.Completing the area are two Feature showers with warm and cool programs using essence plus a Cool room with ice feature and icy mint spray.Infrared Benching In the central area there is a long Recliner bench in ergonomic ceramics with gentle Infra red heating plus an expansive relaxation zone.Hot Rooms In the traditional zone there are the Hot Rooms. A series of interlinked rooms in large ceramics with increasing temperature as you get further in for the ultimate thermal experience.Drench Bucket & Plunge Pool Outside the hot rooms one will find a drench bucket cleansing shower and a large Plunge pool. The plunge pool now includes a unique heat recovery system which uses the heat removed from the plunge pool water to provide heat to the existing learner pool.Massage Slabs & Footrests The traditional zone also has twin heated Massage slabs for wet massage treatments by the spa therapists. The area is completed by additional heated benching with heated foot rests, below the backlit feature wall.

This exciting project at Old Granada Studios, Manchester will the see the existing office building refurbished and fitted out into the new hotel, complete with a vertical extension to form an outdoor swimming pool and roof-top bar area on the eighth and ninth floors. An additional two-story extension to the side of the main building will form a new restaurant and additional rooms.Old Granada Studios is a true Manchester landmark; a building brimming with heritage and history. The re-invention of this famous building will create a place where people come together to work, stay and play. It will be a new cultural destination for the city. It will be a culture of cool places, a world-renowned hotel, studios, workspace, food and drink.The old Granada Studios is anchored by the internationally renowned Soho House Group with their stylish members’ club, restaurant, bar and the new concept Mollie’s Motel. The iconic studios have also been modernised and activated by Manchester Studios with the best production and broadcast facilities in Manchester, they are once again the city’s leading creativity complex for TV, film, music and digital content.Soundis supplied of an area approximately 7,000 sq meters, across 9 different levels which consisted of various flooring build ups.  Systems included, the Soundis Cradle & Batten Acoustic Flooring System to help improve both airborne and impact performance, this system is also compliant with Robust Details FFT2. Overlayed were the Soundis Dry Screed Panels; applied to level the structural deck to minimum of SR2 Standards. Another flooring system we supplied at this project was the Soundis CineSystem Ultra Floor offering many additional acoustic benefits. This system also offers the greatest strength, whilst the large dead load that the floated slab provides, ensures minimal movement under the addition of any live loading.

Plaza 13 stands on a space previously occupied by an old industrial warehouse. A residential development designed by the Bueso-Inchausti & Rein architecture studio, this 3,566m² complex comprises 14 apartments spread over four floors, four of which are penthouses with private garden and swimming pool. In order to keep a flexible interior layout, Bueso-Inchausti & Rein decided to maintain a geometric uniformity in the complex, with a facade that is almost entirely glazed, fitted with the O-Box system as a solar control solution to optimize sunlight and heat.This was an ambitious and daring project aiming to create a distinguished product with clear floor heights of 3.5m. In this context, the Bandalux outdoor O-Box roller blind systems offer a simple and elegant esthetic solution for the facade, as well as exquisite solar control to create maximum comfort inside the spacious apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows.The O-Box technical blind has an attractive cylindrical box and an aluminum side guide that binds the fabric. To fulfill the project requirements, Bandalux developed a cylindrical handrail, which limits the run of the blind and creates the impression of a floating rail.The O-Box system works like a double skin for the apartment windows, ensuring an excellent compromise between thermal efficiency and visual comfort thanks to the Polyscreen 550 Pearl fabric with a 5% openness factor. A fabric with a high resistance to extreme weather conditions and chlorine which, from outside, contributes to significant energy savings in terms of heating and air conditioning inside. The Polyscreen 550 Pearl fabric is also easy to clean, as it can be simply wiped with a damp cloth, and no harmful elements are used during the manufacturing process.Bueso-Inchausti & Rein works in the field of architecture and urban planning, specializing in residential and tertiary projects. Its buildings are spread across Spain, Romania, USA, Mexico and Switzerland.

The development at The Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate was the biggest spa project in the UK 2016/2017 and the biggest project installed by Sauna360 UK. Sauna360 installed thermal rooms, pools and plant over three levels. Lap pool, hydro pool, roof top spa, Rasul, Pool side sauna, Panoramic sauna, Luxury steam room, three feature showers, foot spas and heated benches, ice fountain and herbal bath.

New rehabilitation centre for the nation’s most severely injured military personnel.We were pleased to deliver the full FF&E fit-out including wall protection, blinds and cubicles as well as all the fitted furniture. Working closely with the Steffian Bradley team we also provide bespoke seating and reception counters. Brainchild of the late Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, the new DNRC centre was officially handed over in June 2018. The project involved restoration of a Grade II listed Hall, plus over 37,000m2 of new-build. The centre has impressive clinical rehabilitation facilities, including hydrotherapy pools, complex trauma wards, prosthetics and gait analysis facilities, plus Europe’s first multi-sensory CAREN 3D simulator.

Rekortan M (Re-Topping) and Polytan SMART at Willesden Sports Centre, LondonTHE POWER OF SPORTWillesden Sports Centre is a fitness, leisure and community centre in North London. In Willesden, a neighbourhood not far from the famous Wembley Stadium, there is an expansive sports complex that includes the whole of King Edward VII Park. The complex encompasses two swimming pools, a fitness studio, a sports hall with a 60-metre indoor track and four courts, as well as steam rooms and saunas. For outdoor sports, there is an athletics facility with six 400-metre lanes and an integrated sprinting track with two additional lanes, along with facilities for various jumping and throwing disciplines.All the lanes of the athletics track were renewed with Rekortan M in brick red in the course of a full renovation in 2022. The consistency of the Rekortan M tread strikes the perfect balance between excellent shock absorption and maximum acceleration – properties that are appreciated by both middle-distance and short-distance runners alike. All the running and run-up tracks were refurbished using the re-topping process. This means that used and worn synthetic surfaces are completely technically and cosmetically restored. Re-topping is not only an extremely economical and explicitly sustainable solution for the renovation of sports facilities. It also allows the existing elastic substructures to remain in place, rather than being disposed of.The athletics facility at Willesden Sports Centre was also fitted with two Polytan SMART systems for the precise measurement and documentation of training performance. On one of the running tracks and sprinting tracks, athletes can conduct agility tests, jumping tests, endurance tests and sprint tests. Multiple Polytan SMART timing gates are integrated in the lanes.The athletics facility at Willesden Sports Centre can be booked by schools and clubs. Among them are the Willesden Triathlon Club and, in particular, the Track Academy. At the latter, former international athletes, coaches, mentors and teachers are of the belief that sport and education have the power to change people’s lives for the better. Under the motto “The Power of Sport”, they support disadvantaged young people to realise their potential and develop in a positive way. This includes building their self-confidence, affirming their self-worth and helping them to find the courage to acquire new skills and to plan and shape their own future.Currently, almost 400 young athletes train at the Track Academy at Willesden Sports Centre every week. We share this belief in the social power of sport, especially for disadvantaged children and young people, and are proud to support the goals of the Track Academy with our surfaces and our Polytan SMART system.

Bodrum Caresse Hotel Technowood pergola roof covering. Pergola sections spanning over 12 metres, Technowood systems have solved an Architectural problem that been around for decades.Hotel Pergola with unsupported spanHardwood timber has been used for many years. Creating roof structures for both interior and exterior applications. Its well known that with timber, the further you need to span means the larger the timber section required. Only to a certain point where steel flitch beams are required. Then the Architect may consider using Glulam beams in a similar arrangement. The sight of steel plates and huge fixing bolts may not be acceptable to the design and so Architects and designers need something else.“From centre stage and into the lime light shines Technowood… Tah Dah…”Technowood is normally fabricated with Aluminium and timber, this is usually acceptable length to 7.5 metres span. In this instance, the fabrication was with GRP and real timber. Glass Reinforced Polymer is able to span up to 12.5 metres.The exterior terraces, designed with massive pergolas; unsupported throughout their length and signed off from the Structural Engineer for conformance.Swimming Pool PergolaThe swimming pool is also covered with an extreme pergola system. The span here is enormous and impressive nonetheless. It provide the vertical structure exactly as the design intended and provides dappled shade across the whole area. There are no upright support pillars to obstruct the walkways or vista.These sections like exactly like huge timber beams, they maybe GRP in the inside but they are certainly real wood on the outside.Brise soleil for terraces and balconiesYou can see from the images that the Technowood has been used to match the design of the pergolas to create brise soleil arrangements on the balconies. These are normal quite small affairs in small spans and not normally in timber, these are different. They are massive in section, huge in length and still in timber.Architects often specify raised timber structures to create shade from the sun. Technowood enable the design to become reality somewhat easier than first imagined. The sections can be moveable, house lighting and speakers too.Installing a Technowood PergolaEach project design must go through the design team at Technowood for approval; They advise on all fixing details. The team have designed and delivered thousands of projects over the last 2 and more decadesInstead of many hands, cranes and dangerous work environments, Technowood systems for Pergolas and Brise Soleil arrangements are lightweight. The fixings, usually hidden from sight resulting in cleaner lines, no flitch plates or nuts and bolts.Contact Technowood to realise your design into the unimaginable…We also have a showroom at The Sky House Design Centre please get in touch to book an appointment.

With a view protected by an Act of Parliament and famously captured by JMW Turner in his painting ‘Richmond Hill’, it’s no surprise the Star and Garter mansion on Richmond Hill is one of the most exclusive addresses in the capital.The meticulous refurbishment of this Grade II listed landmark provides a stunning range of luxuriously specified residences. Majestic were invited to supply Rio and Portofino enclosures as well as Genoa and Valletta bath screens from The Frameless Portfolio.

Matching their generosity Safety Technology International have partnered with a community charity to preserve and protect a life-saving donation for when it is needed most.The Post Office Anglers Society (POAS) is a family fishing club with a long history stretching back to the early 1970s; initially the brainchild of now honorary member David Butt and a fellow group of Post Office Telephone Engineers the Society now has nearly 300 members.In 2005, the Southend-on-Sea based Society purchased a 4.5 acre site in Sutton, Essex to develop their very own two lake fishery, Beauchamps, to supplement their existing leased fishery. The POAS’ Beauchamps Fishery was recently fortunate enough to receive an automatic electronic defibrillator (AED) donated by the Finish Line Fund.The AED was to be installed in the fisheries meeting area, a location partially open to the elements and only accessible to members. It was vital, therefore, the new life safety device be properly protected for use in an emergency.As is customary, the AED operator’s manual offered clear instructions for proper installation and maintenance, including guidance on impact protection, equipment visibility and environmental protection requirements.Drawing on the life safety expertise of its membership, STI’s AED Protective Cabinet (STI-7531AED) was identified by the POAS and carefully chosen to protect the sophisticated medical device as it exceeded all of the criteria set out by the manufacturer and all with a three-year guarantee.POAS Member and Fire Safety Professional, Ken Pearce, said: “The POAS contacted STI to discuss the enclosure and its importance in protecting the possibly life-saving AED.“We were delighted to hear that STI offered to donate the enclosure to the club to safeguard the AED from the elements and allow us to be able to carry out the installation in line with the AED manufacturer’s guidance.”It was determined the impact-resistant UV-stabilised polycarbonate enclosure could withstand any amount of accidental knocks from fishing equipment and fishery maintenance tools; the clear polycarbonate housing and thumb lock allowing the portable AED to remain both highly visible and easily accessible, vitally important in an emergency.From the scorching days of the POAS Summer League matches to the chilly Winter League matches fished by the hardiest of fishermen, the typical working properties of -40°C to 121°C greatly exceed the wildest of temperatures expected at the fishery throughout the year – An internal gasket guards against ingress.Ken added: “The AED Protective Cabinet was installed by a member of the POAS Maintenance Team who found the installation to be extremely straightforward, and was particularly pleased with the supplied wire shelf and steel mounting backplate, which ensured a secure installation – The enclosure was successfully installed in under an hour.“All members would like to thank STI for this great donation and we can have confidence that the equipment, should it be needed, will be easily accessible and well protected.”

The Spa at South Lodge, in the heart of the West Sussex countryside, is the picture-perfect, luxury destination for those seeking ultimate relaxation in complete comfort, far away from the pressures and strains of modern life. Designed by Hove-based architectural firm, Felce and Guy, this prestigious 44,000 sq. ft building sits harmoniously in its beautiful, natural setting with external facing bricks from Vandersanden selected to provide regular form, nuanced colours and natural texture for the project. Located in Lower Beeding, near Horsham, The Spa at South Lodge is a purpose-built spa within the grounds of an award winning 5-star hotel. It features a state-of-the-art gym and spin studio, indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and wild swimming pool, a thermal suite and treatment rooms for members, hotel residents and spa day guests. In addition, The Spa at South Lodge includes the Ridgeview Beauty Bar and Botanica, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. Felce and Guy were commissioned to provide a full architectural design, then appointed as lead consultant and contract administrator to oversee the build carried out by main contractor, Beard Construction. The firm’s design balances the specific needs of the hotel and The Spa at South Lodge’s facilities with a sensitivity to the context of the countryside setting and close proximity to the main hotel. The resultant architecture sympathetically responds to these surroundings with the building deep-set into the landscape, minimising its scale, yet taking full advantage of the extensive views available to guests over the South Downs. As the landscape falls away, leading to natural water forms, so too does the new building with external terracing leading out to a vitality pool and down to an external swim pond. After reviewing and testing different samples in advance, Felce and Guy selected Vandersanden’s Lithium brick in a 50mm size for the project. This attractive, hand-formed facing brick comprises a sanded-coated and grained structure in a muted base grey colour with accompanying shades of buff and black to match the stonework colours of the main building at South Lodge Hotel. Over 100,000 bricks were sourced and supplied for the project by specialist brick distributor, N R Taylor of Lingfield, with the thinness of the brick helping to further reduce the visual scale of the Spa building. The horizontal lines of the brickwork act as a softening counterpoint to the vertical natural green oak cladding and large glass panelling that also feature as key elements in The Spa at South Lodge design. Elsewhere, the Lithium brick has been used in the copings, landscaping and dividing walls which create external contours and help to separate the terraces outside of the building. “The Vandersanden brick works with the other materials in the design to present a very organic aesthetic for The Spa at South Lodge,” says John Chapman of Felce and Guy. “It perfectly complements both the dark sandstone used in the original hotel and its mix of greys and brown as well as the natural surroundings. The straight, clean-lines and regular shape of the Vandersanden brick, together with the raked joint we’ve used, has helped emphasise the horizontality of the building and works especially well with the textured finish of the timber panels. As a practice, we set very high expectations which the Vandersanden bricks have undoubtedly satisfied.” In addition to a curving, meadow-grass roof, which helps to attenuate rainwater flow, the Spa at South Lodge benefits from other sustainable technologies and finishes. A biomass boiler system has been installed, and all drainage is contained on site, using reed bed technology. The existing ponds within the hotel grounds have been modified and extended to benefit the local ecology. Vandersanden itself is building a sustainable future for its business, having already invested in renewable solar and wind energy technologies at its major European production plants and committed to a pathway which will see the manufacture of CO2-neutral bricks by 2050. Underlining the significance of the project to the hotel and its management, every member of staff laid one brick as part of their contribution to The Spa at South Lodge. 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 

As the first Google-designed and owned building outside the United States, the company’s new London headquarters was going to be anything but subtle.Nicknamed the ‘Landscraper’ due to its 11 storeys and planned 330m length (20m longer than The Shard is high), the new headquarters will not only provide an airy working environment for 4,500 employees but also take ‘multi-use’ to a whole new level with cafés, indoor games areas (including a basketball court), a 25m swimming pool, a gym… and a landscaped rooftop garden complete with a running track.This staggeringly ambitious design for a modern workplace right in the heart of London will sit on a plinth of shops and cover 92,000 square metres. Goliath in scope as well as stature, it goes without saying that its blockwork needs are also substantial, with 18,000 square metres of high-strength blocks required.Our Blockwork SolutionA project of this size and scale required blockwork that could bear a heavy load. We were therefore commissioned to provide a variety of products, including our Lignacite blocks.The high density of these blocks gives them significant strength with loadbearing capabilities. For this project, Lyons & Annoot specified Lignacite blocks able to bear loads of up to 7.3N/mm2 (Newton per square millimetre), which are ideal for both internal and external use, above and below ground. They are also well suited to forming partition or separating walls.

Berry System supplied and installed vehicle safety barriers for new multi-storey car park at Dundee Leisure Centre. Our innovative Brisafe Wire Rope safety barrier has been installed at the new, 500 space East Marketgait car park in Dundee.The multi-storey car park serves the new leisure centre which is part of Dundee City Council’s multi-million pound redevelopment of the city’s waterfront area. The car park, incorporating a retail unit, is linked to the leisure centre by a unit central foyer and the complete facility boasts a competition sized swimming pool, health suite, café and flumes.Our safety barriers were specified throughout the car park including their column  mounted Brisafe perimeter barrier which meets BS EN 1991-1-1 standards. With a zero footprint in the parking bay, Brisafe allows architects to maximise the parking space available, while providing a flexible system that ‘gives’ on impact to minimise damage to vehicles and the barrier itself. It creates a visually attractive barrier that combines an independently tested safety performance with architectural flexibility to enhance the appearance of the whole structure.Whilst most of the car park perimeter was protected by Brisafe barriers, areas that did not provide convenient structural columns were protected by Berry Beam barriers that are floor mounted on RB1 Spring Steel Buffers.

Schlüter-Systems supported Lilly Lewarne Architects in the design and specification of the Aqua Club, a stunning swimming and wellness centre with specialist waterproofing products.

With over 22,000 square foot and 8 bedrooms, we manufactured in total, 13 Casement windows, 46 Spring Sash windows, bi-fold doors, 17 Conservation doors, two entrance doors and side doors.The client was keen to keep the windows and doors classy and elegant, and opted for 'Signal White' across all the windows, apart from the Japanese roof garden, where the Casement Windows were painted 'Anthracite Grey'.The huge entrance doors were finished in 'Jet Black' on the outside, with a high gloss finish, and Signal White on the inside, to match the interiors.We worked very closely with Croft Ironmongery as the client wanted a specific aesthetic achieved. Together, we developed lever handles on a rose, rather than a backplate, to bespoke fit our doors.With indoor pool and jacuzzi, tennis courts, lifts and staff quarters, this was truly a luxurious project, fitting perfectly with our hand-finished products.

Bramall Lane – Sheffield United Football Club’s home – is rich in history. It remains one of the oldest grounds in the world still used for professional football. The idea of Bramall Lane came from the mind of a champion of cricket from Sheffield, Michael J. Ellison. In 1854, he was the primary driving force behind the idea of having a new first-class cricket and sporting venue for the city, giving six of the local leading clubs an enclosure to be proud of. It saw its first football match take place on 29th December 1862.

It can be difficult to find a lift that will operate outside without providing complete shelter from the elements. Full enclosures can have a significant impact on the building appearance and there may also be space constraints in lightwell situations. Penny Hydraulics Ltd uses design automation to quickly produce layouts based on its modular lift systems that can be adapted for external installation. The company has been manufacturing lifts in the UK for over 30 years and so has much experience to help find solutions that it knows will work well for the end user. Blueprint Studios in Manchester were experiencing problems moving audio equipment up to the first floor recording studio safely. It would have been very costly to fit internally both in terms of cost and space so a Penny Hydraulics MezzLift was installed externally within a minimal black frame and polycarbonate clad shaft to satisfy Listed Buildings consent. This saved considerable building works whilst enabling the Studios to become safer and more efficient. If the change in level is below 1.5 metres then a Loading Bay Lift could have been used that has much less impact over a more traditional style lift.

Rekortan M and Polytan SMART on the Tooting Bec Athletics TrackOPTIMAL PREPARATION FOR THE 2024 OLYMPICSOnly a few miles from Wimbledon is Tooting Bec, a district in the south of London. A stone’s throw from the tennis mecca, sport is serious business: Tooting Bec Lido is not only one of the oldest open-air swimming pools in the United Kingsom, but remains one of the largest to this day. It is located in the expansive park, Tooting Commons, which is also home to the Tooting Bec Athletics Track & Gym, whose members have a comprehensive range of fitness facilities at their disposal.The accompanying pavilion has a fully equipped fitness studio, while an athletics facility allows athletes to train outdoors. It includes an eight-lane running track, which is used by individual athletes, schools and clubs. A stand offers seating for over 400 spectators, while a floodlight system allows the facility to be used year round.In the summer of 2022, the eight-lane running track and its three integrated sprinting lanes were fitted with our synthetic surface Rekortan M in brick red. This is Polytan’s all-rounder for competitive tracks and training facilities in athletics. The non-porous sandwich system is primarily used on running tracks and run-up tracks. Since Rekortan M meets the strict emission limits for indoor spaces, it is not only suitable for open-air athletics facilities, but indoor facilities too.At the same time as installing the new surface, the Polytan SMART timing system was also integrated – our sophisticated method for the measurement and documentation of training performance. The Polytan SMART system in Tooting Bec consists of 33 integrated timing gates on the running circuit and sprinting track, a sensor weighing only 15 grams, and the tried-and-tested diagnostics software from our partner Humotion, or alternatively, the user’s own smartphone. With the performance diagnostics system, the sensor can automatically measure agility tests, jumping tests, endurance tests such as the Cooper test, tapping tests and sprint tests. It is optimal for performance diagnostics, be it for a single athletes or an entire team, either in athletics or team sports.For professional athletes and ambitious amateur runners, the detailed documentation of training exercises and performance is simply ideal. That’s why Polytan SMART is the perfect solution for athletes like the Herne Hill Harriers, an amateur athletics club based in Tooting Bec.The club is also home to Katie Snowden, 2023 British champion in the 1500-metre race and one of our brand ambassadors. She is preparing for the Olympic Games in Paris at the Tooting Bec Athletics Track. Polytan SMART enables precise time measurement and performance diagnostics that only measure her exact timing, but also important running parameters, such as number of steps, step frequency and stride length. The results helps Katie Snowden to direct her training more effectively and ultimately optimise her performance, so she can race to the top at the Olympic Games. Polytan is proud to be a part of her dream.

A Victorian masterpiece restored. The St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel and Residential Chambers is being hailed as one of the city's most romantic buildings. Majestic shower screens were specified for all 68 luxury apartments and penthouses in the residential chambers and the key elegant bedroom suites at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. A wide variety of Frameless models were supplied including Barcelona, Rio and Cadiz shower enclosures. As well as the high performance that you would expect from a premium product, minimal design and accurate installation were essential for this project.

Considering the large size of the basement area and its proximity to the River Thames, Newton Specialist Contractor Stonehouse were called in to provide a complete waterproofing system for the structure.At this private property in South London, the plan was to build a new basement extending below the entire footprint of the house and into the rear garden, incorporating a swimming pool, recreational spaces and wine cellar.However, considering the close proximity to the River Thames and the high water table, Newton Specialist Contractor Stonehouse were called in to provide a complete waterproofing system for the entire structure.Considering the size of the basement area, the high water table, the geographical location close to the River Thames, and the fact that the structure was created using underpinning, the risk of water penetration in this basement was extremely high. Stonehouse recommended the most failsafe solution, the Newton CDM System.Firstly, they installed Newton 508 membrane to all internal walls and the floor, using Newton's ancillary products to fix the membrane securely and seal the system. Drainage channels were also created using Newton Basedrain, feeding into a sump chamber containing two NP750 pumps, a higher capacity model capable of dealing with large volumes of water.Finally, where the basement extended beyond the house's footprint, a liquid waterproofing membrane was used on the new external roof.Stonehouse is one of Newton's oldest and most experienced specialist contractors, and they showed their expertise here by delivering a dry, safe basement for the client that could then be transformed into a beautiful new part of their home. Furthermore, the installation was backed by Stonehouse's 10-year guarantee, for complete peace of mind.

Lazise, a picturesque town on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, has become one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations, loved by both Italian and foreign visitors.The landscape from the villa is very impressive, the magnificent view of the lake and its crystal-clear waters are perfect for a weekend of escape and relaxation. Fishing boats can be seen on the water, picturesque cafes line the shores of the lake and frequent festivals enliven streets and parks with colourful kiosks.Villa Collivo is situated in the town. It is a modern green building designed to offer comfort for tourists, boasting a large garden and a swimming pool, overlooking the lake and an estate planted with vines and olive trees. The first floor has five large independent suites for residents and each suite has underfloor heating and air conditioning.The architect of the interior design of Villa Collivo was Francesca Rapisarda and it is characterised by the skilful use of colours which give each room a unique and distinctive atmosphere.The furnishings are composed of modern and contemporary pieces and offer an elegant and bright environment.ECLISSE sliding pocket doors and Syntesis flush hinged doors have been installed in the apartments to effortlessly connect rooms to one another. The pocket doors make it possible to make the most of the available space, especially in the corridors, creating a sense of spaciousness and fluidity.The minimalist design of the flush-to-wall Syntesis doors adds a touch of modernity and elegance to the rooms. Thanks to the absence of any frame and exterior finish the doors help to create a clean and refined look to the entire project.  

Suma International Manufacturing Company fabricated 773 fire doors for Tamdeen Square Residential Towers, which are situated in Kuwait City.The FD60 doorsets incorporated Halspan Optima door blanks.Tamdeen Square is a new urban development in the south of Kuwait City that will feature 74 retail stores, a hotel, and Tamdeen Square Residential Towers. Strategically located in Sabah Al Salem, the project location has access to two of Kuwait’s main highways – Fahaheel Express Highway and the Sixth Ring Road Expressway.The Tamdeen Square Residential Towers project features three 40 floor towers with luxury residential apartments featuring a swimming pool, gymnasium, multi-purpose communal spaces, and a car park containing 800 spaces. The three towers combined contain 256 sea-view luxury apartments and 7 car parking floors.The elegantly constructed apartments have been finished to the highest international standards, and as such, Suma International Manufacturing Company decided to incorporate Halspan Optima door cores in this project.The fire-rated doors feature wooden frames and are located in all of the main entrances, the staff entrances, and the entrance doors in every apartment per level, the doors feature a bamboo veneer face panel and the drivers’ entrances feature white paint.Halspan Optima is durability tested to severe duty and features Halspan’s unique 3-layer particle board and is suitable for veneer, laminate, or paint finishes.Photography courtesy of Suma International Manufacturing Company.

A stunning hotel in Malta wanting to upgrade the pool surround.