"building frames"

A modern, high-end apartment building in Newcastle, the Forge combines apartment living with vibrant communal areas for the like-minded residents to enjoy. Style was contracted to create a flexible meeting area in the spacious club lounge, where tenants can gather to socialise or for work. The DORMA Varitrans HSW glass-partitioning wall offered the perfect solution, allowing a meeting room to be formed with ease, whilst retaining the open-plan feel of the room. Creating a stunning feature wall, Style sourced and manufactured a bespoke metal frame that was bolted onto the glass panels, creating a uniquely original crittall-effect.

India Buildings in Liverpool is a 10-storey building with 80,000 square feet of office space. An extensive refurbishment from 2017 to 2021 took place on India Buildings with hopes to house a new tenant of up to 4500 occupants. It is a unique building with distinctive historical features that needed to be retained and achieve Grade A office space.ChallengeThe client had concerns over the access control in India buildings as the new tenant would have a high volume of staff and visitors coming in and out, and wanted to prevent crowding in the reception area. As they were set to be housing civil servants in the regional government hub, there was a higher risk to unauthorised access which they needed to prevent without sacrificing the look of India Building’s historical features.To find out more please follow the linkIndia Buildings HMRC - Case Studies - Meesons

This building was once home to the Henderson Garage door production facility, with the client in the process of renovating the entire premises to be split into several new warehousing and office units. To be able to secure new tenants, however, there was an urgency to stop a mass amount of water ingress into the building, due to the roof's years of neglect.Systems in useHyranger®Starcoat® RChallengesThe state of the existing waterproofing was poor, meaning it needed to be stripped back to the metal deck below. Given the years of water ingress it was clear some areas of the substrate were deteriorating and would need replacing.There was also an issue with the adjacent metal cladding to the perimeter of the roof space, one of which was coated in an asbestos paint and the potential for asbestos rope within the old rooflights. All of this needed addressing prior to the roofing works commencing.SolutionsAxter were called to initially survey the roof area, highlighting the main areas of concern and interface issues. Following a roof condition survey report, proposals were put forward as to how best to detail waterproof these areas and achieve the brief set out by the client.To the metal cladding, Starcoat R cold applied liquid bitumen PU resin was used to create a waterproofed upstand without the need for the complete removal of the cladding. Upon discussions with the building owner, it was also discovered that the existing rooflights were no longer needed, so these were boarded over and waterproofed in line with the rest of the main field area.The Hyranger system, comprising polyester reinforced SBS polymer modified bitumen membranes, was ideal for the job due to its guarantee strength, stability, performance and cost efficiency.The completed roof gained a 20 year guarantee and extended the life of the building.

The Plimsoll Building is a high-end residential building located in the heart of Kings Cross, London. The mailboxes are located in the reception lobby area of the building where residents walk through to access their apartments. Horizontal type ‘COM 2 – 180 Steel Door’ mailboxes have been recessed into the wall which ensured that there was enough space for residents to retrieve their mail whilst allowing other building users to pass in the corridor with ease.

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.

SFS have partnered with a leading building envelope contractor,  on the construction of two iconic towers in the heart of Birmingham, one clad in brass, the other silver. The buildings will transform the city's skyline and deliver a mix of luxury apartments and retail space. The striking Left Bank development, in Birmingham's popular West End, will create the tallest exclusively residential building in Britain's second largest city.Alucoil larson® ACM FR - Brass Brushed panel, with a fire-rated mineral core, was chosen for the façade. This drained and back-ventilated rainscreen cladding system for Tower 1 is being fitted with an NVELOPE® bracket and rail system and powder-coated SLA3 frame fasteners, SLA5 fasteners, as well as SX3 and SX5 A4 (grade 316) stainless steel fasteners from SFS. The choice of surface finishes for the envelope demanded high quality fastening solutions that would stand the test of time, and perfectly complement the crucial aesthetic goals.

The Joseph Black Building, found in the King’s Buildings Campus at the University of Edinburgh, houses the School of Chemistry and is one of the oldest buildings on the campus. But its existing copper roof covering had come to the end of its natural life. Sika Sarnafil’s flagship Sarnafil Plus refurbishment offer was the perfect solution for this project. Sika Sarnafil Membrane S327-15EL in Patina Green was chosen to replace the old roof covering, as the local authority planning department advised that this product was an acceptable replacement for the original copper roofs on the listed building.

The ChallengeThe Greenwich Village scheme completes the masterplan for the Greenwich Millennium Village development, generating a complex and picturesque arrangement of buildings defined by streets and squares and providing 1,746 homes. The build had to provide a complementary interpretation of an earlier build designed during the 1990s. The largest regeneration project of its kind in London, the challenge was to achieve a holistic, long-term scheme.The SolutionWith a strong focus on street life, the project concept incorporated a mixture of townhouses and apartments in lower-rise buildings of between three and five storeys.Traditional street patterns with narrow mews ensured compatibility with the design of the previous phases but also allowed for some individuality in the new phase. The project strategy centred on the technical and acoustic challenges of the project whilst also recognising the need to provide a sustainable environment.The BenefitsThe build achieved the required density while in keeping with the character of the Village. Forterra’s Dark Moroccan Smooth Butterley Brick was used to provide the desired aesthetics and subtleness for the build whilst also establishing its own identity.

When designing a new music department for BirminghamUniversity, Glenn Howells Architects faced the challengeof creating a new construction to fit in with the surroundinggrade II listed buildings, whilst meeting contemporarystandards of accommodation and acoustics.The Bramall Music Building provides a home for thedepartment of music, with a 450-seat auditorium,a domed rehearsal room, various studios, offices andteaching rooms. Working in conjunction with the architect,Allgood created an ironmongery specification that wasclosely aligned to the design concept of the building;classically designed whilst meeting contemporaryperformance standards. The choice of FSB bronze doorfurniture throughout the public areas compliments theaesthetic of the interior but also links the building to themore traditional materials associated with the design of theexisting buildings.The architect wanted to extend the bronze aestheticthrough to the mechanical hardware which provided achallenge as options are limited for fire rated mechanicalhardware in a bronze finish. Allgood were able to applythe unique, simulated Bronze finish to satin stainless steelhardware, continuing the bronze finish throughout thebuilding. Not only did this complete the visual aesthetic butit meant that the hardware would meet all of the fire andbuilding regulations.In addition, Allgood provided electromagnetic holdopen units, signage and door furniture to allow the maincirculation doors through to the auditorium to be held openin pockets. This created a clean, architectural detail thatprovides clear opening widths for visitors to enter through.

Project: Bidfoods Distribution Centre, GlasgowDate: 2022 Background:·        APL were initially engaged directly by the main contractor due to previous supply-chain issues experienced by the client ·        Due to APL’s strong supply-chain relationship, all material was able to be procured and delivered on time to meet the projects programme·        APL provided all thermal and structural calculations Systems:·        10,000m² of APL built-up wall system with steel half-round AP50HR in RAL 9006 and RAL 9007 as the external profile·        APL Tritherm™ GALV sub-framing·        All fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Glasgow

24-25 Grosvenor Street in Mayfair offers high-quality office space. Having been completely reconstructed behind its imposing double fronted period façade in the 1980’s, the building underwent a major back-to-frame refurbishment in 2018 to modernise the space. With two entrances to work with, the contractor needed a high-quality entrance matting system that would befit its location, whilst also providing superior performance from a relatively small area of matting. Two bespoke entrance designs were created to complement the aesthetics using INTRAdisc bronze capsules and INTRAform Double Module cut directly into the ceramic flooring.

Products: Flexi heavy & Flexi access– Heavy Duty Frames & QUAD’s. Services: Plantroom, Generator, Air-handling units and bespoke access solutions. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – Mastic Asphalt. Pump House designed individual frameworks for each item of plant, paying particular attention to correct load management through our frameworks down to the roof finish. Pump House met the contractor on-site during the assembly of frameworks to ensure a trouble free installation. We also prepared ahead of the installation AutoCAD drawings depicting the correct support of each unit, as well as pressure and roof loading calculations.

Brookland House is the latest refurbishment project by Beech Holdings, who are known for taking unloved buildings and transforming them into sustainable homes.Formerly a neglected office block, Brookland House now provides 25 contemporary eco-friendly apartments for both students and professionals. Built with sustainability in mind, the apartments benefit from an energy efficient glazing package from Senior Architectural Systems. This includes double glazed SPW600e windows, elegant and thermally efficient SF52 Curtain Walling with slim sightlines and arched frames at the head, plus robust SPW501 commercial doors, which are certified to PAS24 and Secured by Design standards.

record uk has installed 5 STA 20 sliding doors at the front and rear entrances, which are ideally suited to handle the large volume of traffic the hospital receives. These doors have been customised with aluminium frames manufactured in blue polyester powder coat, to complement the look and style of this modern building. There are also 40 DFA 127 swing operators fitted throughout the hospital to enhance new or existing doors quickly and economically. On other entrances/corridors within the hospital where space is limited so excludes the use of sliding doors, record FTA 20 folding doors can be found.

Washroom created the distinctive washrooms on four levels plus the new staff shower and changing area in the basement, all designed with the industrial heritage of the building in mind. Washroom manufactured and installed the vanity units which comprise a Corian worktop, individual countertop basins and inset waste bins set on a custom-made black metal frame. Washoom's full height Alto toilet cubicles were manufactured with a high pressure laminate finish in white, which together with its black high pressure laminate Concerto integrated duct panel system behind the WCs and urinals, creates a contemporary monochrome effect.

Dacatie's Frame Formers were used in the development of 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes in Hazelmere, located on the edge of the historic Cheshire village of Haslington.This family development is only a few miles from the busy town of Crewe.

OVER 3000SQM OF SOTECH OPTIMA IPC RAINSCREEN CLADDING HAS BEEN USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOURNEMOUTH GATEWAY BUILDING (BGB).Working closely with anodising partner United Anodisers, the Optima Interlocking Plank finished in anodised Anolok regency gold, natural and Anolok bronze, the rainscreen cladding forms a prominent part of the building, situated on the St Paul’s site – next to the St Paul’s roundabout on the Wessex Way; a key location on the main route into Bournemouth.Aluminium is one of the most durable and versatile of metals, anodising enhances aluminium and its environmental virtues. It is exceptionally recyclable, requires minimal maintenance and has proven lifetime performance. Due to the nature of the anodising process and the tight quality controls on both the aluminium and the surface treatment, anodising has a homogeneous (matching & consistent) appearance. Anodising enhances the natural qualities of aluminium further; it permits a strongly contemporary finish with incomparable corrosion and abrasion resistance.At five to seven stories high, the building provides a strong visual gateway to the Lansdowne Campus and a landmark entrance to the town.The building, which accommodates the institute’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (HSS) delivers a unified base for the faculty education, research and office activities and provides 10,000 square metres of space for the Faculty and the wider BU population.The BGB is designed to be environmentally-friendly with a number of carbon-reduction measures. The full team behind the build is committed to an ‘excellent’ rating for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) certification.The building opened officially in October 2020, but access is currently limited to staff and Postgraduate Research (PGR) students while they familiarise themselves with the building.Special thanks to TAC Projects for choosing Sotech to deliver on this project, which was overseen by Kier Construction with architectural firm Atkins.

The ChallengeThe client’s requirements were to provide value for money and create a building that was easy to maintain and appropriate to its function and setting.Deafblind Scotland provided training for the architects so they could gain an appreciation of the barriers faced by those who would use the building. The design was then developed to satisfy funding requirements. Technology was utilised to assist the client’s team with visual impairment to understand the building layout.The SolutionWorking closely with the client the architects carefully selected materials, colours, stair detailing, thresholds and ironmongery. Our Welford Buff brick was chosen for the brickwork.Careful consideration was also given to the pedestrian route configuration that visitors would use when approaching the building – it was important to ensure a strong colour contrast between road and pedestrian walkway.Natural ventilation was maximised to reduce energy consumption and associated costs.The BenefitsThe 7,500 square foot building provides a centre of excellence for deafblind people with a hub for training and development. It is a daily resource for more than 300 deafblind people in the Glasgow area, and a further resource for the 2,700 people across Scotland who are severely dual sensory impaired.The project offers deafblind people more opportunities to learn, enjoy a range of subjects, collaborate, and to become more familiar with IT through the assistance of specially adapted technology and equipment.Feedback from building users has been extremely positive with the client remarking on the ease of way finding and legibility within the layout.

Although sustainable building is on the rise, large quantities of the harmful substances in some building materials still manage to slip through into new and refurbished buildings. In a new online theme from Troldtekt A/S, experts present their views on material health and indoor climate – and possible solutions to the challenges.   This problem exists because material health does not always have the same concern as, for example, acoustics, ventilation or daylighting. In an interview with Martha Lewis, head of materials at Henning Larsen Architects, the theme focuses on the health of building materials and their influence on indoor climate.  The theme also features inspiration from some European buildings which excel at being verifiably healthy and have Troldtekt acoustic solutions incorporated into their architecture. For example, it features the newly opened C2C lab in Berlin where all the materials meet the Cradle to Cradle Design criteria. These are valuable and much more detailed calculations than are available elsewhere.   Troldtekt, a leading developer and manufacturer of acoustic ceiling and wall solutions which contains no deleterious materials, wants to be specified for buildings that are healthy for their occupants. This is why the company is working strategically to support the third UN Sustainable Development Goal – ‘Good Health and Well-being.’ In practice is because their products contain no deleterious materials. This theme also explains how the recognised DGNB Certifications focuses on the health and comfort of building users. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme  to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from www.troldtekt.co.uk (tel 01978 664255) while information on Troldtekt’s building health theme can be found at https://bit.ly/2X50oS6Photo: Copyright: ©Kirstine Mengel.

The building will be complete this year, in order to support the growing demand for skilled workers in the Manchester region, for the creative, digital and tech sector. The project was design by FCBStudios, embracing digital innovation and UX lab, film studios, green screens, edit suites, music and production studios, alongside a screening room and gallery space. Effisus Breather FR-B System was appiled to ensure the protection of the building against driving rain and moisture preventing future corrosion, insulation deterioration and mould growth at the same time it increases the building energy efficiency and minimizes the condensation risk.

The University of Lincoln invested £19 million in the construction of the Sarah Swift Building which is home to the Schools of Health & Social Care and Psychology. Aluminium Visible Grid curtain walling, doors and windows were specified for this project, and were chosen due to their versatility and aesthetic qualities. This five-storey academic building houses a broad range of flexible learning spaces for students and staff - including new teaching areas, offices, clinical simulation facilities for the school's healthcare programmes and psychological laboratories for extensive research. Furthermore the building also includes the Professional Development Centre, a facility that provides ongoing training for professionals that require skills-based training. Visible Grid curtain walling also offers design flexibility. Available in a choice of glazing gaskets, it achieves superior load distribution and is suitable for flat or faceted facades.Technal’s aluminium doors and windows were also used throughout the building. The specified doors are ideal for high traffic applications and offer exceptional levels of security and thermal performance. The doors were also chosen as they meet the requirements of Part Q of the Building Standards, having achieved PAS 24:2016.

The transformative effect of creative brickwork.A modern, five-storey building in London’s Fitzrovia that once paled in comparison to some of its more elegant neighbours is now arguably the street’s most striking resident.The Interlock is an outstanding example of what is possible when architect and clay brick manufacturer put their heads together.Forterra’s Technical team worked with architect Bureau de Change, drawing the building’s new façade brick for brick to ensure technical possibility and aesthetic ambitions aligned. It then fell to the team at Forterra’s Cradely Special Bricks facility to design and produce the bricks.Guided by 1: 1 templates the complex construction took three months to complete, as each of the 5,000 bespoke Etruria Clay Blue bricks was painstakingly laid to form the three-dimensional, interlocking pattern.We are proud to announce that The Interlock won three awards at the 2019 Brick Awards. The project won the prestigious Architects’ Choice award along with also winning in the Innovation and Small Housing Development categories.This project is a great example of a collaborative approach with our customers.

The VELUX Daylight Visualizer enlightens a new-build school academyA new school building project was commissioned with a clear design vision—deliver an exceptional learning facility to best serve pupils and the community.The school design is a steel-framed superblock with a compacted floorplate and accommodating spaces spread over four floors. In the main building, classrooms benefit from daylight provided through vertical glazing. Larger communal spaces such as the main hall, internal corridors, a dining room, and drama studio can be found in the heart of the building. Daylight in these communal spaces is provided through the roof.  Activity spaces such as the sports hall, a gym and library required specific daylight levels to comply with the Department for Education (DfE) output specification requirements. Deep-plan, central locations also required a calculated daylight design, prompting Pozzoni Architects to invite VELUX Commercial to collaborate on the project and assist with the evaluation of daylight provision.To read more about this case study and how understanding daylight analysis simplifies complex design goals, visit our website.

Sector: Built-to-rent accommodation (mix of affordable and commercial rental)Client: Populo LivingArchitect: dRMMMain contractor: Bugler Developments Specified for:Good cost / quality ratioSustainable window frame constructionFaçade-specific performanceExcellent design supportThe Didsbury, in London’s East Ham, is a high quality ‘Built-to-Rent’ development offering an equal mix of affordable and market rent apartments. Designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects dRMM for Newham’s housing company Populo Living, and built by main contractor Bugler, The Didsbury comprises 148 apartments in two six-storey new-build blocks which sit south of the former East Ham Town Hall Annexe, which is being refurbished. Smart interior design is matched by a highly distinctive exterior featuring brick and gold clad facades. VELFAC 200 windows, patio doors and entrance doors are installed in every apartment to provide both a quality finish and impressive low energy and low maintenance performance. Windows, doors and Juliette balconiesEvery apartment features a combination of VELFAC windows and patio doors (leading to a balcony or terrace) and inward opening, tilt/turn VELFAC IN glazed doors. These are used to create Juliette balconies, with balcony fittings integrated within the VELFAC frame to simplify subsequent railing installation. As every apartment features a range of interior materials, inner VELFAC timber frames are painted white to create a neutral and low maintenance finish ideal for rented apartments. External aluminium frames are finished in a dark grey polyester-powder coating to complement to both the brick walls and gold cladding. VELFAC also supplied head pressings to match the window sills, thereby ensuring a neat and consistent finish at both top and bottom. Our ‘go to’ composite glazing brandHaving successfully used VELFAC products on earlier projects dRMM was happy to specify the system for The Didsbury: ‘VELFAC has become our ‘go to’ brand when specifying composite glazing,’ says Findlay McFarlane, Architect at dRMM. ‘The system offers a good cost to quality ratio, and the frame design results in low embodied carbon, primarily due to the percentage of recycled aluminium used. This was important for Populo Living’s sustainability targets, and for dRMM as we champion climate-conscious architecture and the use of natural wood, which again is a feature of the VELFAC frame.’ Main contractor Bugler Developments was also happy with the specification: ‘We knew from the outset that we would be using the VELFAC system, and as we had used it before we knew it would meet our client’s requirements,’ comments Thomas Bugler, Head of Marketing. First discussed in 2015, The Didsbury has been a long and complex build. VELFAC, however, is one of the few suppliers to remain with the project from start to finish, thanks to the quality of the system and the expertise provided at every stage build. ‘We liaised with VELFAC right from the start of the project, through the detailed design stage, procurement and eventually to installation on site, with amendments and updates included along the way when necessary,’ says Thomas. ‘The project’s sustainability and affordability targets became more challenging due to this long planning phase,’ adds Findlay, ‘but the VELFAC system continued to meet the specification as it evolved.’ Technical support above and beyondWhile The Didsbury’s minimalist exterior may look sleek and simple, specification was in fact very complex, comments Findlay, and required expert input from the VELFAC team: ‘The stepped façade and variety of façade-specific performance targets meant that not all floors had an identical specification,’ he explains. ‘In addition, while VELFAC double glazing met all low energy targets, we needed to fit acoustic trickle vents into road-facing windows and ensure lower floors and balconies had windows with Secured by Design accreditation.’ Issues regarding weathering within the gold cladding also needed attention, comments Thomas: ‘This required some on site consultation with the VELFAC team, and updated detailing to ensure the end result was compliant and of the right quality - we are very pleased with the finish, and the windows and doors work well within the overall development.’ In fact, VELFAC support made a significant contribution to the success of the whole project says Findlay: ‘We worked closely with VELFAC on detailed drawings for the windows and doors, and were impressed with the level of support provided – more than that typically provided by a supplier, and another reason why we like to use the VELFAC system when we can. The thoroughness of the detailing meant there were fewer surprises when it came to installation, helping us keep on schedule during the final build and installation phase.’

The Jubilee Building’s interiors promote calmness and healing.This new 3-storey modular building houses a mixture of paediatric, stroke care, rehabilitation and elderly care services. Specialist facilities include rehab gyms, a therapy kitchen and assisted ensuite bathrooms to accommodate patients that often may have dementia or other brain injuries.

Oakland Mews is a 21-plot residential development set within the village of Strumpshaw, Norfolk. Based on the site of a former factory, this high-quality development of detached and semi-detached dwellings delivers modern, spacious living, respectfully designed and crafted to the very highest specification using quality materials, including Hampton Rural Blend brick and Cradley Brick Specials, produced by Forterra.Aware of the site’s historic significance and agricultural location, the contractor, Total Build East Anglia Ltd, committed to using traditional materials and building methods that were in keeping with the area and delivered on its vision to bring an appealing and exclusive development to Strumpshaw.Total Build East Anglia Ltd consulted building materials supplier MKM Building Supplies Norwich to help find the appropriate bricks and tiles for the houses. It wanted a traditional red-brick style, which matched the look of a former factory that occupied the site previously and preserved the area’s heritage. Total Build selected the stock-thrown Hampton Rural Blend brick for the facing brick walls. The rustic red brick, tarnished with blackened flashes, perfectly complements the slate grey Cradley Brick Specials copings and cappings, and the dark timber cladding on the properties.Hampton Rural Blend is part of Forterra’s Ecostock range of pressed and thrown bricks manufactured at its Measham factory, which uses ground-breaking technology in sustainability and production efficiency to deliver advanced colour consistency, dimensional accuracy and quality.“An old factory used to be on the site of the development,” said Jason Hilldrup, Brick, Block, Tile and Architectural Masonry Specialist at MKM Norwich. “It was an attractive, traditional red-brick building, directors Andy Brown and Lindsey George of Total Build wanted to ensure the new development was in keeping with what had been there previously.“We reviewed some options together, looking for a brick that looked old and traditional, and they went for the Hampton Rural Blend facing brick and black-slate coloured Cradley Specials copings and cappings. The combination of the two flowed together nicely, and for the price and style, the bricks ticked all their boxes. The bricklayers and cream-coloured mortar choices have been great too. It’s come together really nicely, creating a fantastic site that has modern touches but keeps the traditional style.”

The extended structure of the Isaac Newton Building in Lincoln houses the Schools of Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics which offer unrivalled scientific and engineering facilities for students. This includes new seminar rooms and computer labs in addition to state-of-the-art technology and research rooms, complete with a semi-anechoic chamber.Playing a significant role in creating the curved appearance of the building was our visible grid aluminium curtain walling. This durable and versatile system can be applied to flat or faceted facades and is available in a choice of glazing gaskets and larger glass sizes. Aluminium windows were also installed throughout the building for modern design and complete weather protection.

The ChallengeThe village of Ewerby sits within the heart of the Lincolnshire Fens, amidst a heavy farming community highlighted and punctuated by the local architecture.Historically, Lincolnshire villages produced their own, indigenous facing bricks from brick pits, and most farm buildings and tied cottages within this community are constructed from Ewerby Yellow facing brick. Together with local Ancaster limestone and handcrafted clay pantiles, this forms the pallet of materials that are considered indicative of the local vernacular architecture. As such, careful consideration needed to be given to the choice of materials used in building The Elms.The SolutionCombining existing detailing and colourings gave architects D.B. Lawrence Associates a strong initial concept for their first stage design process. Sourcing bricks and materials that blend with their surroundings can be challenging, but they were successful in achieving this for The Elms.A yellow stock brick sourced from Forterra was an important part of the concept. The brick was used alongside the use of local Lincolnshire limestone quarried seven miles away at Ancaster. Handmade clay pantiles were sourced to match existing roof tiles.The brickwork was constructed in English Bond to achieve the desired aesthetic and reflect the existing surrounding outbuildings.Complementary Stone quoins, cills and heads together with dog-tooth oversailing courses to the eaves and verges were also used.The brick chosen was Ardleigh Yellow Stock Brick from Ecostock. Ecostock is the most sustainable stock brick available in the UK. It is a high quality facing brick with recycled content. The range carries BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing certification.The BenefitsThe overall intention of the dwelling is to replicate a barn, and careful thought and detailing to the large openings have helped to create the desired effect.When approaching the village of Ewerby from Thorpe, the barn gives the impression of having been there for years, not months. The build has successfully fulfilled the requirements of the planners, and the client has contributed an inspiring development worthy of the village.

The £11.6 million regeneration scheme in Aylesbury saw a former MoD site managed by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) transformed into an affordable and sustainable housing development, comprising 94 terraced houses and apartment blocks forming a continuous curved building. Named ‘The Serpentine’, this snaking housing project called for a flexible roofing solution! Sika Sarnafil single ply was specified for its flexibility and suitability to tricky detailing but the shape posed a number of technical challenges.

When architects ACME designed a new landmark retail facility in Leeds, the aim was to build a shopping centre fit for luxury brands. dormakaba supplied HSW-R glass sliding shop front systems, ES200 automatic sliding door entrances & MUNDUS patch fittings, to ensure a high performance access solution with elegant appearance. 150 panels across the arcade, was installed. HSW-R systems include an ITS96 door closer, concealed within frame for discreet appearance. The system’s double glazed panels are supported by aluminium ceiling suspended track avoiding any obstructions for wheelchair users. This creates an ideal access solution for retail entrance settings.

Products: Flexi light – Flexi Base & Extender frames, Flexi heavy – Ahu Frameworks, Flexi everyday – Duct, pipe and electrical containment. Services: VRF Condensers & Air handling units. Roof build-up: Warm roof design – PIR/PUR insulation with PVC/TPO field membrane. Supplied via a wholesaler in Cardiff, our hot dip galvanised frameworks were supplied in lengths and widths to suit each unit being supported. With all products available from stock, the contractor ordered frameworks in stages, to suit the phased project programme, and eliminated having to find space within an already restricted working environment for everything to be delivered at once.

When Ingliston Equestrian Centre, a stunning Show Jumping ground based near Glasgow entered into a multi-million pound refurbishment project, they specified Metrotile Lightweight Steel Roofing to help raise the centre to international standards.Metrotile supplied over three thousand square metres of roofing materials to two new stable blocks and numerous new Chalet buildings at the site. Metrotile Slate in Bronze was specified as it combines a stunning traditional look with a swift installation and a low weight that reduces stress upon the supporting timber frame structures of both the chalets and the stables. Stunning countryside surrounds Ingliston Equestrian Centre and the Metrotile Slate compliments the local area gracefully

This Edwardian office building in a London west end conservation area has undergone a remarkable transformation, re-emerging as luxury apartments. The project, led by architects De Metz Forbes Knight, redesigned and updated the stone-fronted property on the corner of Great Portland Street and Langham Street, which boasts high windows and fine London. We were appointed to design, supply and install 71 heritage casement windows which would reflect the original styling yet provide modern thermal containment. We created the windows using Slimlite double glazed units with larch frames, and also applied EPDM sealant to further contribute to energy efficiency.

Jane Valentine’s brief for this project was to create a contemporary bathroom whilst honouring the original elements of a Victorian-style home built in 1867.Beautiful white walls act as the perfect canvas for striking matt black tapware and a black framed shower screen. A bespoke vanity unit was constructed by KAM Joinery, and brings warmth and craftsmanship to the space.On choosing Victoria + Albert, Jane Valentine said: “The classical and elegant shape of both the Victoria + Albert Vetralla bath and Napoli 57 basin offered a perfect contrast to the bold black and white theme of the bathroom.”Photography: Loic Le GuillyBuild: Justyn DunnDesign: Valentine Interiors + Design

A 200 sqm, highly energy-efficient new build project in a remote location in the Highlands of Scotland. Built using sustainable materials, and with the timber frame sourced locally and wood fibre insulation used alongside SuperFOIL Insulation throughout. Powered throughout the year using solar PV and battery storage.Looking to increase the thermal resistance of the building envelope in order to reduce energy usage. With the building using an air source heat pump and underfloor heating, they wanted to make sure that any heat loss was minimised and it was vital that they chose the correct insulation for the walls and roof.Solution: SuperFOIL SF19+ is a multifoil product with a total of 11 layers, made of wadding, aluminium coated PET layers and Foil Laminated Outer Layers. At only 40mm thick and providing an R-value of 2.14 when used in a roof, SF19 can be used on its own or in combination with other types of insulation. A fully flexible product that provides a vapour control layer as well as acting as a radiant barrier.

Industrial building case study using Colorcoat Prisma in Seren White