"indoor plants"

Park of Poland is one of Europe’s premier holiday centres. Located in Wręcza, around 60 kilometres from Warsaw, the park offers a range of attractions, including an indoor water park, theme parks and other facilities such as hotels, bungalows, office spaces and apartment buildings. Park of Poland was completed at the end of 2019 and is expected to attract millions of visitors each year.Our coatings protect all 4,500 tons of structural steel at Park of Poland and include a high-quality passive fire protection system based on our intumescent coating Hempacore One FD to improve safety for visitors and staff. Applied to the structural steel, Hempacore One FD will expand if exposed to high heat, insulating the steel beneath. In a fire, this will extend the steel’s load-bearing capacity for up to three hours.

This beautiful new build home, close to the shore on Long Island, was to be the Client’s luxury beach house. UK architect David Russel, designed all windows and doors to be pocket style, disappearing into the walls.Much consideration was given to concealment and where possible the curtains also opened out of sight, into their own wall pockets. All Lutron curtain tracks were flush-mounted using TrackTrim by Blindspace, including a number of curved tracks.In some of the windows, Lutron blinds were concealed within Blindspace boxes behind the curtains, all disappearing when not required. These Blindspace products have the additional benefit of being plastered in during construction for minimal visual impact.The unique ground floor design brings the outdoor indoors, using hidden doors and curtains with amazing results.Transcript

Many years ago, on a site in Misterbianco, Catania, where the ancient, very active during the first two decades of the twentieth century, Monaco furnace used to stand, there now stands a modern multi-purpose centre created to bring a moment in time back to local residents.Designed by the Mimesi 62 studio of Florence, the new building offers large spaces lit up by light that passes through large glass windows and enhanced by the use of porcelain stoneware surfaces that are all different but that all match and perfectly harmonise with the destination of use: the 5,000 m² of the outdoor areas have been clad with the Plan collection, with a natural effect, in Black 30x60, while the discreet elegance of Format Black 45x45 has been used indoors.Photographs by Alfio Scigliano.

Star architect Christoph Ingenhoven’s company provides an extraordinary lifestyle concept in Singapore’s urban space with their smart idea for Marina One. The AXIS planning office implemented the notion of a feel-good indoor climate in the building’s living areas with Villeroy & Boch. Construction time/completion: 2011 - 2017 / 15th January 2018. Area: Gross floor space: 400,000 m². Office space, usable space: 175,000 m². Apartments: 1,042 units (2-4 rooms). Client: M+S Pte. Ltd., Singapore. Architects: Ingenhoven Architects, Düsseldorf. Landscape architecture: Gustafson Porter + Bowman, London. Awards: Green Building: LEED Platinum, Green Mark Platinum (Selection). Interior designer: Axis ID Pte Ltd, Singapore.

The Green Roofs Consultancy report looked to the provision of Green Bio diverse roof to address the need to encourage additional species. The ABG Green Bio diverse Roof System includes a mixture of plug planted sedum, cuttings and seeded annual and perennial wildflowers. ABG Roofdrain was used as a reservoir and drainage base layer to optimise water retention and prevent ponding. Special provisions were made to create hibernicula for local endangered species. The roof will benefit the building by providing additional insulation and reducing noise pollution.The roofs substrate filters out dust and pollutants helping improve the environment nearby

The Leeds Arena, when completed, will be a 13,500 capacity entertainment focused arena. BLUCHER® have supplied over 70 drains from their adaptable range of floor drains for the concourse, plant room and kitchen areas. BLUCHER® also supplied BLUCHER® EuroPipe, their push fit stainless steel drainage pipework system which was installed in the kitchen and conference areas. BLUCHER® EuroPipe was specified over other metallic or plastic systems for two specific reasons, due to the potential heat of the waste to be drained through the pipework and A1 fire rating of the exposed pipework in general.

Over 320m2 of Terrabound resin bound surfacing was specified for the pathways of the Cool Garden designed by multi-award-winning designer Jo Thompson. The design has a strong focus on water, embracing the challenge of the high levels of rainfall experienced in the region. With water flow in mind, BBA certified Terrabound resin bound porous surfacing was chosen for the curving pathways that follow the rills and form organic shaped planting beds, helping to reduce surface water runoff. A 6mm Hazelnut natural aggregate blend was selected, providing seamless, low maintenance, decorative pathways for this stunning new garden.

Orbis OS200 Vertical Bar Infill Side FixOrbis OS221 Midrail Infill Top Fix120 metres of balustrades installed on the £5m Queensmead School project in Ruislip. The co-educational secondary school with academy status, included the construction of a two-storey technology block and plant room, adding 18 classrooms and associated facilities.Awarded to Morgan Sindall by the Department for Education under its priority schools building project, it was vital for the internal Orbis balustrades with vertical bar infills to be designed at the extra height of 1250mm to comply with the recent changes to DfE guidance.

The San Siro playing field was designed to be heated using an under-soil system featuring single-head, in-line electronic pumps. In the wider facility areas, a heating substation was installed, incorporating wet-rotor circulators and in-line electronic pumps for the climate conditioning systems. Additionally, co-generation systems with both single-head and twin-head in-line electronic pumps were implemented for auxiliary plants dedicated to heating energy production.Despite the initial investment in inverter technology for the pumps, the operational optimization results in a lower running cost, showcasing a great example of an energy efficient installation.

The £440m redevelopment of Westgate Oxford shopping centre, Furnitubes designers worked with landscape architects LDA Design to develop a series of planting and seating solutions for the rooftop terraces, designed around a kitchen garden concept and creating a series of unique outdoor spaces for 12 bars and restaurants and offering impressive views of the Oxford skyline and the countryside beyond. Themed areas include the sinuous Crinkle Crankle, a Vegetable Garden and the more formal Garden Court as well as the Kitchen Garden itself. Planters were manufactured predominantly in steel, some with additional timber cladding, others with integrated seating and lighting.

Products designed, supplied, and installed by Furnitubes at Christchurch Gardens include bespoke wall-top seating and steel-framed boundary screens including a wire system for climbing plants and with integrated illuminated signage explaining the historical background of the site. Material quality was of paramount importance to all parties, and steelwork was finished in a specialist bronze coating in keeping with this high-profile site in the heart of Westminster. The scheme presented the further challenge of being delivered during the 2020 Covid lockdown, with Furnitubes’ installation works conducted under strict health and safety controls. The redeveloped site opened to the public in autumn 2020.

The Merker site in Baden now houses 45 low-cost apartments where the enameling plant once stood. The five-story structure sets new standards with regard to insulation and energy consumption. Architects Zulauf & Schmidlin have designed 45 apartments as the second stage of converting the site of the former Merker factory in Baden. The owners wanted an energy-efficient building and apartments with different layouts – suitable for singles and families. The folding sliding shutters made of lasered, perforated metal plate are equipped with the HAWA Frontfold 20 hardware.The shutters are powered by the building's electric system.

Newton contractor Rymill Property Developments were approached by the owner of an old vineyard in Hampshire, in order to redevelop the site. As well as building an immaculate four-bedroom, four-bathroom Georgianhouse for the client, Rymill also took on the task of creating 3 brand new, modern properties, all with basements built into the existing sloping site. The large, partially retained basement areas would all house a stairwell, plantroom, storage room, cinema room, zen room, two ensuite double bedrooms and a garden room, and so required a completely dry internal environment.

Central to the Green Avenues plan was Sauchiehall Street a showcase on how green infrastructure can be used to change human behaviour by challenging the dominance of vehicles in the public realm. Twenty eight specimen trees have been planted in full GreenBlue Urban ArborSystems, providing a strong visual segregation between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists. The tree pits are linked together, providing maximum rooting space in uncompacted aerated soil, giving the trees the best opportunity of attaining species potential. As well as the aesthetic attractiveness, these trees also provide a measure of pollution absorbance, and help cope with stormwater management

Riversfield is a large detached Grade B listed town house. This property had severe contamination of moss and algae. We recommended that the climbing plants and wall shrubs to be moved away from the surfaces prior to the decoration of KEIM. We then advised that any existing fungal growth must be thoroughly removed using wire brushes to remove all growths and then all areas were to be treated with KEIM Algicid. Onto the cement based, roughcast surfaces, a three coat KEIM Royalan system was used to provide a colourfast, longlife, breathable, protective and decorative mineral matt finish.

Warwick Court, the former Goldman Sach's headquarters on Paternoster Square in London, is being redeveloped by Mace Group after they won the £60m project in 2020. Newton Specialist Contractor ASF Waterproofing specified a waterproof and hard-wearing coating system for the floor of the plant rooms. As a result, ASF Waterproofing designed and installed a watertight system utilising Newton 110 WATstop and Newton 701-HB. ASF Waterproofing provided a completely watertight solution following the guidelines set out in BS 9102:2009. The works were carried out to a high standard and delivered on time, despite the tight schedule.

Haribo’s new £35m factory in Castleford, which will create almost 300 jobs opened in Spring 2015. The new facility was developed by Wates Construction. Haribo was awarded £6.4m from the government as part of the Regional Growth Fund in 2011. The new plant, which will produce around 48,000 tonnes of treats per year, was built due to its Pontefract facility operating near to capacity. The new facility will include a 30,700 sq ft three-storey manufacturing unit and a four-storey office block. The site also has a steel-framed energy centre and sub-station.

The existing Bushey Grove health suite was a stark, clinical looking area with gloomy sauna and steam plus a difficult to maintain whirlpool spa with all the plant two floors below. TyloHelo's design concept was to open up the space with glass frontage and dividing walls between thermal rooms and create more comfortable relaxation areas. The design was contemporary with large format tiles in warm, natural colours. The thermal suite comprised a Finnish Salt sauna, Salt inhalation steam room, Herbal sauna, Bucket shower, Feature shower, Ice feature and three heated benches.

Project: Surespan custom-designed a hatch to provide access to a Biomass storage plant at the new Criminal Justice Centre, Northampton.Product: The double leaf hatch – measuring 2750mm x 2900mm – is electrically operated by a key switch and has synchronised leaf operation with a safety grid. Rated to FACTA Class A pedestrian loading, it was designed with a chequer plate lid to match the surround and incorporates a rain skirt apron and Sureguard handrail system on both sides. A secondary 1000mm x 1000mm gas spring-operated floor hatch was installed with a retractable hand hold and ladder for safe and easy access.

Sika Liquid Plastics has specified and supplied a roof upgrade solution for West Suffolk Hospital to renew the waterproofing membrane on multiple areas of the hospital campus and create a gradual pitch to aid drainage while enhancing the building’s thermal performance. Delivered by specialist contractor, Allard Construction, the phase four programme included seven sections of the building in a 20 week programme. The seven areas that needed work were all under heavy coverage of mechanical plant and pipework, and consequently there were large areas of restricted access, these issues made Sika Liquid Plastics the perfect choice for the project

A modern and green Mixed-Use project where people can live, work, shop, and play.  Oval Village is a major regeneration project in the South of London. It will include modern apartments, many new work opportunities, and aim to re-green the area resulting in better biodiversity.The first phase includes the apartment blocks Phoenix Court, Juniper Gardens and The Pinnacle offering modern homes with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Between the buildings, landscaped gardens will offer room for relaxation and some of the buildings also provide access to private roof terraces. Residents will have a magnificent view over the Kia Oval cricket stadium and London’s iconic skyline. The project includes many sustainable initiatives such as attenuation rainwater tanks and recycled rainwater irrigation of green areas. A site-wide district heating network connected to solar panels and a super modern ventilation system shall secure low energy use whilst providing optimal indoor climate control. The space saving FloSet® Compact valve set is installed on each apartment’s FCU to handle heating and cooling duties. The FloSet® Compact was chosen as it is the smallest FCU valve set in the market for pressure independent automatic balancing and flow control. Each FloSet® Compact includes a FlowCon By-Pass Mini with only a 40 mm center distance, a FlowCon Venturi Metering Station, and a FlowCon PICV. The valve set is fitted directly over the FCU drip tray. The valve set offers 5 different operation modes. These include normal operation, back flushing, forward flushing, coil isolation/system flush and full isolation. The FlowCon PICV insert solution provides flexibility in all project stages from selection, setting and commissioning to servicing. All-together a compact and smart solution providing optimal indoor comfort, reduced energy consumption and a better building CO2 footprint.

PROJECTmedi, Bayreuth [DE]COMPLETIONMarch 2023ARCHITECTSeiler Architektur GmbH / kadawittfeldarchitekturPRODUCTSTICELL in outdoor and indoor areas:White strip-painted aluminium; cell dimension: 54.55 x 54.55 mm; height: 40 mm, format 1200 x 600 mm; [1630 m²]STAR 3:White strip-painted aluminium; width of blade: 3 mm; height of blade: 20 mm; pitch: 20 mm [1700 m²]TANGENTA-H special version:Surface-mounted luminaire; light distribution: 2 x 35°; wide-angle; light colour: 3500 K; DALI dimmable [320 units]PUNTEO-Q50:Wide-angle downlight; light distribution: 2 x 55°; light colour: 3500 K; CRI >80; DALI-dimmable [40 units]PUNTEO-J85:Cardanic recessed downlight; light distribution: 2 x 30°; wide-angle; light colour: 3500 K; CRI >80; DALI-dimmable [6 units]With its new head office building in Bayreuth, medi GmbH & Co. KG , a manufacturer of medical aids, has created an open architecture concept that aims to promote dialogue between its employees. However, it is still possible to work centrally with additional break-out areas such as quiet workplaces.The ceiling and lighting solutions provided by durlum underline this architectural concept. The ’woven’ TICELL open-cell ceiling is used outdoors as well as indoors. In combination with the special version of the TANGENTA luminaire, this ceiling-lighting integration creates a unique look that gives the workspaces a modern, soothing lightness.In the washroom and toilet areas, the linear STAR 3 open-cell ceiling with its clearly defined edges sets architectural accents and creates a unique appearance.With this investment in its new building, medi has created a modern world of work, an impressive contribution towards the status of Bayreuth-East as a location for industry.

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.

When completed, A3 New Bailey in Manchester will be one of Europe’s greenest buildings. Not only has it been designed to achieve the toughest sustainability ratings, it will also feature Europe’s largest living wall. But as with any innovative project, it presented some major challenges when it came to the specification of the rainscreen façade system. Meeting the target U-value Lester Cladding NW Ltd were responsible for the design and build of the façade. A rock mineral wool product with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK had been specified. But when conducting the calculations, they instantly ran into a problem. An insulation depth of 240mm was required to achieve the U-value of 0.15W/m2K.  Jamie Simm, Operations Director at Lester Cladding NW Ltd explained: “There was a strict external and internal boundary, so we needed to keep the façade wall build-up within those measurements. But the amount of insulation needed to meet the target U-value increased the depth of the wall, pushing it over the boundary line.” When looking for an alternative solution, the company approached Knauf Insulation’s Project Specification Team to discuss the brief. As well as meeting the thermal performance requirement, the insulation needed to comply with building regulations that ban the use of combustible materials in the external walls of certain buildings over 18m tall. It also needed to help reduce noise and meet the project’s sustainability targets.  After running 3D U-value calculations, Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team recommended 170mm Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the ventilated façade, a rock mineral wool insulation which has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK. For the Steel Frame System (SFS), they recommended 150mm OmniFit® Slab 35, a glass mineral wool insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.035 W/mK.  This combination reduced the thickness of the wall build-up by a significant 70mm, ensuring the U-value could be met within the required parameter for the wall build-up. Simms said: “Not only did Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab offer superior U-value performance for a slimmer profile, it reduced costs across the whole build. As well as reducing the quantity of insulation required, we could use smaller helping hand brackets and thinner fire barriers for example. It was the product that steered the job through.” In addition to achieving the required thermal performance, both products are non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification. This means they will not add to the development or spread of fire, so comply with the building regulations. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is also British Board of Agrément (BBA) certified for use in buildings of any height and for the broadest range of thicknesses and build-ups of any rainscreen solution on the market. Mineral wool also has an open fibre matrix, which means it has sound absorbent properties. The insulation will help to reduce noise from the busy city centre location and from disturbing residents. Project complexity The choice of insulation was not the only challenge for the build. There is no template for supporting Europe’s biggest living wall. So, Lester Cladding NW Ltd needed to draw on their own extensive knowledge and expertise, as well as that of the whole supply chain to create a bespoke solution from the ground up.   One problem with this approach, was that every potential solution impacted another aspect of the façade build-up. To overcome this, Lester Cladding NW Ltd took the unusual step of arranging a meeting between representatives from eight different design and manufacturing partners. Together they discussed the whole system ‘screw by screw’.  “Getting everyone sitting around the table meant that all our manufacturing and design partners were completely engaged. They understood what we were trying to achieve, and all worked together to find the best solution.” There was one particular factor that could affect the insulation – water. While a living wall utilises planting schemes that thrive in drier conditions, a 4,000m2 living façade still requires a lot of watering – something that could introduce lots of extra moisture into the system. Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab has a water-repellent additive that promotes water run-off and ensures the slab will maintain its integrity. A traditional façade system prevents the insulation from getting saturated by rainwater, while the ventilation reduces the build-up of condensation and allows the insulation to dry out if it does get wet.  However, the water-repellent additive does not make the insulation waterproof, so it needed protection from the constant flow of water from the irrigation system. As a result, an additional breather membrane was installed to prevent moisture from penetrating the façade system and affecting the insulation. Sustainability A3 New Bailey has been designed to UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Framework and WELL Building Standard principles, as well as to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and Wired Score Platinum ratings. This meant the sustainability of the construction materials themselves was also important.  Here Knauf Insulation’s products ticked all the boxes too. Its glass and rock mineral wool insulation are made from materials that come from either naturally abundant sources or are recycled. For example, its glass mineral wool is made with upto 80% recycled glass from locally collected and processed household bottles and jars. Glass mineral wool has the lowest levels of embodied carbon of any mainstream insulation material. So, combining the use of both Knauf Insulation glass and rock mineral wool meant that the insulation solution for A3 New Bailey had less embodied carbon than a traditional all-rock insulation solution. Both products are also manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. ECOSE® Technology is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than a traditional binder. They also generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort. This contributes to the health of both installers and residents. Its entire glass mineral wool product range is also Declare Red List Free, which means that it does not contain any harmful chemicals on the ‘Red List’.  Thanks to Knauf Insulation’s advice, technical support and high-performance insulation solutions, Lester Cladding NW Ltd was able to deliver the rainscreen façade for A3 New Bailey – and with it, Europe’s largest living wall.

A college in East London lost the use of their sports hall due to a flood that infiltrated the building. The Customer Care Team from @DYNAMIK Sport inspected the existing sprung floor and were able to offer a seamless Polyurethane (PU) re-coating application from leading coatings manufacturer @herculan.DYNAMIK Technical managers were asked to confirm the sports performance of the existing sprung structure and it’s suitability for refurbishment rather than a total replacement. This solution avoided the costs associated with uplifting, disposal and the installation of a new replacement sprung base. DYNAMIK have many playing surface and repair options available that can breathe new life into an old sports floor. This type of transformation is fast, cost effective and extends the life of the floor, not to mention the massive environmental benefits associated with not having to uplift and dispose of the sprung system. Most wear and tear shows up on the top-layer playing surface, which often shows signs of cracking, loss of slip resistance or damage caused by non-sporting events or the use of table and chairs without suitable protection. Re-coating old surfaces with a Herculan PU by DYNAMIK can seamlessly repair the issues of the past and create a solution for the future. A re-application of line marking can also be carried out at the same time as the refurbishment process, as can club or school logos, coloured surrounds, highlighted court zones, as seen at many of DYNAMIK Nationwide sports flooring projects where their “Be-Spoke Court Design Service” has created the wow factor.If you have a damaged or worn out solid timber court, solid block tile, vinyl, lino or seamless PU playing surface, and need trusted advice for refurbishment options that could save your facility time and money by simply applying a new Herculan by DYNAMIK re-coating system. Please contact their Technical Team who are always happy to meet and test your floor to confirm compliance to the new comfort and shock absorption requirements which protects users from injury caused by non-existent or very low levels of shock absorption and comfort. @Craig Jack, Commercial Director of DYNAMIK Sports Floors, recently attended a technical group meeting, where leading indoor sports flooring manufacturers, suppliers, installers and consultants meet to discuss ways of maintaining standards but also ways of improving the performance and safety of products and systems available to end-users throughout the UK. The group discussed overlay options and their success and suitability within the modern sports and activity environment and highlighted some important points worth considering, prior to any overlay option being approved.Jack commented “Solid tile or thin playing surfaces used in the past, before standards existed are being coated with a paint like surface or simply over laid with another thin pad and playing surface but in reality, this only makes the surface look good and doesn’t consider the safety, comfort or compliance to the latest flooring standards, which now require any multi-sport space to have a shock absorption value of more than 25%”.Jack also explained the importance for responsible contractors to test existing surfaces prior to over coating, confirming the shock absorption values required and expected within indoor sport and activity spaces. “Rather than just kicking the can down the road, expecting others in the future to upgrade the playing surface, we need to act now as it is just not the right or responsible thing to do and highlights a grey area in terms of what is considered a sports flooring refurbishment or what is considered a regular maintenance process”.An existing leisure facility is only required to meet the 2007 indoor multi-use sporting standard EN14904, when they upgrade or replace their old sports flooring. The interpretation of this requirement has created a grey area which confuses the difference between a maintenance coating and a playing surface upgrade.It is Jacks view that safety requirements should not be lost in greyness and the industry needs to provide clarity and help protect users of indoor sporting and activity spaces.When asked, Jack confirmed, “I for one wouldn’t be happy to have my family play any form of sport or activity on a solid floor, no matter how fresh or colourful it looked. A quick fix coating or thin pad overlay just doesn’t provide the safety I expect from a sports or activity floor, especially when considering the standard came in 15 years ago. I can’t believe any facility considers painting solid surfaces or tiles but sadly, some still kick that can down the road and expect kids to play on a solid concrete or painted tile, non-compliant surfaces. It’s shocking and quite scary when you think about how many floors still do not get upgraded to the current standards and are in use today”.DYNAMIK Technical consultant Sarah Beck clarified that “DYNAMIK always put safety and compliance first, above anything else. Playing surface compliance should be top of any list and our sports flooring team certainly see why 15 years ago, the standards were implemented to improve safety and performance within multi-use indoor facilities, big or small. Just because you can paint an old solid surface doesn’t mean you should, which is why we check the comfort and safety levels of old surfaces, prior to offering overlay options”.    For a free survey of your existing sports flooring to check its suitability for re-coating or refurbishment, please contact the DYNAMIK Technical Department on 0117 456 5024.  

On this redevelopment project we worked closely with McLaren.Excell Architects to manufacture and supply bespoke concrete kitchen worktops and concrete cladded central island in a newly renovated penthouse flat at a warehouse in Shoreditch.The glass fibre reinforced concrete central island, splash backs and worktops were manufactured using our special GRC BTX concrete, which is lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. We used our unique eco concrete mix technology with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The individual elements were precast in our workshop for assembly on site and then hand polished and treated with a specialist sealant. Living Concrete’s worktops are extremely strong and durable and can be used indoors or outdoors. By using the best of modern technology, we have created a sleek contemporary look that demonstrates how concrete can be both eye catching and functional.

The Valentinerhof hotel is located in the most spectacular mountain landscape of the world, close to the picturesque village of Siusi, an international tourism venue.The building, a wellness resort characterised by contemporary design and elegant atmospheres, was renovated in 2012 using Atlas Concorde ceramic materials that were chosen to clad indoor and outdoor floors, bathrooms and wellness areas.Used on outdoor floors, the Trust series covers the steps, swimming-pool edges and external areas of the spa, providing the opportunity to clad the surfaces with a continuous effect.The architectural project, which won the “2012 Sleep European Hotel Design Awards”, combines respect for the surrounding natural environment with the desire to create harmonious spaces where to regenerate body and soul.Thanks to its precious floor and wall ceramic collections Atlas Concorde consolidates its position as a partner of reference for hospitality design, contributing to the creation of welcoming and alluring atmospheres.

Crown’s earthbalance scheme sets out the company’s commitment to being more sustainable and less wasteful as well as helping customers and staff make responsible decisions. The earthbalance scheme covers all aspects of Crown’s business and applies to all staff and operations at Crown’s two UK manufacturing plants and network of Crown Decorating Centres. Crown has reduced its overall electricity consumption by 15 per cent, reduced packaging waste by approximately 15 per cent, recycled more than 800 tonnes of paint cans and donated 112 benches made using recycled paint cans through social enterprise NIMTECH.

The National Trust visitor centre at Tarn Hows in the Lake District is set in a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). EPDM was specified for the roof because of its environmentally friendly credentials which have the backing of Greenpeace. Hertalan roofing products were chosen because of ISO9001/14001 and BBA certification. The membranes were a combination of factory vulcanised sheets and easy weld rolls which were installed in accordance with strict FLL/GRO guidelines. The specification for the green roof insisted on local species of sedum and had over 2000 plug plants installed into 150mm deep recycled growing substrate.

Products: Flexi light, Flexi heavy & Flexi access. Services: Plantroom, Generator, Air-handling units, VRF condensers and bespoke access solutions. Roof build-up: Inverted roof design. The mechanical services contractor on the project, had a number of different heavy building services that required supporting. This included a 6000kg plantroom, 6000kg generator, two 4500kg air-handling units and a 1150kg air-handling unit. Utilising our Flexi-Heavy Duty range of supports, we designed and calculated individual frameworks for each item of plant, paying particular attention to ensuring that the correct load management through our frames.

Furnitubes' designers were set the challenge of devising a 3-part seating arrangement for Mark Street Gardens in Hackney. The seating would fit between existing lines of granite setts and alongside retained planting. The benches combine galvanised steel plate ends and sub frame, which sit well within this urban environment, and oiled iroko hardwood slats. Armrests have been carefully positioned to allow maximum usage of the seating area but also to deter rough sleeping which has been an issue at the gardens in the past. We wish Hackney well in their upcoming Green Flag application for Mark Street Gardens.

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.

The Northwood Hills project received £1.3 million investment from the GLA and £461,000 match funding from Hillingdon Council. The scheme included a series of improvements to roads and transportation arrangements. Joel Street has been resurfaced and the parking bays redesigned to allow safer entry and exit onto the high street. A new central boulevard has been introduced which allows for safer crossing and it has been planted with 35 carpinus betulus frans fontain trees to provide an attractive feature. GBU were pleased to provide a package to include StrataCells 30, Arborvents, RootDirectors, Geonet, Deadman AnchorSystems, & Precast Arboresin.

Ultrascape's BS 7533 compliant mortar paving system has been used to deliver a modern and stylish forecourt outside Swindon railway station. The redevelopment has transformed what was previously a heavy traffic dominated area, into a prestigious pedestrian focused arrival space which features seating, planting, lighting and a millennium clock. Work was carried out by specialist civil engineering contractor, Britannia Construction and included the installation of 500 tonnes of high quality natural granite and Pennant Sandstone using Ultrascape's Pro-Bed HS fine bedding concrete, Flowpoint rapid setting grout and Pro-Prime slurry primer.

Last week saw our first Delivery of Gypsol Complete binder to Notts Contractors in Yelland Barnstaple in the South West of England.John Andrews, Plant manager at Notts Contractors commented, ‘We are pleased to have overseen our first successful delivery of Complete without any complications. As we were unloading Gypsol Complete into the silo, the material was being produced for delivery to the site, ensuring a much faster batching process and increasing our ability to deliver in short lead times.’ The batches of Gypsol Complete were then delivered to AJ Wilson in North Devon, UK, at two sites in Lifton and Buckland Brewer.

Museum of London - Visionary RoofSynopsisThe Museum of London opened in 1976 on the historic London Wall and is a few minutes’ walk from St Paul’s Cathedral. A visionary approach to roofing had been adopted on a building that, will not only green as much of the exposed roofs as possible, but also provide a strong research aspect for future green roof projects. As with many buildings, the original roofs needed to be upgraded or replaced, at the same time as being brought up to date using environmental and sustainable solutions.Through the recommendation of waterproofing and green roof manufacturer Bauder Ltd, the Museum invited Dusty Gedge, one of the UK’s leading independent green roof consultants, to work directly with them to design 3500m² of varying habitats that encompassed the museum’s sustainable vision. and help in the provision of environments that would attract a range of wildlife, as well as being able to help the city adapt to climate change.Bauder Building BoardProject:Visionary roof, Muesum of LondonLocation:LondonProject type:RefurbishmentRoof size:9512m²Specifier:Museum of LondonRoofing contractor:Russell Trew LtdThe specificationAn independent consultant had previously carried out an energy model on the Museum of London buildings. When the museum inputted the green roof specification, it showed a potential energy saving of 10% per year, as well as a reduction on the future replacement costs of the heating and cooling plant. Some of the green roofs were funded through Drain London, a partnership project led by the Greater London Authority and funded by Defra. The project aims to better understand surface water flood risk across London, with a view to promote interventions (such as green roofs) to reduce surface water flooding. The museum has used the Bauder green roof system and worked closely with Dan Costen of Bauder and the roofing contractor Russell Trew Ltd, to deliver the various green roof spaces.These include:The refurbishment of the lower garden in the central courtyard with hard landscapingThe installation of Bauder’s new wildflower blanket to the upper garden in the central courtyard (funded through Drain London)Plug planting the roofs of the recently completed garden and terrace rooms that provide high quality corporate hire (matching the colour scheme chosen for the rotunda garden refurbishment and integrated with the new rainwater harvesting system funded by Renaissance London)An integrated sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS)Plug planting in other individual small roof areas including outside the boardroom and committee roomsTwo different planting schemes on an area of the main museum roof where the Drain London Project aims to carry out water attenuation researchThe resultRetrofitting green roofs will help to realise the Mayor of London’s ambition, to increase green cover in central London by 5% by 2030. The Museum of London is one of the largest retrofit green roof projects in the City and is certainly to be commended for allowing its roofs to be used for research purposes. Not only will it provide a benchmark for best practice, but it also demonstrates that retrofitting green roofs onto existing buildings is both environmentally and economically viable and is the way forward in helping London adapt to climate change.System installedBauderflex Green 1 BauderPLANT E 42A torch applied SBS elastomeric bitumen capping sheet. This product features chemically treated bitumen to deliver superior root resistance which has been tested and approved by the FLL2 BauderTEC Sprint DUOA self-adhesive elastomeric bitumen underlayer with DUO lap technology. This product has a glass fleece reinforcement feature for stability and strength.3 BauderPIR FA-TEFlatboard insulation boards containing rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR).4 BauderTEC KSD FBSA self-adhesive SBS elastomeric bitumen air & vapour control layer, with a mica finish.XF 301 Sedum System1 BauderGREEN XF 301Sedum vegetation blanket instantly providing at least 90% coverage on an extensive green roof. Integrated water retention and filter layer.2 BauderGREEN AL 4040mm high perforated edge/drainage trim frames and retains the Bauder XF 301 sedum system.3 BauderGREEN SDFMulti-functional drainage and filtration layer which prevents the roots of sedum plants from becoming waterlogged.4 BauderPLANT ETorch-on root-resistant capping sheet green.AdvocacyGavin McCourt MRICS, Project Manager for The Museum of London said:“In producing the business case for installing green roofs, reference was made to the extensive published documents on the benefits of green roofs. In this case as the museum building had already been energy modelled by outside consultants, it was decided to input the green roof specification into the model. The results showed a potential energy saving of 10% per year, as well as a reduction in future replacement costs for heating and cooling plant. These factors, combined with the longer life cycle replacement of green roofs compared with normal felt roofing systems, enabled me to produce a robust business case for green roofs. With increasing energy prices the economic benefits of installing green roofs can only become more viable”Dusty Gedge added:“One of the major issues that London faces is flash floods during the summer, when sudden rainfall levels overwhelm the current drainage network. With the support of Drain London we will be researching the rainwater run-off for different green roofs. This will help us validate the kind of roofs and depth of substrates that will negate the costly effects that the sudden rainfall has on the infrastructure of the City.”