"bedroom suites beds bunks"

St Leonard’s Hospital160 SASH WINDOWS REPAIRED & DRAUGHT-PROOFED AT GRADE II LISTED HOSPITAL BUILDING IN LONDONThe project involved a total of 160 sash windows requiring renovation at the historic premises of St Leonard’s Hospital in Hackney, on Nuttall Street. As part of the scope of works, the sash windows were surveyed, renovated, draught-proofed and had new ironmongery fitted.Ventrolla’s window restoration formed part of a larger refurbishment scheme at St Leonard’s which was implemented by Castons of Ipswich and lasted six months.The Grade II Listed hospital building dates back to 1866 and by 1872 had been extended to provide beds for 503 patients.It played an important role during the Second World War caring for air raid casualties and suffered bomb damage itself in 1941. St Leonard’s stopped receiving in-patients in 1984 and today is used as a home for various district services, including physiotherapy, chiropody, a disability resource centre and a diabetic day centre. It is now administered by the Homerton University Hospital Foundation Trust.A spokesperson for Ventrolla, said:“The condition of the windows varied enormously. Some just needed re-glazing or minor repairs to the window frame, while others needed a complete overhaul.We had to be flexible in the way we worked because the hospital remained operational throughout the project. In some cases, for example when repairing windows in a consultation room, we opted to stay late or come in over a weekend in order to reduce disruption.”Do you deal with commercial projects that have a need for period sash window renovation?Our commercial services include detailed surveys & estimates in line with your window schedule, project management, CAD drawings, help with Listed Building Consent (LBC) and we offer a CPD presentation that is RIBA approved.You can speak to our commercial team about your project on 0800 0277 454, email info@ventrolla.co.uk or by uploading your tender documents here.

The Ambient Assisted Living Lab (AAL) within Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh’s acclaimed National Robotarium, aims to revolutionise the way assisted living care in the UK is delivered in the community using robotics and AI. With its purpose-built facilities within a recreated home setting, scientists, and engineers within the AAL will collaboratively research and create robotic and smart technology solutions in its open and remote access living lab, helping improve the physical and mental wellbeing of people with assisted living needs who want to live independently.Sharing this ethos of improving people’s wellbeing through design, Pressalit has been leading the way in assisted living technologies for the bathroom and kitchen for almost fifty years. Pressalit was therefore delighted to be asked to contribute to the inspiring work being carried out at the National Robotarium, the UK’s largest and most advanced centre for robotics and artificial intelligence, which recently opened in Edinburgh.Featured in the AAL is the Pressalit PLUS track system, which allows vertical and horizontal adjustment of different bathroom products. This bathroom is equipped with plenty of our products like the PLUS shower seat, PLUS support arms, and our MATRIX SMALL wash basin with integrated handrail, to name a few. The room can be configured to suit individual user and carer requirements, optimising space for wheelchair or carer access, whilst also future proofing the room.Meanwhile, Pressalit’s height adjustable INDIVO kitchen system brings a sense of independence to daily tasks in the kitchen and dining room. With a simple press of a button, sink and hob worktop heights can be adjusted to suit standing and seated users, and wall cupboards can be brought within easy reach. Tasks from washing up, cooking and preparing food, to sharing a meal at the table, can be carried out in an environment that is safe, comfortable and inclusive.Adam Southcott, Sales and Training Consultant from Pressalit, explains:”Assisted technologies form the future. Pressalit's knowledge and expertise in developing both bathroom and kitchen systems has brought independence to many individuals' homes and social care settings. We are delighted to be associated with the National Robotarium and the research it undertakes. By combining technologies in the AAL environment, individuals, carers, care homes and social care professionals have a unique opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the innovative solutions that are available, now and in the future, to help transform daily routines and enhance independent living.”

Award-winning Surrey-based firm, Fletcher Crane Architects, has specified Vandersanden’s 65mm Antro facing brick for interiors and exteriors at Tree House, an impressive, new, contemporary home in Ealing, West London. Located in a conservation area and constructed on a 12 x 12m former garage site, bounded by rear gardens, Tree House is a two-bedroom property that stands assertively against the characterful and repetitive villas in the street. Fletcher Crane has designed the home as an articulated series of volumes in a split-level arrangement of rooms around a central spine. The kitchen and living room sit on the upper storeys to make the most of natural daylight while the two bedrooms are submerged within semi-sunken floors.Boldly deployed and celebrated for the texture, variation and interest they provide, Tree House’s components are a fundamental part of the Fletcher Crane vision. Inside and outside the home, extensive use is made of three principal materials to create a naturally appealing, raw palette of black ash timber, tubular metalwork and multi-coloured Antro brick from Vandersanden.The load bearing Antro brickwork is exposed and flush-jointed with traditional lime mortar to create a unifying, almost monolithic appearance. ‘Baubuche’ structural timber joists span the brick structure, while, in the basement, the in-situ concrete frame is left bare. The central staircase is encased in ash timber panelling which is set against more curved Antro brickwork and sharp metal balustrades. Outside a sunken planted courtyard is accessed using stepped Antro brick planters and a paddle stair constructed of black cobble setts.“We like the texture, the tones and the variety that the Antro brick gives us at Tree House,” says Harry Reid, Architect at Fletcher Crane Architects. “Vandersanden offers a significant range of these light multi-coloured bricks, both in white and grey hues which are very attractive for this type of project. The company supplied us with a number of sample options for comparison and contrast, and we duly selected Antro as our brick of choice. We’re delighted with it, particularly in how the Antro brick combines with the lime mortar, and other components at Tree House to create the overall feeling of an intimate yet generous home that’s filled with light and rich in materials.”Antro is created from a combination of different clay forms which yield a grey base colour, then coated with specific sand types to bring a grained, creased texture to the brick. The clay structure evokes darker and lighter tones out of the base grey along with shades of white in the overall final appearance.For more information on Fletcher Crane Architects go to https://www.fletchercranearchitects.com/. 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' linkCredit: Photography by Lorenzo Zandri © 2021

Hammerson House is a large, new, innovative care home in the Hampstead Garden Suburb area of London that “will set a new standard of care for the future”, according to its owners, Nightingale Hammerson. The design reflects a luxurious hotel aesthetic rather than that of a traditional care home facility with the development featuring Ledbury hand-formed, facing bricks from Vandersanden. Renowned for their high quality, crafted appearance and texture, these multi-coloured bricks both accentuate the building’s contemporary look and also bring an attractive, natural softness to its facade.Nightingale Hammerson has served the Jewish community for over 180 years as a leading specialist in residential, nursing and palliative care. Located on Bishops Avenue and completed in Spring 2021, the Charity’s Hammerson House development offers 116 bedrooms in a modern, forward-thinking scheme. The building is balanced by two matching wings at its front and rear, with the design centred around the principles of ‘households’. This involves clusters of bedrooms for residents with supporting facilities on a domestic scale, allowing them to socialise in small groups, but then move easily to larger spaces for group activities, if they wish.The setting for Hammerson House is certainly more rural than urban, withdrawn from the avenue, in beautifully landscaped gardens, surrounded by trees. The design takes full advantage of this verdant context with the shape of the building, offering expansive views of the trees and gardens through large, rectangular glazing at multiple points.P+HS Architects developed the design from RIBA Stage 3 and specified the use of Vandersanden’s Ledbury brick, with its varied tones and texture, to ensure that Hammerson House embodies the look and feel of a luxurious hotel that fits naturally within these surroundings.“We developed a series of palette options which reflected a varied response to the client’s vision,” says Cath Lake, Director at P+HS Architects. “The softer, more rustic approach offered by the Ledbury brick, ultimately, became the client’s preferred option. As a practice, we are focused on creating positive environments for long and short-term support and care and Hammerson House will do just that. Vandersanden’s Ledbury brick has enabled us to meet the distinctive, high quality design vision within budget and the client is delighted with the result.”Ledbury is a high quality, multi-coloured brick with a sand-coated and creased structure. The base yellow colour of the brick is augmented by hues of brown, white, blue and anthracite which help to soften the Hammerson House facade as well as the covered accessible walkway at the building’s entrance. The overall effect is to sit the building comfortably, attractively and organically within its environment.To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link .

The 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 

Kerry Foods is the leading consumer foods processor and supplier in Europe.Project/doors:20 doors including Speedor Storm, Speedor Mini, Speedor Cleanroom. The challengeFood manufacturing sites have strict protocols to avoid contamination and to meet all regulations in the industry. Any issues with industrial doors can directly impact compliance with these regulations. This site had several competitor products that needed to be serviced and replacedThe solutionUsing our experience and knowledge we spent time surveying all of the doors on the site and advising which doors needed to be replaced, repaired and serviced to ensure they were compliant with all regulations. Due to the volume of doors in the facility, we had a weekly presence on site until all issues were eradicatedThe successWe have installed 20 doors on this site and provide maintenance and service to over 30 doors, including competitor products. The site has a range of doors to suit varying requirements, including internal Speedor Cleanroom and Mini doors, external Speedor Storms and fire shutters.

Surespan have recently completed the design and manufacturing of a large stainless steel hydraulic opening recessed floor door for a project in Sri-Lanka.The ProjectThe $850 million Waterfront integrated Resort (Cinnamon Life) is Sri Lanka’s largest and most iconic mixed development, located in the capital city of Colombo. Balmond Studio has designed and constructed the resort as a ‘city within a city’ offering two 5-star luxury hotels, offices, residences and premium retail and entertainment. They hope the resort will become one of the iconic and identifiable landmarks in Asia.The no-limits project is symbolic of Sri Lanka’s ambition, drive, and growth. The ProductSurespan were approached to manufacture the hatch to suit an opening of 6.5m by 4.1m and capable of withstanding a slow-moving wheel load of 10kN/m2. The pan-type door will be re-cessed for receiving 30mm of Natural Stone Slab infill with an approximate infill weight of 2 tonnes.Features The largest recessed floor hatch has been manufactured to provide a theoretical sound reduction of 45dB. To assist with installation, lifting points were designed to the frame exterior.

An existing Mews dating back to the 1860’s in close proximity to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The highly sensitive nature of this site required NLA to work closely throughout the planning and construction phases with LBKC to make sure the ambitious yet sympathetic design, bespoke to the client’s requirements was realised. In addition to a full refurbishment, complete with new basement, reworked layout and contemporary interior design, a double height atrium was introduced at the heart of the dwelling allowing natural daylight to permeate throughout each individual level whilst providing a secluded garden sanctuary away from the bustling streets of London.For this refurbishment, our Una was used which are the solution for timber leaf risers. Una utilises a timber door leaf with a concealed metal frame. Made to suit custom sizes, provided as a flat-packed kit prepared for all ironmongery. The wood door leaf comes with hinge cut-outs and can be primed for on-site finishing or pre-finished in our factory. Choose from non-fire rated or fire rated to E30 or E60.

Planet’s northern contracting team joined Wates and architects tp bennett to work on the Cat A fit out of 11 & 12 Wellington Place, manufacturing and installing 40 pairs of double leaf FireTec Ei60 fire rated doors with bronze handles across over 250,000 sq ft of grade A office space on Levels 1 to 10. These doors were installed to be ‘future proofed’ to facilitate any future automation requirements once sub-let to tenants.Manufactured using an ultra-slim precision engineered framework, the durability of the FireTec system suits high foot traffic areas while providing fire route protection and acoustic performance up to 39dB Rw.The multi-award-winning 11 & 12 Wellington Place achieved a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ sustainability rating and is the first UK building outside of London to attain a NABERS Design for Performance rating of 5* or above.Wates handed over the completed shell and core works to clients MEPC in early 2023, with the building already securing several high-profile companies as tenants.

Orbis OS210/OS211 Glass Infill Side and Top FixThe Eastbourne College Project 150 delivered a sports hall, competition pool, fitness suite, squash courts, dining and common rooms, pavilion and 32 classrooms, while also providing connections between key College facilities. The development, to mark the college’s 150th anniversary, enabled the Eastbourne College to take a giant leap forward providing several high-quality facilities in one substantial build. Delta Balustrades worked with the architect from early concept design stages and provided technical expertise and advice. The Orbis balustrade system throughout provided a consistent glass balustrade style throughout the building and could be utilised for the external pavilion areas also. Whilst mainly throughout new build areas of the college, the look and style of the balustrades was especially important to complement the College’s iconic buildings and environment. Due to the proximity to the sea, special attention had to be given to the materials and finishes for the external balustrades, and 316 grade stainless steel with a Lustre bright polished finish was required to be suitable in a marine environment.

The London clinic is one of the UK’s largest private hospitals. Located in the heart of London’s world famous medical district it is the first hospital to have hybrid theatres. Hybrid operating theatres combine the surgical capacity of traditional operating rooms with the imaging capabilities of a catheterisation lab.BriefThe trust required specialist hybrid operating theatre doors for its new hybrid operating suite. The hybrid theatre provides the surgical technology to enable surgeons to switch between open vascular surgery and endovascular surgery as necessary, with real time imaging support.SolutionDortek’s hygienic hybrid operating theatre doors were installed in theatre areas. Dortek’s hybrid operating theatre doors can combine a number of key properties all in one hygienic door. Whether its x-ray rated, automated, fire rated, waterproof or hermetically sealing sliding, these doors were a versatile solution for these new breed of hybrid operating theatres. Doors were also automated to allow staff to open and close them without touching any surface to reduce the risk of infection.

This metal roof in Warwick was suffering from cut-edge corrosion, delamination of the factory finish, and spot corrosion.The specification called for a full liquid roof coating in Merlin Grey, which Liquasil was able to supply for installation by Nadco Roofing Services. Liquasil's Metalseal can be made in any RAL or British Standard colour to suit the client's needs.After the corroded surfaces had been prepared back to bare metal and the substrate had been jet-washed and dried, a single coat of Metalseal was applied to the entire roof at a wet film thickness of 350 microns.Despite the steep pitch of the roof, runoff was not an issue; the product stuck to the roof and did not drip, leaving a consistent, glossy finish that left the whole roof looking like new.Metalseal can be made in more than just the standard goosewing grey - if you have an industrial roof that needs coating, Liquasil can meet your needs - no matter the colour.Give us a call on 0121 709 5352, or email us at info@liquasil.com.

The pinnacle of luxury living, 250 City Road in Islington features stunning 1–3-bedroom apartments in one of London’s most sought-after locations. Residents are offered such benefits as exclusive membership to world-class spa facilities, featuring a 20-metre pool, and a perfect environment for rest, inspiration, and productivity, ranging from a luxurious screening room to a reading room and business lounge.Designed by Foster + Partners with the vision of transforming a business park into a distinctive landmark location for Islington, the project is a development by Berkeley Group.In true RYNO fashion, we worked very closely with the team at Berkeley to provide non-combustible paving supports to this very high-end development project. The pedestals used on the balconies are our fully adjustable, self-levelling RPA-FRs with built-in lockable slope-correction, supporting (450x450x40mm) granite pavers.The roof terraces which offer a stunning view of the city and canal basin were supplied with our TerraSmart Rail Paving System supporting granite paving and blending perfectly with the soft landscaping of the entire project.To top it all, 250 City Road is just a short walk from Clerkenwell and our Studio, which is where architects and specifiers can get hand-on with the our systems including the one used in this project.

THE PROJECTPaddington Exchange is a collection of 123 high specifications one, two and three bedroom apartments arranged over fourteen spacious floors developed by Taylor Wimpey Central London.The development is located in a sought after canal-side location, situated on the site of the former North Western Community School, offering easy access to a number of high-end street cafes, restaurants and shops. A wealth of transport links around the city are found at the site of the Paddington Exchange project.THE PRODUCTThe project features multiple banks of wall recessed fire rated 2 mailboxes located in the entrance lobby area. The mailboxes contain a series of features and benefits that result in a ‘one hour integrity’ rating that conforms to the BS476 Part 22 fire standards. For more information, please visit our fire rated mailbox page.The mailboxes are finished in an IGP-DURA®xal paint using a Dark Bronze – E82987 colour. Each mailbox features engraved numbering in a COPASETIC NF font on the opening flap coloured with a contrasting black infill.The banks of mailboxes are completed with a surrounding trim used to mask the join between the mailboxes and the installation wall. Large panels are used in conjunction with the banks of mailboxes which allow for easy identification of the relevant mailbox for both the residents and postal delivery workers.

Located near Highgate in North London, the Chester Balmore project consists of three elegant brick-clad blocks, housing a contemporary collection of 53 super-insulated one, two and three-bedroom flats, all set around a landscaped courtyard. The development is designed to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 and the high levels of insulation employ good use of solar and internal heat gains, plus excellent air tightness and minimal thermal bridges. It is claimed that the air tightness on the Chester Balmore development is around twenty times better than that required by Building Regulations.Preventing thermal bridging along the parapets was a critical consideration for such a high performance development, because as with balconies, parapets can allow conductive materials to transfer energy through the thermal barrier. Conventionally, in the majority of cases, the method of insulating parapets and parapet walls is to wrap the perimeter of the wall with an insulation barrier. However, the Schöck Isokorb® T type A offers a cost-effective and more thermally efficient alternative. Its 60mm insulation thickness results in low psi-values and therefore significantly reduces heat loss – and there is no wrapping required. It offers a more sophisticated construction opportunity for greater freedom of design and offers flexible distance between elements according to load requirements.

Belle Vue is a 5,700 square metre retirement community of 60 one and two-bedroom apartments in Hampstead, designed by Morris+Company. It’s surrounded by carefully landscaped gardens and manicured courts, with which it offers a communal environment for its residents.Inside the feeling of community is continued with a restaurant, cafe, library, spa, gym, lounges and activity rooms. All are thoughtfully considered to ensure the residents are catered for in all ways. Journeys throughout the project are open to communal areas as well for further social considerations.Due to Belle Vue’s surroundings, Floren.be’s Avorio brick was used to retain a similar, but a visually distinct homage to the brick structures in the multiple local conservation areas. The lightness and fluctuating tonality of the red Avorio allows the building to appear as light and airy externally as it is inside, due to its large windows, open plan layouts and community spaces.With a clientele whose average age is around 77, it’s insightful that Pegasus Life Pegasus Lifestory chose to hire from architectural practices who had no previous experience in the retirement sector. Modern sentiments are clearly visible throughout, but care and consideration are shown to its inhabitants where a calm environment is melded with the benefits of inner-city living.Belle Vue was recently shortlisted for the 2022 RIBA London awards.

The owner of this house wanted to build a purpose-built home to meet the needs of his growing up family.  He wanted to live in the village he grew up in but at the same time it was important that the design embraced new concepts and ideas. The end result is a stunning contemporary luxury home that incorporates large glazing areas throughout. There has been a careful use of traditional stone, wood and also unique metal cladding detail with the external design. Internally the feeling throughout is minimalistic clean lines, with the furniture being a perfect complement to the end result. With the exception of the switchable privacy glass for the window adjacent to the front door, the inclusion of completely concealed fully automated blinds to all other windows are the ’Grand Finale’ to this beautiful home.  When not required the blinds are completely concealed but at the press of a button or using their mobile devices, blinds appear as required – providing shading, sun protection, privacy or blackout blinds as required.A feature of interest is the large gable window in the master bedroom.  Here Honeycell Duette® blinds have also been concealed within the sloping ceiling and again appear from their hiding places when required showing that irregular shaped areas can benefit from the Blindspace headboxes which can be made to conceal almost any blind available on the market.

Qbic Manchester, the fourth property in the Qbic portfolio, mixes striking design with admirable eco-credentials and affordability to deliver a truly eclectic destination hotel. Working with Qbic’s own interior designers and contractor, MY Construction, Style was specified to create flexible space in the hotel’s meeting rooms whilst also complementing the breath-takingly chic decor.Finished in a stunning steel blue, the two identical Dorma Hüppe Variflex glass moveable walls incorporate telescopic end panels, giving a truly aesthetic finish. With 52dB acoustic integrity and semi-automatic operation the walls can be quickly manoeuvred into place, dividing or opening out the meeting areas to meet the demands of the day.Combining a stylish crittall effect with a reeded manifestation added to the glass to match the room’s fixed glazing, these moveable partitioning walls not only add flexibility to the hotel’s space but also enhance the overall interior design.Qbic has reinvented the concept of affordable hotels, by focusing on what matters to its stylish, savvy, environmentally responsible guests. Located on the lively Deansgate strip, the Manchester hotel offers 261 pet-friendly rooms, boasts comfortable king-sized beds, has high-speed WiFi, plus water-efficient power showers and sustainable toiletries.“This hotel oozes the ‘wow’ factor,” said Andy Gibson, Style’s director for the North.“The moveable walls are effortless to manoeuvre, enabling hotel staff to create either three separate meeting rooms, one large and one small room, or open up the entire area."Semi-automatic operation ensures the acoustic seals are always applied to exactly the right pressure, offering high levels of privacy when meetings are in progress. The Qbic design team’s vision of a blue steel finish in this vibrant environment was truly inspiring and something we were proud to be able to deliver.”Style is the UK market leader in moveable, folding and partitioning walls and its glass range has expanded this year with a complete range of acoustic and non-acoustic solutions – each with manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic operation.

EverEdge Titan used to path the new perennial paradise at RHS Garden WisleyRHS Garden Wisley’s iconic Glasshouse Borders are being sympathetically redesigned into a perennial paradise by the internationally acclaimed landscape designer Piet Oudolf, who designed the original borders more than 20 years ago. The redesigned garden newly named “The Oudolf Landscape” will be defined by Piet’s signature ‘New Perennial’ style and will be one of the largest and most significant examples of Piet’s work seen in the UK. The Oudolf Landscape aims to transform the borders into a more contemporary and sustainable landscape and will boast a significantly more complex planting scheme with a key focus on resilience to climate change and benefits to wildlife. The large irrigated turfed path will be replaced with curved paths that will lead visitors among bold drifts of naturally self-supporting herbaceous perennials and grasses, while retaining much-loved views of Wisley’s Glasshouse. Blakedown Landscapes was selected as the principal contractor and has been working collaboratively with the RHS Garden Wisley team to bring Piet’s design to life. The team at Blakedown took great care in grading and preparing the new beds ready for planting, as well as installing new self-binding gravel footpaths. They used our EverEdge Titan steel landscape edging to create the curved paths through the landscape.Available in a variety of depths, thicknesses and finishes, Titan is the go-to product for where a strong and flexible edge is required in all areas of landscaping from traditional parterre’s, long sinuous pathways, driveways and more. Titan has proved to be the perfect choice for RHS Garden Wisley where the steel can be quickly and easily manipulated to create the long meandering paths, whilst the inconspicuous appearance of the steel edge once installed will blend seamlessly into the landscape. The end result will be a steel edge that is easy to maintain and not distracting to the eye allowing for the new perennial planting to be the undivided focus.  Work on the remodelling started in the Autumn of 2023 with the plan of reopening to the public in Summer 2024. For more information about RHS Garden Wisley and the new Oudolf Landscape, please visit www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley. 

Sort Trae is a new build Passivhaus set in a steeply sloping site in Thurgoland, Barnsley. The owner is a former architect and designed the scheme up to planning. HEM Architects were commissioned to turn the design intent into an ultra-low energy and comfortable home and to administer the contract on site. The house is a 2-bed home, with the lower storey set into the hill. There is an attached weaving studio where the owner works. The house takes advantage of the beautiful views to the south and is a bold, contemporary home clad in black timber and open jointed stone.The rooflights set on top of the studio are a key part of the roof, visible from the entrance to the site and the house. Their crisp design met the architects desire for an elegant and unfussy roofscape.FAKRO flat roof windows were chosen for their thermal performance and the performance of the integrated kerbs.Paul Testa, Director at HEM Architects told us, “We have always specified FAKRO on our projects where possible. They have always led the market in terms of thermal performance and there is excellent technical support”.The FAKRO windows used were: 2 x FAKRO DXF-DU6 02K flat roof window – 600 x 900mm unit size 1 x FAKRO DXF-DU6 11k flat roof window – 1200 x 2200mm unit size 1 x FAKRO DXF-DU8 04k flat roof window – 800 x 800mm unit size Paul added, “We enjoy working with FAKRO and find that the products are delivered to site very well packaged and are very easy to install. Working directly with the manufacturer rather than builders’ merchants also means the contractor has much better manufacturer support should they need it”.HEM Architects is a practice of 10 staff, based in Sheffield. They have a reputation for Passivhaus design and gaining planning on difficult sites.The practice is on a mission to help everyone live in beautiful, practical homes that have minimal impact on our planet. They specialise in creative, sustainable residential architecture. Taking inspiration from the mess and joy of everyday life, they design homes for living and that delight every day.

The Pride development is a £60 million investment which includes a new 122 bed hospital being built on the former Ryhope Hospital site in Sunderland. Laing O’Rourke, the main contractors of this project, specified Polyroof waterproofing systems for the flat roof areas.Barclay Roofing Ltd carried out the works, having previously worked with Laing O’Rourke on the 2013 Roofing Award Winning Durham Gateway Project.The SolutionThe roofs were of a complex nature and involved many details such as vents, level changes, handrail abutments, plant supports, protrusions, stanchion blocks, and parapet walls. It was essential that these details could be waterproofed in the most effective and rapid way possible. Protec, being liquid-applied, was dressed onto the upstands of the details without the need for lengthy and complicated ‘patching’ work, creating a totally seamless interface between the details and the flat roof membrane.The client required designated, permanent walkways for maintenance purposes. Quartz Sand & Polyfinish was used to create a durable and hard-wearing anti-slip finish, without the need for costly ancillary walkway systems. The system is capable of withstanding heavy foot traffic and is impact resistant meaning the client had peace of mind that the walkways can be used without the risk of damaging the waterproofing integrity. Some of the roof areas are to be covered with a green roof system. The waterproofing membrane that was used therefore had to be highly durable, lightweight, fully root resistant and maintenance-free. The Protec System meets all the criteria for use with green roofs and was specified as the ideal solution for the green roof areas.It was essential that health & safety and hazard risks were kept to an absolute minimum during works. Being cold applied and low in VOC content, Protec was able to satisfy the stringent requirements of this aspect of the project.Due to the size of the roof areas, structural expansion and contraction movements had to be considered. Ideally the client wanted a waterproofing system that could accommodate these movements without the need for any additional and potentially costly modifications such as expansion joints. Protec is specially formulated to be highly flexible whilst also maintain its durability and hard-wearing properties.

Ten Traffic Street is a 522-bed student accommodation serving luxury living located on a prominent site within Nottingham City Centre. The project was delivered by Jensco and offers excellent amenities such as a cinema, games room, study spaces, onsite coffee shop, indoor and outdoor Gyms and multiple outdoor communal spaces including a roof terrace. Artform Urban worked closely with the Landscape architects, Ares Landscape to provide a substantial package of premium external furniture to ensure the high-end finish extends to the outdoor spaces. The complex is spread across 2 buildings with courtyards and one roof terrace overlooking the city. In total, there are 4 external spaces - each has its own identifiable aesthetic which is driven by the building fascias and window frame colouring which is then reflected in the outdoor furniture.The roof terrace is surrounded by a large Inspira Modular Planting System installation powder-coated in a unique Khaki Grey - bringing colour and natural benefits to the space. The planters house plants and small trees that provide dappled shade to ensure residents can enjoy the terrace on hotter days. Tables, benches, and a Box Litter Bin all in a coordinated colour palette, provide social seating and dining spaces and vibrant plastic Chill Lounger’s and Hop Op 500’s offer a more casual seating option for residents.The ground floor courtyards feature a continuation of benches and Box litter bins - with all steelwork powder coated in a specific colour for each space. An external gym has been provided in the larger courtyard and features two Endurance Wellness Stone installations. These unique sculptural pebbles include stainless steel fixtures to accommodate a variety of exercises. This is the first installation in the UK of these products that are part of a wider range of premium external gym equipment named MyEquilibria. This unique fitness range aims to redefine the workout experience by combining art, high-end design and community. As final additions to the spaces Artform Urban provided an extensive bike parking package as well as Fuente Drinking Fountain’s to encourage students to cycle and reduce plastic waste. 

Following the specification process with the London office of Planit-IE Landscape Architects, Artform Urban Furniture were appointed by Vastint UK to provide a considerable number of bespoke concrete benches alongside street furniture elements including litter bins, cycle parking and picnic sets to a newly built neighbourhood in the east of London. At the time one of the largest residential developments in Europe.The bespoke concrete block benches, some of which are clad in hardwood toppers, were designed and manufactured specifically for this project, echoing the light reflective architecture of the newly built studios and apartments. Great lengths were taken to find the perfect mix of aggregates to achieve the specifiers preferred colour mix and match paving being used on site. Sample blocks in the concrete and granite were supplied with & without timber toppers to make sure all stakeholders were happy with the final look/ colour. Stainless steel cycle stands are abundantly scattered around the car-free space, encouraging a peaceful and emission free environment. Likewise the sophisticated minimal design of the Spencer litter bin reflects the surrounding ambiance whilst keeping the area clean and tidy.The 26 acre project to revitalise this once-crumbling industrial site began back in 2013. Garnering widespread attention for its simplistic and sustainable design.The entire neighbourhood is divided into 13 plots, each designed by one of nine different architects.The Dane’s Yard area is the first completed phase of the Vastint UK master plan in bringing a brand new neighbourhood to London. The name of the area, Strand East, was changed to Sugar House Island in 2017 with Vastint looking for a name that has stronger ties to the community and its history. The sentiment is evident throughout the project in the refurbishing of old warehouse buildings, yards, and alleyways.Once completed in 2024 Sugar House Island will feature more than 624,000 square feet of office space, 1,200 homes, and nearly 131,000 square feet of green space. Developers have also made room for new restaurants, cafés, shops, a primary school, and a 350-bed hotel. Developers expect the project to create 2,500 new jobs.

With its direct Rhine location, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cologne's Deutz district is a popular area for tourists and trade fair visitors alike. From their vantage point in the hotel, guests also have a view of the most famous landmark of the city: Cologne Cathedral. Setting out from the designer hotel, it is only a few minutes' walk over the Hohenzollern bridge, with all its affixed padlocks, to the city centre.Together with the German magazine Wohnidee and other highly trained specialists, the interior architects from the agency JOI-Design, prop. Peter Joehnk and Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk, designed exclusive suites for the hotel. Design highlights and special materials were brought together to create a modern atmosphere for the guests. Carefully selected products from KEUCO give the premium bathroom furnishings in the “Urban Retro” suite a very special touch.The interplay between the soft forms and straight contours of EDITION 400 integrates harmoniously into the surroundings of the premium furnishings of the room. A soft oval characterises the face of the washbasin fitting and the bathroom accessories, whose brilliant chrome finishes highlight them effectively. Decoration together with the finest in functionality can be seen in the free-standing porcelain accessories of EDITION 11. And for perfect illumination of the face, there is the light mirror from EDITION 400. The secret: A special light-conducting material transmits the light of the LED to the surface. The lights can be dimmed with the sensor controls, allowing the luminous colour to be adjusted to any setting. The mirror also has an integrated heater, so fogged mirrors are a thing of the past. The illuminated cosmetic mirror is perfect for taking a closer look. The adjustable luminous colour and flexible height settings allow guests to adapt the mirror exactly to meet their needs.In the shower the hotel guest is free to choose between three outlets. The innovative IXMO fitting from KEUCO combines several functions in the smallest of spaces.Three-way diverter valve, wall outlet and hand shower bracket are all integrated into one module. With the help of the thermostat each guest can adjust the optimum temperature for the head shower, waterfall shower or hand shower. One of the great advantages of IXMO is that the placement of the modules can be chosen individually, meaning that, due to the optimum positioning, the stopcock valve can be operated before even stepping into the shower.A versatile shower system with a minimalistic appearance. What’s special about IXMO is that all modules have the same dimensions. Their excellent design can't fail to impress, regardless whether round or rectangular. With a diameter or edge length of only 90 mm and a depth of only 80 mm they present themselves to the guest with a uniform appearance, and offer the best freedom of movement in the shower.

wedi Primo completes luxury in central London Hotel.The Apex Temple Court Hotel is a luxury 4 star hotel, just off Fleet Street central London. Full architectural and interior design was by Ian Springford Architects, Edinburgh.A key factor in the selection of the wedi shower units for each of the 184 bedrooms was the requirement to achieve a high performance quality waterproof bespoke solution capable of adapting to the on site conditions. Ian Springford Architects has specified wedi shower units since 2004 and Apex Temple Court is the fourth Apex hotel where they have been successfully installed. Bespoke pre-fabricated shower units - Fast installation. The key benefits of using wedi were that the Fundo shower design provided simple, fast adaption to the individual shower configurations on site, as well as the detail of enabling the units to extend under the shower door to promote drainage back into the shower area from water falling off the door when in use.Complete prefabricated shower units allow fast dry and accurate construction in ONE integrated product system rather than a combination of different individual manufacturer’s products creating the risk of potential failures between the different systems during assembly and installation. The finished result was a fast track installation of a factory prepared shower system capable of on-site adjustment, delivering a completely waterproof system backed by warranty.

The “Wohnpark in der südlichen Luisenstrasse” residential project was built in Karlsruhe in 2015. At the client’s request, architects AGP Generalplaner GmbH designed the building with enhanced impact sound insulation. Schöck Tronsole® was chosen as the impact sound insulation system for the stairs.Spacious rental and owner-occupied apartments with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms were designed on a floor area totalling 18,000 m². All of the stairs in the buildings comply with the requirements of soundproofing level III as per VDI 4100 or DEGA class B. Specifically, the measured standard impact sound level of the stairs and landings ranges between 32 dB and 38 dB. These levels are about 10 dB better than the required standard impact sound level of 46 dB. By comparison: A reduction of 10 dB is equivalent to reducing the volume by half. The residents in the complex in Karlsruhe will notice this difference quite clearly. By not being able to impact noise from the stairs. The stairs are soundproofed using Schöck Tronsole® type F on the ceiling slabs while Tronsole® type Z separates the landings from the stairs and outer walls. The supporting element for the Tronsole® type Z was cemented into the 26 cm landing back at the prefabricating plant. Accordingly, the Tronsole® type Z wall element was installed and type F fastened to the landings and stairs on site.

THE LOCATIONThis Brand-new student accommodation development is situated in Miles Street, London. This new development is set to further back than the current buildings on the street to make it an attractive pedestrian route. The building is within walking distance from Vauxhall Park and the River Thames.THE PROJECTThe Development is a 37-storey high building offering 842 student bedrooms. The development also has a 6-storey office block which features a rooftop area, a multi-use gaming room plus an array of additional amenities which is accessible to local residents and students.THE PRODUCTThe Safety Letterbox team discussed the design, layout and fire specifications of the project with our client and after a few options were presented the client chose our FR2 mailbox. The FR2 mailbox is horizontal in front/out front 2-hour fire-rated (integrity only) mailbox.Our 2-hour fire-rated mailbox range is commonly used within an evacuation route as they are capable of holding backfire or containing a fire for at least 2 hours, satisfying building and fire regulations.The mailboxes we’re powder coated in special colour – MATT Pale Brown (RAL 8025) giving the mailboxes a stunning high-end aesthetic finish whilst being practical and completely secure. Multiple keys were also supplied, and mailboxes were engraved for easy identification.

The 'HOOLA' in Tidal Basin Road in East London, gateway to the soon-to-be regenerated Royal Victoria Docks area, has transformed a brownfield site into two rippling 23 and 24 storey glass towers, that offer 360 apartments with a mix of studios, along with one, two and three-bedroom units.The buildings are super-insulated and the concrete frame will act as a heat sink – absorbing heat on warm days and releasing it back into apartments when it cools. An innovative link-up with the neighbouring ExCel Exhibition Centre will also see excess heat piped directly into the two towers. This will provide all the necessary heating and hot water requirements and significantly reduce maintenance costs by doing away with the need for individual boilers. A critical design requirement for such a super-insulated building was the avoidance of any risk of thermal bridging at the many concrete-to-concrete balcony connectivity points – so highly efficient structural thermal breaks were required throughout. The preferred solution was the Schöck Isokorb® T type K for cantilever balconies.Luke Smerdon-White, Technical Director at Thorp, takes up the story: "We had to design, manufacture and deliver 1410 precast concrete balcony sections that had to then be cast integrally with the in situ concrete structure." "The exposed front-face is curved, with almost 50 different dimensional configurations, while the internal face has a facetted line that had to correlate with the glazing line and opening doors."

Claimed to be the largest Passivhaus development to date in the UK and certainly Camden Council’s largest community investment project, Agar Grove Estate, in North West London, is undergoing a six-phase major regeneration due for completion in 2025. The mixed-tenure scheme will provide 493 new homes to help meet Camden's housing needs. There will be a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, with full width balconies on the upper floors. By meeting Passivhaus standard the development will also achieve the highest levels of sustainability and energy efficiency. However, a critical element in any design process involving efficient thermal insulation is the avoidance of thermal bridging. With the Agar Grove development the risk of thermal bridging is primarily at the connectivity points involving balconies and parapets. One of the most technically advanced countermeasures is the Isokorb® range of structural thermal breaks from Schöck. A major reason for the superior performance of this product type is the thickness of the insulation body, increased from the standard 80mm thick to 120mm. High quality stainless steel bars with improved tensile strength are also an integral part of the unit. With parapets, the conventional method is to wrap the perimeter of the wall with an insulation barrier. However, the Schöck Isokorb® used here offers a solution that is more cost-effective and more thermally efficient than wrapped parapets. Its 120mm insulation thickness results in low psi-values and therefore significantly reduces heat loss.

Originally built in 1928, the Fullerton building was initially usedas an office, housing entities such as the Ministry of Trade andthe Chamber of Commerce.Following a brief spell as a makeshift hospital during thesecond World War, Britain’s surrender of Singapore to Japanled to the building becoming the headquarters for Japan’smilitary operation in the country.In 1997, the Building was sold for £300m and work beganon renovating it for use as a hotel. Architects 61 set outto restore the building’s existing facade. The neo-classicalcolumns and high-ceiling verandas were retained and the theShanghai plaster panel cladding was restored.However, the interior had to be completely transformedto accommodate the hotel’s 400 rooms. New additionsincluded the indoor garden and the new restaurant, where thebuilding’s historical lighthouse was kept and incorporated intothe decor.Allgood began work on the Fullerton in 1999, with a viewto supplying a high quality, bespoke package that wouldcomplement the building’s prestigious reputation.Allgood originally specified a combination of stainless steelHaft Elipse levers and matching pulls (top & bottom rightimages) in the public areas, along with bespoke FSB pullhandles for the ballroom doors (bottom left image). In the backof house area, Modric lever handles were fitted throughout,ensuring the hotel had a product that would last for at least 25years.More recently, Allgood were asked to provide new windowfittings in a polished stainless steel finish, to match the whitepainted windows in the bedroom

A residential developer approached Hush Acoustics after an acoustic test conducted on their project in St Leonards on Sea failed to achieve the acoustic compliance level needed under Approved Document E of the Building Regulations.The problem stemmed from a separating wall between two bedrooms which was constructed using a timber stud wall and had an overall thickness of 170mm. Its acoustic design was adequate on paper, but there was one issue that had not been correctly treated.One of the rooms measured 37m3 and the other 29m3 in size, with one notable consistent feature being a screed laid over a concrete floor.An airborne sound insulation sample test was carried out with no floor covering in place and this revealed a result of DnTw+Ctr 31dB.Levels of ‘flanking’ sound were significant - this meant sound was passing under the separating wall via the floor screed. The solution proposed by Hush Acoustics was to install Hush Mat 15 over the screed floor in both rooms.The effectiveness of this solution was evident in the follow-up test result of DnTw+Ctr 44dB. Whilst this result would be regarded as an average performance in most other types of buildings, the improvement here from a poor DnTw+Ctr of 31dB to 44db showed that Hush Mat 15 had delivered significant improvement and provided a solution to flanking transmission sound sources.The ensured the residential development satisfied the requirements of Approved Document E.

The Chiswick Point development, at Bollo Lane, in West London, is a £20m contemporary mixed-use residential scheme offering 124 one, two and three bedroom residential apartments, including three penthouses. A sustainable approach was important, with all of the units designed to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and the Lifetime Homes code. Constructed in two blocks of six and nine storeys, the frame is mainly reinforced concrete, with the concrete frame floors and cladding providing thermal mass, which absorbs energy and slowly releases it to help reduce temperature fluctuations.Long continuous ribbon balconies provide solar shading to the two blocks and provide the residents with a very pleasant outlook across the London Wildlife Trust nature reserve at the rear of the development. The continuous balconies are a major feature of the scheme and with several hundred metres of them winding across the two blocks, effective thermal insulation was imperative if thermal bridging is to be avoided. To minimise any condensation problems and subsequent mould growth as a result, plus the avoidance of thermal outflow, Schöck Isokorb® T type K heat-insulating load-bearing elements are installed at various strategic positions along the large expanse of balconies. The Schöck Isokorb® T type K provides high thermal resistance by using stainless steel bars to act as tension and shear reinforcement, plus high-strength HTE pressure bearing modules.

Achieve better U-values whilst maintaining traditional cavity widths.Developer Mentmore Homes has built two five-bedroom houses in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, which are valued at £2.5million each. The walls required an insulation panel that achieved better U-values whilst maintaining traditional cavity widths. Eurowall +, manufactured by Recticel Insulation proved the ideal solution.Nicholas Peck from Mentmore Homes explained:"We wanted to make the properties as energy-efficient as possible. To make this happen, the best place to start is the insulation. Specifying Eurowall + meant we didn’t have to increase the size of the wall cavity and lose space inside the properties. The panel’s interlocking feature was another reason for its specification because it slots together so easily and will remain solid and airtight. We required a high quality product for this extremely high-profile project - Eurowall + didn’t disappoint."About Eurowall® +:Eurowall® + is a premium, high performance full fill insulation board with precision cut tongue and groove joints on all four sides. This ensures that the boards lock tightly together minimising heat loss through thermal bridging. This unique joint offers increased protection against wind driven rain as well as improved windtightness. Eurowall® + is also designed with a 10mm cavity requirement in mind, so that space can be left for conventional bricklaying techniques.

Our small bathroom design may only be 160 x 170cm, but for me, it’s perfectly formed in every way. You can reach both arms across and touch either side of the room, but that’s not actually what you immediately notice when you step through the door. Instead, you see a generous frameless skylight flooding the space with natural light, a wall of tactile sage green tiles and the unusual choice of a green sink paired with an off white floating vanity unit. I spent so long considering all the little details – from matching my grout to my silicone, to lining up the tiles perfectly – that size, here, really doesn’t matter.There’s a lot I learnt during the process of designing my own small bathroom design, so I thought I would share all my lessons and top tips in case you’re planning a space of a similar size. We don’t all have huge mansions, bedrooms we can convert into bathrooms or space enough for a roll-top bath and a shower. Most of us are working with tricky layouts and tight floorpans, trying to maximise the space we’ve got. Don’t be disheartened with your small bathroom, there’s a lot you can do to make it feel light, airy, uplifting and inspiring.

The initial design consultation took place in February 2015 and owing to the complex nature of the building, the pitch of the roof, the angled internal ceilings and seamless patient transfer requirements from room to room, it was clear that a fully co-ordinated design approach was required.Throughout the design and subsequent construction phase, the Guldmann team adopted the 4 C’s method (Coordination, Cooperation, Collaboration and Communication), to realise the optimum specification, installation and various commercial benefits with all of the stakeholders (including the site team RG Carter), to deliver the hoist systems as agreed by EACH.In total, a mixture of 22 GH3 and 3 GH3+ ceiling hoists were installed in 27 rooms, with Combi-lock systems incorporated to enable effortless transfers between rooms.The award-winning GH3 ceiling hoist is a unique lifting module with a simple yet elegant design that is user-friendly and powerful enough to handle lifting and moving procedures in all professional care settings. The GH3 module also charges itself through the rails in the bedrooms, ensuring that the hoist is always ready to use.The GH3+ lifting module offers a number of more specialised advancements over the standard GH3, allowing Guldmann, when required, to tailor a hoisting system to a facilities specific needs.Tailoring includes adding modules such as an Integrated Weigh Scale or Care Lift Management (CLM) which can be used for monitoring and improving procedures for safe patient handling and for optimising resource planning.

The iconic architecture of the three Kranhäuser buildings in Cologne’s former commercial harbour is reminiscent of the old loading cranes that could once be found here. While the two initial structures were designed as office spaces, the last in the collection – Kranhaus Nord – is entirely residential. This means there were high standards to meet with regard to impact sound insulation in this construction. Fortunately, Schöck Tronsole® type T offered the perfect system solution in this regard.Both the structural engineering and architectural planning processes for this residence had to be adapted accordingly to suit the high-end use of the building. Unlike the design of the office buildings, the bridge abutments are connected via an atrium that leads to the premium apartments rather than being separated.The main stairwell runs right alongside premium apartments, which means sound proofing was a key consideration. This was required not only due to standard building regulations, but also for the fact that “as a provider of luxury apartments complete with a whole host of amenities for international clients, people expect top quality. Thus, the decision was made to use the Schöck Tronsole® sound proofing system: A tried-and-tested solution for integration into stairwells.”