"disabled"

Designed by Cubo Arkitekter and Force4, the House of Disabled People’s Organisations Denmark’s new structure was conceived so that everyone – regardless of ability – could work and move freely within it.The building’s disability solutions had to be subtle enough to integrate into the architecture, and the d line Cut lever handle, created in collaboration with both Cubo and a group of occupational therapists, was one of the solutions chosen.

The Changing Places toilets are bigger than standard wheelchair-accessible toilets and also feature a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, height adjustable basin, and hoist, all supplied and installed by Britain’s leading Changing Places company, Manchester-based Clos-o-Mat. Without the space and equipment Changing Places toilets provide, people who care for someone with severe learning and/or physical disabilities faces having to either stay at home, or try to change their loved one on the floor.

American software giant Adobe has opted for C-TEC’s innovative SigTEL disabled refuge system at its impressive UK Headquarters in Maidenhead, Surrey.With its powerful controllers and extensive arrangement of fire telephone and disabled refuge outstations, the system is central to protecting the state-of-the-art UK offices of one of the world’s most successful software and technology-based companies. However, according to David King, Installation Manager at Niscayah Group, the company that completed the project at Market House, the installation was far from straightforward as the building already had a SigTEL disabled refuge system installed on one floor which needed to be connected to new equipment so to create one large system for the entire four-storey building.Said David: “The challenge was to interface an additional Master Controller and various outstations to the equipment already in operation. To achieve this we temporarily suspended the system and used C-TEC’s new EVC423 software to completely reprogram it once the new Controller and outstations had been installed.”Although specifically designed for the programming of larger SigTEL systems, C-TEC’s new EVC423 is also excellent for programming smaller disabled refuge/emergency voice evacuation systems.Said David: “The software proved to be a lifesaver on this particular project as it enabled us to program the entire system from scratch very quickly reducing system downtime. The fact that you can edit outstation/extension names using a PC makes programming so much quicker and easier”As a result, Market House now has a fully operational disabled refuge/emergency voice evacuation system. In an emergency situation, the system will enable clear two-way communication between building management and people located in the refuge areas to, firstly, assist rescue teams in finding people and, secondly, to let stranded people know that help is on the way.Based in London, Niscayah Group is a subsidiary of Swedish-headquartered Niscayah AB (formerly known as Securitas Systems AB). Specialising as an integrator, the company offers complete fire and security solutions for customers with high demands for security and efficient solutions.

One of the newest – and very impressive – developments in the City, 22 Bishopsgate offers visitors retail, work and restaurant space over 60 floors. It is actually the tallest building in the City of London.A flexible solution was required for this project, to include life safety communication for the entire building. At the forefront of the design was the need for a plan for phased evacuation using the life safety systems. The VIGIL3 voice alarm and OmniCare emergency voice communication systems were quoted for the project due to their reliability and capability.The project required new voice alarm and EVC systems which were specified and installed by PHF Fire. The EN54 certified VIGIL3 voice alarm includes 70 space saving, wall-mounted Eclipse4s and two floor standing racks, networked around the building. The voice alarm network is accessed by the touch screen control microphone, with its user-friendly NFC card sign-in option.The EVC system solution, OmniCarePLUS, includes fire telephones, combined fire telephones with disabled refuge outstations, disabled toilet alarms, advanced disabled refuge outstations and standard disabled refuge outstations. These made up the remaining call points on the system, a lot of which were in a stainless steel finish, to match the high quality aesthetic of the building.Installed by PHF Fire, Baldwin Boxall worked together with the team to aid in the design and commissioning of the systems.Sam Faulkner, Maintenance Manager at PHF Fire commented, “Baldwin Boxall was specified alongside other companies. However, the level of support that Baldwin Boxall gives throughout the project, from start to finish, set them apart from the competition.”Chris Hartup, Sales Manager at Baldwin Boxall said, “This new build project called for a very capable, reliable and professional fire alarm contractor and with the contract being awarded to PHF Fire, they certainly got that. Due to limited floor space, the Eclipse4s were installed into riser cupboards within the building, providing further redundancy to the end user.PHF Fire had a fantastic, positive relationship, not only with their client but also their whole supply chain. We had many meetings and presentations on site with the whole 22 Bishopsgate team.It was a great experience to be involved in this project and with PHF Fire throughout.”

Gripsure decking has been used to provide safe outdoor areas at a learning centre and holiday lodges owned by a Cornish sailing charity. The Children’s Sailing Trust has taught more than 5,000 youngsters to sail since it was established in on the Helford River in 1997. The charity offers accessible sailing to children who might not otherwise get the opportunity to get out on the water, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.Gripsure’s non-slip decking has been used to create safe outdoor spaces at the trust’s recently opened public waterside Learning Centre at Trevassack Lake on The Lizard, as well as outside six holiday properties at the same site. The three accessible lodges and three cabins, all with inset hot tubs, are available for people to rent and help to raise important funds for the charity.Charity staff say the decking areas had to be non-slip and accessible, as well as in keeping with the style of the site. Up to 3,850 linear meters of Gripsure’s Contemporary profile boards have been used around two sides of public waterside at the Learning Centre, including the outside eating area.The Contemporary boards also form the large decking area outside each of the holiday properties. The lakeside has three architect designed lodges, two of which are fully accessible with integrated ceiling hoists, adjustable kitchen facilities, wide doorways and other aids.There are also three double-depth cabins, more suitable for non-disabled guests or those with some mobility limitations.Katie Chown, marketing manager at Children’s Sailing Trust said: “The non-slip surface is very important because we have children running around and people with mobility difficulties who need to have safe, level walkways. We chose the Contemporary profile because we are a brand new site with purpose-built, modern facilities to welcome all ages and abilities, so all the finishings and furnishings are classic, modern and good quality.”Gripsure’s low maintenance Contemporary profile boards are made from high-quality Northern European Redwood Pine. They have an expected service life of 15-20 years and a 15-year non-slip performance warranty.Katie said: “It does the intended job and looks smart,” adding that it is “very practical in day-to-day use.”The decking areas at Trevassack Lake were fitted through contractor Brady Construction. Alastair Knight from Brady said although tough to cut, the boards blended in with the look of the centre and holiday properties. “It all looked really good in the end,” he said. “Apart from blunting a few cutting tools, everything else was brilliant. The decking fitted in very well.”The Children’s Sailing Trust was established for local school children. The opening of Trevassack means it can offer a wide range of accessible and inclusive facilities.Trevassack is open to the public, for all ages and abilities or disabilities.To find out more, see childrenssailingtrust.org.ukAll media is courtesy of The Children's Sailing Trust. ©2022 The Children's Sailing Trust

For the recent redesign of the comfort ward of in Geilenkirchen a tasteful furnishing design was chosen, combining a modern ambience with a familiar atmosphere. The bathrooms equipped for the disabled were furnished with fittings, accessories and cosmetic mirrors from KEUCO and offer patients much convenience along with stylish design.Matching the colour schemes of the adjacent rooms, the spacious bathrooms are decorated in warm tones. At the double washbasin, EDITION 400 wall spout fittings in brilliant chrome present a clear and uncluttered picture. As an interesting contrast, these are combined with PLAN lotion dispensers with an anodised aluminium finish. When a closer look is called for, KEUCO's iLook_move cosmetic mirrors with surrounding illumination answer the need. The innovative hinge design allows use of the cosmetic mirror also while seated. Aside from their timeless and universal design, with their clear contours and straight lines KEUCO products are also known for their cleaning-friendliness. Each wash area is also equipped with a KEUCO hair dryer.In the disabled-accessible wet area, patients shower with the innovative IXMO fitting, which combines multiple functions in the smallest of spaces. The PLAN railing system provides support for standing up and adds a welcome sense of security in the shower. The ELEGANCE shower basket for the necessary care products can also be easily reached while sitting on the KEUCO Care shower stool. Space for bathrobes and towels can be found in the bathroom on PLAN towel hooks.The convenience and safety of the patient is taken into consideration even around the toilet. The toilet paper holder, spare paper holder and toilet brush set are mounted at the ideal height. The brilliant chrome finishes contrast beautifully with the sand-coloured tiles. For patients with disabilities, KEUCO drop-down supporting rails encourage more independence.With their modern furnishings, the extremely spacious bathrooms in the comfort ward of St. Elisabeth hospital in Geilenkirchen demonstrate how appealingly safety and convenience can be designed.

Gripsure decking is helping to bring more visitors to an expanding network of scenic waterside trails in rural Ireland. Gripsure's Premier non-slip timber decking is used on a new 60-metre-long boardwalk at Acres Lake near Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. The boardwalk forms part of the Shannon Blueway, a network of multi-activity recreational trails providing routes into the heart of rural Ireland by canoe, bike or on foot. The boardwalk was officially opened by The Minister for the Department of Rural and Community Development, Minister Ring TD. Gripsure’s anti-slip decking is also used on Acre Lake’s new fishing and viewing platform, which is accessible to disabled visitors. Using one of the safest decking profiles available, it will ensure the waterside attraction stays safe underfoot– even in wet weather. Created by Waterways Ireland, the development is aimed at attracting more people to enjoy the waterways. In addition to traditional boaters, the family-friendly trails are now bringing walkers, canoeists, paddle boarders and cyclists to enjoy the trails. Deirdre Donnelly, Design Engineer at Waterways Ireland said: “The boardwalk is a fantastic facility that has been very well received. It is bringing in more visitors to use the Shannon Blueway, including walkers, cyclists, paddle boarders and anglers. When we were designing the boardwalk we decided we needed a non-slip surface that was also very durable. We are committed to making the boardwalk and fishing platform accessible to visitors with disabilities and safety has been an important consideration. The decking was very easy to install, looks great and works really well.” The Shannon Blueway encompasses more than 200km of waterborne or waterside trails. Its recreational trails offer walking, kayaking, and cycling routes in lesser-known parts of the State.

London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site, Kew Gardens welcomes over 2.1 million visitors a year. Gripsure decking is helping more people enjoy the botanical attraction’s natural area, which is home to 15,000 species of wildlife.Gripsure non-slip decking now tops a new 300-metre walkway, which takes visitors across a conservation area to a treehouse. The two-metre wide platform is raised to avoid impacting on wildlife.The platform was created by Artisan Fern. With a number of slopes, it needed to be as safe as possible and accessible to people with disabilities. It was also important to use sustainable materials that fitted with the natural environment.Gary Walker of Artisan Fern said: “When we were building the walkway we needed to ensure it complied with DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) legislation so non-slip decking was a great choice. When we were choosing decking we needed it to be sustainable and durable, as well as looking good. Gripsure non-slip decking is a sustainably sourced product that works really well for all Kew’s visitors. It looks fantastic and we are really impressed with it.”

RAF Museum Cosford, one of the premier tourist destinations in Shropshire, officially opened its brand-new Astor Bannerman Changing Places Toilet last week. Staff at the museum were joined by carers from City of Wolverhampton Council, Adult Provider Services and Aveso CEO Nick Kent for the ribbon cutting ceremony.Located in the visitor centre, the toilet includes a ceiling track hoist for full room coverage and an adult size height adjustable changing table, amongst other essential equipment and the extra space needed to use the toilet safely and comfortably.The equipment in the Changing Places toilet includes: Astor Invincible Changing TableAstor OT200 Ceiling HoistAstor ABW6 Height Adjustable Wash BasinCentrally Placed ToiletPortable Privacy ScreenAccessories including grab railsTalking about the new accessible facility, Paula Kovacs, RAF Museum Community Engagement Manager said:‘As a national museum, we recognise how important it is that each one of our visitors is able to enjoy their day with us in comfort and dignity. This is particularly important for visitors with profound and multiple learning disabilities, and others who need extra support. I am certain that this new facility will have a tremendous positive impact on the visitor experience for those of our visitors with such requirements, as well as their families, friends and carers, enabling them to enjoy as fully as possible their day with us, confident that their requirements are being catered for.’The Changing Places toilet was given a big thumbs up from members of the City of Wolverhampton Council, Adult Provider Services (Day Opportunities), who recently visited the RAF Museum on their first day trip to an attraction in more than a year.One carer said:‘It’s my first visit to the RAF Museum and the Changing Places facility is wonderful. The Museum is amazing, and we will now be able to plan more days out with our members. Without the Changing Places facility, we wouldn’t have been able to bring some of our members.’‘It’s vital when we go out that we have facilities for people to use. Changing Places toilets is something we can’t always find but having one so close will make days out so much better.’Nick Kent, CEO of Aveso, a long-term sponsor of The Changing Places Campaign making venues more accessible for all, said:‘Changing Places are a vital facility for the disabled community and their carers. There are over 1,600 Changing Places rooms in the UK, but this facility is one of the most beautifully designed with the mural of the sky. It’s a great facility for users and carers and ensures the Museum is an attractive day out for everyone.’The Museum’s new Changing Places facility is provided in addition to the standard accessible toilets that can be found in each of the Museum’s buildings. For further details of the various facilities that the Museum offers for visitors requiring additional assistance please visit rafmuseum.org/Cosford.

Disabled access was the driving force behind a leading motorcycle company’s decision to ramp up facilities at its new showroom. It’s been a year of success for Barrie Robson Motorcycles, a well-known prestige motorcycle dealer and BMW franchise in York. But with a newly-built premises the company needed to ensure that it gave disabled customers and staff top quality access by installing a Cibes UK lift. Kevin Fairburn is manager and joint owner at the dealership that opened its new headquarters a year ago after 30 years in business.

Broadband experts have taken accessibility at their Hull HQ to the next level. Cibes Lift UK has installed an A5000 platform lift at KCOM’s head office to allow for disabled access. Lauren Haysom, regional property coordinator at KCOM, says she wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Cibes to those looking to improve accessibility for staff and visitors. She said: “As a company we know it is vitally important that we meet all our employees’ access needs as well as fully complying with regulations surrounding disabled access and Cibes has enabled us to meet those requirements."

The international family-run company Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH is on the technological cutting edge. The Science Center Berlin, located between Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, provides the public with insight on the topic of mobility with disabilities.

The Calvert Trust was set up to provide a fully-accessible luxury holiday home for people with disabilities and their families to stay in. As such, they wanted to make sure that any accessible equipment included in their lodges and chalets was as discreet as possible. We worked with them on their Kielder campus, and created bespoke Integralift hidden hoist systems to go around the double bed from either side. You wouldn't even know they were there! Take a look at the photos on our website.

The Frederick Holmes School in Hull was a new-build project we worked on a few years back. The school was designed to cater for students aged 2 to 19 with severe physical and learning disabilities. Classrooms and hygiene rooms needed full hoist coverage to allow students and staff to move anywhere within the room. We even let the school trial our hoist units whilst they were deciding which supplier to go with. Ultimately, the easiness of our hoist systems made them choose us to supply and install 32 X-Y hoist systems. Find out more on our website.

US aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, officially opened its first European manufacturing site in Sheffield in 2020. The £40m plant, covers 6,200m² and is responsible for making actuation system components for the 737 and 767 aircraft from raw materials sourced in the UK.The site, designed by D5 architects and installed by the main contractor J F Finnegan, followed the brief of functional adaptability, employee wellbeing and sustainability.Marshalls’ hard landscaping products were used for the forecourt, pathways and surrounding carpark to the building. Modal in Textured Mid Grey Granite paved around the entranceway and paths, while Modal Priora in Anthracite was used in some detailed areas. For the car parking spaces, Keyblok Priora in Natural was used alongside Charcoal to help define parking spaces and illustrate car charging and disabled bays.The use of Priora permeable paving supports the sustainable drainage for this project, the patented nib on the edge of the blocks creates voids through which water falls into a specially prepared sub-base, making this project free of surface water for years to come.

THE NEED:One of our customers was approached to provide a variety of markings for a new multi-storey car park build which included disabled spaces, parent and child bays, reserved bays, car club bays and electric charging bays – all of which were suitably colour-coded.SOLUTION:The challenge they had was delivering the highest possible quality markings within budgetary requirements. This meant using MMA as sparingly as possible, and looking to other suitable paints and materials. The car park was built using several different surface materials including asphalt and montex on the ground floor, montex on the first floor and mastic asphalt for the second floor. Various coloured paints were also needed on all three floors in order to achieve a sleek, modern and user-friendly look. A range of products were required to use a variety of colours on these various surfaces.SUMMARY:we recommended a mixture of MMA, solvent based and water based paint options to cover the requirements. These would give the markings and car park a smart-looking appearance, and also complied with the budgetary requirements. Walkways and roadways on the ground and first floor were installed using Ultragrip L240 which has a textured but sleek finish, fulfilling the demands of safety and aesthetics. All of the parking bays, letters and arrows were done using paint products dependent on the surface. The different coloured bays were created using the MultiGrip W248 water based paint on the asphalt surfaces and MultiGrip X440 solvent based paint on the montex surfaces to give a hard wearing slip resistant finish. All works on the montex were primed with UniPrime L257 to ensure good adhesion and longevity.SYSTEMS USED:- UltraGrip L240 - MultiGrip W248 - MultiGrip X440 - UniPrime L257

The hospital needed to ensure good accessibility and create demarcation areas for staff and visitors. We provided various systems including automatic revolving doors and sliding doors, an automatic revolving door with a diameter of 5.4 meters, and various swing door operators for the automation of both wooden single-action doors and fire-resistant doors. We installed swing door operators and sliding door operators which ensure convenient, comfortable and safe access between the departments. In addition to the benefits of comfort and energy-savings, the solution provides safe escape routes and easy access for both able-bodied and disabled people.

Located near Taunton, Somerset, the Halcon Centre provides short breaks, with 24-hour professional care, for up to 18 adults who are physically disabled or have sensory loss. SureProtect Design® bespoke wall cladding was installed in the main corridor at the centre featuring a row of imitation panels, that have been designed to look hand-drawn with a marker pen to offer the homely feel the centre was looking for. In addition, the Halcon Centre further increased the corridor walls’ protection by installing Gradus’s CGH5090 High Impact PVC-u Corner Guards and WGS200 Wall Guards, both in colour Gravel.

Brooklands Museum recently completed a project refurbishing a WW2 hangar with a mezzanine viewing platform. The stairs were unsuitable for disabled access, so required a lift with minimal support points, no head fixing and small footprint. Gartec's 7000 passenger platform lift was installed in 2 days - Valerie Mills, Commercial Director, commented “Once features and prices were compared, the 7000 was an easy choice. Gartec provided everything to make an informed decision. We're surprised how quickly the team completed the installation – efficient, clean and professional. The lift ticks all the boxes and opened the upper space for everyone to enjoy”

Stocks Hall Nursing & Care Group have homes all over the UK, and they were opening a new one in Mawdesley, Lancashire. This home was designed specifically for people living with complex physical disabilities and plus size patients. Our designers worked closely with the owners to design a flexible, thorough hoist systems that would deliver for patients throughout the building, no matter how much their needs vary. We installed a total of 20 X-Y inset overhead hoist systems connecting private rooms to en-suites and assisted bathrooms. Take a closer look on our website!

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) operates services in 200 locations across Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. It provides an inpatient and community mental health, learning disability and addiction services for adult, young people and children. The trust required a solution to help prevent the possibility of suicide from door tops while not compromising the integrity of the door in terms of fire, safety, privacy and functionality.

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) operates services in 200 locations across Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire. It provides a range of inpatient and community mental health , learning disability and addiction services for adult, young people and children. The solution offered by Intastop was to ensure the door had full anti-ligature protection with the Door Top Alarm and fully clad the door in high quality anti-bacterial impact protection sheet which prevents water absorption and protects from damage.

Located just to the east of Worksop Town Centre, The Canch is an award-winning park that is owned and managed by Bassetlaw District Council.As part of Bassetlaw District Council’s commitment to continually improve the overall facilities at its Green Flag award-winning park, plans for a new building were put in place in 2021 to include a refreshments kiosk, a Changing Places toilet, a disabled toilet, a baby change and parent WC in addition to four unisex toilets.To improve their visitor experience and make their park accessible for all, Bassetlaw District Council got in touch with Innova Care Concepts to supply and install a new Changing Places facility.Take a look to fine out how Innova helped ensure The Canch had accessible toilet facilities for all visitors to their park .....

Adjustable bathroom equipments for ex-Servicemen and women. Care for Veterans, providers of long term nursing care, rehabilitation, respite and award-winning end of life care to disabled ex-Servicemen and women, have opted for adjustable bathroom equipment from specialists Pressalit in a suite of new bathrooms in their Worthing rehabilitation facility.

Scarborough Sports Village includes Prospec Marathon Classic range throughout, with cantilevered and double island bench seating in matching solid grade laminate. Prospec Marathon wet lockers, which include an aluminium carcass for wet areas, are a mixture of 1, 2, 3, and 4 tiers, and feature our new £1 coin return lock. Other products included within our installation would be our Marathon Classic fully framed cubicles, postformed solid grade laminate vanity units and grooming shelves, and floor to ceiling IPS (duct panel systems). This project also features our Disabled Access lockers which comply with Sport England recommendations.

Irvine Leisure Centre showcases Prospec’s Cabrillant 700 cubicle system in standard float, toughened and laminated glass. Both Prospec Marathon glass and laminate wet lockers are featured within the centre, each £1 coin return lock accepting both the new and old £1 coins. Furthermore, other products installed by Prospec would include the Marathon Conform Suspended system inside the Village Change area and Disabled Access lockers which act in accordance with Sport Scotland and BREAAM guidelines. Prospec products at The Portal are finished with a contemporary colour pallet, which gives a clean and modern feel.

Mildmay Oaks offers in-patient rehabilitation services for men and women with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs). The 39-bed unit has both a low-secure and a high-secure facilities.Operated by The Priory Group, the unit aims to support patients with community-based activities so they can progress through their care pathway towards a community-based placement. Creating a domestic-looking environment was key to this – and the client and designers chose our doorsets throughout.

This case study highlights an entire ward refurbishment that was completed using BioPod’s IPS at a prominent Yorkshire based NHS Trust. Units included wash hand basins, WC and WHB for disabled toilets, IPS to cubicles and full wall IPS to consultation rooms.

The experience of holidaying with a disabled member of the family was the inspiration of a dream to provide the ultimate in accessible vacationing

The BriefPG Marshall and Sons Ltd. were working on a project at St Helier Hospital for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. They were relocating the Davis (outpatient) unit which included a portable building that required weather protection over the disability access ramp and pathway leading to the unit.They also needed the canopy to connect the Davis Unit to Ferguson House (the main building), which already had a small cantilevered canopy that the hospital trust were keen to keep in place.The SolutionThe two buildings that required connecting via a canopy had a fairly awkward space in between due to the buildings not being equally parallel to one another. Following the original design drawings, it was clear that the perfect solution would be the popular Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy.

The New Fusion Hive Innovation Centre at Northshore, Stockton-On-Tees, was part of a 56 acre and £300 million overall project. The 36,000 sq ft Innovation centre is a state-of- the-art, high-tech building that provides spaces for small and medium sized science and technology businesses. Having been identified as the preferred supplier, Artform offered a selection of site furniture elements which included Big Harris Benches, Word Bollards and Box Litter Bins. There were also bespoke signage plates incorporated into some of the bollards to identify disabled parking bays.

St Paul's Cathedral is Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, built in glowing Portland Stone, crowned by the magnificent dome, a famous landmark on the skyline of the City of London.This programme saw St Paul’s repaired and cleaned inside and out, with greatly improved provision for those with disabilities and an enhanced visitor experience through the provision of new exhibition and interpretation galleries.Here at Albion Stone we regularly supply Portland stone to the Masons at St Paul’s Cathedral for maintenance and repairs. We supplied Portland Jordans Basebed and Whitbed for the South Churchyard Improvements. The stone has been used to create seating areas that reinforce the other side of the medieval cloister walk.

Sliding pocket doors are hugely beneficial when designing new or refurbished accommodation for people with disabilities where inclusive design is deemed important. More than 30 sliding pocket door systems and 11 Eclisse Hoist pocket door systems have been installed inside the new building. The Eclisse Hoist pocket door system has meant that a hoist lift can be between rooms to transport the young people from one area to another. Three ECLISSE Hoist pocket door systems have been installed in the physiotherapy area and a motorised lifting system in the pool area.

Fearnach House on The Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland was designed by architect Iain Macbeath, and built by the firm’s sister company, Thermopassive.The house is a 190m² new house, built to the architect’s “Thermopassive” specification with larch timber and render walls and profiled metal roofing. It has PV solar panels with a “diverter” heating up water and charging an electric car. High levels of thermal capacity storage in an insulated concrete floor slab (so it stays warm and flattens out rapid temperature fluctuations) and very good air tightness.There are no cold bridges (which is more important than you would think) and also a heat recovery ventilation system for fresh air.This project uses FAKRO top hung and pivot window preSelect MAX and L-shaped combination windows.When asked, why Fakro roof windows were specified for the project, Ian McBeath told us, “We have been specifying and buying Fakro roof lights for many years. They are well-priced compared with competitive products and of excellent quality and design.The positioning of the handles at the bottom of the window is also a major factor. It makes it much easier to operate a window with the handles at the bottom rather than the top of the window, which is often out of reach of many shorter and disabled people. The windows are also very well insulated and airtight.”The windows have helped achieve an extremely energy-efficient home as well as flooding the upper floor rooms with an abundance of natural light. And the client loves the internal and external finishes.Based in the North of Scotland, Thermopassive Ltd is an architect-owned company which specialises in highly insulated buildings (better than passive house standard) constructed in Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS).

The National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, is a hospital rehabilitation treatment for patients who have a physical or cognitive disability due to illness or injury. The new 17,000msq development at the hospital included a fit for purpose ward accommodation block comprising 120 single ensuite isolation rooms with integrated therapy spaces, a new sports hall, hydrotherapy unit, links to the existing building which will ensure full integration between the new development and the existing hospital on the site, and significant campus infrastructure upgrades.

A grade II listed building, the building has several notable Art Deco features including the staircase and corridors at either side of the auditorium. The Royal Shakespeare Company has renovated the Theatre as part of a £112.8m transformation project which saw the creation of a new 1040+ seat, a thrust stage auditorium which brings actors and audiences close together. The new theatre is also more accessible to people with disabilities and offers a more comfortable experience. The style of their washrooms needed to emulate the features adopted from years of fashion and trends reflected in the theatres' décor.