"double bed"

A bespoke side sliding sectional garage door by Rundum Meir provides a blend of aesthetics and modern functionality in a Victorian house renovation project. The 19 ft x 12 ft garage has been transformed into a quality working space equipped and finished exquisitely, allowing for use as a utility area or office as well as a vehicular. A clear 2900mm span is provided by a sliding sectional garage door. Hand crafted using knot-free Spruce, this bespoke timber door in RAL 6021 Pale Green is fully automated with insulation between the five solid double skinned timber panels.With one third obscure glazing, the door allows for plenty of natural light to enter the garage. The design of the garage door panels and the cross styles in the window were the customer’s wish to satisfy the local conservation area requirements. It is the perfect example of the role a Rundum Meir garage door can play in transforming a garage to give it new purpose and flexibility.

Wick Lane is a scheme composed of six distinct buildings, including light industrial units, retail, and workspace areas, and 175 homes. It has been built in an existing vibrant neighbourhood, characterised by Victorian warehouse buildings with a mixture of industrial, creative, and residential spaces. These six buildings work together to form a new community that is an authentic piece of Hackney Wick. These apartments consist of a selection of one, two, and three bedroom homes. A variety of employment spaces activate and enliven the main street whilst freestanding double-height industrial units are combined with a variety of one, two or three-storey commercial units.Cellecta’s YELOfon HD5 was specified by dRMM due to its excellent acoustic properties specifically designed to reduce impact noise through the concrete floors with a floating screed. It is a lightweight, easy to install non-crosslinked polyethylene foam.Taylor Wimpey was awarded this 15,000m² contract to construct this development.

Ivydale Primary School is an expansion of the campus. Combating increasing demand for primary schools within the UK, it introduced a two-storey cross-laminated timber framed building on a second site nearby; this includes an amphitheatre. This extension has doubled the school’s capacity to accommodate key stage two children in a four-form entry primary school. Taking inspiration from the children’s illustration ‘The Fox in the Forest’ by Julia Woolf, this development won a regional RIBA London Award in 2018. Southwark Borough Council ensured the remodelled building was energy efficient, applying the London Plan’s energy hierarchy: ‘Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green’.Cellecta’s HEXATHERM XCHiP was specified by Hawkins\Brown due to its high-performance thermal insulation with a P5 moisture-resistant tongue and groove chipboard to produce a high compressive strength, interlocking floorboard.Galliford Try was supplied 1,000m² of Cellecta products to develop this school in Southwark.

BackgroundWard Flooring were required to fit a Stair Nosing which met DDA and Equality Act guidelines. Whilst helping to create an attractive and colourful new learning environment for the school’s students.SolutionThe new Q Range, available in 21 special profiles of Stair Nosing proved to be the perfect solution. This unique Stair Nosing design proved to be the most suitable solution for installation in Drapers Mills Primary Academy. Owing to its all over tread design, which provides a slip resistant surface from the nose to the back edge, gives the benefit of extra safety when ascending or descending stairs.The satin etched aluminium riser surface provides the double benefit of being scratch resistant and it inhibits the potential for ‘glare’, which is one of the requirements of the latest BS8300:2008 and Building Regulation guidelines applicable to stairways in areas of Public Access. For more information about the Q Range of Stair Nosings visit www.quantumflooring.co.uk.

This New Forest family home features an impressive double-height landing space. A small hatch positioned 2.65m above the floor-level provides access to the loft space, which offers useful storage and contains the boiler. The homeowners wanted easy access to the loft. The easy-to-use 'Supreme Vertical' wall access loft ladder from Premier Loft Ladders provided the perfect solution.Despite being manually operated, it is very easy to use due to counter-balance springs and gas-strut mechanism. Furthermore, the Supreme Vertical is offered with a made-to-measure insulated hatch, which avoids having to have a separate (independently operated) door. In addition, the heavy-duty construction makes it ideal for regular use and long-term durability.Visit our website to read the full case study and view the picture gallery. You can also find the 'Supreme Vertical' in NBS Source.

Market Estate is situated next to Caledonian Park in the London Borough of Islington. It is named after the Metropolitan Cattle Market, opened by Prince Albert in 1855 as an alternative to Smithfield. A major redevelopment includes a mix of residential units. As part of this scheme, significant improvements were made to Caledonian Park: planting new trees and relaying paths.A Modena railing fence surrounds the formal landscaping and a children’s play area within the park and encloses an additional garden to the North.Over 450m of standard and radiused fencing was supplied with double-leaf and pedestrian gates. A pair of bespoke gates were designed and manufactured to hang within stone pillars with a section of Modena-XL, 3m high fencing, to either side. This forms an impressive entrance towards the Victorian Clock Tower, the clock is noted for being a prototype for Big Ben.Finish: hot-dip galvanised & polyester powder coat – Mica Grey

The new flagship outlet of Pioneer Foodstore in Carlisle was built to a high specification with the aim of significantly extending their client base. The planning application had to meet the requirement for a screen to conceal the roof-top services and air-conditioning plant.Italia-80V was proposed, which could be bent to a radius, to fulfill the vision for a semi-circular end to one side of the compound. The 2950mm high steel louvre panels were welded onto appropriately shaped RSA support rails at top and bottom, which were supplied with multiple holes for fixing to the posts to ensure perfect continuity of spacing. A double-leaf gate was also seamlessly incorporated by using a front fixing design.Lang+Fulton worked closely with the architect at an early stage to advise on the fixing points for the posts which would carry the screen. This ensured that the thermal barrier and waterproof membrane could be wrapped up the footings for a neat and effective installation.

Knauf integral in Warwick Hall development.The Knauf team has played a significant role in the  specification and design process during recent  construction at one of the oldest schools in England, working alongside award winning Associated Architects to produce a masterclass in acoustic  performance.The site consisted of an existing hall, which was used for assemblies, performances and functions. This hall was built in the 1960s and suffered from a series of failings which impacted its flexibility and usefulness.The proposal for the Warwick Hall was an opportunity to build a physical embodiment of Warwick School’s  academic excellence, prosperity and ambition, which saw the existing school hall stripped back to its structural frame and heavily modified to provide a state-of-the-art, revitalised and flexible school hall with  a large double height entrance foyer, two performance  studios and other ancillary spaces. The brief was given to the team at Associated Architects and they quickly relied on the quality of materials and service provided by Knauf.

The new part of Sct. Hans hospital, designed by KHR Architecture and Rubow Arkitekter, is a beautiful example of the healing architecture of our time. The total 20,700 m² building contains a brand new forensic psychiatric department with 126 beds. The architecture is based on the beautiful surroundings in a hilly and varied terrain that slopes down towards Roskilde Fjord. The new part of St. Hans Forensic Psychiatry incorporates the surrounding nature into the architecture, where the location of the buildings is adapted to the landscape's topography, so that the buildings become part of the landscape and the landscape a part of the building. Throughout the project, there has been an intensive focus on creating healing architecture based on the latest knowledge in the field.Nature and light have a documented positive impact on patients' well-being and Sct. Hans is therefore built into the landscape in a way that ensures beautiful views both from patient rooms and corridors and common areas. There is never a view from one patient room to the other, and high-placed windows provide a view even for bedridden patients.Throughout the construction, nature has been thought of, where wood in both interior design and furniture creates a sense of homeliness, sensuousness, and presence. Nature is constantly drawn into the building via large windows and window sections from floor to ceiling. Outside, fantastic sensory gardens, outdoor activity areas as well as gardens and spaces for quietness and reflection have been created.Hudevad has delivered Our P5 Vertical in a beautiful, muted color for installation in the beautiful wooden panels that create warmth and coziness in many of the building's rooms. Our white P5 Vertical adorns many of the long corridors and ensures that the cold draft from the large windows is limited.

Guilden Village is brand new to Guildford, offering 533 high-quality bed spaces accompanied with 1030 sq. m of student amenity space including a fitness boutique, sky lounge, and an indoor mini golf course: all revolving around student mental well-being.The space was designed and created by Future Generation to create the perfect home away from home for students who want something more. The scheme which has a GDV exceeding £102 million will help to deliver on the much-needed increase in quality student accommodation that Guildford requires to meet demand.A mixture of AG products were supplied throughout the project entirety with 60mm and 80mm Plaza (Salt, Pepper, Birkes, and Kardemon) and TerraPave Rimini Ground Flagstones being utilised across the scheme. Additionally, our TerraPave step units and Buff Corduroy were also added to further compliment the scheme. The combination of Plaza colours and sizes provides the complex with a beautiful vibrant modern look with the addition of TerraPave’s durable granite finish.Aneed Mohammed, AG’s Technical Specification Consultant stated, “We thoroughly enjoyed working with the design and whole project team at Guilden Village to provide specification support throughout the stages to ensure all appropriate products were utilised across the PBSA scheme. A wide range of high-quality granite-topped products were utilised with the further adoption of granite step units to continue the granite theme throughout the project in order to give the scheme the high-end appearance they required. Another project once again with a great showcase of our high-quality paving products”.

The Sash Window Workshop to replace several traditional timber windows and a back door in a property in Buckinghamshire.The enquiry was assigned to our sales surveyor who arranged a visit to assess the windows and door, answered any questions and provided them with a quotation for the work.A couple of meetings were held with the customer to discuss and review the details of the quotation and an order was placed for a timber back door and 21 replacement casement windows, comprising of a mixture of single, double and bay windows.The door and windows were manufactured in Accoya, which comes with a 50 year anti-rot guarantee alongside The Sash Window Workshop’s 20 year joinery guarantee.Internally the windows and door were painted in a standard white, with a bespoke green paint applied externally.The installation was carried out by The Sash Window Workshop over 2 weeks, with our site manager visiting the property to check that the installation was progressing smoothly.After the work was completed, the couple commented that they were very happy with their new windows and door.

Background & BuildingA brand new headquarters for the Aston Martin Racing Formula 1 team, based at Silverstone Race Track. A state of the art building solely designed to build, run and service Aston Martin’s Formula 1 racing vehicles. Built by the side of the historic Silverstone Grand Prix racing track in Northamptonshire.The Brief in BriefThe project requirements demanded good DB ratings, full height doors, privacy for Mission Control with Smart Glass and privacy to Exec area with blinds. An Atrium to flood light into the ‘street’ below. Plus offices, meeting rooms, a Mission Control racing hub, a large Atrium screen over indoor areas, open plan design offices, breakout and communal areas.Komfort’s SolutionPrior to the start of the project we had numerous pre-start meetings with the design team and H&S visits with our external advisors to ensure the project would run smoothly from the start.To achieve a system and design the client desired, Komfort built mock-up sample office onsite during the design stage to highlight the design elements such as acoustic double glazed glass in Polar 100 and our deflection head system. We also supplied samples of our blinds, with the system in situ to demonstrate the operating fixtures and fittings. All samples were supplied in the clients choice of colour including matt black blinds to match the trackwork.The double glazed full length Atrium required teams working on both sides of the glass, installation from the office side and safety (fall arrest) from the street side. The atrium glazing over the machine shop area required glass lifting equipment, to ensure the fire rated glass could be sealed properly from both sides.The client made numerous changes to the design during installation, which had to be accommodated. The final project involved 800 sqm of glass and 50+ Sonik doors throughout the building site. It was a challenge and one that Komfort rose to admirably.The end resultModern open plan offices with a selection of meeting rooms. Large executive offices with blinds/locks for privacy. A large full length atrium from the offices above to the workshops and indoor street below. All areas of the racing team on 1 floor (design office, HR, Exec offices, Mission Control, finance etc).

Perforated cladding panels like no other from Proteus Facades have helped to transform a defunct 1980s structure in the heart of London into a visually striking, contemporary commercial office space. Once described as unwelcoming and foreboding, York House in Kings Cross, which dates back to 1981, featured a complex brick façade, with a set back entrance and very small windows giving the building a stand-offish appearance as well as a poorly lit interior.Following a £13 million refurbishment, the building, purchased by The Office Group, which provides flexible workspaces in London, Leeds and Bristol, has been transformed into a bright, co-working space, suitable for London’s thriving and growing businesses.Designed by Architects dMFK, the 70,000sq. ft, eight storey redevelopment features both modern and traditional elements. An original Torigenus cast aluminium sculpture sits on the east side of the building, created by sculptor Geoffrey Clarke, whilst bold new additions include a double height entrance with offices above, as well as a set back roof extension and terrace on the 7th floor.

Architect/Designer: BenedettiLocation: London Project OverviewFront of house refurbishment including developing bespoke signage and hardware to meet the client and architect’s requirements. ServiceFull hardware scheduling service. Bespoke signage & ironmongery. Project Details 3v worked alongside Benedetti architects to provide a full interior hardware package for the beautiful refurbishment of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts headquarters at 195 Piccadilly. This project included development of bespoke signage panels and hardware designed to complement the overall design aesthetic for the refurbishment of this Grade II listed building.The Expansion includes new top floor by raising & restoring two large Victorian rooflight structures & decorative plasterwork considered ‘lost’ for 40 years, from the original 1883 Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Gallery, built in ‘opposition’ to the Royal Academy across the road.Facilities include: doubled capacity, two cinema theatres, banqueting hall, multipurpose event and exhibition spaces, members’ bars/restaurant/club, roof terraces, judging/meeting rooms and offices.

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.

 Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility that treats all of the residual household waste generated in Essex and Southend. To meet the structural design criteria of the contract, a very strong roof profile was required. To ensure fully effective sealing, this had to be a plain sheet without stiffening ribs. The requirement was met by a specially modified Trisobuild® R60 roof profile in a higher strength steel. The modified Trisobuild® R60 solution spans 2.65m. Tata Steel altered its production tooling to manufacture 26,000m2 of the modified R60 roof profile in double-sided Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra®.Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® was chosen to optimise protection against the corrosive internal environment and external weather side of the bio-stabilisation halls. Super durable Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® provides exceptional corrosion resistance which has been proven in natural and accelerated testing. Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra® exceeds the requirements of CP15 (as per EN 10169.2010), demonstrating excellent barrier properties when used internally.Images courtesy of UBB (Essex) Construction JV.

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.

Tucked away on the outskirts of Brigg, Lincolnshire, Scawby Brook is a carbon neutral, sustainable house that has been sensitively created for modern living and to complement the surrounding wooded setting. The home has featured on self-build TV show, Grand Designs.Designed by local architect Kate Kelly, the connection of the dwelling with nature was a key focus of the client's brief with the house featuring an abundance of glazing to refl­ect the natural environment and provide the best possible views of the rural landscape.A local project manager, Mike Hill was employed to deliver the project and source materials and labour from the local area. Mike specified Kestrel Aluminium window and door systems to provide a complete glazing solution for the project based on previous experience and the knowledge that this would oer the best solution in terms of the quality and budget demanded by the client.The multiple windows are a mixture of fixed or opening vents, with multi-point espagnolette locking PAS24 compliant security. Used in conjunction with low U-value double-glazed units achieving a U-Value of 1.2 W/m2K they ensure the building is safe, secure and energy efficient.

Working on the Ground Floor Lobby, First Floor Gym, Level 10 and Level 17, Planet’s southern contracting team provided an extensive range of fire-rated and non-fire rated partition and door solutions to Building D of the Nine Elms development in Battersea.In the Ground Floor Lobby, non-fire rated single-glazed automatic bi-parting sliding doors were installed along with with 3150mm high LOFT20 XL partitions with reeded film. IsoPro doors (40 dB Rw) provided access to co-working spaces and meeting rooms.FireTec Ei30 fire rated doors and LOFT transom bars provided exit route protection on Level 1 in communal areas and on Level 10 along with a FireTec Ei60 window.On Level 17, two FireTec Ei30 double door sets with overhead panels provided access to the indoor lounge area and bar area, while a single LOFT20 screen offered additional natural light passage between the lounge and adjoining demonstration kitchen.

Yeoman Shield’s new Guardian Twin Handrail was installed as part of the ward refurbishment project recently undertaken at Barnsley Hospital, South Yorkshire.A 350+ bed hospital built in the 1970’s and serving a quarter of a million people in the Barnsley area, the hospital demands a constant regime of maintenance throughout its premises.Maintaining its high standards, Barnsley Hospital have improved the surroundings and facilities in 6 of the hospital wards, including the discharge unit, female trauma and elective orthopaedic unit.As part of the refurbishment project Yeoman Shield were employed to remove the old bump rail and handrails and replace them with the dual purpose Guardian Twin Handrail to corridors and waiting areas throughout the 6 wards.The twin handrail was supplied with a 50mm dia. PVCu upper handrail for support to those who need it and a lower 125mm deep protection rail which, standing slightly forward of the handrail, offers protection to both the wall décor and the handrail itself, minimising on repair and replacement.Supplied in a Pastel Blue colour with contrasting accessories in Pebble Grey the Guardian Twin Handrail from Yeoman Shield was complemented with matching 200mm protection strip and corner protection angles.A member of the nursing staff on the discharge unit commented: “Previously down the corridors in this ward we just had a protection rail but now it has been replaced with a system that offers a handrail as well and we have found it a great help to our clients who attend the unit.”Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust commented that they have worked with Yeoman Shield previously and have always found their products and workmanship to be of a high standard.For further details and options on the Yeoman Shield Guardian Twin handrail and the new Guardian 50mm dia. Handrail range go to www.yeomanshield.com/handrails or call 0113 279 5854.

Comfortable space created for parents and babies at university hospitalIssueLa Paz University Hospital in Madrid is a national centre of expertise in neonatal care. They wanted to transform the Neonatal Acute Unit, to allow families to stay together with their babies while they are receiving treatment and care. In total, 24 units were created to accommodate and make this visit more comfortable.ApproachA homely, family-friendly space was needed that was also hygienic and reduced the transfer of noise. Víctor de las Casas, Architect at EACSN studio, said: “We wanted to modernise the neonatology area: not only in terms of materials, but in the very “neonatal concept” of La Paz, which wants to encourage parents to be with their children in the most normal and welcoming way possible”.SolutionSandra Fuentes, Maintenance and Works Technician at La Paz said: “The professional high standards of the medical team had not been reflected in the quality of the neonatal unit, and that was frustrating.” The flooring needed to be able to cope with foot traffic, hospital beds, trolleys and wheelchairs. It also needed good looks and design flexibility. The hospital team opted for robust Altro Operetta flooring, which provides 4dB impact sound reduction, comfort underfoot and ease of cleaning.Altro Operetta is a robust floor perfect for medium to high traffic areas and is easy to clean and maintain. Designed in line with the Bauhaus ethos that style is as important as function, it has multiple attractive, natural colours and finishes to fit in your interior design scheme."Altro Operetta gives the same warm feeling that carpet does, but also provides safety to both staff and patients." Sandra Fuentes Maintenance and Works Technician, La Paz University Hospital"Basically, all the technical issues have been resolved and the floor has provided more comfort for families staying in the unit." Víctor de las Casas Architect, EACSN Studio

An exceptional Berkshire new build has been enhanced by incorporating made-to-order timber windows and doors from Lomax + Wood Limited. The main window used is the timber spring balanced sash window. A key feature for the developer was that Lomax + Wood offers a complete service from design all the way through to installation.Lomax + Wood designed, supplied and fitted their made-to-order timber spring balances sash windows which helped create the period appearance for this amazing new build project within the constituency of Windsor.Part Q compliant43 made-to-order timber Spring Sash Windows Concealed Spring4 Bifolding Doorsets3 French Doorsets1 Entrance doorConcealed SpringsRal 9010Ovolo MouldThe Lomax + Wood high-performance timber windows and doors are manufactured from engineered knot-free timber for strength, stability and durability. The factory finished paint system is spray applied and micro-porous, which allows the timber to breathe. All the frames are supplied factory finished, with all ironmongery including espagnolette locking. The timber windows and doors are double or triple glazed internally for security; all are tested independently to achieve PAS 24:2016, BS 6375 Part 1, 2 and 3.Lomax + Wood are committed to sourcing from sustainable sources; to this end, we have worked hard to achieve FSC® Chain of Custody which is deemed by many to be an environmental gold standard. This work was undertaken in partnership with BM TRADA who are also considered to be a mark of quality in our industry. FSC® Chain of Custody is not the same as a timber window and door supplier providing FSC® documents for the timber alone. The Lomax + Wood FSC® Chain of Custody ensures the timber is FSC® from the source through to installation, if Lomax + Wood site fitting is specified, which is within the scope of our certification.Lomax + Wood are able to provide a made-to-order timber window and door solution to architects, private customers, developers and builders across the UK and our website demonstrates the vary varied styles and projects that we have been involved with.Lomax + Wood can provide made-to-order timber windows and doors, including composite aluminium clad with a supply only or supply and fit option. Timber windows and doors are available with specialised double, triple or single glazing to meet performance and conservation are requirements. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your project or so we can provide you with a quotation.

A Glimpse into 17th-century CharmIn Leeds, the venerable Land End Farm, a testament to 17th-century architectural splendour, underwent a transformative window upgrade. Keith and Carolynn Squires, custodians of this historic property, embarked on a journey to bid farewell to draughts and enhance their farmhouse's efficiency while preserving its heritage.Preserving the Past: The Window DilemmaOld and listed properties demand meticulous attention during upgrades, and the Squires faced the challenge of replacing degraded original windows without compromising the farmhouse's historic charm. The solution came in the form of Gowercroft's Heritage range fitted with LandVac Heritage vacuum glazing, specifically the Richmond flush casement windows, known for preserving the authenticity of listed properties.Richmond Casements with Vacuum Glazing: A Historic UpgradeThe Squires opted for Richmond casement windows, crafted from sustainable Accoya® timber. What set these windows apart was the ultra-thin high-performance vacuum glazing — a vital component delivering energy efficiency without compromising the authentic single-glazed look. The slimness and performance of the vacuum glazing impressed Keith, and Gowercroft's extensive warranty added significant value.LandVac Heritage Glazing: Efficiency RedefinedTo enhance Land End Farm's historic windows, Gowercroft introduced LandVac Heritage Glazing—an ultra-thin, high-performance glazing unit designed to preserve the authentic single-glazed look while boosting energy efficiency.LandVac Heritage Glazing transcends conservation requirements, eliminating the 'double reflection' associated with conventional double glazing. With a remarkable U value of 0.4 W/m²K, it not only meets but surpasses standards, making Land End Farm a blend of historical charm and contemporary sustainability.Conservation Approval: A Collaborative ProcessNavigating conservation approval seamlessly, a Gowercroft team member attended site meetings, presenting a sample window that showcased the slimness of vacuum glazing. Detailed fenestration drawings provided assurance, aligning with stringent conservation requirements.Transformation Unveiled: The ResultsLand End Farm witnessed a remarkable transformation. The new windows not only rejuvenated the farmhouse's external aesthetics but also ushered in comfort, bidding farewell to draughts and enhancing thermal insulation. The vacuum glazing also played a pivotal role in reducing external noise, creating a serene living space.Conclusion: Tradition and Innovation UnitedLand End Farm's journey epitomises the harmonious fusion of tradition and innovation. Gowercroft's Richmond casement windows, complemented by vacuum glazing, demonstrate the power of preserving heritage while embracing modern efficiency. The farmhouse now stands as a comfortable, energy-efficient haven, seamlessly blending the best of both worlds.

The German company Knauf Integral was able to prevail against competitors with its GIFAfloor DB green raised floor system. A maximum flexible and individual floor due to the interchangeability of the individual panels, a non-combustible building material with A1 classification and the unproblematic recycling due to the lack of plastic edging, as is used in conventional raised floor elements, were decisive for the selection.Flexibility, health in the workplace and sustainability in construction - the 'Tour Alto' in Paris La DéfenseIn the Paris suburb of Courbevoie, in the office district of La Défense, the foundation stone was laid for the 'Tour Alto' - a 160 m high skyscraper which, after its planned completion in 2020, will have a usable area of 51,200 m2 next to countless offices, numerous restaurants, bars and fitness studios etc. will accommodate. For the floor structure, the property developer decided on the double floor 'GIFAfloor DB green' from Knauf Integral, paying particular attention to the aspects of flexibility, health, environmental protection and sustainability in buildings.The 'Tour Alto' office tower in the west of Paris extends over 38 floors and is part of the high-rise backdrop of the La Défense office district. Nevertheless, Bouygues, one of the largest property developers in the world, is setting new standards in construction: installed products not only have to be as flexible as possible in their design and use, they also have to meet high standards of sustainability and environmental compatibility as well as the highest health standards for people, who will do their jobs there every day.A maximum flexible and individual floor due to the interchangeability of the individual panels, a non-flammable building material with A1 classification and the unproblematic recycling due to the lack of plastic edging, as is used in conventional raised floor elements, were decisive for the selection.In addition, health and environmentally friendly aspects were the absolute focus of the project for the property developer: The selected product must contribute to excellent indoor air quality and all materials that come into contact with the indoor air should have A + according to French in terms of VOC and formaldehyde emissions Emission class to be rated. GIFAfloor DB green elements have exactly this A + certification - the decisive advantage compared to the commonly used raised floors with chipboard supports that contain formaldehyde. Independent (building) biological analysis laboratories also prove the excellent quality through their tests: Eurofins certifies the product as suitable for indoor use, and the Institute for Building Biology in Rosenheim gives the verdict " recommended ''. This ensures a healthy working environment for employees.With GIFAfloor DB green, Knauf Integral offers a sustainable and health-friendly double floor solution for flexible, high-quality commercial interior design. The elements consist of the homogeneous gypsum fiber material GIFAtec and are available in different thicknesses depending on the requirements.

Falco is pleased to announce another installation of the UK’s only automated cycle wheeling ramp, for 20 Ropemaker Street, located within the heart of the city. The new automatic cycle wheel ramps have been installed by Falco as part of a £240m state-of-the-art development bringing a new commercial building of more than 450,000ft² of Grade A, BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ office space and premium retail provision to a prominent corner site just north of Moorgate Station.The automated bike wheeling ramp known as the ‘VeloComfort®’ is a huge innovation and Falco is once again delighted to bring what is standard Dutch cycling technology to the UK market. These wheeling ramps provide cyclists with the next generation of accessibility and are designed to assist users with manoeuvring their bikes up and down stairs with virtually no effort.This is particularly important where a bike is either heavy or perhaps has a basket or panniers and makes carrying a bike up stairs or even using a traditional wheeling ramp difficult. The VeloComfort® range comes in two patented innovative designs, one for manoeuvring bicycles up the stairs - VeloComfortUp®, and one for down - VeloComfortDown®!Falco supplied and installed 22m of both VeloComfortUp® and VeloComfortDown® designed to meet the client’s exact stair dimensions.The VeloComfortUp® is essentially a mini ‘travellator’ or conveyor belt which starts once the integrated sensors detect a bike and automatically stops if the conveyor is completely free of bicycles. The high quality conveyor (kevlar-based) belt runs in a durable, low-maintenance aluminium double-sided channel and is powered by an electric motor. The entrance and exit of the conveyor are aesthetically, functionally and safely integrated into the system, with the electric motor positioned on the side of the conveyor belt.The VeloComfortDown® is a simple and effective non-electric cycle / bike wheeling ramp designed with a gutter brush to reduce the speed of the bike. The gutter brush is made from a high quality, durable and low-maintenance aluminium double-sided channel, which is equipped with brush strip on both sides. The friction of the gutter brush ensures that the bike slows down, allowing the user to determine his/her own pace during the descent.Falco provide complete supply and installation of the VeloComfort® cycle wheeling ramps as well as free rendering graphics to help the client to visualise the scheme, free UK-wide site surveys and free CAD design and schematics.A video demonstrating the VeloComfort® Bike Wheeling Ramp can be viewed by clicking here.For more information about the innovative VeloComfort® Bike Wheeling Ramp, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

Fastlight Direct have undergone a refurbishment of their washrooms and chose Franke Water Systems as one of the chosen washroom manufacturers. Products provided included:2 x ANMW411 single Quadro Miranit Washbasins1 x ANMW421 double Quadro Miranit Washbasin 4 x F3SV1001 self-closing tapsMaintaining a high standard of hygiene is a key element to consider when specifying any washroom project. Franke’s Miranit composite wash basins are seamlessly moulded in Miranit, an advanced resin and granite composite material with a gelcoat layer, providing a non-porous, robust and hygienic finish. Miranit is several times stronger than ceramic, highly impact-resistant and virtually shatter-proof, making it ideal for busy washroom environments. The F3S self-closing taps are perfect for reducing water consumption with its proven piston-free self-closing water control. These highly durable self-closing F3 taps have been tried and tested over a million times, ensuring a long-lasting solution. The push cap is light and easy to use, with adjustable flow stop time for a one push operation.

The £45 million world-class School of Management is the flagship building of the University of Bath. The seven-storey building brings together the entire school under one roof and is a place to inspire new levels of collaboration and showcase the excellent learning, research, and industry partnerships available.The three principles of the design are flexibility, transparency, and collaboration. At the centre of the building is an impressive atrium with a feature steel staircase.   Within the atrium is the pavilion, a double height space flooded with natural light has been designed as a hub of activity where great minds meet. The buildings two arms emerge from a central node, each wing housing an array of academic and research space. The design brief called for openness and transparency which was achieved by the use of Lusso glazed partitioning throughout. The Lusso 25 glazed system and Silenzio doors were used to enhance and divide up space which at the same time allows natural light to filter through the building and encourage connectivity. Where the design required glass partitions in excess of 3.5 metres height the Lusso 105 glazed system was selected to meet the structural requirement which has created a visually impactful atrium.

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

Client: Whitelink Ltd Contractor: Floor & Wall Ltd Main Products Used: Emseal SJS SystemWhitelink is the leading ferry operator across the Solent from the mainland to the Isle of Wight and carries more than 5 million passengers a year. Their Portsmouth car ferry terminal in Gun Wharf has benefited from White-link’s £45m investment programme to upgrade the facilities, with new double deck parking and boarding ramps. The wide deck and ramp joints needed to be designed to safely accommodate high levels of movement from the combination of thermal and direct frequent traffic loadings, with simultaneous exposure to the marine environment, as well as maintaining watertightness to protect the structure. The engineers knew that selecting the right expansion joint system was going to be critical to the success of the project and their evaluation showed the Emseal SJS System was the best solution. Unlike most trafficable expansion joint systems, the Emseal SJS solution was extremely cost effective, required no potentially damaging mechanical fixings and with installation from the top side only, therefore the works could continue with minimal disruption to ongoing ferry services and the normal White-link customer experience.

A new state-of-the-art Jaguar Landrover showroom was built for the Helston Group in Taunton. The facilities reflect the latest corporate identity concept and comes complete with a new workshop, multi-storey rooftop parking, and an interactive showroom configuration with display systems.The showroom features wide open spaces and a large sales area to provide the customer with a first-class experience. It also affords staff members greater visibility throughout the showroom and forecourt areas. Lusso were appointed by main contractor, Acheson Construction, to provide internal glazing throughout the showroom and workshop area. Lusso 25 frameless single glazed partitioning system and complimentary Lusso glass doors were installed to form individual offices which allow privacy when needed, whilst still maintaining visibility of the showroom. Lusso 105 double glazed frameless partitions were installed to provide a barrier between the showroom and workshop area.The use of stylish internal glazing as part of the backdrop to the stunning Jaguar Landrover range certainly makes an impact. The end result blends functionality and aesthetics, providing a stylish and contemporary showroom worthy of the prestigious Jaguar Land Rover brand.

The recent refurbishment of 4 Chiswell Street by Ben Adams Architects includes Armourcoat’s Istria polished plaster wall finish. Situated close to the historic Bunhill cricket ground in Islington, this once tired office building has been re-imagined as a modern and open workspace.Entering through an impressive new façade and front entrance, the architect’s design includes a double height reception space bathed in natural light. A sculpturally fluted wall finished in Istria polished plaster and custom terrazzo floor continue a circular motif repeated throughout the design. With exposed services and stylish use of concrete colours, the structure has been transformed into a contemporary and relevant commercial building with a distinctive urban feel.Named after the characteristic building stone of Venice, the Istria polished plaster finish is made from a combination of slaked lime, recycled marble powder and special additives. The Istria finish is full of ingrained surface movement and creates a matt or honed stone appearance. Tonal variation and surface movement within the finish complements other natural materials including wood, stone and fabric.

Shower and changing facilities bind practicality and design at this new-build office development in Smithfield. At The Haymarket Building, practicality meets excellent design, and Architects Reddy Architecture + Urbanism have created a sophisticated space that the tenants can be proud of. The building is accessed via an impressive double-height lobby, and this grandeur is maintained throughout the entire building, including the washrooms.Split over two floors, the basement houses a gym and self-contained male and female changing rooms with a separate toilet block on the upper basement level. Venesta’s Unity Full Height cubicle range was the product of choice for the designers of this project, due to its versatility.Model Z Active 400mm Bench Lockers were specified for both the male and female changing rooms. The unique Z-shaped locker provides space for storing bags and hanging clothes and has the benches integrated into the locker units saving on floor space for a minimalist room layout. The Model Z Active Lockers come readily constructed for quick, easy installation and are finished in SGL making them hardwearing, impact and scratch resistant.  Read the full case study for more details.

Background:Canterbury’s Art Museum and library, The Beaney Instituteis a Grade II Listed, Victorian building dating back to 1900.The Institute was granted £11.6m by the Heritage LotteryGrant to conserve, repair and restore the existing buildingplus create an extension that would double the size of theInstitute in order to provide better facilities to the museum,art gallery and library.The Solution:Limelite plaster from the Heritage range was used torestore and protect the internal walls throughoutthe Institute. Limelite Renovating Plaster was appliedto control and minimise dampness that can occur inolder properties. High Impact Finishing Plaster was thenapplied, creating a BBA approved plaster system allowingthe walls to breathe while protecting them from damage,maintaining a heritage-style appearance.The Outcome:The Limelite plaster system was the perfect solutionfor The Beaney Institute. Important pieces of art andmuseum artefacts are protected from condensationand salt transfer from the walls.This modern solution works sympathetically with thefabric of the building providing the aesthetic finishexpected of a building of its character whilst also beingdurable enough to withstand the high footfall of thevisiting public.

University Coventry Hospital is situated in the Walsgrave on Sowe area of Coventry and is part of the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. The hospital opened in 2006, replacing Walsgrave Hospital the original hospital at the site.Twinfix was approached by Principal Contractors William Gough to design, manufacture and install a walkway from the helipad on the first-floor deck to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department. The requirement was for a robust walkway that was structurally sufficient to withstand the usual weather forces and the down draught from a helicopter in close proximity.Liaising closely with William Gough and designer Pinnegar Hayward Design, the expert team at Twinfix designed, manufactured and installed a 240 sqm free-standing mono-pitch canopy with vertical perforated side panels. This impressive canopy design included lockable double leaf gates to secure the area.The roof comprises of our Multi-Link-Panel Non-Fragile (NF) system powder coated to RAL 5010 – gentian blue and glazed with 16mm multiwall polycarbonate, and the vertical panels were powder-coated to RAL 7037 – dusty grey. As this metal does not rust in use, the walkway will keep its good looks throughout its long life.

The Rathbone Market scheme, part of the Canning Town and Custom House regeneration programme, is a three-phase development that when complete will see the area totally reinvigorated. There will be a new market square at the heart of the community, bordered by around 35,000 sq ft of new shops and cafes. The development will also feature offices; community facilities, two new public squares and 652 new homes.The majority of apartments on the upper levels will have a double aspect and all will have balconies. The intention is to provide a development of great visual depth, using two colours of brick. The balconies are designed with an unusually large 2.3 metre cantilever and to meet this demanding specification, it is the Schöck Isokorb® that is being incorporated into the project. Specifically the product being used at Rathbone Market is the Schöck Isokorb® T type SK for concrete-to-steel connectivity. It is 180mm wide and between 180 and 280mm high to allow flexible adjustment for differing slab thicknesses and contains 80mm of insulation thickness. It can also bear extremely heavy loads and this combination of features makes the units ideal in meeting the various thermal and structural demands involved with such large modern balconies.

The Silverstone Interactive Museum is a 600m­² motorsport exhibition located at the world famous Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire. The £22 million building, built with a contribution from the National Lottery Heritage Fund consists of a fully refurbished WWII aircraft hangar and a new two-storey extension which serves as the entrance to the exhibition. The TECHNAL curtain walling was a key part of the design and enabled large spans of glass to the front and rear of the building. This provides contrast to the iridescent finish and rainscreen cladding. This curtain wall system enabled large panel sizes of up to 2.8m high and 2m wide without additional steelwork that would have detracted from the intended design and added to the cost. The exposed location meant that airtightness and thermal efficiency were also design considerations. Our curtain walling features a thermally broken construction and high levels of wind and weather resistance. Due to the nature of the building and location close to the circuit, the goal with the acoustic requirements was to achieve a balance of reducing the sound from the track without completely eliminating it. This was achieved with TECHNAL systems using standard double glazing without the need for acoustic glass.