"fine art pictures prints frames etc"

The British museum has seen a number of additions over the years,most recently the £135 million world conservation and exhibitionscentre which was completed in 2014. The brief required a particularfocus on creating an environmentally sustainable building with amodern interior that could hold exhibitions, as the museum did nothave enough space for them.The British Museum was conceived in 1753 after Sir Hans Sloaneexchanged his vast collection of artefacts with King George III for£20,000 to ensure that he left an inheritance for his children. Itopened it’s doors to the public in 1759 and has remained in thesame location in Bloomsbury ever since.The main building exhibits landmark architecture inspired by theGreek Revival. To fit the 19th and 20th century design of the site,the architects Rogers Stirk Harbour worked with Mace group tobuild the new conservation centre using steel frames and Portlandglass and stone, easing the transition between the exterior of themuseum and the new development.With a public building of this magnitude, there is a high amount oftraffic around the building so it was imperative that the ironmongeryperformed to the highest level. For this reason, Allgood suppliedthe highest quality hardware including: triple knuckle hinges, floorspring units and mortice locks. We specified the hinges as they aremade from 316 stainless steel and come with a 25 year guaranteewhilst the other hardware items have a ten year guarantee. We alsosupplied our Modric lever handles on mostof the doors as they aretested to grade 4 against BS EN 1906 and would provide the doorswith the highest quality and most durable handles.As science and research are at the core of the new development,the building needed to be modern, functional and sustainable.We were able to meet the sustainability expectations as all of ourstainless steel door fittings are made from 62% recycled materialsof which 95% can be recycled at the end of the product’s life.Additionally, our packaging is also made from recycled material andcan be recycled once it has been used.The World Conservation and Exhibitions centre has now been openfor 6 months and has further enhanced the British Museum’s statusas a world class institute.

This is the perfect example of future proofing a traditional building, bringing it’s thermalperformance up to a modern standard, whilst conserving the historic timber frame and thevisual beauty of five centuries of gentle settlement and movement.

The owners of this home in Sutton Coldfield were looking for a contemporary looking garden with minimal maintenance requirements. Saige fencing in Charcoal makes the perfect backdrop to this garden which makes the beautifully planted garden and its colours really pop (it also exceeds gale force 9 testing so comes with peace of mind for homeowners in exposed environments) . Along with Saige's hollow and solid contemporary decking it's an ideal area to spend summer days.

Breezefree screens are used to provide a protective barrier, and regularly changing signage at the world-renowned Royal Observatory, Greenwich. As one of London’s top tourist attractions, the historical Royal Observatory, Greenwich hosts thousands of visitors every year at its stunning location and vantage point within Greenwich Park. The bronze planetarium cone needed a screen system on its outside perimeter to discourage visitors from touching the structure, which occasionally becomes hot in the sun...

A private art gallery in Betws Y Coed has been roofed using CUPA R4 natural Spanish slate, selected by the client and their contractor on the basis of appearance, performance and cost, as well as their ready availability through local stockists. Work on The Galeri was begun by the owner some three years ago, with locally based Willparr Roofing being tasked with sourcing and installing the thousands of new slates required to weather a structure featuring a dormer window, the valley junction to an existing pitch, and other challenging details.

Unit 25 Cambridge Science Park is a state of the art facility providing laboratories and office space for Bio tech and Med Tech companies. This BREEAM Good facility was built by SDC and features an external façade of glass, metallic panels and fins for solar shading. At each corner of the building a chamfered picture frame feature of curtain walling and panels, adds to the modern design. Metalline who manufacture a range of architectural fabrications worked closely with MTW Architectural the specialist façade contractor to ensure that all materials were delivered on time and to exact specification. They supplied in excess of 1000m2 of A2 Ultima insulated panels, Unity interlocking rainscreen panels, interlocking soffits, copings, pressings and cills for the project.The picture frame finish to the corners of the building were finished in a slate grey polyester powder coating. The horizontal rainscreen panels used to break up the expanse of glass shown on the front of the building were finished in tiger drylac 068/70764 PPC This finish mimics an anodised finish and features on all four sides of the building 

When MoMA New York celebrated its 75th birthday in November 2004 with the opening of its new downtown Manhattan building, it became in the same moment a showcase for Danish industrial design in action.Two years before, the Danish Consulate in New York had approached the museum about sponsorship of Danish designed furniture and accessories in all its public areas.

A great example of 1930s Art Deco architecture, The Douglas Building sits on Great Titchfield Street in London’s West End. Formerly known as The Media Village, Douglas House was acquired by serviced office providers The Office Group (TOG) from landlords The Langham Estate in 2019. TOG together with Note Design Studio transformed the building with a colourful concept that blends the distinctive 1930s features and gives a sense of fluidity, openness and light throughout.As its former name suggests this area of London is a hub for local media and IT businesses operating out of the West End and the brief for the building was to create a flexible workspace where people can feel stimulated by their environment leading to greater productivity. Wellness was also a central focus and the building includes an oxygen room, a parents’ room and a roof terrace which are all integral to enabling and inspiring everyone who enters.Well ventilated and an abundance of natural light have become buzzwords in the COVID era and the more than 300 new steel windows from the Clement EB24 range which were chosen by office fit out and refurbishment contractors Parkeray perfectly facilitate both. Polyester powder coated in Pure White and furnished with Warren handles in a satin chrome finish the windows lend the building a contemporary look on the outside as well as supporting the 21st century ways of working inside.Peter Clement, Chief Executive of Clement Windows Group, commented:“As with all prestigious window replacement projects of this magnitude Clement took part in a competitive tender process. Whilst this was in play we understand that both Parkeray and the client’s team had the opportunity to compare our EB24 steel window to others being considered. We believe it was the quality and overall finish of EB24 combined with an attractive price and fine references that convinced them and the client to proceed with us.”

Sanders Senior Living’s The Belmont is a stunning, state-of-the-art seniors’ community in the cathedral city of Worcester. Beautifully designed to promote independence and wellbeing.Sanders Senior Living is renowned in the luxury care sector and has created a desirable new place to live. Focusing on person-centred care, residents will be treated with the utmost dignity, respect and compassion and will be encouraged to maintain their independence and pursue active, meaningful lives amongst friends.Sanders Senior Living aims to help residents live happy, fulfilled lives in an environment that encourages connectivity and an independent lifestyle whilst also offering residential care for residents that require additional support.With the assistance and project management from furniture manufacturer Edison & Day the interior design scheme aims to create a home-away-from-home feeling that ensures residents have a gracious and fulfilled life

Design freedom and product flexibility was high on the architects agenda when specifying a mix stainless steel sink tops for the new education workshop and standalone sink pedestals for the artist studio at Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey.The new education space and arts studio known as the Foyle Art for All Learning Studio is part of a restoration and remodelling scheme at Watts Gallery in Compton. The work has been part funded by Heritage Lottery Fund & English Heritage, the finished scheme provides an art studio and education space for around 15 people. The gallery runs workshops for the local community including life drawing, painting and pottery, and an art club for young people.WorkshopGEC Anderson supplied a mix of Made to Measure and Decimetric units. The Made to Measure range for the workshop area allowed the specifier to order to their exact size requirements. The customised sink tops arrived on site in two continuous pieces which incorporated a lower level top to comply with DDA requirements and suit the height of children working in the studio. These items incorporated a plaster trap and sand trap in order to segregate the paints/sands being used in class from the waste water.The Made-to-Measure units included a large bespoke sink bowl 1100 x 340mm in size. There were no joins at the sink bowl, edges or upstands and the 18mm bonded substrate provided rigidity and strength as well as allowing for easy fixing.Art StudioWatts Gallery has run the Artist-in-Residence scheme since 2005 and the new studio provides all the facilities required for the artist to work there in comfort. Here GEC Andersons Decimetric commercial stainless steel sinktop was chosen for the wash area. Manufactured from domestic grade stainless steel, this free standing unit includes a lipped front and side edges, integral back upstand and is mounted on square section stainless steel legs.Mark Edmunds, Quantity Surveyor for Blenheim House Construction said “GEC Anderson was very professional in their approach to the project, delivering on time and to the correct specification.”

We supplied our partner, Fast Floor Screed Ltd with SMET LiteFlo® Lightweight Flowing Screed for the first floor of a timber frame house. This lightweight screed is ideal for renovation projects where loading is an issue. This is a high quality pumpable, factory-produced, CE marked, self-levelling screed based on calcium sulphate. German-made SMET LiteFlo® is unique because it’s the first pumpable lightweight flowing screed available. Made from specially selected aggregates – means it’s 30% lighter than conventional flowing screeds and can be laid in reduced thicknesses. The screed offers a high yield, 43kg per m2 @ 40mm.Innovative SMET LiteFlo® is particularly suitable for use in timber-frame builds, suspended timber floors, tower blocks, apartments, and high-rise buildings. SMET demonstrates best practice in construction partnerships – providing a superior level of customer service to their Smet Supported Partners during the installation process.Whether your job is – self-build, retro-fit, floor renovation or repair, design floor, commercial or shop, sustainable build, historical renovation, ECO build, Lightweight, or an industrial flooring venture – SMET have a flooring compound or ready to use product suitable for your application.www.smetbuildingproducts.com or www.smet.ie

An innovative and comprehensive waterproofing solution was required to facilitate a £18m state of the art hotel and with a double story basement in Englefield Green, near Windsor. The hotel will offer exceptional overnight breaks, award-winning dining & an exclusive spa facility once completed.

The large vertical and square openings of the award - winning Helga de Alvear Museum of Contemporary Art feature the Arion XXL roller blind for largewindows , making it possible to create a play of lights and shadows ideal for the exhibition rooms .Tecnically , the cable guides allow a perfect fastening of the fabric without creating “weight” in the design of the façade .Also, the project perfectly integrates in its surroundings, inspired by the traditional house with a garden .

Marking a £10.6m investment, a Hampshire County Council (HCC) designed school in Wellesley, Aldershot provides an excellent start to a child’s learning. Knauf Ceiling Solutions' HERADESIGN® Superfine contributes to this vision by helping to create a healthy acoustic environment. HERADESIGN® is manufactured from sustainably sourced wood wool with a unique, organic aesthetic that can match any colour as ceilings, baffles, canopies and wall absorbers. Thanks to the technologically-advanced mineral wool core, HERADESIGN® demonstrates exceptional sound absorption which makes it suitable for a variety of environments, from schools and leisure buildings through to offices and hospitals.

Transforming a run-down pub into a sleek, modern restaurant and bar was made all the easier with the latest Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt. With its unique formulation and ultimate scuff resistant technology, it’s perfect for maintaining that crisp, just painted look for longer. Paul Schofield Managing director of PA Schofield Ltd explained: “New Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt is a great product that really works. It has really good application and absolutely no flashing at all. The clients are over the moon with the finish and durability of the product, and so are we. We will use it again without question.” As director of PA Schofield Ltd, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Paul was given complete responsibility for conceiving and implementing all design decisions. For his starting point, Paul paired statement wallpapers with contemporary floor finishes. He complimented the wallpaper through a colour scheme that combined colours such as Coyote Grey, Perfectly Taupe and Winter Avenue. Ceilings were painted in Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt, while Dulux Trade Satinwood was used on the trim and Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt on the walls, along with Dulux Trade Diamond Matt in some areas. Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt is an ultra-tough formulation, designed to cope with the scuffs and everyday wear and tear of busy commercial spaces. And he identified a number of benefits from using it on the project, explaining: “It flowed really well on rollers and brushes and left an excellent finish overall. “And there was no flashing or colour difference from roller to cutting in. “It’s really brilliant for touching in, too. We’d often have to redo entire walls as spots we’d touched in stood out like a sore thumb, but there was none of that with the new Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt.” Paul was supported on the project by Lee Crossland, Leeds and Yorkshire Technical Support Manager for Dulux Decorator Centre 360. Lee said: “I’d heard PA Schofields was about to start work on the high-end restaurant conversion so got in contact with Paul to let him know about our new product that would be perfect for him. “I talked Paul through the benefits of Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt and that the appearance of the finish would be an ideal fit for the design he was looking to achieve, while explaining how the improved durability would allow the restaurant to look better for longer. From start to finish the process took 18 months. And Paul has been checking in to see how the Dulux Trade ScuffShield Matt has been performing. He added: “The clients are very happy that the paint cleaned easily without removing the paint from the plaster substrate. For more information visit: https://www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/content/scuffshield

Entering a building is usually the only way to find out what takes place inside. But that’s not the case with the Manchester Metropolitan University’s new School of Digital Arts (SODA). It acts as a giant canvas to illuminate digital content produced by students, thanks to an LED rainscreen façade on its northern face. The five-storey, 5,200m2 SODA building is adjacent to the Manchester School of Art and will provide space for a digital innovation and User Experience (UX) lab, film studios, green screens, edit suites, sound, music and production studios; alongside a screening room and gallery space. Like all rainscreen façade projects, the SODA building needed insulation to meet the required thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance, but the LED façade added complexity to the specification. The chosen rainscreen panels were perforated with small holes to allow the lights to shine through – but this also meant the insulation could be seen from certain angles, so the insulation needed to look aesthetically pleasing too. During the design process, architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios had specified Knauf Insulation’s Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab for the project. It is non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification, so complies with building regulations that ban combustible insulation on certain buildings over 18m tall in England and Wales.  Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab also has a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK so could meet the U-value of 0.19 Wm2K. And thanks to its sound absorption characteristics, critical for low mass rainscreen structures, it will help create a quieter space for the students. The principal contractor Kier Construction had tasked specialist façade contractors Maple Sunscreening with determining the required thickness and aesthetics. So they contacted Knauf Insulation to discuss the best solution.  Knauf Insulation’s Technical Support Team undertook 3D U-value calculations and confirmed that a 150mm slab should be used for the project.  What’s more, Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. This gives Knauf Insulation’s mineral wool its unique brown colour, so the insulation won’t stand out behind the perforated rainscreen panels. It also makes it soft to touch, easy to handle and generates low levels of dust and VOCs. As a result, products made with ECOSE® Technology have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort. Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab is designed to be easy to install correctly. Slabs are robust which makes them easy to manoeuvre into place. Once in position, they butt tightly together and adapt to any imperfections in the substrate. This prevents unintended air gaps that can compromise thermal, fire safety or acoustic performance. Using Rocksilk® RainScreen Slab was the optimal solution for the SODA building providing both the high thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance demanded of modern buildings. And thanks to its unique brown colour, the mineral wool insulation won’t be a distraction, instead acting as the perfect backdrop for the dazzling LED light displays created by the students. 

New for the 2022/23 academic year, Archwood House at Eagle Wharf for University of the Arts London offers contemporary student accommodation in a range of EGGER finishes.U717 ST9 Dakar Grey forms a neutral palette in the kitchens. Used in 18mm Eurodekor MFC, the handleless door format in mixed sizes could easily be achieved without excess labour or material waste. Matching edging completes the look.The units are complemented by EGGER worktops in F638 ST16 Chromix Silver in a 38mm postformed format, highlighting the contemporary design scheme with a stone like look and feel. Matching splashbacks are also used.In the bedrooms, a rustic look is added with H3332 ST10 Grey Nebraska Oak. Used in 18mm Eurodekor MFC, the material is an efficient and cost effective choice for case goods including shelving and storage.The project was designed by Nelson and Long. Fabrication was by Flawless Kitchens using EGGER 18mm Eurodekor MFC, ABS edging, 38mm postformed worktops and splashbacks from UK stock.

TRC was recommended by Julian Harrap Architects, thanks to our successful work at Cliveden House.The two-and-a-half-year project involved a thorough refurbishment of 150 sash windows, including sash window repairs, draughtproofing, and provision of ironmongery. We also applied high-performance secondary glazing to a further 52 windows.We also supplied and installed two large, uniquely designed roof lights to a challenging design specification. Due to the value of the artwork and its sensitivity to light, these needed to conform to exacting standards of security of spectral data.MAIN CONTRACTOR- JOHN SISK & SONSLIGHTING CONSULTANT - ARUP ARCHITECTUREARCHITECT - SIR DAVID CHIPPERFIELD - JULIAN HARRAPPROJECT VALUE - £1.2M

The construction of the West Bromwich Leisure Centre developed a strong relationship between, architect, main contractor, sub-contractor and manufacturer as well as the major development of a state of the art leisure facility. Mapei UK products were specified on all areas and were on site from the beginning ensuring that full support was given to all aspects of the project development, assisting with full specifications covering M10, M20, M40, M50, J30, and K21, from the general application of screed to the finer detail of waterproofing drainage channels.

Staff, parents and pupils at a Hull primary school joined forces to give a piece of community art a new lease of life. A large-scale mural at Thoresby Primary School has been restored back to its former glory with support from Crown Paints. The works were carried out across a weekend as part of a transformation of the school’s outdoor area for pupils. Hayley Potts, of Thoresby Primary School, said: “The mural plays a central part in celebrating our school’s history and the children felt passionately about improving and updating it.

Our client is the owner of this superb 1930s house which is located in a suburb of Manchester. The property is currently being renovated throughout and as the old windows were no longer fit for purpose, the decision was taken to replace them with a product which looked just like the original windows, but offered a much improved specification.The Clement EB20 range of steel windows was chosen, with G+ bars and beautiful fenestra joints. The new windows are dual coloured - a dark bronze was chosen for the outside frames while white was selected for the inside to match the interior.

The Warwick Arts Centre involved a complete upgrade to the original building; Absorb-R SofTone Fabric Panels and Acoustic Flooring Systems...As well as adding a new-build that houses three HD digital auditoria, a large ground floor gallery to exhibit contemporary art, sculpture and photography, plus a spacious new-look foyer.We were contracted to supply and install an Acoustic Fabric paneling system to reduce reverberation and an Acoustic Flooring system to provide anti vibration within three Auditorium Centres.Within all three of the auditoriums of the newly constructed Arts Centre at Warwick University, installed various systems, providing solutions to both the Sound Absorption and Soundproofing requirements. In relation to the Sound Absorption we supplied and installed Soundis Absorb-R SofTone Panels (commonly known as acoustic fabric panels) These were installed on both the side walls along with the back wall of each auditorium providing full coverage of the walls enhancing the performance of the product improving the clarity of sounds emitted within the auditoriums.The second requirement within each of the auditoriums was to provide a solution to the Soundproofing which is where we provided a Soundis Cinesystem – Dry. This system allowed us to provide great acoustic & antivibration performance whilst ensuring the installation was quick to allow us to achieve the programme dates due to the system comprising of elastomeric isolator blocks overlaid with Dry Screed Panels. The fact of this system being completely dry with no concrete or screed elements negates the need for long drying time potentials causing delays on these types of projects.All installation was carried out by UK Acoustic Systems

The Kunsthalle Mannheim museum of modern and contemporary art was opened at the end of 2017 by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. As Germany’s largest new museum building, it is a prime example of both civic commitment and architectural skill. The private patrons initiative – with SAP founder Hans-Werner Hector alone donating EUR 50 million – was what made the bold design at Friedrichsplatz possible. Based on the concept developed by the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, a city within the city was created here, which reinterprets classic museum architecture while honoring Mannheim’s historical city layout. The composition of room-forming cubes is visually connected by a sophisticated façade made of bronze-coloured stainless steel fabric from GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG (GKD). The translucent shell creates a subtle dialog between the inside and outside world. At the same time, the masterfully varying transparency of the fabric translates the scale of the building, creating a balanced sense of near and far.Following a construction period of around two and half years, the museum ensemble comprising the Billing Building from 1907, the connecting Athene Wing, and the new Kunsthalle museum building – named the Hector Building after the main benefactor – presents itself as an inviting whole. The Kunsthalle museum building replaces the rather dilapidated Mitzlaff Building, an extension constructed in 1983. The new building, developed by gmp as the winner of a two-stage architecture competition, respects the art nouveau architecture of the old building through its consciously reduced language. The architects created a monolithic, seamless concrete structure for the prominent location which fits in harmoniously with the development at Friedrichplatz and blends with the historic building. Their concept of transforming the museum into a city within the city comprises 13 cubes of different heights and widths that are offset from one another. As a tribute to Mannheim’s chessboard city layout, sometimes also referred to as the city of squares, a network of open and closed rooms was created with alternating perspectives depending on the location of the viewer. Seven of these cubes are grouped around the heart of the new Kunsthalle Mannheim, the 22-meter-high open atrium that boasts an area of 700 square meters. The cubes are connected to one another via galleries, terraces, and bridges. These guide visitors around the space and then back to their starting point in the atrium. The museum’s visitor experience thereby reflects the dynamics and architecture of a city. A total of three exhibition levels offer new presentation opportunities, including the full-height city window on the first floor, which offers an impressive view of the water tower. The atrium, which is covered by a glass roof and therefore flooded with light, grants fascinating views in all directions. Even without an admission ticket, visitors can enter the building, immerse themselves in its atmosphere, and take a few minutes out to enjoy a coffee. The feeling of wide open space and cosmopolitanism stimulate a sense of curiosity among visitors to explore the other rooms. At the same time, the window-like façade creates a sense of togetherness between the city and the museum, ensuring that everyone feels at ease.Woven work of artThis feeling is underlined by the stainless steel fabric façade cladding. It unites the real urban environment with its artistic counterpart and allows the city and museum visitors to come together and participate in one another’s lives. To this end, the architects went with a significantly higher degree of transparency for the fabric in front of the large-format glazed surfaces than for that cladding the fiber cement panels in front of the cubes. This varying degree of transparency preserves the effect of the architectural concept, regardless of the viewing distance. Despite the colossal dimensions of the building’s structure and façade, the woven skin loses nothing of its textile effect even from a distance. This was made possible by the fabric design developed by GKD especially for this project, which acts like a work of art in its own right. The company wove stainless steel wires and tubes of two different diameters – 3 mm and 25 mm – into four-wire warp wire groups made of untreated stainless steel. The key here was to use weaving techniques to completely balance out the varying stress ratios in the fabric due to the differences in wire thickness, so that the façade would withstand the strict static requirements caused by wind and snow. However, the exceptional fabric design also had to face another challenge: to replicate the precisely stipulated colour tone of the woven skin chosen, itself selected following a lengthy decision-making process. Despite the various metal mesh components employed, including cables, wires, tubes, and tube side closures, its homogeneity needed to be guaranteed across the entire surface. GKD’s many years of experience with coating technologies and their effects on buildings proved invaluable here. For example, the wires were coated in a continuous process, while the tubes were painted together with the closures in a spraying process and all then interwoven with the untreated warp wire groups.A total of 72 panels, each measuring around 20 meters in length and 3.26 meters in width, were used to create the sophisticated skin which lends the Kunsthalle its versatile face. With the discreet brilliance of the warm bronze tone, the finished fabric reflects the colour of the sandstone used in neighboring buildings. The large, stainless steel fabric façade measures over 4,600 square meters and changes its appearance throughout the day, in all weather conditions, from near or far. During daylight hours, it reflects the sunlight and its surroundings with the water tower and urban life. In the evening, it employs an intelligent lighting concept from below which transforms the Kunsthalle into the illuminated focal point of Mannheim’s most elegant square. The transparent façade grants unobstructed views of the city and the water tower from inside the museum. At the same time, it offers passers-by inviting insights into what goes on inside the museum. The metal fabric façade thereby establishes a connection between the city and the museum, which effortlessly succeeds in striking a perfect balance between reduced design language and desired emotionality.

South Hampstead High School is situated in Hampstead, North-West London. The girls’ school began a substantial rebuild in 2014 as part of an ambitious 8-year plan, which included the transformation of Waterlow Hall (originally constructed in 1988) into an adaptable performing arts centre.Five Series 15 2-pane horizonal sliders were installed, along with one Series 15 3-pane horizontal sliding unit for a primary window with a wider opening. The secondary glazing was installed using bespoke timber fixing grounds into which it was fully sealed and secured. Selectaglaze was able to achieve the largest cavity available to maximise the acoustic benefits. 

Leeds Arts University completed a 5-year £22m building expansion with HERADESIGN® Sonic Element and Baffle Element, installed throughout the main entrance, library and the new group spaces to minimise noise disturbance.The design for the project meant all the mechanical services had to be exposed and the lighting integrated into the hanging canopies.Paul King of DLA Design Group said, "We chose HERADESIGN® because, aside of the acoustic performance, we liked the natural, raw wood wool. It’s a striking and versatile material and we were really impressed with how the individual panels could be matched to the chosen colour scheme.”

SystemGenerix Lite RainscreenMaterialCASTLE BUFF & WELSH SLATEMain ContractorWILD GOOSEInstallerHKL

Northern Ireland’s artists and designers of tomorrow are moving into a creative new environment enhanced by the stylish appearance and solid functionality of stainless steel sinks and worktops, custom-crafted by leading bespoke manufacturer GEC Anderson. The durable stainless steel products have been installed as part of a major development programme at the University of Ulster, where they will provide essential facilities for various art disciplines. GEC Anderson is a pioneer of made-to-measure stainless steel products for domestic, commercial and specialist applications.The University of Ulster’s School of Art and Design caters for 2,000 students in the Warwick and Orpheus buildings, flanking busy York Street in downtown Belfast. The school provides teaching and research facilities in fine and applied arts, design and visual communication. In the first £12 million phase of a £30 million re-development, the school is commissioning a six-storey extension to the Warwick Building. The overall plan, prepared by Belfast-based Todd Architects, enables the university to expand teaching and recreational activities on an urban site within the Cathedral Quarter conservation area. Project architect Angus Waddington says both existing buildings will be extensively modernised in the later phases.With numerous studios and workshops for “wet” art disciplines – ranging from painting and ceramics to print-making and printed textiles – the school has a significant need for durable worktops and sinks. Although the new building will eventually focus on the digital arts, it will provide temporary accommodation for departments displaced by renovation elsewhere. In the new extension, interior design consultant Colin Sneddon of DEGW specified GEC Anderson stainless steel sinks, worktops and splashbacks to ensure lasting resistance to paints, inks and dyes. “I have worked with these products previously. GEC Anderson provides a robust, quality solution which is ideal in this application,” he says.Installed by Specialist Joinery Fittings, the bespoke worktops from GEC Anderson are made from acid-resisting grade satin finish stainless steel. The worktops, up to 4m in length, feature integral sinks from GEC Anderson’s standard range as well as splashbacks and water-retaining edge details to minimise spills and splashes during daily use. GEC Anderson Managing Director Martin Tye says stainless steel stands up well to sustained heavy use. “It requires minimal maintenance which means low lifetime costs, and is easy to keep clean. These factors, combined with sheer good looks, make stainless steel the ideal material in many different applications.”

Komfort's “new addition” to their existing Sonik framed door offering, a 70mm picture framed single glazed framed doors was chosen as a balance between performance and appearance. This creaed the appearance of a traditional steel framed system with slender sections. This was achieved with the use of our Kross Glaze bars, which were applied to both sides of the doors. Kross Glaze provides a design response to the recent trend of industrial style glazing and is becoming ever more popular within residential and commercial interiors. The use of Sonik Doors also enabled stringent acoustic performance requirements to be met.

Fresh Wharf is being developed by Countryside, in partnership with housing association Notting Hill Genesis on a 10-acre, former brownfield site situated along the banks of the River Roding. Demolition of old premises on the site started in early 2018 and Phase 1 of the construction project commenced later that year. After this, construction of the new properties commenced in earnest, with the apartment blocks and townhouses being constructed. Installation was undertaken by sub-contractor, Stanmore, with Metsec using Revit to create the construction level design for the framing system at the early stages of the project’s conceptualisation.

Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA) required energy-efficient heating solutions for their student accommodation units. To reduce ongoing energy costs, CSVPA approached Consort Claudgen for an upgrade to their existing heating system. Consort Claudgen recommended Wi-Fi enabled heaters with bespoke screens to meet the heating requirements of CSVPA’s 286 student apartment units.

Made-to-measure brushed satin stainless steel sinks and worktops, from GEC Anderson, have been installed in the breathing apparatus rooms, kit cleaning rooms and kitchens of the new Winchester Fire Station.The station relocated from its home of 74 years at North Walls to its new state-of-art facility inEaston Lane, Winnall,Winchester. The new five-bay fire station is operationally and strategically located on the outskirts of the city on a major access route, close to the M3. The new facility can accommodate 70-plus personnel and provides a continuously crewed facility as opposed to the previous just day-crewed arrangement, thus providing faster emergency cover over a greater area.Freestanding worktops, totalling more than 10 metres, were installed in the breathing apparatus (BA) room and kit cleaning area of the fire station. Industrial sized sinks were included to provide an effective washing facility for the fire crews specialist equipment. Sarah Collins, architect for Hampshire County Councils Property Services Department said, The specialised sinks were chosen for their ability to cope with an environment of high usage. We wanted a material that was robust enough to take the everyday knocks and last for the lifetime of the building. GEC Anderson sinks certainly met this requirement and are performing extremely well.

Sustainability and design were the major focus for this new £24 student accommodation project which achieved a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating. Senior’s highly thermally efficient glazing package was chosen to meet the scheme’s sustainability criteria and budget. This included thermally enhanced SPW600 windows fitted with a Louvre Guard System in bedrooms and kitchens and with smoke vents in corridors for additional safety and security. With their innovative thermal break offering exceptional thermal efficiency, PURe® Commercial Doors were installed at the security office whist PURe® SLIDE Lift & Slide doors were specified for the large communal area.

In 2014 a new development consisting of 7 luxury beachfront apartments with uninterrupted sea views was built. The Beach Retreat is positioned on the marina esplanade along the beautiful east Kent coastline. The roof design is of particular interest as Ramsgate seafront and Marina Esplanade is a designated Conservation Area and area of special architectural and historic interest.

London’s new countryside escape, Birch, dating back to the 15th century, has undergone extensive redecoration thanks to support from the Dulux Trade team and its Heritage Range. The grade II listed country escape hotel was built in 1763 and became the 140 bedroom Theobalds Estate hotel in the 1990s. The country estate was once a royal favourite for King James I, a Georgian family home and Sir Christopher Wren’s retreat, a WWII military riding school and is now one of Hertfordshire’s most socially engaged and creative hotels. To maintain the heritage of the estate with its new contemporary purpose, the designers chose the Dulux Trade Heritage Range to redecorate Theobalds Park’s hotel rooms, foyer and corridors in a variety of colours - as the hotel underwent a transformation and rebrand into Birch, a new city escape. The rich colour range was the ideal match for the hotel’s contemporary theme allowing the country mansion, surrounded by acres of fields, to maintain its classic elegance whilst incorporating modern escapism into its new interior design concept. A combination of Green Oxide, Buff and Potters Pink were used for the geometric design on the hotel suite and corridor walls, complemented by Green Oxide and Roman White throughout the project. The former De Vere Theobalds Estate hotel is set to officially open as Birch on 3rd August 2020. Birch, which is billed as a city escape that “looks like a hotel, feels like a festival”, is the brainchild of former Ace Hotel London MD Chris Penn and his business partner Chris King, will feature a growing farm, an interactive bakery, two restaurants in partnership with Robin Gill, three bars and co-working and wellness space, as well as a 25-metre Lido (opening later this year) and pottery, music, screening, and art rooms. Dulux Trade Technical Support Manager, Steve Plowman, worked closely with the hotel’s architects, Red Deer, to adapt the colour scheme and specifications to meet with the colour contrast requirements of the Equality Act Part M. This included particular consideration of Light Reflectance Values (LRV), to ensure that critical surfaces could be clearly distinguished, aiding navigation for those with a visual impairment. The team worked to match the design to colours in the Heritage Range, to ensure that the project was completed to achieve a high aesthetic and functional standard. To bring this vision to life, Dean Jones and his team of highly skilled painters at Broadway Painting Ltd worked tirelessly to achieve outstanding results. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt was used for the corridors, walls and staircases due to its high durability and effectiveness in masking wall imperfections. The paint is wipeable and scuff resistant to ensure these high traffic areas remain perfect for years to come. It also offers new anti-fade technology and superior stain resistance through its unique Stain Repellent Technology, which can be wiped clean repeatedly without polishing up, helping to extend maintenance for up to five years. Dulux Trade Diamond Matt was also used on the ceilings, while Dulux Trade Eggshell provided the finishing touch on the doors and trim. The local Dulux Decorator Centre in Enfield worked closely with the Dulux Trade team to ensure colour accuracy and stock supply throughout the project. This collaborative work, along with regular site visits from Steve Plowman, kept the project on track and meant that any issues that arose, could be resolved very quickly. Ciarán O’Brein, founder of Red Deer, said: “Our ethos in creating Birch was to sensitively restore and listen to the existing buildings as best we could. True sustainability meant to us removing and adding things to spaces only where necessary. To this end we relied heavily on working with furniture, sculpture and of course paint to install new moods and agendas across the Grade II Listed building, bedrooms and even the bathrooms. We worked with Dulux on this exciting project; a deep Dulux Yves Klein blue transforms a traditional stairwell, pastel kaleidoscopic colours adorn listed ceilings in the Screening Room and a dark green creates warmth in a Drawing Room overlooking the lawns.” Steven Plowman said: “The work completed goes far beyond a normal redecoration program. The design is matched throughout all rooms and hallways exactly - with no variation in Heritage colour. The attention to detail is outstanding and clearly shows how a stunning design alongside an effectively executed colour scheme transforms any area. “The bespoke contemporary paint finish has transformed the hotel interior into a work of art that will stand the test of time and many visitors.”

Hannah Cecil-Harden is a director at de Gournay, a family business which was founded by her father, Claud Cecil Gurney. De Gournay makes the most beautiful hand-painted wallpapers and fabrics and the company’s work is found in some of the finest buildings around the world. As you would expect, every room of Hannah’s London home has been exquisitely decorated. The property has undergone many transformations in the time that Hannah has lived there, but the most recent changes were needed to accommodate her expanding family. Hannah and her husband wanted their house to work better for life with their four young children.All the floors of the house have been updated, but perhaps the biggest change was turning the existing basement into a playroom with adjoining utility and bathroom. Having worked with Hannah and the team at de Gournay on a previous project, Clement was delighted to be asked to manufacture the new steel doors that were included within the designs. We were excited that the new steel doors were to be painted in unique vibrant colours to match the stunning wallpapers that adorn the new space and we worked closely with Hannah and her team to find just the right match. We always say that our bespoke steel products can be painted in specialist hues from across the entire colour spectrum – these doors demonstrate what is possible!Hannah said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Clement Windows on this exciting project which was for a children’s playroom. I wanted to go with bold and bright colours and they were so accommodating about this, everything about the project was handled professionally and with utmost care from conception down to a flawless install. It was an absolute pleasure to work on such a personal project with a business I have collaborated with before and I look forward to hopefully crossing paths again in the future!”

This year, the playgrounds in Kazincbarcika are being beautified again. The refurbishment across the city's 22 playgrounds began this spring with the replacement of rubber coatings and the refurbishment of sandboxes, followed by the necessary repairs to equipment and structural elements. The work is expected to be completed by autumn.With the arrival of spring weather, many are eager to spend time outdoors, and families with young children enjoy spending time on playgrounds. Among the city residents we surveyed, many consider the area around the Boating Lake a prime destination due to its proximity to nature and the presence of a playground nearby.It is important that children can play in the safest, well-maintained environment possible. Barcika Park Nonprofit Ltd. is responsible for the operation of 22 playgrounds, which include 220 play equipment. The company's staff continuously repair any detected faults and deficiencies, and they annually review the condition of the playground equipment. Some of the equipment is repaired on-site, while others are taken to their workshop for repairs after transportation.Parents can also assist the professionals with their observations through the city's official mobile app, KolorApp. Thanks to these reports, it was discovered that the rubber coatings on the playgrounds were worn and damaged, prompting the company to replace all of them for the safety of the children. Additionally, they regularly rake the sand surfaces, disinfect and refill the sandboxes, and refurbish or install new playground equipment, as communicated by Márton Rosza, the construction group leader at Barcika Park Nonprofit Ltd."The major replacements and repairs, for example, are taking place at the Barátság Square playground, the Völgy Street playground, the Instrument Technician Street playground, and in the Völgy Park. Currently, the replacement of spring toys, balance swings, and swinging swings is underway. We strive to show the residents potential innovations," stated the expert.Márton Rosza added: His colleagues also take care of emptying waste containers, managing green areas, caring for vegetation, and cleaning sandboxes, shock absorbers, and coatings. Safety is also ensured by a regulation that mandates a triennial review of the playgrounds, which is always performed by an expert company. Thus, everything necessary for uninterrupted and high-quality relaxation is available in Kazincbarcika. However, during the maintenance work, they ask for the patience and cooperation of the children and their parents.