"lighting fittings luminaires"

An important refinement for a single story extensionThe ChallengeThe homeowner knew that in order to maximise that amount natural sunlight for their single storey extension that the addition of rooflights would be an ideal solution, but with an important refinement.The solutionIn order to provide the maximum amount of light we designed a bespoke low-profile pyramid rooflight with blue tinted glass this ensured that the Rooflight gave another dimension to their single storey extension.They now enjoy natural light which gives a greater feeling of space and light, combined with fully glazed floor to ceiling doors meant they were also able to enjoy to views and access to their garden space. Whether you’re at planning or construction stage why not see how we could help you add natural light and space to your home project; you can call us on 01223 792244 or pop us an email via info@nextgenrooflights.co.uk outlining what help you need.

Vicky and Nick, the owners of Holloway and Holloway, a London based architecture studio, share their story on living and working under the same roof, in a stunning recently extended house where they added an Unlimited Rooflight. Questions to Vicky and Nick:What was the decision-making trigger in choosing daylight from above?To be honest there was no choice here. In a London mid-terraced property, even a semi-detached one, when you do a side infill to increase the rear of the property by filling in the gap between the properties, it creates a dark space in the centre of the property where there is no natural light.So, you generally counter this by adding roof lights in the ceiling over the new extension, and make sure that they are placed fairly close to the back of the room so that you can flood that space with natural light.Vertical windows tend to allow a good level of natural light to penetrate around 6 meters into a building. Not only do roof lights allow a lot more light in a space than a vertical window, but as you can place these in more central areas in the room, they are nearly the only way to get daylight into the centre of your house.We have our office in the central room of the property, so for us, we had to have good natural light levels in this area as we spend the most amount of time here in the whole house.You added a rather large rooflight to your extension - The Unlimited Rooflight. What impact does it have on the space?It is amazing how bright the space is. We get so much light from above that the space always has a wonderful vibrance to it during the daytime.But I think that possibly what’s even more striking than the amount of light itself is the size of the glass, its 5m² total, split into 2 pieces. It makes it feel as though there is more glass than there is solid roof up there, it really is the wow feature of the whole space.Whilst we had expected that when we designed it as it was always meant to be the feature in the room, what we hadn’t realized was how much it would make the space feel bigger. With extensions on a mid-terrace property, you are often limited as to how high you can build so your ceiling height can be capped at a certain level, but having this huge opening in the middle of the room makes the whole space feel like you’ve got this really grand ceiling height, it has such an effect on how the space feels. Tell us what was the timeline from inspiration to finished interiors? I'm sure it's a question you get very often.Indeed. Well we actually only found out about Vario by VELUX as we were on site, they were just about to start the roof construction as we found out about them, so we didn’t have a huge amount of time and had to get things organized very quickly! From finding the products to getting them on site it was only a matter of weeks, once we had chosen a size for the roof lights all we had to do was confirm the opening dimensions to our contractors, and double check with the structural engineer that the roof structure was ok to support the new roof light. Once that was all sorted all we had to do was wait, it was a very easy process. The project took around 4 months on site in total, but the roof lights go in fairly near the end of the project, so once they’re in it’s all very exciting, as you are close to completion.  

Bespoke structural glazing solutions deliver natural light and ventilation to the cutting-edge design of the University of Cambridge Primary School.350 square meters of structural glazing from VELUX Commercial was installed to bring natural light and ventilation to the University of Cambridge Primary School – part of a much larger expansion project

High-quality and durable KEUCO bathroom fittings in the Waldkliniken Eisenberg in Thuringia.A hospital with a quality of stay at a five star level - the Waldkliniken Eisenberg in Thuringia is changing the German hospital landscape with their new concept. And that quite visibly: "Future was built" with the spectacular new building. The round floor plan of the new building offers each patient a view into the nature from their bed - a central aspect of the design. Every patient from all health insurance categories is welcome. Of the 246 patient beds, only 13 are for private patients.In addition to a new care concept and an outstanding special design, the patients and guests in Eisenberg also receive first-class furnished rooms: The soft, natural colours used for the interior decoration radiates tranquillity and cosiness.Regarding the furnishing of the bathrooms, value was set on durable quality and the decision was made to use complete KEUCO bathroom furnishings. So everything matches perfectly. Fittings, accessories, light and cosmetic mirrors, washbasins and washbasin boards from KEUCO convince with their strong design and easy handling. The IXMO fittings in the shower and on the washbasin are custom-made: As a special highlight, they feature an oak leaf, the Eisenberg logo.The new building was designed by the world-famous Milanese architect Matteo Thun. "Only who dares to do something new and crosses borders, can experience new knowledge". This is Matteo Thun's driving force. Together with the managing director of the Waldkliniken Eisenberg, David-Ruben Thies, Matteo Thun developed this exceptional architecture for his first hospital building, which is completely focused on the patient or guest.Matteo Thun worked closely with the architectural office HDR for the combination of form and function, design and the requirements of a modern clinic. The new building of the Waldkliniken Eisenberg offers patients and guests a harmonious environment for their treatment and recovery phase in the midst of the most beautiful Thuringian landscape.The bathrooms are all completely equipped with KEUCO products and offer the patient or guest a pleasant stay rounded-off with small special features. The movable arm of the iLook_move cosmetic mirror is very flexible. Height, distance from the face, tilt and lateral angle can be optimally adjusted at a single grip. Offers storage space and is easy to clean: the KEUCO washbasin with a washbasin board.

Project: Woodland View ASN School, KirkintillochSpecifier: McLaughlin & Harvey (Contractors) Scope of project: Supply and installation of rooflights throughout a new build Additional Support Needs School for East Dunbartonshire Council Products: 14 Solus Monopitch rooflights and 4 Solus smoke hatches The Challenge:Architects NORR Group designed the new state-of-the-art Woodland View School to provide a richly enhanced educational experience for 200 children and young people aged from 3 to 18 with additional support needs. Acknowledging the proven benefits of daylight to pupils’ learning and wellbeing, they wanted to use rooflights as well as fenestration to create flexible, light-filled, spaces. With some of the rooflights spanning 15m, the challenge for Whitesales was to design and supply durable, cost effective and energy efficient rooflights and deliver a smooth, hassle free installation.The Solution:Our team worked closely with main contractors McLaughlin & Harvey to design 14 separate Solus Monopitch rooflights for Woodland View School. Ranging in length from 4000mm to 15000mm, they have been sited above the many break out learning spaces and extra wide corridors in the school, bringing daylight into the very heart of the building. They help to meet the requirements of BS EN17037 2018, which focuses on the physical and mental health benefits of daylight, as well as the energy savings that can come from minimising the requirement for artificial light.Whitesales manufactured and installed the rooflights and four Solus smoke hatches in three phases as the build progressed, utilising a crane for the final installs to minimise time and disruption on site. They were all fitted on upstands constructed on site by the contractors and all comply with BS EN6375, BS EN1026 and BS EN1027 to withstand even the toughest Scottish weather conditions.The Benefits:The £34.9m Woodland View School was shortlisted for Project of the Year – Inclusive Design at the Learning Places Scotland Conference, partly on the basis of the light and space that the rooflights bring into the building.At the opening of the school, East Dunbartonshire Council Leader Gordan Low was hugely positive: “I'm very proud that East Dunbartonshire Council has delivered this landmark project that will make such a difference to the lives of our young people and their families. We’ve worked with pupils, families and staff to create a place of learning and nurture that meets their very specific needs in a safe and welcoming environment.”

This leading high-tech company has recently expanded its office premises to cover its growing needs.Located in a prestigious business park, this office building occupies a stunning lakeside position.The interior setting is equally impressive with abundant natural light from the windows, which span the length of the wall.To keep the space light and airy, the design team left the existing ceiling exposed, adding instead suspended acoustic rafts, featuring Vtec MaxiBeam system in a light wood laminate finish.Take a look at the beautiful break-out spaces and dynamic hexagonal rafts that bring this office design to life.

The Head of Security at a prominent London University was faced with key security issues when the organisation took over the security of an old building. The large ground floor building led directly onto a public pavement and housed academic and research staff with valuable computer equipment. The Security Team needed to find a way of securing the building, especially the large windows, without replacing them entirely.Bernadette Duncan (MBE) Chief Operating Officer of AUCSO explained the options they looked into:“We considered installing bars on the windows but did not want the building to look like a jail block or draw attention to it. The staff were also concerned about the sunlight on the south facing side of the building, so we would also need to install blinds. After looking at several options we selected 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒® as the best option to maximise security, as well as giving the occupants the option to use the blinds on sunny days.”Bernadette went on to explain the other benefits of 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒®:“From the public side, the blinds looked like normal vertical blinds, so did not draw attention as a highly protected building or a potential target for thieves. In the evening when the lights were on, the blinds could be closed to provide privacy and at night time could be locked to provide a secure screen against vandalism or a forced entry. It was the ideal solution for us.“The 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒® team measured the windows and manufactured them for a bespoke fit. The delivery and installation timings were agreed and everything was fitted in time for the building to be occupied. The blinds gave the staff the required feeling of privacy and security, without feeling barred in. A great product which suited the building and a good team behind them.”Bernadette Duncan (MBE) Chief Operating Officer of AUCSO

THE PROJECTRecticel’s Eurothane® GP and Eurowall® Cavity provided the quality PIR solution for two city-based social housing developments. Melody Gardens and Corporation Road in Salford, Manchester were built on behalf of Places for People and For Housing. Watson Homes carried out the work on both developments. For Melody Gardens, it involved the building of a four-storey block compromising 48 apartments; nine two-storey houses, and a bungalow. The properties were built on a 0.4-hectare site once occupied by a Catholic church.THE SOLUTIONEurothane® GP, a low-thermal conductivity panel, provided Melody Gardens’ groundfloor insulation. In conjunction with Eurowall® Cavity, it was also installed at Corporation Road which comprises 18 one-bed and 15 two-bed apartments. The products’ durable thermal performance ensured both developments become a valued addition to Salford’s social housing portfolio.Mike Watson, Construction Director at Watson Homes explained:"Recticel’s high-quality products were essential to ensuring the fabric of both developments was fitted with insulation that will fulfil the occupants’ long-term domestic needs. In terms of installation, the panels’ easy-fit properties made quicker and lighter work of a potentially challenging project."Used products:Eurothane GP: Eurothane® GP is a high performance PIR insulation board that is light weight, easy to cut, handle and install. Whether it’s a pitched roof, framed wall or floor, Eurothane® GP is the ideal solution amongst contractors and installersEurowall® Cavity:Eurowall® Cavity is a specialist high performance solution for cavity walls, with precision-cut straight edges to ensure gaps between boards are kept to a minimum. It has a low emissivity facing which delivers improved thermal resistance within the clear cavity.  

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

Residential hinged Flatglass for ventilation and light transmission.

In the historic centre of Lecce, a renowned jewellery shop is renewed.Pilkington OptiView™ Ultra Protect anti-reflective glass was installed to guarantee an optimal view of the products on sale. This glass is characterised by minimal light reflection: in fact, it's visual light reflection is below 1%. The anti-reflective coating is able to enhance potential customers' views by reducing reflections, guaranteeing unsurpassed transparency.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) The roof being part of the collection ...CHALLENGE The 19th-century neoclassical museum in the South district of Antwerp was in need of an entire refurbishment, including an ambitious extension. Therefore the decision was taken to transform the former inner courtyards into a new vertical museum area. A hidden modern museum showcasing contemporary art within the walls of the old historic one. Two different worlds within one building. To protect the valuable art collection of paintings and drawings a solution was sought to bring as much indirect and northern light into the art rooms as possible. SOLUTIONIn this respect, Claus en Kaan architects created a fabulously ingenious design for the roof. The rooftop would be completed with no fewer than 198 triangular skylights. As well as presenting aesthetic value, the roof triangles are designed in such a way as to have northern light entering the museum. As north-facing windows would allow indirect light, an important feature to protect the valuable works of art inside. In addition, to provide extra reflection of light, the architects opted for a white roof.

Helmsman two compartment heavy-duty lockers were supplied, delivered and installed by Helmsman professionals in Trowse Primary School corridors. Bespoke specification of 1600mm height and a range of different door colours were chosen to brighten up this primary school. Each compartment door was fitted with an oval laminated number plate, from 1 to 60 twice. Blue and grey themed lockers were fitted on the first floor, while green and grey themed lockers were fitted on the second floor to split the floors. Diamond swivel locks were fitted on the lockers for an easy use and the pleasing aesthetics.

Hotel Café Royal has just undergone a complete refurbishment and internal re-build. Part of the new complex is a state-of-the-art Spa and Gym which is located in the basement. Directly next to the hotel is Regent Street, below which runs the Bakerloo underground train line.Structure-borne noise levels from the trains were far too high to create the relaxing environment required for a top class Spa. The acoustic consultants therefore specified that all of the noise sensitive spaces must be isolated on a Stravifloor Deck concrete floating floor system.Café Royal’s 1,200 sqm Wellbeing Centre provides a personal and intimate holistic experience. It has a large lap pool and four different areas, corresponding to the four natural elements: spa/water, gym/fire, yoga/air and organic bar/earth.The spa offers a variety of Watsu hydro-experiences, a private and communal Hammam and signature Akasha treatments. Moods are enhanced by restorative music, aromas and gentle lighting. The gym has the most advanced fitness equipment, including Kinesis machines. There is a spacious aerobics studio and a private training room. Yoga, Tai-Chi and Pilates are offered in the calming area, with bespoke classes.

The Old Saltings has been created on the middle floor of a nineteenth century saltings, situated right on the beach at Porthmeor in St Ives, Cornwall. What was once a place where pilchards would have been packed and salted, has now been dramatically transformed into a stunning contemporary apartment sleeping up to 8 guests.The spacious kitchen has been designed to make the most of the sea views as well as top of the range appliances and fittings. The brushed-satin stainless steel sinktop from GEC Anderson further enhances the light and contemporary living space. Practical, twin sink bowls are seamlessly integrated within the continuous stainless steel worktop-run that also includes an integrated hob. The back upstand provides water safe and hygienic detailing that is typically demanded by discerning and knowledgeable specifiers.Architect Cany Ash of Ash Sakula said, “The GEC Anderson stainless steel worktop provided edge detailing and a finish which was better than the usual alternatives normally associated with catering applications. We especially like the jointless, continuous nature of the surface area. The other benefit of stainless steel is that it is hard wearing, which is very important in a holiday apartment where it will get significant use.

In a small town just outside Stirling in Scotland is this beautiful, traditional property built from Scottish sandstone. The new owners have extended and completely refurbished the house, originally built in 1870. Although modernised and featuring some contemporary features the original charm has been kept.In order to maximize natural light, a total of 10 Clement Conservation Rooflights were installed. These not only look beautiful in the traditional Welsh slate roof but also improve thermal efficiency and are low maintenance.The homeowner said: “We are delighted with our Clement Conservation Rooflights. We have now fitted ten into our period house renovation and they look great.“Quality wise they are solid and well built, no problems with manual winders, and the double glazing, sound proofing and heat retention is brilliant. We searched around and Clement seemed a good price for the quality. Dealing with them as a company has been a pleasure, always helpful with sound advice and never a delay in delivery dates.“We have been lucky enough to work with very talented and courteous craftsmen and suppliers - like Clement, who went the extra mile to make sure that we fully understood the options available and helped us create the perfect home.”

Exchange Square, designed by DSDHA, is a refurbishment of a major 1.5-acre public park above the tracks of Liverpool Street Station in London. Our terrazzo was supplied throughout, including water features, amphitheatre steps, paving and planter edges with complex 3D pieces. The challenge for In Opera was to provide over 3000 pieces, 90% of which were unique and many having to fit into each other perfectly. The 1.5-acre park will see a four-fold increase in the amount of planting and dramatically enhance biodiversity, with 25% of the area featuring green space that is accessible to all.Quadrupling the amount of green space at Broadgate, the aim is to boost the emotional and physical well-being of those that work at Broadgate and the local community while supporting British Land’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.We are proud to have been involved in such a major development, which aims to draw people together and help the communities thrive in a better environment. What was once a dark uninviting space has been transformed into a light and welcoming place where people can truly live, where communities and businesses can thrive, and that helps the planet to flourish. It is a more attractive, less corporate environment for Broadgate, which creates places to dwell, not just pass through.

Tower Supplies is an industry leader in PPE and workwear.They desperately needed to bring their office up to date to be in line with their operation.There was a need to have a functional office whilst maintaining a hardworking culture. Tower spent time and money with three other office design specialists, on all accounts the designs and solutions blew their budget putting the project out of reach.How we helpedThrough workshops and consultancy we were able to provide a 3 phase project that would provide Tower with the facility they required whilst still operating.We are able to provide a large multi-purpose workspace with kitchen, lunch area, directors offices, presentation area with moving partition, washrooms, shower rooms, reception and meeting spaces.By value engineering the project we were able to provide, within budget, an office with a modern and professional design that reflected the companies industrial roots. We ProvidedOffice DesignSpace Planning / 3D VisualsElectrics and LightingFlooringMoving PartitionsGlass PartitionsCeilingsBespoke JoineryWashroomsFitted FurnitureAudio VisualReception AreasKitchen & Breakout SpaceAgile WorkspaceDecorationAcoustic BafflesAir-ConditioningBlinds

Gradus has supplied and fitted a range of wall protection solutions as part of the £16m newly built Bitterne Park School in Southampton. The new school includes 80 new teaching classrooms, a purpose-built assembly hall/theatre, a new dining space with a fully fitted kitchen and purpose built fully fitted classrooms to house the students as part of their Food and Nutrition studies.

The ProjectAlbion Mills is a high-end, purpose-built office complex near Willerby Shopping Park in Hull. It is a two-storey building, with numerous office suites for businesses to utilise.The custodians of Albion Mills planned to revitalise the interior of the offices. The new-look space would need a design with an understated colour scheme, which would be suitable for a working environment. This would include resilient flooring in parts, with carpet tiles adjacent to it. To link the vinyl and carpeted areas, a flooring transition would be needed.The flooring transition would need to bridge the gap between the two floorcoverings, incorporating the different thicknesses of the resilient and carpeted flooring without creating a trip or slip hazard. The design of the new offices called for the transition to be curved into different shapes, meaning that they would need to be suitable to curve on-site.The ApproachFloors Hull were appointed as the flooring contractor for the refurbishment. After deciding on the floorcoverings they would use for the project, they needed a flooring transition that would link the two together. Floors Hull decided that Quantum Flooring Solutions’ TopClip transitions range would offer the best option.TopClip is a range of flooring transitions which consists of 4 uPVC tops, which can fit into 6 different bases; 2 aluminium and 4 uPVC. All of the uPVC bases can be curved to a radius of approximately 750mm. Between them, the TopClip range can transition between practically any different gauge or type of floorcoverings.For the Albion Mills project, Quantum’s QTC42R top was used with the QVB1 uPVC base. This meant that the profiles could be curved into the necessary shapes. In order to get around tight curves, it can help to gently heat the profile with a hot air gun. This would have to be done skilfully by Floors Hull, so the profile would not become distorted.The OutcomeSteve McDonald from Floors Hull fitted the flooring in Albion Mills, along with the TopClip transition profiles. The end result looks fantastic, with the QTC42R and QVB1 curving well. As Steve says: “A very small amount of heat was used to create this tight radius, but the product itself was very flexible and went round with ease. Fantastic transition profile.”TopClip tops have 3 “teeth”, which allow them to be pushed flush to both floorcoverings which they transition between. This ensures that TopClip fits snugly on both the carpet and vinyl in Albion Mills, minimising the risk of trips. The tops are also slip resistant and durable, for extra safety.The flint coloured QTC42R tops look great with the dark and light grey carpet tiles. They fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the refurbished offices. Floors Hull, with the help of Quantum Flooring, have ensured that Albion Mills has a modern, professional design scheme for prospective tenants.

The former Boothen Neighbourhood Centre in Stoke has been given a new lease of life thanks to the MESC Table Tennis Club (MESC TTC) who have taken the facility on as their new base - attracting players from outside the local area. The club, which has been in existence for over 60 years now boasts 90m2 of world class beating Taraflex® Table Tennis Sports floor from international flooring specialist Gerflor in ‘Red’ for their main sports room and it looks first class.MESC TTC is a Table Tennis England “Premier Club and it has members of all ages ranging from 8-80+ years of age. They also coach juniors and have teams in the National Cadet and Junior League. The intention is that the new venue will move the club forward and eventually become a centre of excellence in the area. The building is now in use seven days a week and offers a place for both experienced and developing table tennis players of all ages to hone their skills.Malcolm Dawson, Chairman, MESC TTC commented, “The project came about because we were moving to our new premises, which we took over from the Local Authority as part of a Community Asset Transfer. We had been developing the venue from a very small hall, with offices and storerooms into a fit for purpose table tennis specific venue. This involved security fencing outside, security cameras, installing a new ceiling plus LED lighting, removing internal walls, and finally upgrading the sports floor to an Olympic pedigree solution.”Malcolm Dawson added, “We chose Gerflor’s Taraflex Table Tennis Sports Floor after much research, and as this flooring is approved by the ITTF (which is the Table Tennis’s international governing body), we knew it would be perfectly fit for purpose and our user’s needs.”The installation of the Gerflor Taraflex® Table Tennis Sports floor would need to be undertaken by a company who would meet the high levels of professionalism that the laying of the new floor would demand. Manchester-based XL Gym Interiors Ltd would be the appointed flooring contractor. The staff at XL Gym Interiors have worked in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years, and witnessed trends come and go. Their job is to make sports facilities current, interesting, and an enjoyable space to train and compete in.

The Progressive Players were founded in 1920. In 1939, founding members Ruth, Sylvia and Hope Dodds generously provided the money to purchase a vacant site facing Saltwell Park, together with adjoining No.3 Saltwell View, and build the Players’ own theatre.The Little Theatre is believed to be the only playhouse built in Britain during World War II and to this day it remains Gatehead’s only theatre. It opened with a performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in October 1943 and since then the site has remained home to the Progressive Players who now produce ten plays a year.Closed during the pandemic, funding was completed on an extension, creating a new rehearsal room above the auditorium known as ‘The Studio’. This facility has exactly the same dimensions as the main auditorium stage meaning the transfer from rehearsals to final production is much smoother than was previously possible.The new space is acoustically isolated from the auditorium and stage allowing rehearsals to proceed even during a performance and was designed to be in keeping with the look and feel of the original theatre. Fitted with modern lighting and sound systems, the rehearsal room has the latest connectivity and networking capabilities. New steel windows were required to replace the originals at the theatre. Clement W20 steel frames were chosen, polyester painted in Jet Black (matt). The two modular bay windows at the front of the building are particularly striking and the choice of glass was important.  SunGuard SuperNeutral 62/34 was chosen for the outer pane, offering very high natural light transmission while ensuring energy savings through solar protection and thermal insulation, krypton gas was used for the centre of the pane and 4mm of toughened Planibel Grey was used for the inner pane. The newly refurbished Little Theatre will not only be used for the Progressive Players' rehearsals, visiting hires and local community groups, but it is also hoped that it will eventually accommodate a youth theatre group.Photography taken and provided by Robbie Carruthers, Chairman, Little Theatre.  

Tiles used: Light grey base/ green medium chip

'The finish is a high-quality, durable powder coating with a long life. It was selected with a metallic finish to form a protective layer, creating a lasting, soft sheen. This sheen offers a dynamic play of light on adjacent surfaces that will vary with changing light conditions throughout the day and across the different seasons of the year.'' Joe Morris, founding director, Duggan MorrisFinishes: Interpon D2525 YW107I Etna and Y2200I Pink Metallic

More than 3,000 sq m of aluminium rainscreen cladding clad the exterior of the five-storey building. But the brightest feature is a series of perforated panels that accommodate LED lighting.“It’s a project that stands out not just for its scale, but also for the level of collaboration that has been necessary between Maple, lighting designers, architect and all contractors to make it a success,” said Maple’s Operations Manager, Peter Mattimore.

The Crouch End Picturehouse in North London is an interesting example of how Kalwall® can be used to convert an ugly 1950’s concrete building into a state-of-the-art space suitable for the 21st Century.  •   This project by Panter Hudspith Architects forms part of a wider initiative within the London suburb of Haringey aiming to re-establish the area as one of London’s cultural and arts centres. The result is a remarkable transformation of a building, originally a factory then an office, into a £4.5 million cinema complete with café, bar, restaurant and community rooms.  •   The unique style of this four-screen cinema has attracted much interest, not only because of the dramatic transformation but also because of its new external elevation. •   The use of Kalwall, coupled with other sustainable measures including solar panels and a green wall, means the picturehouse has achieved a BREEAM rating of Very Good. The Solution Panter Hudspith Architects replaced the original curtain wall and specified Kalwall® for the front elevation. Unusually, this unique translucent cladding is fitted with a tight 150mm wide grid, known as Verti-Kal™, which not only serves to emphasise height but is the first of its type in the UK. On this scheme the Kalwall panels also insulate to 0.78 w/m2 making the building eye-catching and sustainable. Unlike conventional glazing, Kalwall eliminates shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Even on cloudy days, the interior is bathed with natural daylight, which means less artificial lighting and, because Kalwall is highly insulating, energy costs are reduced. Kalwall is increasingly being used in the UK for new buildings and also for the refurbishment of cladding or rooflights on aged buildings. One of the main attractions of specifying Kalwall is its unique effect on both the interior and exterior. Although translucent, it offers the big advantage of privacy while the elevations appear crisp and simple. When illuminated at night they emit an inviting ethereal glow.  The CommentsArchitect James Jeremiah comments, “This is the first time we’ve specified Kalwall and it fulfils our vision of retaining the modernist characteristics of the building. One of our original concepts for the building was of a zoetrope (one of the earliest forms of moving image) and there’s a strong history of using transparency in films with people moving behind the shadows. We felt the Kalwall system was a very good fit for what we wanted to achieve”. Amanda Birch, Technical Editor Building Design writes, “To appreciate fully the building’s transformation, it is best viewed from the street. The concrete structure has been retained along with its striking line of concrete columns, which are now a strong feature of the front elevation. The original coloured insulated glass panelled system has been replaced at first and second floor levels with Kalwall’s 75mm thick insulated cladding system creating a dynamic façade that is particularly effective at night.

Sector:     EducationArchitect:  Innes Associates Specified for: ·      Sustainable construction·      Inner timber frame ·      Durable external aluminium·      Design versatility·      Competitive pricingDesigned by architects Innes Associates, the latest addition to Cromer Road Primary School is a distinctive, L-shaped red-brick classroom building which wraps around a newly landscaped play space. VELFAC slim-framed windows and doors are a key feature of every facade, with dark grey external frames emphasising the pattern of shadows created by textured brickwork and inset window apertures. The VELFAC system has also helped architect Corrie Rounding meet challenging regulatory and sustainability targets while maximising usable space, increasing natural light and improving ventilation. ‘We pushed the contractor to specify VELFAC as we knew the composite frame was the right fit for the Cromer Road project,’ says Corrie. ‘The sustainability of the VELFAC system, and its low energy performance, met Department of Education requirements, while the robust external aluminium frame is ideal for a busy school environment. The design of the windows and doors also met our aesthetic brief, especially the inner timber frames. These are clear lacquered to emphasise the wood, provide a link with the trees surrounding the new building, and to deliver a less ‘sterile’ finish than aluminium or uPVC.’The VELFAC system could also meet key ventilation, daylighting and budget targets: ‘To manage costs, and maximise daylight in the right places, we concentrated our glazing allowance at the areas of most activity,’ explains Corrie, ‘but we also used windows to maximise the usability of the interior. For example, we used tall slim VELFAC units to illuminate the staircase but placed larger windows directly under the stairs to create an additional and useful breakout space.’The Cromer Road building is naturally ventilated, unusual for a Department for Education funded primary school project, with VELFAC units carefully configured to support an efficient flow of fresh air: ‘We wanted to make sure the building could stay comfortable without the need for mechanical cooling, even through the hottest summer,’ says Corrie. ‘This meant the placement of smaller windows on south facing facades, to manage solar gain, and the specification of multiple opening units across the building, including high level teleflex-operated lights. These are especially important in the classroom window screens where ventilation is guided by CO2 monitors.’ To ensure the security of children and staff, all windows also feature restrictors, with finger guards fitted to doors as an additional safety measure.Corrie was also pleased with the support provided by the VELFAC team, especially in the early stages: ‘VELFAC provided the estimates and performance data we needed to convince the contractor that VELFAC was the ideal solution for this project,’ she says, ‘and the school was certainly very happy with the end result’.

The Amiata bath and basins in a bespoke Matt Black finish were chosen to appear on The Block, an Australian home renovations television show.This is a striking and contemporary bathroom, complete with open shower. Although the Amiata bath and basins have been chosen in black, plenty of natural light and reclaimed timber furnishings keeps the room light and relaxed.Supplier: Luxe by DesignPhotographer: Martin PhilbeyDesigner: Charlotte Ekas and Josh Terrett

Full FF&E fit-out for Balfour Hospital Orkney.Robertson Construction built this £65 million facility for NHS Orkney that is transforming healthcare services on the islands. We delivered the full FF&E fit-out including wall protection, blinds, bedheads and cubicles, as well as all the fitted furniture. Working closely with the Keppie Design team we also provided reception counters plus bespoke seating for the atrium and café.

Accoya was used for all the superior decking and facades throughout the ‘Jungle House’ on Guarujá Beach. It was also used for some of the interior paneling & room furniture as well as for unique MUXARABI joineries. This is a special type of joinery used by architects to enhance the aestetic design of a project as the joinery acts as a light filter providing varying projections of light throughout the day. Accoya was also chosen due to its incredible durability to withstand Brazil’s intense heat and humidity.

From the beginning, architects DLR Group designed Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, to light up education, both literally and figuratively. The sprawling campus with room for 3,000 students is broken down into a handful of more intimate, human-scale learning spaces, called “think tanks”, where interaction with faculty is encouraged. Two interior courtyards, open to the sky, offer fresh air during free periods. Shaped a bit like a bow tie, Metea combines three concepts – mind, in the midsection, and body and soul on either end – to offer students a truly 21st century school experience.Lighting up Metea in the literal sense comes largely from the extensive use of Kalwall translucent curtain wall throughout the school. Upon coming through the school’s main entrance, visitors are struck by the cheerful, airy, daylighted lobby. Controlled daylight also pours into the school’s innermost areas, traditionally a structure’s darkest, from the courtyards. Kalwall introduces daylight into the vast commons area that serves as the students’ lunchroom. In the gymnasium, Kalwall’s shadowless, glare-free light enhances ball handling in team events; sunlight does not glance off the shiny court surface. The diffuse-light-transmitting panels also prevent glare off computer screens, easing eyestrain. And in a dramatic demonstration of Kalwall’s superb flexibility, the design includes occasional, narrow, horizontal runs of clear glass – some serving as clerestories – adding visual interest as well as clear views to the outside.At 464,000 square feet, Metea could have been an energy-consumption nightmare, adding significantly to its $125 million total project cost. But innovations such as demand control ventilation, energy recovery wheels, and high efficiency boilers will save Indian Prairie School District 204, the state’s fifth largest, thousands of utility dollars every year and pay for themselves in just a few years. In fact, the building’s design is targeted to be 19 percent more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1 requires. Because translucent Kalwall admits so much controlled daylight, the school’s exterior light harvesting system, which monitors indoor light levels, can actually turn off electric lights in public spaces automatically when they are not needed. The harvesting system alone is expected to save the district over £16,000 a year in operational costs with a payback of under seven years.Illinois can get very cold in the winter and quite toasty in the summer. Highly insulating Kalwall helps there, too, keeping temperature extremes outside and lessening the need for and cost of heating and cooling. During the manufacturing process, standard 2-3/4” and optional 4” Kalwall sandwich panels can be infilled with various densities of specialized, translucent insulation. Architects and designers can achieve a thermal insulation value of up to R-20 (0.05 Btu/hr/ft²/F).At Metea Valley High School, DLR Group chose to include Verti-kal™, a unique design variation on the standard shoji or square grid layouts of Kalwall Translucent Systems. The panels incorporate internal, continuous supports to provide a vertical emphasis. As with all Kalwall translucent systems, Verti-kal distributes diffused daylight throughout the school, even on cloudy days, drastically reducing the amount of artificial lighting required and eliminating shadows and glare as well as stark contrasts of light and shade. Verti-Kal can be supplied in panels up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide and up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, minimizing the number of joints. The unique format creates an entirely different look while still utilizing the most highly insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting, structural composite technology.Any school system must concern itself with maintenance costs, and Kalwall excels there as well. The panels are vandal-resistant and self cleaning; dirt simply washes off with each rainfall. After dark, the diffuse, translucent properties of Kalwall contain interior lighting and prevent direct-beam light pollution. Instead, the exterior surface of the building simply glows beautifully, boosting Metea Valley High School’s aesthetics and welcoming both students and the surrounding community to a true masterpiece of daylighting.Photography: James Steinkamp

This is the new bespoke cycle hub Falco recently designed, manufactured, supplied and installed this spring for Kenley Station in south Croydon. Making use of the flagship FalcoHub design, the new cycle hub has been fitted with the tried and tested FalcoLevel-Eco two-tier cycle rack, providing commuters with up to 16 secure cycle parking spaces.The bespoke 6.5m x 4.2m cycle hub has been fitted with an electric sliding door, a secure access system, LED lighting, a FalcoFix 2.0 cycle repair station, bespoke branding graphics and a cladding combination of sustainable hardwood slats coupled with powder coated galvanised steel in a ‘Moss Green’ RAL colour.The cycle hub also provides secure accommodation for up to four cargo bikes, e-cargo bikes, adaptive bikes, recumbent bikes, tandems, tricycles, oversized and upright cycles or bike trailers.In addition to the cycle hub, Falco also provided a bespoke solution to store the clients refuse units.Rail passengers using pedal power can apply at the ticket office for a free security fob to gain entrance to the facility now.The images attached show the new cycle hub addition, installed next to platform 2, off Station Road.The whole shelter is a bespoke contemporary design of the classic Falco Cycle Hub shelter, which features clean lines through the glass cladding and supported by stainless steel glass clamps. The steelwork is hot dip galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461 and also meets UK structural design laws with EN 1090 accreditation. Rainwater is collected via innovative integral gutters as part of the roof system and a bespoke bund ensure that the cycle hub is weather proof.For more information regarding the cycle hub scheme at Kenley Station or any other product from our cycle parking and shelter portfolio, please contact our helpful sales team on 01538 380080.

Project: Teeside University, The CurveProduct: Gustafs Linear Rib in OakArchitect: Austin-Smith:Lord, LiverpoolInstaller: BAM ConstructionArchitect: Austin-Smith:LordTeeside University, The Curve Teaching and Conference Centre.Photo by Martine Hamilton KnightSpecification: Gustafs Linear Rib Oak30 & 38mm Deep 22mm GapsQuantity: 6,535 linear metres 941m2LSA Projects Ltd are proud to share with you one of our favourite Gustaf Linear Rib projects; The Curve Building at Teeside University in Middlesborough. The new £20 million, 4 storey campus features classrooms, conference facilities, and space for exhibitions and events as well as a large lecture theatre.The new building, part of a £30m regeneration designed by Austin-Smith:Lord Architects of Liverpool, is raising the profile of Teeside University as a leading institution for higher education in the UK.The Curve precedes upgrading and refurbishment of the science and engineering facilities at the University as well as an extension of the health and fitness centre.Gustafs Linear Ribs are predominantly found in the main atrium and break-out space in The Curve, the natural Oak veneer and 22mm gaps (36% open area) provide the space with acoustic dampening as well as colour, warmth, and texture. The ribs make for a stunning contrast with the clean white walls and stairways and the glass facade fills the space with natural light.

Artform Urban provided timeless external lighting design at a newly restored care home from Signature Senior Lifestyle in North West, London. The complex restoration project combines the Grade II listed 18th Century Hendon Manor with contemporary luxury accommodation and exceptional care. The result creates a homely and familiar surrounding, designed in line with the Gold Standard Framework from Stirling University, which is specifically for those living with memory loss.The red brick building is steeped in history having been used as an RAF Convalescent Home during WW2 and once housed the England Football Team before their 1966 World Cup win. With this in mind, it was crucial that the restoration was completed to the highest standard and preserved as many original features as possible.The high standard is perpetuated throughout the building grounds which include accessible terraces, green spaces, and paths, providing a relaxing and secluded environment for residents to enjoy. It is here that Artform’s Ashbery lighting range ‘shines’ making the exterior accessible in the dark by providing ambient and inviting light. Path lights have been placed around the leafy garden along the winding paths - wall-mounted versions stand out against the red building walls - and tall pole-mounted pedestrian units line the entrance, all working together to complement the environment. The trio of Ashbery lights brings together advanced LED technology and optics, paying homage to traditional lantern-style lighting. The range, manufactured by Landscape Forms, has been developed in collaboration with Robert A.M. Stern Architects, celebrated masters of modern traditional design, and Fisher Marantz Stone, an internationally recognised award-winning lighting design agency. Hendon care home offers 102 spacious apartments with a variety of layouts, aspects and views to suit everyone. There is also a dedicated dementia care complex with 24 apartments. Amenities include a café and restaurant, private dining room, boutique cinema, pub lounge and numerous seating areas for relaxing or socialising. There is also a hair salon and spa for ensuring residents look and feel their best. Othello Hall and Activity Room provides a big flexible space for a range of activities and events, with stage and seating for up to 60 residents and guests.This was a particularly interesting and rewarding project to be involved with that has ensured the best quality of living and comfort is offered to its residents whilst also preserving an important piece of local history. 

To create a garden studio with spaces filled  with natural light and using materials in a contemporary design. 

This Virgin Airlines hangar at Heathrow Airport needed a flooring finish to resist wear and chemical spills, as well as deliver aesthetic appeal – with a light coloured shiny finish that would reflect light and capture the eye to brighten the 4000 square metre area.ExecutionTo ensure the highest quality finish for the hangar the proven standard Resutile ST floor coating system was organised. Specialist resin flooring contractor Datum Flooring first shot-blasted the concrete substrate under vacuum to achieve a Concrete Surface Profile (CSP) 3 to ensure an excellent mechanical key and long term solution with the coating system. Then a primer coat of Resuflor WB was applied which penetrates the concrete and provides a sound surface seal so that an even finish is achieved with the top coats. This was followed by two roller coats of Resutile ST Colour in Light Grey.