"permanent formwork for arches"

The Copper Box. The Handball Arena was also constructed by Winchmore Brickwork and contains Naylor Hi-Spec Lintels. Designed by MAKE Architects, it is the only permanent indoor mixed sports arena in the Olympic Park to be retained, and Winchmore have just been invited back to make alterations and refurbishments in order to convert the building into the 'Multi Use Arena', or Copper Box as it is now called, as part of the Olympic Legacy for the Queen Elizabeth Park.

With their proficient knowledge and background in conservation and working with listed buildings, 4 S Architecture (4SA) have completed numerous successful residential and workplace refurbishment projects around London, but this year the rising firm has proficiently completed the renovation of the striking Grade II listed 100 Pall Mall building. The design for new interventions is based on the original construction’s paired back ‘stripped classicism’ style by the renowned 1950’s architectural practice McMorran & Whitby geometry and materiality.  4SA’s approach was one of respect for the historic fabric while simultaneously updating the design to suit today’s modern office occupier.  In Hamson’s words: “Our practice’s design methodology starts with understanding the DNA of a building: what are the forms, materials, patterns and shapes that already exist [...]  Rather than introducing new forms and colours, those already present in the building were used to develop the design of the new interventions.  For instance inspiration for the green reception area wall panelling takes its queues from the prominent green marble arches, while the barrel vaulted ceiling informs the arched seating niches and tenant signage recess.Julia Hamson, founder and Director at 4SA, spoke highly of John Holmes’ attention to detail when it came to developing the bespoke ironmongery package for this project which features a combination of brushed brass and a patinated bronze ironmongery. “John asked us about our architectural concept for the design proposals at our first site meeting, which was a refreshing change when speaking with suppliers. We talked about how the existing barrel-vaulted ceiling and the arched green marble portals in the reception were two of our key design drivers in terms of generating what shape we chose for seating niches and tenant boards in the reception. Hearing this, John suggested that the top of the push plates could be arched to match.  At 4SA we firmly believe that paying attention to the smaller details is just as important as getting the big gestures right,  and it is this meticulous focus which can really distinguish a project. John’s suggestions with the ironmongery package throughout really helped to elevate this project.”Julia worked successfully with John at 3v, thanks to their shared design ethos and understanding of the existing building fabric. They worked closely together to develop a tailored hardware package; including the replacement of all existing stainless steel fittings with patinated bronze ironmongery for more utilitarian functional ironmongery elements such as hinges and push plates on smoked oak doors, and brushed brass for new decorative ironmongery elements.Julia recalls that “we received great feedback from client on the project and they were so happy with the design approach to the refurbished staircase with its new carpet, paint, lighting and ironmongery from the ground to first floors, that they rolled it throughout the rest of the building right up to the seventh floor.”Coordinating ironmongery schedules, when every door has an individual requirement, can be difficult, but according to Hamson, “John made me feel comfortable that nothing was going to get missed; this is what you want as an architect. Ironmongery schedules can be complicated and time consuming, and if there is someone who can do something better than you can in-house, then its best to take advantage of that skill and expertise to get the best result.”Photography: Neil Kenyon

The RailRoad range was the perfect solution to increasing seating provision and introducing planting at the popular shopping destination The Bullring in Birmingham. In total 18 planters and 12 seating modules were supplied (and all assembled on site in one overnight) to create an informal arrangement and with all seating connected to heavy planters, none of the products required permanently fixing down, so giving the flexibility of being able to easily rearrange the products or add further modules in future.

The metal gutter to this gymnasium in Eastbourne was corroded and leaking. Liquasil's Gutterseal system was specified because it could easily cope with some unusual protrusions present in the gutter. Heaqvy rust was removed and the surfaces treated with SWT Primer - a marine quality corrosion treatment. Joints were sealed using Non-Sag Sealer, which has 1400% elasticity and then the entire gutter was coated with Liquasil One to provide a flexible, seamless and permanent gutter lining.

London Brick Multi and White wall panels were specified in the design for a new café at Battersea. Chosen for their natural textures and features, the panels help create real atmosphere. Produced from original walls, Vtec panels contain in excess of 50% natural pigments, oxides and minerals. They're lightweight enough to be used almost on any type of structure, as well as being strong and highly durable - perfect for high traffic areas. Panels were installed either side of Arches, mounted on false walls. Large panel size achieved wall coverage quickly and easily with concealed joints for a seamless finish.

The nineteenth-century Ox Barn was formerly home to the oxen that once ploughed our fields. State-of-the-art agricultural architecture in its time, the clients worked meticulously to preserve the extensive beams, soaring arches and original Cotswold stone rubble walls.A contemporary counterpoint to the original barn features, our versatile Iron Grey floor beautifully reflects the rich timber while the satin finish smoothly complements the rustic textures. Over 350 m2 of our polished concrete was installed in just one week.Now, it’s a jaw dropping restaurant with a spectacular bar and a seven-and-a-half metre Charvet open kitchen.

Saige’s Rustic Decking in Walnut has been supplied by SAiGE Stockist Kebur Garden Materials to beautiful wedding venue Rivervale Barn in Yateley. The traditional weathered effect decking compliments Rivervale's Spinney area perfectly. It blends seamlessly into the natural environment complimenting the stunning oak arch amongst the trees. SAiGE’s Rustic Decking has all the advantages of composite decking which will continue to look as if it has just been installed for years to come. It's long lasting, has excellent anti-slip ratings, resistant to mould and fungus attacks, low maintenance and will outperform wooden decking every time.

Wedding ceremonies are made more peaceful in the Grade II and II* Listed Reading Town Hall following acoustic secondary glazing adaptations to block noise from the town centre. 23 units were installed. Each gothic arch was treated with a combination of transom coupled secondary glazed units with a Series 42 curved fixed light system affixed at the top. Series 10 horizontal sliding units were specified for the lower units on the wider windows, whereas the Series 45 side hung casement was selected for the narrower windows. 6.4mm acoustic laminate glass was specified which reduced noise levels by 40-45dB.

Brookland House is the latest refurbishment project by Beech Holdings, who are known for taking unloved buildings and transforming them into sustainable homes.Formerly a neglected office block, Brookland House now provides 25 contemporary eco-friendly apartments for both students and professionals. Built with sustainability in mind, the apartments benefit from an energy efficient glazing package from Senior Architectural Systems. This includes double glazed SPW600e windows, elegant and thermally efficient SF52 Curtain Walling with slim sightlines and arched frames at the head, plus robust SPW501 commercial doors, which are certified to PAS24 and Secured by Design standards.

The congregation at Grade II Listed St Patricks Church in Bolton, can worship without interruptions from the neighbouring bus interchange, with the installation of acoustic secondary glazing. 4 large gothic arched stained glass clerestory windows were treated with internal glazed units, stopping the ingress of the sound of stationary busses which can create 70-80dB. However the tricky window was the large chancery window overlooking the altar as 4.3m (h) x 3m (w). When now inside the church, the congregation would never know there is a bus interchange just outside; the acoustic secondary glazing treatment has worked miracles.

Peri Ltd, one of the world's largest manufacturers of formwork and scaffolding, recently had Gatic CastSlot installed at its extensive multi-purpose service yard, where heavy lorries and vehicles come and go constantly.Our Area Sales Manager who worked on the project - Zach Graham revealed “The Gatic system was opted for due to its great hydraulic capacity and extensive reputation.” “This particular project required a safe solution that could bear the load of up to 40 tonnes, or D400, in technical terms. However, the Gatic range is designed to meet the needs of delivery or distribution areas where load ratings can reach up to 90 tonnes, or to F900 level, making it well within its capabilities.”Where continuous, slow turning traffic is a major consideration, Gatic CastSlot, from the Gatic Slotdrain range, is the front runner for ensuring a reliable water management system. The reputation of Gatic Slotdrain as the go to drainage range for infrastructure hubs such as airport runways and major ports, made this the obvious choice for this project.

A 1963 Vanwide railway goods wagon with plans to turn it into a garden room for a family. To get the wagon to a usable state, a full strip out was required, leaving only the metal casing of the original wagon remaining. Once the wagon was stripped back, there wasn’t much metal remaining for the roof, only six thin metal trusses were left. Due to the shape of the wagon, insulation was needed that not only performed well but was fully flexible to fit the arched roof. It was also important that the insulation had a shallow profile to fit into the narrow space. Looking to insulate the 2m x 5m roof, careful consideration had to be given to retaining the original look of the carriage.

The London Aquatics centre was used during the London 2012 Games for swimming and diving. Dortek supplied hygienic doors to match the specification which was extremely durable, low maintenance doors which are resistant to moisture. Dortek GRP doors have permanent built in colour, are easy to clean and are unaffected by steam, chlorine and cleaning agents. This gives them low life cycle costs and means they are often proven to outlive their usage.They will not rust, swell, or warp even after years of exposure to moisture and water.

Part of the planning consent for Centerparcs included a roundabout and the creation of cycle bridleways. The aim to complete the work using a method sympathetic to the environment whilst avoiding damage to the tree roots. ABG Abweb TRP has a three dimensional cellular structure which when filled mitigates the vertical load pressure on the sub soils. The Abweb TRP cells act as a permanent form work to the road surface.In this no dig solution water and nutrients can flow into underlying soil allowing trees to flourish.

Ross-on-Wye’s skyline has formed the inspiration for new community facilities at a residential development.The iconic St Mary’s Church spire is reflected in the play area and recreation space created by Hand Made Places for families of St Mary’s Garden Village.The secure play area is surrounded by timber picket fencing and accessed via a bespoke arch double leaf gateway.The planed and sanded softwood arch is engraved to read St Mary’s Garden Village.Four further bespoke archways make up a fun walkway leading to a custom-built version of our Milton Play Unit.The play tower features a slide, rockhold ramp, ladder wall and stepped platform with a church-style spire to one end.A Hawkley Adventure Trail, Swing Steps and Bird’s Nest climbing frame are available for older children.And no play area is complete without the swings, with a Double Cradle Swing installed for little ones as well as a Nest Swing.A Star Stage brings role play to life for little ones, with timber Modular Radius Seating, including a bench engraved with the location, also available. Our cute little Hedgehog Animal Face is watching over everyone. Our installers laid a Bound Rubber Mulch safety surface in neutral green and brown colours.In addition to the play area installation, our parent company Broxap Street Furniture manufactured and supplied six Harrogate Senior Cycle Stands for community use. Four cast iron Blackburn Seats, finished with hardwood slats and a black frame, were provided along with a Derby Standard litter bin.

The Olympic stadium had a capacity of 80,000 during the Olympics and Paralympics. It will be reduced in capacity to 25,000 for the future and will become West Ham United F.C's new permanent home. Designed by Populous Architects and contracted to McAlpine, it took over three years to build. Along with 10,700 tonnes of steel and thousands of cubic metres of low-carbondioxide concrete, there are many Naylor Concrete Hi-Spec, Fair Faced and Fire Resistant Lintels in the building, supplied through Civils and Lintels to Essex based Brickwork Contractor, Galostar.

This museum is the native home of Enzo Ferrari, this is the house where he first opened his work shop. London architectural studio “Surface Design” were responsible for the creation of this futuristic exhibition gallery. The ceiling gallery comprises of 2700 m² of Barrisol sheet Blanc mat. The walls of the studio are covered with 270 m² of Barrisol sheets Lumiere and Lumiere color and have images, movies and historical documents projected in a multimedia as a permanent part of the exhibition. Architects: Jan Kaplicky (Future Systems) and Andrea Morgante (Shiro Studio).

This asbestos roof is being cleaned using a closed box pressure wash, with all waste water being filtered and recovered for re-use. Once cleaned, the roof is coated with the BBA Approved Asbestoseal system which includes: SWT CORROSION PRIMER - fully rust and wet tolerant, the primer is applied to all metal fixing to stop further corrosion. NON-SAG SEALER - is applied to all fixings and small holes and cracks to permanently seal them. ASBESTOSEAL 20 is brush applied to the roof sheets to provide a new finish.

An extensive hard landscape setting for the new Tottenham Hotspur Football Club stadium. The large 11,000 m2 paved area has been constructed in a combination of granite and concrete block paving units. Although the area is mainly pedestrian the brief required that the units be completely and permanently bonded into position. This was achieved using Steintec tuffbond in combination with tuffbed 2-pack Type 35 bedding mortar to achieve a minimum 2MPa adhesion between the paving units and the supporting layers. Steintec tufftop Type 40 jointing mortar was used to complete the installation.

At a dizzying 160m (525ft) tall, London’s distinctive Walkie Talkie building required an exceptional roofing solution. Designed by architect Rafael Viñoly and costing over £200 million, 20 Fenchurch Street is a 34-storey commercial skyscraper in London, known as the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building due to its top-heavy form. It is designed to have a BREEAM excellence rating. Sarnafil G410-12EL single ply provided the perfect solution to this design criteria, thanks to its excellent flexibility and weldabilty, while offering outstanding resistance to weathering, including permanent UV irradiation.

The contractor was relaying a waterproof membrane immediately above the London Aquarium and naturally the client was concerned about leaks with such precious livestock beneath. The waterproofing was torch-on bituminous felt membrane, due to be covered with road grade asphalt. Protecto-board was laid onto the waterproofing and secured with tape. It was cut to shape around the curbs cleanly and effectively without leaving vulnerable areas and without delaminating or crumbling, or leaching bitumen. It protected the waterproofing from temporary construction process damage and permanently protected it when covered with hot road grade asphalt afterwards

Two ranges of Furnitubes’ products have been selected for the deck area at HereEast, London business space and headquarters for BT Sport. The RailRoad range of seating and integrated planters is employed where the furniture can be placed on a more or less permanent basis and Ribbon XL seating modules are used where they need to be moved more regularly. The unusual Ribbon XL kissing seat, with two backrests facing opposite directions, and the two-person high-back recliner are the initial products used. Steelwork was finished in a dark grey PPC to match the metalwork on the Broadcast Centre.

Aptly named The Manzoni, the new 100-cover restaurant by Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio pre-opened at the beginning of April 2019 to coincide with Milan Design Week, and re-opened just after Salone as a permanent restaurant.After a year's absence Tom Dixon returned to Milan and rethought how a design brand can embed itself into the heart of Italy's commercial and cultural capital. Monochromatic and crisp, with metallic and marble accents, the restaurant – which correspondingly functions as a showroom – is also warm and inviting. And every single item inside it is also for sale.

Park Farm Barns are barn conversions set in the Shropshire countryside. The simple, elegant interiors have been curated by Charters Property, with sustainability at the forefront. Beautiful designs and detailing has been evident, from the original roof boards, gravity arches and beams to the soft lime plastered walls. KEIM Mineral Paints were chosen on these barn conversions due to its breathability and sustainability credentials. The mix of lime plastered walls and gypsum walls were decorated using KEIM Optil in a warm neutral palette. It is a modern mineral paint, ideal for application onto historic and contemporary buildings. KEIM Innostar, which is a one coat paint, was applied onto the gypsum ceilings for a clean healthy living environment. It allowed rooms to be occupied the same day.

A hugely popular handrail design that ASF have supplied to projects in many locations. The full sized bollards that are used as post uprights give a sense of solidity and permanence, whilst the mitred top gives them just enough of a decorative nature to lift the product beyond a simple post and handrail job. In this project all welds and interfaces were polished back on site so the finished product becomes a complete unit with no visible fixings. With both double and single handrails over multiple flights and angles, this project shows how ASF can manage any project need.

This metal gutter was leaking in various places and several repairs had been undertaken over many years. Liquasil’s liquid gutter lining system was specified because the SWT primer actively treats any rust that is present and prevents further rusting. All joints and fixings are permanently sealed with Non-Sag Sealer. Non-Sag Sealer is a thixotropic coating with 1400% elasticity that easily copes with thermal movement associated with metal gutters. The final stage is the apply a single coat of Liquasil One along the entire length of the gutter, to provide a seamless, leak-free finish.

A range of high performance products from F. Ball have been used in the refurbishment of Grosvenor House; the 5-star luxury hotel on Park Lane, London. Once the subfloors had been prepared, contractors applied Styccobond F40 to the subfloor to create a release bond for the new installation. When the adhesive had dried to a tacky coating, contractors installed a new underlay to protect the carpet and provide added comfort. Styccobond F3 with its buildup of strength and protection against bio-degradation properties, was then used to permanently bond the new 12-row Axminster carpet.

ExCeL is the largest permanent exhibition site in London that links up with the Aloft Hotel. The overall terrace area exceeds 2,100m², all on one level. Below the terrace are the car parks, with countless drain access points that require maintenance annually. The terrace required pedestals to accommodate a void of +/- 220mm, with circular adjustable spacer tabs to accept odd shaped pavers alongside linear pavers, however large enough to allow drainage for extreme weather conditions. The Buzon DPH series, with special rotating spacer tabs were used to achieve this. The total pedestals required exceeded 25,000 units.

Duke Court is a development of 37 affordable homes for rent, built on the site of Fred Styles House, formerly a sheltered housing block, providing 42 bedsits, that had been empty since 2013. The development is part of Royal Borough of Greenwich’s commitment to delivering new high-quality homes and sustainable communities.The new development of 29 houses, 7 flats and 1 maisonette creates a pretty neighbourhood of terraced houses running along Charlton Church Lane, and a series of mews streets which run perpendicular connecting into the urban fabric behind the site. Glazed screens lead into a generous open plan kitchen dining room. Stairs lead up to bedrooms and to a light and airy open plan living room with fully glazed screens leading out onto a secluded sun trap roof terrace.The buildings along Charlton Church Lane alternate in height between two, and three storeys. The houses are built from a beautiful soft and rustic brick that helps ensure that the new homes feel embedded and ‘worn in’ to the surrounding area. The brick selected was Forterra’s Ecostock Belgravia Gault Blend. Its varied tone is important for ensuring the new homes do not feel too monolithic adding visual interest, factors that were integral to reassuring planners that the brick would be sensitive to its surrounding context.Low cost, robust but high quality brick detailing is integral to the project. Traditionally built brick arches front a number of the homes and help create a semi-private space where people can put out pots and plants, wellies and umbrellas etc. Snapped headers create tightly curved external walls where the site requires thinner accommodation. Other brick details include projecting brick surrounds to pop-up windows, arched window heads, soldier and header courses, articulated parapets and beautiful angled window reveals on prominent corners.

The Greatham Managed Realignment Scheme was part of the Environment Agencies wider " Tees tidal Flood Risk Management Strategy" which imposed a legal requirement upon the Environment Agency to deliver intertidal habitats as compensation for the impact of flood management projects. The challenge was to construct embankments comprising predominantly of site won material. THe size, scale and nature of the works dictates a tight time scale was maintained to ensure rapid return to its natural state. ABGs Erosamat Type 3 was chose, comprising 3 dimensional structure and entangled filaments. Erosamat forms a permanent composite with the natural vegetative root structure supported.

The ChallengeBrick Kiln Lane is a development of seven, four and five-bedroomed, cottage-style units situated at the end of residential road in a quiet, rural area of Leicestershire. There are two different designs: four L-shaped and three rectangular. Each of the seven houses needed unique elements of detailing – including window variations, render and brickwork – to distinguish it from its neighbour.The SolutionHampton Rural Blend brick was chosen to complement the character style of the development. Combined with recessed mortar joints, the brick blend, which is made up of several shades, creates a more aged appearance that helps the houses to sit comfortably within their environment.The BenefitsThe brick detailing on the units includes dentilation around the eaves and gables, and segmental arches over windows, all of which are in keeping with the traditional architectural style of the units and serve to enhance their aesthetic appeal.

When the Tunstall Trade Park complex near Stoke-on-Trent had a requirement for over 700m2 of flooring they turned to international flooring specialist Gerflor to supply a mixture of Creation 55 Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Gradus Lafite Connect Space carpet tiles to provide a stunning finish for the project.For permanent installations Creation 55 Dryback provides the perfect solution on prepared subfloors and is ideal for new projects. When an installation needs to be removable, then Creation 55 Looselay with its exclusive construction is the answer.Gradus Lafite Connect Space features a linear design and is available in both tile and plank format offering variety and the opportunity to produce unique floor schemes.

After several years without a permanent base, Cambridge City FC are hoping to move into their new stadium ahead of the 2024/25 season.Their new club house will be an asset to Cambridge football club allowing them to host events and have refreshments for match days.Cemfloor was chosen as the screed of choice for this stage of the project thanks to its many benefits includingthe speed of install and depths necessary, with Flowscreed laying 90m3 of screed, at a depth of 60mm, over 2days.Other factors such asReduced drying time compared to other screeds Easy Installation which reduced time and costs Foot traffic allowed after 24/48 hours meant that other aspects of the project could continue without delay

Eric Wright Construction are an organisation based in the North West of England, providing high quality construction services to customers for over 40 years.Back in 2017, work started on one of their new residential redevelopment projects in Manchester. Due to services and potential contaminates running directly underneath the construction site, they were in need of a zero ground strike fencing system that still held high security properties.The BriefThe brief was outlined by Eric Wright Construction through their specific requirements on the compound that CLD Fencing Systems and Wallbank Fencing needed to follow. Due to their inability to break ground, a permanent fencing system was not going to work.Zero ground strike fencing due to potential contaminates and servicesCompetitively pricedOperation and installation flexibility

The ChallengeThis prestigious three storey new build property in the village of Bilton was designed following close liaison with the local planning authority, in order to be sympathetic to other nearby homes.The SolutionCareful selection of the brick type was critical to this process, as the property needed a soft aesthetic to its front elevation, addressing the local authority’s concerns about the impact of the finished project while still meeting the client’s personal requirements.With this in mind the client selected Forterra’s Autumn Glow facing brick. This not only met all the criteria set by the local planning authority, but its enhanced durability designation allowed the brick to be used to create a seamless brick façade.Tom Holland, Managing Director of Holland Build, said, “We put forward several brick types to the planning authority as part of this two storey project, and a unanimous decision was reached that the Autumn Glow best fitted the design of the property, and was most in keeping with the local area.“I was already familiar with the Autumn Glow, having used it extensively on the construction of a luxury apartment building on a previous job, and never had any issue with them. They’re a good, solid facing brick, and extremely durable, and I’d recommend using them as a reliable stock brick.”The BenefitsGareth Rouse, Architectural Technologist for Forterra, said, “The Autumn Glow is a stock facing brick more tailored to the self-build market, due to its relatively soft aesthetic and higher-grade durability. It also contains recycled content and is the most sustainable stock brick available on the UK market.“It suited this project particularly well, complementing the timber frames used in the windows and doors and also proving ideal for the construction of the arch above the main entrance.”Although the main brickwork was intentionally kept simple, the client required a grand entrance that would draw visitors to the front door. Owing to the easily moulded nature of this particular clay type, special shaped bullnose bricks were utilised on the jambs of the main entrance, which then continued as tapered voussouirs into the semi-circular arch above. Simple, but effective herringbone panels were also introduced to draw the eye, breaking the appearance of mass stretcher bond brickwork.Forterra nominated the finished project for the 2018 Brick Awards, in the Individual Housing Development category.

The Beckett, a new retirement village close to the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, comprises three luxury apartment buildings of three, four and six storeys. The contemporary design provides 89 quality appointed apartments with a landscaped garden, all arranged around full-height atriums, allowing natural light to reach the centre of the buildings. The upper floors are set back, providing generous terrace areas which include a ‘sky lounge‘. All three buildings are concrete frame and as with any reinforced concrete slab design, The Beckett is at risk of punching shear failure, which traditionally has been resolved by adding further concrete, such as downstand beams, or localised thickened column heads. However these require complex formwork and significantly reduce the benefits offered by the flat slab design. The Schöck Bole shear rail system counters any punching shear risk and is cost-effective and significantly faster than traditional loose links – as much as four times faster in fact. This is because when using traditional links it involves far more ties to the reinforcement matt than when using the Schöck Bole. The ready-to-install reinforcement element consists of double-headed studs with spacing bars to ensure correct positioning. Two spacer bars are welded to the vertical studs, which ensure the correct distance between uprights and the forged stud heads guarantee a perfect finishing bond with the concrete. The dramatically reduced fixing time far outweighs any additional material costs that may be involved with a prefabricated system.