"road transport"

With all-glass revolving doors and vast glazing panels, the INTRAform DM entrance matting at 338 Euston Road appears to flow seamlessly from inside to out. Encompassing the angled and recessed doorway, the external matwell continues the line of the interior mat to square. This interesting combination of internal and external matting creates a highly practical design feature. Zonal entrance matting system Using INTRAform DM with differing inserts in the internal and external zones, the architect has created a two-stage zonal system. In zone 1 external, the matting is inset with multidirectional rubber which scrapes away excess dirt and moisture from footwear and wheels. With the entrance on the corner of the building, the flexible rubber fins ensure performance, whichever the direction of approach. In the primary mat, (zone 2, internal), the profiles are inset with highly absorbent INTRAlux Elite polyamide fibre. These inserts remove and retain any remaining dirt and moisture to ensure a safe and slip-free entrance. With the revolving door sheltered within the recess, the matting here is also inset with fibre. Made from 100% Econyl regenerated nylon fibre and capable of absorbing 5.4l/m2, INTRAlux Elite is both a practical and sustainable choice. Minimal design, maximum impact The INTRAlux Elite fibre in Grey 606 matches tonally with the multidirectional rubber. The oversized entrance matting panels lessen the use of diving t-bars. While the positioning of the t-bars has been carefully planned to align with the threshold. Along with the glazed façade, these elements help maximise the impact of the architect’s design, to create a stunning entrance. Learn more To learn how to create a practical, sustainable, and beautiful specification for your next project come along to one of INTRAsystems’ entrance matting CPD webinars. Approved by both the RIBA and the BIID, the 45-minute sessions cover everything you need to know about entrance matting specification; from functions and applications to fire safety and sustainability. Register for free today: https://intrasystems.eventbrite.co.uk

Addagrip approved contractor, Resin & Rock were delighted to be appointed to install tree pit resin bound surfacing around the base of a number of the London Plane trees on the newly redeveloped Exhibition Road in the Royal Borough of Chelsea and Kensington.A 6mm Lucerne Silver was used to replace the existing self-binding gravel finish to fulfil the clients’ requirements for a porous, hard wearing and aesthetically pleasing surface capable of tolerating the high pedestrian flows in this busy street. A super-flex collar was included in the installations to allow for tree growth and to ensure that there was no loose aggregate.The low maintenance paving provides a seamless surface with excellent slip resistance and can be easily kept clean.The installation was completed in November 2014

Hull's Preston Road Estate recently saw 130 artists use 22 empty houses for unique graffiti artworks in a weekend-long takeover. Hundreds of litres of Sandtex masonry paint were donated to the Bankside Gallery street art collective to create blank canvases on the houses for the artists to paint over. The takeover drew artists and visitors from across the country, and has put pride back into the community. A similar event took place last year, and Humberside Fire & Rescue Service has since reported a 41 per cent drop in vandalism on derelict properties that feature the murals.

In partnership with Inspired washrooms, Franke Water Systems UK have provided stainless steel hand sanitiser dispensers to Didsbury Road School, Stockport to encourage hand hygiene when the pupils return. Franke Water Systems were thrilled to provide Dart Valley branded AC00-050 free standing sanitiser dispensers for the entrance of the school before children returned on. The DVS branded touch-free hand sanitiser station is a floor standing dispenser with a premium stand. Manufactured from quality materials, this dispenser is perfect for environments with high footfall such as schools, universities, and other education facilities. The sturdy touch-free design comes with a large sanitiser tank and is battery operated, offering a touch-free, easy to install and low maintenance solution.  

Around 16,000 fixed-head adjustable decking pedestals were used to support Thermowood decking on the many balconies at London Square's newest residential development in North London.

Ryno self-levelling adjustable pedestals and stackable supports were chosen to support paving slabs on the many balconies, walkways and roof terraces of this residential development in the Bermodsey area.

The customer wanted to find a new tile that had a similar aesthetic look to the original clay tiles but also needed to ensure an economical overall installation cost. James Bros Roofing Contractors, who specialise in the re-roofing of domestic properties using natural slate, clay plain tiles or more modern concrete tiles, selected Wienerberger's 20/20 Antique Slate roof tiles to achieve this brief perfectly.

future-proofing a semi-detached Victorian home, taking the opportunity to transform the dark, unwelcoming kitchen into a light-filled modern space with Schüco ASS 70 FD aluminium bi-folding door systems.

QUALITY AND AESTHETICS KEY FOR THE ROOF OF NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN DORSET

Maximising light to a bespoke side extensionThe ChallengeThe homeowner did not want to forsake garden space but desired to add more functional space to their family home in suburban London. As part of a charming street of semi-detached properties clever design and effective use of glazing enabled the limited space between the property and their neighbour’s property was utilised.The SolutionA bespoke side extension was created and in addition maximising natural sunlight a bespoke fixed ‘L’ shaped multi-panel rooflight was combined and multi-panel rooflights and electric opening vent which allowed for the new space to receive additional natural ventilation.These glazing solutions meant that the homeowner was able to maximise the natural light and natural ventilation available to them whilst undertaking building work that had a minimum impact on their home. Get in touchWhether you’re at planning or construction stage why not see how we could help you add natural light, ventilation and space to your home; you can call us on 01223 792244 or pop us an email via info@nextgenrooflights.co.uk outlining what help you need.

Roof terrace for more space to enjoy with family and friends The ChallengeThe homeowner wanted to make sympathetic improvements to the existing components of their London townhouse without losing the essence that made it a home. This included partial conversion of main roof into terrace with access, the addition of roof light and the enlargement of an existing roof light. But with such a stunning property, standard and ordinary just would not do.The SolutionThere were three components were we provided expert advise and unique glazing solutions. Firstly, they wanted to bring more light to an existing bathroom which was achieved with an opening electric vent rooflight, that allowed both light and additional ventilation to the space.Secondly was enlargement of the roof light to a single storey extension at lower ground floor level. Thirdly was the design and installation of a Sliding over fixed rooflight above the third floor staircase that provided access to a new flat roof terrace which replaced the original butterfly roof.This now meant our client could maximise their property, create more space, and make a feature of their roof terrace where they could enjoy this vista with family and friends, capitalising on the views they and let light flood into the space below. Get in touchWhether you’re at planning or construction stage why not see how we could help you add natural light and space to your home; you can call us on 01223 792244 or pop us an email via info@nextgenrooflights.co.uk outlining what help you need.

Single storey extension with fixed rooflights and opening vent rooflightsThe ChallengeLocated on one of Cambridge's key arterial routes the homeowner wanted to improve the quality of the internal spaces in this early twentieth century townhouse, to help revitalise the property and give them a better family home.The solutionWorking with an innovative architect they proceeded to add an extensive single storey extension to the rear of the property as well as unique dormer extension to the second floor.We worked closely with them to create fixed rooflights for the single storey extension which added light and a feeling of greater space also we provided opening vent rooflights which as well as adding natural light also gave them natural ventilation.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.

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.

SystemGENBRIXMaterialHILLTOP CREAM & BOURNEVILLEMain ContractorWATKIN JONES

We have recently completed a 600m2 project in Westminster with installation by one of our main Approved Contractors, Ridgewell Flat Roofing.Specification – System UsedThis project called for extremely durable yet cost-effective waterproofing to be installed, which made the OptiTorch-Premium Bituminous Felt System the ideal choice. Having been used in the roofing industry for over 50 years, felt has been consistently developed and improved, and still remains one of the most popular systems available.OptiTorch-Premium bituminous felt is a high-performance waterproofing system that can be installed year-round, with excellent flexibility at temperatures as low as -25oC. This system provides long lasting resistance against UV rays and even contains special additives to protect against root growth.There was also a lot of detailing work and some gutter repairs required, so OptiFlex-Rapid PMMA Liquid was used for these parts of the project to ensure a completely watertight and visually appealing result.OptiFlex-Rapid is a quick-curing PMMA liquid waterproofing system with a typical curing time of just 20 minutes! It is cold-applied and is reinforced with 150gsm matting for extra resilience. OptiFlex-Rapid can be applied year-round and is a great choice for detailing and repair work as it can be applied directly onto most surfaces without the need for primer, which can often save time and money!The ProjectThis project was a 600m2 warm roof design with a standard build-up including 120mm tissue-faced PIR insulation, and also consisting of: OSA5 Primer, Vapour Control Layer, Insulation Adhesive, Insulation, Premium Self-Adhesive Underlay and Techno58 SBS Capsheet.Ben Ridgewell, owner of Ridgewell Flat Roofing, took on the project with Grant Jones (Co-Director) and his team, and completed the installation to their consistently high standards with an impeccable finish.The ResultsThe overall completed look of this project is very tidy and aesthetically pleasing – thanks to Ben and his team for a great installation, including an OptiTec warranty of 20 years to ensure peace of mind for the building owner for years to come.

Beecholme is a detached house which has been converted to create seven flats. This development has been the subject of extension to make a kitchen and living room overlooking the rear garden for one of these flats. In addition, five of these flats include a ground floor bedroom and family room with an ensuite, providing versatility to suit a family’s needs. This development comes with allocated parking.Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by CROE Architects due to the high sound reduction performance and low floor levels. As it’s suitable for all floor types, it is frequently viewed as the solution of choice for new build and refurbishment developments. Its interlocking edges for installation convenience, high density, and unique resilient layer provides unrivalled acoustic performance.JB Carpentry was supplied 338m² of Cellecta products for this development in Welwyn.

Edinburgh City Council in partnership with Sustrans and Cyclehoop are providing 1,080 parking spaces for residents to store their bicycles conveniently and safely on streets near their homes.That is 180 Bikehangar installed on residential streets where storage space is otherwise seriously limited. Work began this month on the first phase of 108 units and is expected to conclude mid-October.Upon completion, Edinburgh will have the largest network of on-street cycle sheds in the UK outside of London.This announcement comes as local authorities around the UK undertake ambitious plans to reallocate road space from cars to cyclists and pedestrians.Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “We’re delighted to be introducing secure bike parking, which will be particularly beneficial for Edinburgh’s tenement areas. It addresses the significant problem of limited space for bikes as more people choose cycling as their preferred way to get around the city. Overcrowded stairwells are not only inconvenient for residents, it makes them key targets for bike theft.”The Bikehangars are designed, installed and managed by bicycle infrastructure experts Cyclehoop, the leading providers of on in the UK. Each shed provides six cycle parking spaces in half the space of a parked car, relieving pressure on roads and public transport networks and freeing up pavement space for physical distancing.Cyclehoop’s Managing Director Anthony Lau said: “Cycling creates a more liveable neighbourhood, by lowering car dependency to make streets quieter, safer and healthier places.“Making secure cycle parking accessible is key to encouraging more people to take up cycling. We designed the Bikehangar to help those who aren’t able to keep their bicycles at home, to store their bicycles on the street, safely and protected from the weather.”Cyclists should still insure, register and lock their bikes correctly when storing their bicycles in Bikehanagrs added Anthony Lau “Secure locks and storage facilities offer greater protection by delaying or deterring thieves. No lock and no structure, be it your home, garage, shed or Bikehangar is impenetrable to a determined and well-equipped thief. At least not yet. Although myself and our design team hope to one day change this.”Support for the Edinburgh scheme through public consultation has been high. Councillor Karen Doran said:“Over 70% of those who responded to our consultation strongly supported the scheme, so it’s fantastic to now see the hangars being installed in many locations across the capital. Working with Cyclehoop means we now have accessible, well-maintained, safe places to store bikes for a small fee of only £6 a month.”Residents can apply for a space through the Cyclehoop Rentals website for a low monthly fee, which covers the management and maintenance of the units. Cyclehoop have partnered with Scottish cycling charity Bike For Good to carryout maintenance of the units and provide residents with five free Dr Bike sessions annually.In London, the scheme has been in high demand and local authorities cannot keep up with requirements. Anthony Lau said: “Over 12,000 Bikehangar spaces have been provided in London but the waitlist is over 35,000 and still growing. People want to cycle but an incredible number have no garage or home storage space.”A high level of demand is expected in Edinburgh and the council would like to see further cycle sheds provided in the future. Residents can suggest new locations for Bikehangars on the Cyclehoop Rentals website and this data could be used to inform council plans.Councillor Karen Doran said: “We would like to see this scheme extended to other areas in the future, providing even more support for the increasing numbers of residents we’re seeing who choose to cycle and helping us meet our longer-term goal of being a carbon neutral city.”

Client: Durham County Council Main Contractor/Manufacturer: Retro Bridge Specialist Contractor: St Astier Consulting Contractors Main Products Used: Emseal BEJS SystemThe Witton Park Road Bridge near Bishop Auckland crosses the River Wear at the same place as the historic Witton Park Railway Viaduct, but at different angles. The main central bridging structure was being replaced as the old structure had deteriorated and become structurally unsound. The new prefabricated replacement section of the bridge is a Retro Beam Bridge design, made from thermally galvanised steel for long term durability and is 64 metres long, with a single-lane road carriageway plus a cycle path. The new bridge section was installed in just 3 days through the Victorian brick arches of the Viaduct by Retro Bridge. Then the teams from Durham County Council and St. Astier Consulting Contractors were able to work on the bridge deck expansion joints at each end, to ensure that these had an equally durable, watertight seal. To do this quickly and efficiently, as well as ensuring the long-term durability of the exposed joints, they selected the Emseal BEJS System provided and supported by NCC (Movement Joint Systems). The Emseal BEJS System can handle harsh environmental conditions and has greater movement capability, better low temperature flexibility and higher temperature stability than other joint movement technologies. In a single installation, BEJS provided a watertight durable seal, with a joint movement capability over 100%, including 3-dimensional movement, plus it required no invasive mechanical anchoring as it is bonded in position.

Case studiesAn artistic interpretation of multicultural interactionWith 3.5 million inhabitants, the region surrounding the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is among the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The Mississippi separates the capital of Minnesota, Saint Paul, from Cedar-Riverside, which is also known as West Bank. Day by day, tens of thousands of people commute between these three communities to get to work, university or school. The state implemented a comprehensive municipal rail project to bring the 100-year-old infrastructure consisting of buses and congested roads into line with these requirements. A key element of this mammoth project is the so-called Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (CCLRT) with the transport hub West Bank Station. The AECOM firm of architects designed a two-story station at this location. To ensure protection from the sun, the building was provided with large-scale cladding in the form of Omega 1510 and 1550 metal fabrics from GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG. Through etching and the addition of stainless steel birds, the shimmering façade was transformed into an expressive work of art that reflects the eventful immigration history of the region. Scandinavian immigrants sought a new life in the settlement on the upper stretch of the Mississippi in Minnesota, USA, in the middle of the 19th century. These initial settlements grew to become the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which are today an important economic and cultural center in the Midwestern United States. As the manufacturing industry went from strength to strength, the region attracted increasing numbers of migrants from all over the world from the beginning of the 20th century onward. Today, the region is viewed as a melting pot of nations, where over 100 different languages are spoken. However, the rapid population growth also took the transport infrastructure of the densely populated area to its limits as early as the 1970s. As a result, planning work on the largest local transport project in the history of Minnesota began in 1981, which also comprised the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit with the METRO Green Line. Today, this connects the centers of the Twin Cities with several of the most populous areas in the conurbation, also crossing the Mississippi.A real eye-catcher: multifunctional solar protectionThe architectural firm AECOM, which was charged with the task of realization, concentrated not only on functionality and aesthetics, but also on public art when designing the stations. For the particularly well-frequented West Bank Station, they chose a solar protection façade made of GKD metallic fabric. The textile skin in front of the extensively glazed station reflects sunlight, thus preventing the two-story building from heating up excessively in summer. At the same time, its transparency grants unhindered views of the outside surroundings and also, through the interior lighting, from the outside in. This visibility conveys a feeling of subjective safety to passengers. Meanwhile, the high light transmission of the woven structure ensures a pleasant atmosphere and lots of natural light. Despite its intricate feel, the robust stainless steel fabric will withstand the adverse weather conditions that often prevail here with wind, rain, snow or frost for many years. The fabric even provides effective protection from the vandalism so often seen at public transport stops. What’s more, the material guarantees the cost-effectiveness required for transport buildings thanks to its durability and freedom from maintenance. The shimmering membrane couples this complex and broad range of functions with an extraordinary visual appearance: as a delicate veil, it follows the stepped architecture of West Bank Station and lends a sense of visual peace to its detailed façade. Spotlights fitted outside create targeted light effects that change according to the position of the viewer and thus give the transparent fabric an unexpectedly opaque appearance.Signs of life: a public work of artThis effect is given an additional dimension thanks to a creative interpretation by Nancy Blum, an artist, critic and art lecturer who is very well-known in the USA. The architects’ concept for three of the city stations for CCLRT included her integrated artworks. The woven stainless steel fabric skin at West Bank Station inspired Nancy Blum to create an artwork visualizing the eventful history of Cedar-Riverside as a transit point for people from many different nations. That’s why the metal fabric panels in front of the stairways were to be decorated with ethnic patterns, with designs reminiscent of the three main regions of origin of the immigrants – Scandinavia, Asia and Eastern Africa. GKD realized this artistic idea by means of etchings on the Omega 1510 fabric. The smooth upper surface and relatively dense structure of this fabric make it particularly well-suited for this procedure, in which the fabric surface is modified slightly. On the basis of the patterns designed by Nancy Blum, GKD produced a screen that covered all surfaces that were not to be altered. The fabric specialist then used a blasting agent to modify the metallic surface precisely according to the artist’s specification. The durable patterns created using this method were instantly resistant to UV and severe weather conditions without the need for any special treatment. Daylight transmittance also remains just as high. Depending on the incidence of light and the viewing angle, the patterns can appear either transparent or opaque. However, they derive their special effect through their seamless integration into the building. Nancy Blum added a third dimension to these etched patterns by having silhouette-style pictures of migratory birds typical of the regions mounted on both treated and untreated woven panels. These large stainless steel motifs link the coming and going of the various migrant groups with that of the migratory birds, which follow them on their journey along the Mississippi. Combined with the ethnic patterns, this creates an almost poetic image of dynamic interaction in a region steeped in such a rich tradition.

Ryno Signature Decking in ‘Silver Birch’ takes pride of place in this new Brentwood development. The apartment block has a bold red brick exterior, with simple anthracite windows and detailing.The glass balustrades of the balconies allow the maximum level of light to enter the apartments, while making the paved courtyard feel even larger and more spacious.Products UsedTerraSmart® Composite in Silver Birch was used across the private balconies. Silver Birch, from the Signature Range of premium ‘capped’ decking, has an elegant textured wood-grain finish.The terrace spaces had additional height build-up requirements, so fixed-head adjustable pedestals were used to raise the decking to the door thresholds.

Woodbridge Academy Ipswich is the third project working with Bowmer + Kirkland and their DofE framework. The new school provides an excellent platform for teaching children with communication & interaction needs.

A first-time self-builder from Twickenham used his time on furlough to build a two-bedroom home in his back garden with weberwall brick.

Superb development with unique balconies and a wonderful roof terraceThis prestige development in the outskirts of thriving Manchester used the MyDek Vista board on our standard box rail and cleat support system. The Vox is an iconic looking development.Located at Cornbrook, a short walk away from Castlefield with its waterside bars and restaurants and convenient access to Deansgate through to the City Centre. You’re also just a quick Metrolink journey, or a canal path stroll, away from MediaCityUK, home to the city’s exciting media-hub and Quayside shopping outlet.Most of the balconies had triangular shaped balconies with multiple faceted angles. This meant that installation called for a lot of unique angled cuts with every board having a different length and mitred end. The installers did an excellent quality job and delivered an outstanding result."Would I recommend MyDek to others? 100% yes! Just through their sheer professionalism towards us and the other trades involved in the project. They helped us out a lot, they’ve been really useful to us…any problems we’ve had on site…they’ve done their very best, they’ve been first there to help us out. We couldn’t really ask any more from them." - Senior Site Manager, Graham Construction

Superb development with inset balconies and beautiful roof terraces.This prestige development by the riverside in Manchester used the MyDek Vista board on our standard box rail and cleat support system. Renaker and their subcontractor were a pleasure to work with and were keen to ensure that they delivered a first class product and installation to complement the quality of the development.

Homeowner and self-builder Marianne was able to draw on the right help, expertise, and best products – including ROCKWOOL insulation – to realise her dream.ROCKWOOL Timber Frame Slab used for this project is a durable non-combustible stone wool slab that provides thermal, non-combustible insulation for walls and roofs. 

On January 2006, the Secretary of State granted the permission for the project, and the developer was really confident that it will be completed by 2013, but it got delayed because of the economic downturn. This is a £1 billion scheme and it is considered “the biggest riverside development on the north bank of the Thames for over 100 years”, creating 106 homes. In this project Effisus Pre-fab True Seal, a pre-fabricated sealing solution, was developed and applied for sealing difficult facade 3D details, minimizing human error possibility.

Helmsman Z Lockers, 4-compartment Heavy Duty Lockers and Inline Cubicles were supplied, delivered and installed by Helmsman professionals in Cambridge. Our new range of cubicles went into both male and female shower rooms with seat stands attached to bespoke sloping top Z Lockers suitable for wet environments. Bespoke privacy panels and benches were supplied in each cubicle to keep the bench clear of water. Natural Ash laminate was used across the bespoke project.

Harbour Central is a condominium complex in London’s Docklands, costing £17.6 million and comprising 642 private one, two, and three bedroom apartments divided across five residential buildings. This 30,000m² development also provides eight penthouse apartments with a leisure complex, all only minutes from Canary Wharf.Cellecta YELOfon HD10+ was specified by Rolfe Judd Architecture in this development for is unrivalled acoustic performance when used to isolate a floating screed from a structural concrete floor. This product also works in conjunction with underfloor heating.Galliard Homes UKS was awarded the contract to construct these luxury private apartments.

Marlborough Manor is one of Carrickfergus’ newest and most sought-after developments, with façades reflecting a traditional, Georgian-style design created by premium AG facing bricks whose hand-crafted aesthetics appeal to architects, house builders and professional designers alike. The ChallengeBuilt by HJ O’Boyle contractors in November 2015, the 16 homes making up the £2.5m Marlborough Manor development mark the first residential development by Rosemount Homes Ltd, an offshoot of Lagan Construction Group, with whom AG has enjoyed business relations for nearly 20 years.Befitting the aesthetic tone of the Georgian-style homes the development called for facing bricks with the hand-crafted appearance sometimes only associated with clay bricks.Key to the development was also attractive and comfortable outdoor living spaces. The SolutionThe Heritage range, with its rumbled edges and traditional, rustic finish was chosen by the contracting team – and they haven’t looked back since.The beautiful Heritage facing brick – in Fergustie Mixture – was matched with AG’s Rectangular paving in Creagh Peat Brindle colour which affords a smooth finish with clean lines and richness of colour plus great skid and slip performance. And, of course, it’s also renowned for its durability and minimal maintenance requirements. Architect Alan Bennett has been completely won over by AG’s high quality facing brick – “The Heritage Fergustie brick is a great product and one I hope to use in the future.”

A.J Wells designed, manufactured and installed around 1500 square metres of vitreous enamel artwork cladding at the New Griffith House building and boundary wall at Chapel Street, London, as part of a London Underground Upgrade Package.Renowned textile artist Jacqui Poncelet provided the design which was screen printed onto each panel measuring 1.8 x 1.2 metres.

Outdoor furniture and other external improvements were manufactured and designed by Broxap for a new school for students with learning needs.

TRC Contracts Ltd were awarded the contract for the supply, design and installation of timber Box sash windows and doors fully glazed and factory finished to this 80 million Pound house nearby Regent’s Park. Huxley House’s impressive facade, complete with robust Doric columns, draws its inspiration from the Neoclassical architecture that is a distinct hallmark of nearby Marylebone and Primrose. With their classical columns and decorative friezes, the imposing white stucco houses that abound in these areas reveal the fingerprint of one of Britain’s finest architects, John Nash (1752 – 1835).

Residential - ApartmentsPlace: LondonArchitect: FarrellsApplication: Window - Ventilation Facade - VentilationProduct: Louvre 412 and Invisivent

Ashley Road East (ARE) is a new 183-unit mixed-use development located in Tottenham Hale, set to play an important role in defining the area’s regeneration with the construction of two residential blocks, retail and office space.Due to the developments prime London location, Farrat were contacted at pre-construction phase to help develop a variety of isolation solutions to mitigate against both structural and thermal disturbances impacting building performance.Challenge 01: Low frequency ground-borne noise and vibrationFarrat Solution: Building Vibration Isolation SystemA key challenge when building in London is the surrounding network of the London Underground, railway lines, high traffic roads and activity from the busy city life, and this development is no exception. Vibration generated from the London Underground Victoria Line would cause significant structural problems and without building vibration isolation there would be a high risk of disruption from structure-borne noise.Farrat designed a Base Vibration Isolation system as the most efficient long-term solution for ARE, to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for the entire lifetime of the building. The Farrat assemblies within the system were designed, manufactured and then supplied by Farrat directly to the ARE site. Throughout the construction phase, Farrat supported the project team with regular on-site installation guidance and post-installation inspection.Challenge 2: Thermal bridging in high-rise balcony connectionsFarrat Solution: Fire-rated Structural Thermal Breaks (Farrat TBF)Balconies are a great way of introducing an outside space to apartments and are becoming an increasingly attractive feature to developers, designers and end users alike. Even before COVID-19, a balcony could add up to 12% to the price of a home without a garden and this rises to as much as 25% in Chelsea. With balconies however, comes another leading consideration for designers of apartment buildings – fire safety. It is becoming increasingly critical that all building materials used above 18m are certified as fire safe and that this consideration is worked in at early design stage, to ensure they meet safe buildings standards.With this is mind, our A2 certified fire resistant Structural Thermal Break, Farrat TBF, was selected for use between balcony connections on this new London development. The high rigidity of Farrat TBF will effectively impose stiffness on potentially flexible connections in balconies, avoiding bounce and making for a more reassuring and safe experience.Farrat in London redevelopmentAshley Road East is just one of many projects currently underway in the country’s capital with the help of Farrat. If you take a walk through London you will see evidence of our teams hard work across a large number of redevelopments and projects. #onamission

Southampton Airport is an international airport serving over 40 destinations. As the 18th busiest UK airport, it handled over 1.7 million passengers in 2013. Safety and security are paramount at any airport and emergency procedures and facilities need to be flawless and well maintained. Improvements were required to the emergency staircases in the airport’s multi-story car park. Previously, only a yellow strip was painted on the edge of the concrete steps across the 5 stairways, which meant the potential slip hazard was great.

In the new Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD) showroom in Woking, Surrey, tile products by Saint-Gobain Weber have been specified for their new 400m² sales facility which includes an extensive showroom and trade counter.Relocation of Ceramic Tile Distributors (CTD) from their original showroom on the junction of Goldsmith Road and Church Street West to Kestrel Road a few miles away was brought about by the £150m redevelopment of Woking town centre."The relocation of CTD has not presented a problem," says Rob Stevens, manager, CTD Woking. "The showroom looks brilliant – it's bigger and better, and our trade custom has definitely increased. We also attract lots of private customers who enjoy the simplicity of the large sample displays and the huge variety of tiles for every location."Several site visits were made by Weber's tile specialists to inspect the floor substrate and identify the appropriate materials. The floor was prepared with weber PR360, a multi-purpose priming solution suitable for most building substrates including wood, anhydrite, plaster and cement/sand screed. This primer regulates the porosity of the substrate and improves adhesion and the flow of levelling compounds.High performance, fibre-modified weberfloor flex was then applied which is a self-smoothing and self-levelling compound suitable for most substrates. It has rapid setting qualities and can take light foot traffic after just 3 hours. It is also one of the many products in the Saint-Gobain Weber range to feature Low Dust Technology™ which makes it cleaner and more comfortable for the applicator to use.Large format GEMINI Young Stone tiles in grey were set with weberset rapid plus ECO which is a very rapid strength tile adhesive for low porosity tiles, such as ceramic, porcelain and natural stone, and has been specifically developed to allow easy bedding of large format tiles. It is suitable for use on solid substrates and is ready for grout in only 2 hours. The new ECO formulation contains cement replacement technology which reduces the product's environmental impact of initial excavation and contributes to a significant reduction in transportation costs.The CTD Woking showroom floor was grouted with weberjoint wide which is suitable for very wide joints from 2-20mm. This is a cement-based floor and wall grout which gives a coarse textured finish. It has the added benefit of Mould Stop Technology which ensures lasting protection from mould growth, it's also abrasive-resistant and available in seven colours.As part of Woking's redevelopment, the bandstand, fire station and market place will all be demolished to make way for a new complex featuring shops, apartments, parking and a hotel. On the old CTD site a brand new state-of-the-art fire station is to be developed providing additional space and working areas for the crews and an improved training facility.