"sanitary appliances and fittings"

We zone in on the complete wetroom solution provided for the Lalit Hotel one of Schlüter-Systems’ grandest projects of 2016/17 and finalist in the ‘Listed Building (Over £5 million)’ category of the AJ Retrofit Awards 2017. The conversion project took the historic Grade II listed building previously known as St Olave’s Grammar School, located at Bankside in London, and transformed it into a luxury 70-room boutique hotel that fuses the best of Indian and British culture. Lalit London is the 13th hotel of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, and the first based outside of India.

Based in the heart of London’s financial district, LibertySyndicates has taken up new office space at 20Fenchurch Street, more commonly known as the WalkieTalkie.Famed for it’s unique design, the building wascompleted in 2014 by world renowned architect, RafaelVinoly. Unlike most skyscrapers, the walkie talkie adoptsa top-heavy shape which allows it to maximise space onthe higher floors, the most expensive to rent.It also offers a free to use sky garden for the public,situated on the top three levels, which was one of thekey factors in the building receiving planning permission.Liberty Syndicates opted to make six floors of 20Fenchurch Street their new London home, with a view todeveloping a modern and vibrant working space.In a high usage, commercial environment, Allgood’skey brief was to provide a high performing ironmongerypackage. Grade 316 stainless steel Modric pull handleswere supplied on all of the meeting room doorsalongside matching accessories and overhead doorclosers.In the bathroom areas, Allgood supplied a co-ordinatedModric range of signage, WC turns, coat hooks andescutcheons.

BW Workplace Experts looks to Oscar Acoustics to create health-enhancing workplace of the future Making a sound choiceOffice fit-out professionals, BW Workplace Experts, who specialise in delivering welcoming office environments, enlisted the help of Oscar Acoustics as part of a major workplace fit-out to ensure optimal acoustic comfort for occupants and a calm ‘home from home’ experience for staff.Central to achieving their goal of creating a peaceful office ambience was the issue of noise reverberation. It was imperative that workers using the office space could communicate easily without needing to shout and that staff could work harmoniously without distractions.The challenge: unconventional working spaces Located at Herbal House in Farringdon, London, BW Workplace needed to allow for agile ways of working, providing flexible environments that offer focused work areas, co-working spaces and relaxed break out areas. A combination of both impromptu and formal meeting rooms was also required.  Working alongside architects TP Bennett, Oscar Acoustics were faced with the challenge of how to achieve the perfect acoustic balance within the two-floor Manhattan loft-style space. As office workers would be dealing with important sensitive circumstances, such as judicial matters, unwanted noise needed to be kept to a minimum, allowing staff to concentrate and focus on matters at hand.Leanne Baird, Head of Marketing at BW, said: “We needed an effective design solution to deal with reverberant noise so that staff remained free of distractions and their ability to concentrate was not impaired by excessive noise. “Having worked with Oscar Acoustics previously, we knew we were in safe hands as far as finding an effective noise-reduction solution was concerned. Their expertise in architectural acoustic finishes was crucial to the success of this project.”The solution: calm, inviting interiors that sound as good as they lookChosen for its ability to absorb sound energy instead of reflecting it, Oscar’s SonaSpray K-13 is a seamless acoustic spray with a deliberately industrial, coarsely textured finish that helps control stressful noise reverberation in buildings. Blending in seamlessly with the fluid, flexible workspace, the spray was completed in a single application, allowing BW to keep to important project deadlines, with minimal installation time.  Sustainable acoustic solutionsSonaSpray K-13 also contributes towards many sustainable design and health certification systems including BREEAM, SKA, Living Building Challenge and adds up to 17 points towards the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a project. By choosing SonaSpray K-13, all parties could feel confident that the application met the highest health and welfare standards due its non-hazardous, GREENGUARD Gold Certified compliance for Indoor Air Quality. As a seamless M1 certified Low Emitting acoustic spray, it also contains renewable natural resources such as wood, and cotton which effectively lowers the carbon footprint of the building project by sequestering rich stores of carbon for the lifecycle of the structure. In a world where environmental impact is paramount, SonaSpray K-13 boasts further green credentials, having been covered by the Environmental Product Declaration in accordance with ISO 14025 and meeting the Living Building Challenge and LEED requirements. In addition to these, Oscar Acoustics are ISO 14001 certified; completing the environmental jigsaw and making them Great Britain’s most sustainable acoustic solutions provider.Fire rated acoustic sprayIt was also imperative that employee safety was considered, especially in terms of fire safety. Knowing that SonaSpray K-13 not only met but significantly bettered the updated Approved Document B fire requirement (Class 0 to BS476 & B-s1,d0 fire rating), gave both architects and designers complete peace of mind that should the eventuality occur, the acoustic spray would provide little to no smoke and absolutely no droplets, assisting in the safe escape of its occupants.Ben Hancock, Managing Director at Oscar Acoustics says: “When we were first approached by BW, we knew just the solution for this type of acoustic problem in an office space. With years of experience providing acoustic solutions to commercial workspaces, our tried and tested SonaSpray range is our go-to choice for achieving superb acoustic results without design compromise. “Working with BW has been a fantastic experience. With the increased focus on wellbeing and the work-life balance becoming more prevalent, office space must reflect this change. It’s long been recognised that poor acoustics and excessive levels of noise can be bad for occupants’ health so it was great to see this issue being taken seriously, to improve the daily lives of employees using the building day-to-day.”Image credit to Tom Green Photography.

Originally one of Britain’s greatest railway hotels, the Principal York Hotel has been sensitively renovated and redesigned by Goddard Littlefair in a manner that combines attention to historic architectural detail with modern design and comfort. The 155 guest bedrooms and suites are decorated in a muted soft cream palette with feature wood paneling. Designed by Utopia Projects, a specialist bathroom consultancy, the bathrooms feature polished marble surfaces with sanitary fittings from Villeroy & Boch’s Memento, Architectura and O.novo collections. The design emphasis here was on relaxation, so that guests feel at ease and uplifted.

To update four pairs of manual swing doors at the health club in Wilmslow, which over time had become tired looking and cumbersome after years of wear and tear and replace them with automatic doors to create a welcoming, contact-free entrance for members and staff.

CUPA PIZARRAS has been specified across a major development and refurbishment at Tregenna Castle. The company’s products were selected for their ability to endure extreme local weather and provide an exceptionally long lifespan.Delivering spectacular views of the St Ives coastline, the Castle Approach Estate is a new collection of lodges built in the grounds of the historic Tregenna Castle Resort.Looking to complete the exclusive lodges, roofing contractor, Summit Roofing Solutions utilised a number of CUPA PIZARRAS’ products. Likewise, the project team also chose to use the company’s natural slate to complete a renovation of Tregenna Castle’s original roof.The lodges and castle are subject to difficult coastal conditions, including extreme winds and sea spray. As such, the project team needed access to roofing solutions that could deliver long-lasting, durable performance. Likewise, given Tregenna Castle’s status as a Grade II listed property, the team had to ensure that any selected products were able to deliver a traditional aesthetic, whilst still providing modern performance. Fortunately, CUPA PIZARRAS natural slate was able to meet all the desired criteria.Therefore, roofs on the lodges at Tregenna Estate exclusively used CUPA PIZARRAS’ 400mm x 200mm CUPA 12 natural slates, fixed using 100mm stainless steel hooks that were also produced and supplied by CUPA PIZARRAS.Notably, Summit Roofing Solutions was able to install the natural slate as a closed mitred hip system. In doing so, the project team ensured that all slates lined up perfectly with one another, which is only possible on account of the products’ uniform size and quality. This was particularly important on the lodges, where sections of roof were stepped down in certain locations and visible from ground level. Speaking on the project at Tregenna Estate, Adam Palmer, Company Owner of Summit Roofing Solutions commented: “Upon receiving the brief, we recognized that CUPA PIZARRAS’ solutions could help us to meet all key project goals. What’s more, the company helped us to overcome logistical challenges.”Following project completion, the Tregenna Estate played host to key stakeholders attending the G7 Summit in Cornwall, including the Prime Minister and US President Joe Biden. In anticipation of the event, enhanced security provisions were put in place on the site, which made the logistical side of the project more difficult.Thankfully, through its extensive distribution network, CUPA PIZARRAS was able to devise a well-considered delivery and logistics plan to ensure that supplies could reach the project team at critical times.CUPA 12 was chosen for this prestigious project as it is a high quality dark grey slate with a smooth finish. With a life span of more than one hundred years and very little maintenance required, natural slate is a durable, weatherproof product, un-matched by artificial alternatives. CUPA 12 has also received approval from Snowdonia National Park as a Welsh Slate alternative and has been certified by BRE Global as A+ for its quality, transparency, and sustainability credentials. Find out more about CUPA PIZARRAS solutions here at https://www.cupapizarras.com/uk/  

A major housing provider wanted their new workspace to reflect its corporate and environmental ethos. Vtec's premium wood-slatted system, SupaSlat, was used in the ceiling design. The beauty of the system was it supported the client's green initiatives, as FSC® Certified (FSC® 160047) wood was used. Vtec's SupaSlat system addressed the need for sustainable measures. The beautiful light-coloured grain complimented the sophisticated soft furnishes infusing warmth and vitality to the space. Read more to explore how the Lift and Shift system enabled accessible locations into the T-24 ceiling grid.

Project/ObjectiveProtection of offices from noise and vibration due to dropping freeweights.

The UK's most exclusive and largest bungalow provider needed a refurbished space to tell their story. Vtec was excited to support the designers with a premium and modern ceiling beam design with the MaxiBeam system. The ceiling beams were 39mm x 85mm tall and the decorative ceiling was coffered, creating a sunken rectangle in the space. The ceiling carries occupiers on a journey in the large open areas achieving both visual and functional benefits. Learn more about how the Click Fix installation system made it easy for the beams to be removed for access to M&E services.

Skyliner Sports Centre, Bury St Edmonds

The new £75 million Murray Royal Hospital, Perth was officially opened by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond last year. The hospital provides state-of-the-art mental healthcare for adults from across Tayside. Franke supplied all manner of janitorial and healthcare washroom products to the project. Specification was exacting to ensure long and efficient product life and savings in water and energy use. Products from Franke Washroom Systems have included; an array of differing formats of HTM63 stainless steels sinks and worktops, disposal and janitorial units.

Estudio B76 designed its new headquarters in an industrial warehouse built in the 50s. They kept and revealed reinforced concrete trusses and the perimetral walls made of bricks. The design focuses on using glass and steel to maintain the industrial atmosphere.Thanks to active and passive sustainable measures, such as photovoltaic panels, aerothermal energy, and efficient shading solutions, the project achieves high sustainability.From Bandalux, we proposed a combination of systems suitable for both the working and residential parts of this mixed project:, but Veranda Plus is particularly convenient as it completes without denaturing the former structure of the building.

Four rooms affected by noise and dust ingress in the Grade II Listed Harris Manchester College, part of Oxford University had thermal secondary glazing installed by Selectaglaze to lower noise breakthrough and to make the buildings more energy efficient. Selectaglaze installed secondary glazing to 28 windows. A number of products were combined for the specification, including Series 20 slimline vertical units. Series 10 horizontal sliding units were used in conjunction with Series 42 fixed lights and Series 42 curved fixed lights for large gothic arched windows. The College has created a more comfortable environment for all users of its spaces.

A barn conversion in Brecon has had a renewable heating system installed, featuring an Aerona³ air source heat pump and a QR hot water cylinder, a system which was designed by Grant UK and installed by a G1 Installer.

Over 250 Profile 22 Optima Flush Tilt and Turn windows were manufactured and installed in a stunning new build contemporary apartment development on a prominent plot in Shirley, West Midlands. The windows manufactured and supplied were Optima Flush Tilt and Turn Windows from Profile 22, the UK’s leading award-winning commercial window system. The fabrication and installation contract was awarded to experienced Profile 22 Approved Contractor Kingfisher Windows, a leading manufacturer and supplier of windows, doors and conservatories.

The Stove and Fire Vent is the ideal interior vent to compliment a log burner or stove. The cast iron body is available in a polished pewter effect, which has been hand finished by us in our workshop or can be purchased bare metal for contractors or property owners to finish on site. The pewter finish stove vent will enhance any interiors. When the 100mm spigot is connected to an air source it provides 3000mm2 of free area for combustion air for a room fitted with a log burner or stove up to 10KW. Double up for larger appliances.

The Smeg UK headquarters in Abingdon is home to an impressive showroom, which displays more than 500 of the brand’s appliances for both trade and consumer visitors.When Smeg set about refurbishing the showroom, it wasn’t just in need of hardwearing and durable flooring to replace the existing curled loose lay tiles. The space also needed a beautiful design to complement the brand’s many product collections on display; enter Amtico with a contemporary alternative. The redesign saw the main areas of the showroom fitted with Spacia LVT in Sun Bleached Oak and Gallery Concrete.

The Brewhouse, formerly known as Farsons Brewery was one of the first and finest examples of concrete-reinforced Art Deco buildings on the island of Malta. The building was founded and designed by Lewis V Farrugia and William Binnie and originally opened 73 years ago in June 1950.Now a Grade II listed building The Brewhouse has been part of a €86 million redevelopment project, reimagined by world-renowned London based ritchie*studio. Covering over 7,000 sq m of industrial space, the building now includes a unique mix of office, food and beverage, retail, visitor experience, and events space over seven floors.In a building of such historical and architectural significance the new windows not only had to look as close to the originals as possible, but also meet stringent requirements for thermal efficiency, as the building was designed to meet the strictest of environmental codes. Clement was thrilled that over one hundred white Clement EB24 steel framed windows were specified, featuring T bars and multi point locking.Robert Abela, the Prime Minister of Malta, was among around 400 people who attended the inauguration ceremony of Trident Park and The Brewhouse, one of the most iconic regeneration projects in Maltese history.ritchie*studio director, Ian Ritchie said: “Clement Windows provided the perfect steel window profile and workmanship solution to help restore this beautiful and iconic Maltese industrial Art Deco building."

TigerTurf completed an Advantage Pro installation at The Avenue Lawn Tennis Club in Havant after their existing Artificial Grass courts needed replacing.

Our panels coated with Anti Bacterial powder coat are manufactured to meet the sanitary requirements of Hospitals, Labs and Clean Rooms.Our Antibacterial Powder Coat is available on all our Metal Faces Access Panels and features an effective Antibacterial agent which kills most species of bacteria including: MRSASALMONELLAE COLI C DIFFICILE

Creating a branded retail experience with Breeze acoustic baffles in Rosella Red and black channel to reflect Pearls Bubble Tea’s corporate colour and tie in with the overall theme of the store.

On this fast turnaround project we worked closely with Clarke Penman Architecture to manufacture and install polished concrete kitchen worktops and splash-backs.Concrete worktops are extremely strong and durable and designed to withstand busy family use. These were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The worktops were cut to fit various kitchen appliances and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof.Spanning over 6 metres, separate large BTX concrete panels were carefully assembled on site and fitted with brass sink and taps by our experienced team. The finished effect is a modern, industrial look that complements client’s design style and blends perfectly with the raw plastered walls and concrete floors, which together create a truly unique and highly functional kitchen.

F. Ball’s high performance subfloor preparation and adhesive products have been used to renovate the floor of a 160m2 school hall at Christ Church CE Primary School in Kent. A combination of Stopgap 600 deep section base compound and Stopgap 200 Smooth acrylic floor smoothing underlayment was used over a Stopgap Waterproof Surface Membrane, firstly to build up the subfloor to the required thickness and then create a smooth, durable surface on which the final floorcovering could be laid. Styccobond F46 pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive was used to secure the vinyl Polyflor XL floorcovering to the finished subfloor...

IKEA is a Swedish-founded multinational group, headquartered in the Netherlands, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It has been the world's largest furniture retailer since at least 2008.

Top journalist for the past 15 years, writing for the likes of Red, Elle Decoration and The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Pip McCormac’s flat refurbishment called for an ‘Instagrammable’ open-plan kitchen, with appliances to match.

In the first phase of their plans for Charlottehaven (or Charlotte Garden) – a 178-rental-apartment development on Strandboulevarden in Østerbro, Copenhagen – Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects exhibited great deftness in their treatment of both light and shadow, and texture and detail. So, it was natural that these interplays should continue into the project’s second phase: 37 furnished hotel apartments known as Charlottetårnet (or Charlotte Tower).A perfect example of these two interplays is seen in the hotel’s light-yet-warm bathrooms, which are characterised by creamy-hued floor-to-ceiling terrazzo surfaces punctuated by d line sanitary pieces in PVD Charcoal.

KaDeWe in Berlin, one of the world’s most renowned department stores for more than 100 years, introduces its customers to new shopping experiences time and again. In doing so, KaDeWe constantly reinvents itself and undergoes constant change. Numerous structural modifications ensure that the building keeps in step with the times, both spatially and architecturally. During the project, customer toilets were equipped with sanitary products from the Aveo and Loop & Friends from Villeroy & Boch in the scope of a renovation of the sales area by Architect Udo Landgraf and Ingenieurbüro Trache IBT.

Project: Manufacture and installation of concrete worktops at the office canteenClient: Everybody’s Music ManagementMaterials used:  Bespoke BTX GRC 2500 x 65 x 30 mm precast and hand polished concrete worktops in Silk Mist finish.Three large concrete panels; each 2500 mm long and 650 mm wide with side returns; were installed by the Living Concrete team in the communal office space at Everybody’s Music Management offices in North London.The worktops were cast to the client’s individual and unique specifications using our BTX Ultra High Performance Concrete mix with a hydrophobic agent to limit moisture absorption. The worktops were cut to fit various kitchen appliances and then treated and sealed to make them stain proof. Concrete worktops are extremely strong and durable and designed to withstand high level of use.

High volume of traffic, heavy use, accessibility and easy cleaning – contemporary sanitary facilities in schools are subject to very demanding requirements. Due to the fact that ceramic tiles have proven their worth as a practical and attractive covering for walls and floors in these settings, the PRO ARCHITECTURA system concept from Villeroy & Boch Tiles was used for the renovation of various sanitary areas in the Cologne-Zündorf school centre. At the Zündorf school centre in Cologne-Porz – comprising Lessing high school, Wilhelm-Busch secondary school and Johann-Amos-Comenius general secondary school – a total of approx. 1,800 students are taught by nearly 140 teachers. The school buildings were constructed in the 1970s, and have been continuously extended ever since. In 2016, work included the spatial optimisation and modernisation of the approx. 250 m² toilet facilities in the main building. The Cologne architecture firm spies architekten developed a colour concept for this project that combines a light and a dark shade of a colour in each setting, to create harmonious contrasts in each area. The resulting colour schemes offer different looks: more feminine rust shades, masculine blues, and fresh variants of green and turquoise. Accessibility requirements were also taken into account. The white sanitary elements are mounted on the darker colours in order to ensure a stark contrast with the walls, allowing them to be more easily recognised even by those with impaired vision. PRO ARCHITECTURA from Villeroy & Boch Tiles made it possible to successfully implement the architects’ design specifications. The colour matrix offers a broad spectrum of classic and contemporary colours in a variety of gradations, while the modular formats on a 100-mm grid provide additional planning scope. This allowed 10 x 10 cm tiles to be laid in staggered arrangements that bring the wall joints to life. The PRO ARCHITECTURA range is equally impressive from a practical standpoint: The ceramic tiles are durable, scratch- and crack-resistant, and do not wear down, even after decades of use. They are also easy to clean and particularly hygienic, as their surfaces are so dense that micro-organisms hardly stand a chance. The ceramic material itself does not give off any vapours, nor does it take on smells, which means that it is also recommended in terms of building biology. And, tiles from Villeroy & Boch are sustainable, because they are made entirely of natural components that occur naturally in almost unlimited quantities, are manufactured by means of environment-friendly processes and are completely recyclable.

Recently opened, the Engine Shed is Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre, based in Stirling. Working with contractor, ESH Border and architect Reiach & Hall, Style Scotland installed a Skyfold operable wall to quickly separate the exhibition space from the auditorium, allowing educational seminars to be conducted in privacy whilst the rest of the space remains open to the public. Skyfold, a hugely innovative partitioning solution, is a vertical-rising moveable wall that retracts into the ceiling cavity at the turn of a key, creating an acoustic barrier of up to 59dB Rw.

Specialist lighting design company PSL, were looking for something a little different for their trendy new Bermondsey showroom. Designers, James Plumb obliged with a beautifully crafted and truly unique design that involved much concrete and some special stainless steel kitchen units from GEC Anderson.Drawer cabinets, base cabinets and appliance doors were supplied and installed by GEC Anderson, following the development of the detailed designs.

The international tech giant set out to modernise their offices and employee facilities, creating a healthy and inspiring workplace. This saw a requirement for an update to their existing washroom facilities, with a need for stylish yet hardwearing washroom systems.Award toilet cubicles were specified in High Pressure Laminate (HPL) in our popular Noir finish, for a timeless look. Thanks to its scratch and heatproof properties, HPL is a well suited material for busy washrooms such as those at Microsoft Campus. HPL’s smooth surface also meant surfaces would be easy to keep clean, so that sanitary levels are kept high.Our made to measure metal framed washroom panelling system, Frameduct our durable K4 profile HPL vanity units were also specified for their washroom renovation project.Read the case study for full details.

2175 Market is designed to meet LEED Platinum Certified standards. That means sustainably-sourced materials and energy-efficient building systems, from appliances to solar water heating. As a mixed-use, transit-oriented development, 2175 Market has taken the highest steps to utilise environmentally sustainable products and materials, and to minimise waste and pollutant. This is why Accoya was selected by Forest City and distributed by National Wood Products. The result is a beautifully-designed community, both inside and out.

The main kitchen at the Old Deanery, official residence to the Bishop of London, was part of a major refurbishment of this historic home, lying in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral.Situated on the first floor, the main kitchen is a very compact room and this presented special challenges to its design. The available space was truly maximised under the design of Caroe Architects and it was then the task of GEC Anderson to measure, supply and install the specialist fabrications as well as the many appliances.Sykes & Son Ltd were awarded the main contact for the the total refurbishment project.

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.

Deptford Fire Station is a Grade II listed building in Lewisham having been originally constructed in 1903. Bolton Gate supplied the folding appliance bay doors in the 1960’s and although still functional after fifty years, they were in need of replacement due to frequent usage. Since the building is listed, every effort was required to replace the doors on a like for like basis and Bolton Gate were engaged to supply new folding shutters to the same design which were installed and handed over recently. This is the latest in a list of several fire station contracts undertaken in London.