"side hung doors metal"

The trend for using wall-hung (or wall-mounted) technology to enhance bathroom appeal is becoming increasingly popular. As buyers seek out washrooms that are not only functional but inspirational, it’s never been more important for developers to add real value to new projects. In this article, we discuss how Geberit’s wall-hung solutions and the technology involved can enhance washroom design and accessibility for any sized project.

The ModernGlide MG100 Top Hung Double Point Movable Acoustic Wall provides seamless room dividing options and is ideal for separating meeting room space.Movable Walls Key Facts & Specifications:Acoustic reduction from 37dB to 58dBTop-hung with no floor trackFixing to beam on concrete soffitPanel widths of 650mm to 1250mmHeight up to 12000mmFull height or inset pass door optionsSemi-electric top and bottom seal optionsVersatile stacking via double point suspensionFinishes include melamine, laminate, veneer and magnetic wipe boardIntegral glazing options30 minute and 1 hour fire rating options

Emmett Russell Architects has designed social housing on several infill sites on the Northern fringes of Bristol to Passivhaus standard, achieving thermal comfort solely by post-heating or post-cooling of the fresh air mass. The projects address the demand for smaller housing units.The key architectural challenge was to make efficient use of tight site limitations without overlooking neighbouring properties. The metal screened balconies allow light into the first floor flats whilst minimising views into adjacent gardens. The balcony screens step down at the sides to open up and allow longer oblique views.DeltaWing-70 was chosen to fulfil this requirement. The louvred panels were inverted to provide a privacy screen which combined the maximum screening effect in a downwards direction with minimum restriction of natural daylight.Lang+Fulton also supplied panels of PL-66×11/30×2 to form a heel-proof decking for the balconies.In addition, DeltaWing-100 was used to create secure, visually obscured storage for two bikes at each property which was integrated within the entrance canopies. Some of the properties had 2000mm wide stores with double doors, others were 900mm wide with single swing doors for vertically hung bikes.

Discover the remarkable transformation of Draycott's Canal Side Cottages, a project that has breathed new life into six derelict 200-year-old cottages in Derbyshire. Led by the dedicated efforts of the Derbyshire and Sandiacre Canal Trust and local volunteers, this restoration project has not only created a stunning residential development but also a historical tourist attraction.Gowercroft products used:Chatsworth Sliding Sash WindowsMelbourne DoorsHardwick Casement WindowsRed GrandisOriginally built in the 1820s on the banks of the old Derby Canal, these cottages served as homes for mill workers and local families. However, by 1985, they had fallen into disrepair, on the verge of demolition. In 2017, the Derbyshire and Sandiacre Canal Trust stepped in to rescue the cottages as part of their ambitious plan to restore the disused canal and the surrounding area.With the vision of turning these cottages into a vibrant mixed-use complex, the Trust launched a £650k appeal. The goal was to create three 2-3 bedroom dwellings, a canal side café, commercial spaces for leisure companies, and a museum showcasing the canal's history and the lives of mill workers.ADDC Architects, renowned conservation experts, were entrusted with the task of designing the conversion. They skillfully worked around the intricate history of the original brick buildings, which had gone through multiple alterations and rebuilds in the 19th century. The architects aimed to preserve the unique character of the cottages while ensuring a functional layout suitable for their new purpose.The restoration process involved an incredible community effort, with local tradesmen, contractors, and volunteers coming together to bring the cottages back to life. The extensive work included clearing vegetation and debris, erecting scaffolding, reinforcing timbers, and salvaging original bricks and slates for rebuilding.One crucial aspect of the restoration was the installation of new timber windows. Gowercroft Joinery, a reputable local manufacturer with expertise in heritage and restoration projects, supplied the traditional Chatsworth sliding sash windows for the canal-facing elevations. These windows perfectly matched the original designs, featuring slim finger-jointed frames and Georgian styled glazing bars. At the rear, Hardwick casement windows were installed to maintain a utilitarian look consistent with the building's history.Crafted from solid Red Grandis hardwood, the windows offered both elegance and energy efficiency. The bespoke curved top casements faithfully reinstated, and Melbourne hardwood doors further enhanced the joinery and timber craftsmanship throughout the cottages.The restored Canal Cottages now stand as a symbol of the Trust's broader vision to revive the 13-mile canal and its surrounding areas. Once completed, the canal restoration will create a 25-mile cruising ring, connecting to thousands of miles of navigable waterways across the UK. It will provide opportunities for outdoor activities, such as angling, canoeing, and cycling while promoting wildlife conservation and improving the well-being of local residents.By being a part of this project, Gowercroft Joinery has not only contributed to the architectural heritage but also supported the revival of the Derby Canal, acting as a catalyst for regeneration in the city centre. The Canal Side Cottages showcase the perfect synergy between traditional craftsmanship and modern performance, ensuring years of comfort and enjoyment for all those who experience them.

The ModernGlide MG100 Top Hung Acoustic Wall is ideal for large auditorium spaces and halls where room heights can be up to 12 mtrs high.Movable Walls Key Facts & Specifications:Acoustic reduction from 37dB to 58dBTop-hung with no floor trackFixing to beam on concrete soffitPanel widths of 650mm to 1250mmHeight up to 12000mmInset pass door optionsSemi-electric top and bottom seal optionsStacking via single and double point suspensionFinishes include melamine, laminate, veneer, magnetic wipe boardIntegral glazing options30 minute and 1 hour fire rating options

'The Portal' is a new £16 million public services hub in Ellesmere Port, delivered by Vinci Construction UK for Cheshire West and Chester Council. The new facility will be home to more than 500 council and public sector staff, a Job Centre Plus and a Citizen’s Advice Bureau.The building has been constructed with many environmentally friendly elements including solar panels, air source heat pump and electric vehicle charging points. The Portal’s envelope is wrapped at the top and bottom with an attractive, copper coloured metal cladding and a newly formed public realm area will surround the exterior, with bench seating and green landscaped sections.Internally, 'The Portal' consists of large open plan working areas with smaller subsection meeting rooms, break out and kitchen spaces which are present on each level and a main central staircase for circulation.Metal Technology Ltd supplied its 10-35Hi+ commercial entrance doors and System 17 capped curtain walling for the large, glazed sections of the build to approved fabricator and installer RED Systems Limited.Due to open its doors in Spring, it’s fantastic to have been involved in this state-of-the-art, commercial project, which is a catalyst for the wider Ellesmere Port Town Centre regeneration master plan.

St Paul’s Church in Leeds has been transformed with the addition of a large, bespoke steel door screen and feature steel window. The screen incorporates a pair of double doors, providing light and airiness. Both the new steel window and door set are made from Clement EB24 steel sections which include double glazed, argon filled glass units. Mark Harlow, the Vicar, said “St Paul’s Church embarked on a major refurbishment of their 60 year old building to make a warm and welcoming, adaptable space while keeping to the original architect’s ideas. A key part of the brief was to widen the entrance corridor and allow light into one end. This has all been more than achieved using Clement’s metal frame windows and doors. These have helped create an additional space for people to meet and mix. The narrow profile of the frames has allowed maximum light and visual access between the spaces, while the rhythm of the glazing bars both modernise and blend with the architecture of the main worship space.” Architect Tom Robbins of Pearce Bottomley Architects commented: “We have worked with Clement on a number of projects and have been very pleased with the service we have received and the quality of their products. They supplied the steel framed glazed screen and feature window at St Paul’s Church, Ireland Wood, Leeds and we couldn’t have been happier with the result. We also specify Clement’s conservation rooflights whenever we can, as we are of the opinion that they are the best on the market.”

Metal Technology has contributed to achieving the desired aesthetic for the flagship Leeds College of Building Campus designed by Fuse (Leeds). The scheme utilised Metal Technology’s System 17 High Rise capped curtain walling and incorporated manual and automatic 4-20Hi+ casement opening vents. System 5-20D Hi+ doors completed the range of products used. These systems combined to deliver complete design flexibility, achieving not only a very high level of thermal performance, but also exceptional structural, security and acoustic performance. All Metal Technology systems comply with the latest British Standards and are Secured by Design certified.

Castlebrae Community Campus officially opened its doors in Spring 2022. The new 700 capacity secondary school, which has the potential to be increased to 1,200, was constructed next to the East Neighbourhood Centre and Library (a project Metal Technology also delivered for Hub South East Scotland).Designed by JM Architects and delivered by Morrison Construction, this fantastic new building for The City of Edinburgh Council provides an exciting, inspirational and creative learning hub for the community. It forms one of the final pieces of a 20 yearlong regeneration project to improve housing stock and community facilities in the area. The development was very much a collaborative design, with numerous workshops and meetings to engage the community in the process.The relationship between the interior and exterior of the building was crucial, developing a holistic approach to improve the learning, attainment and health and wellbeing of the community. Metal Technology Ltd supplied its System 4-35Hi+ top hung windows, System 17 curtain walling, System 5-20D Hi+ doors and System 23 louvres and were manufactured and installed by approved fabricator Avtek Ltd.The project has been shortlisted for the following awards: Pupil/Student Experience and Inspiring Learning Spaces at the Education Estates Awards taking place on 18th Oct and Inspiring Learning Spaces at the Learning Places Scotland Awards taking place on 15th Nov.Word has it that the pupils are greatly enjoying and benefiting from their wonderful new learning space and environment – what it’s all about! We’re delighted to have been a part of this build for the Craigmillar community.(Photography Credit – Cadzow Pelosi)

Ahmarra manufactured fire doors for Brunel University London, on behalf of the main contractor. Made from sustainably sourced FSC® timber, these doors are faced with Formica’s stylish Terril (F2297) dark grey high pressure laminate. As with all of our Education Range, these pre-hung doorsets were supplied with factory-fitted stainless steel ironmongery, ensuring full compliance.

Bygga Construction extended this magnificent London family home to include a master suite and guest wing. As part of the project the basement was dug out to create a massive family room, complete with wine cellar. Three Clement double steel door sets were included in the design for the rear elevation. Not only do these create a stunning feature but they allow plenty of natural light into the increased family living space.

St James School is part of Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust, with their mission is to provide students with excellent education and to build their communities. The school provides its students with the tools they need to use their education to become the best versions of themselves, succeed in rewarding occupations, and create wonderful lives.Helmsman manufactured and installed 245 four-compartment Laminate Metal Lockers. The specification of the lockers was 1775mm high, 300mm wide, and 450mm deep. When the lockers were being manufactured, the school requested that they have a sloping top. Sloping tops are a common choice for school lockers because they reduce the accumulation of dust and allow for storage without risking a safety hazard if something falls off.The laminate Metal locker was manufactured with the body to be metal and the doors to be laminate. The body of the lockers was coated in our standard colour of ‘Ice’. Whilst the doors were powder coated in Blue Iris, Blue Tiber, and Paradise Blue, which symbolised the colours of the school. The lockers were finished with oval number plates above the Camlocks, which is a fantastic choice for school lockers as the students will feel assured that their personal items are safe in their laminate metal locker.Laminate Metal lockers are fantastic materials for school lockers as they give the look of freshness and stylish as the material of laminate doors does better withstanding dents, and scratches and can be more long-term for the schools.

Clement was thrilled to be asked to manufacture the new steel windows and doors for this spectacular Arts and Crafts style house in the Hampstead Garden Suburb. The new leaded Brooking windows and W20 steel doors, look just like the originals – perhaps even better! Hampstead handles were chosen for the windows and Kensington handles for the doors. They were all polyester powder painted in RAL 9005 Jet Black to match the frames. Our client is really pleased with the end result and said:“We placed a large order with Clement of double glazed leaded doors and windows. From start to finish we received a first-class service and the product quality and finish is superb.” 

St Luke’s Church of England School is part of Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust. They are all about their community to treat one another with dignity and respect and follow their Christian ethos. The school prioritises making students under their care to know and feel that they are highly valued as human beings and are worthy of an outstanding education.Here at Helmsman, we have manufactured and installed 179 four-compartment laminate metal lockers. The specification of the lockers was 1775mm high, 300mm wide, and 450mm deep. The school requested for the lockers to have a sloping top when they were fabricated. For school lockers, sloping tops are a popular option as they prevent the increase of dust and prevent the top of the lockers from being used as storage which can create a safety hazard if any items fall off.The school requested for the body of the locker to be Metal, and the door was to be Laminate. The doors were coated in multiple colours between Paradise Blue, Yellow Crisp, Orange, Hot Pepper, and Stone Grey, and the body of the lockers was powder coated in our standard colour ‘Ice’. The lockers were all finished with oval number plates above the Camlocks which is a great choice for school lockers as students can feel secure that their belonging is safe in the laminate metal lockers.Laminate metal lockers are an excellent choice for school lockers as it’s modern and stylish. Additionally, the material will do better at withstanding scratches, and dents.

Whilst the summer holiday is going on, many schools are thinking about replacing or expanding their current metal lockers. Our team at Helmsman manufactured and installed new lockers at West Coventry Academy. West Coventry Academy is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form.The academy requested metal school lockers, with 4 compartments, with sloping tops. Sloping tops are a beneficial option for schools as it is a way to prevent people from using the top of the lockers as a storage area which could cause a safety hazard.Metal lockers are a popular and essential option for schools, as they can come in a variety of compartments, shapes, colours, and sizes. Furthermore, the door frames of metal lockers are robust, and designed to last long term.Our team manufactured 116 four-compartments with the size of the lockers at 1780mm high, 305mm wide, and 460mm deep. The doors of the lockers were powder coated in the shade ‘Blue Grey’, with the body of the lockers powder coated in ‘Ice’.The project was finished with Cam Locks which is an effective lock option for schools as it keeps personal belongings secure. Additionally, it can come with a master key option too.It was great working with Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd on this project! Get in touch today if you have a similar project, or if you want more information about your school lockers. Give us a call at 01284 530 427.

Isca Academy is Part of Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust to raise the aspirations and outcomes for their students enabling them to become fulfilled, and confident students. The school prides itself on being a true full school with students having a broad range of skills and ambitions on entry. Helmsman supplied and installed 205 four-compartment Laminate Metal Lockers. The specifications of the lockers were 1775mm high, 300mm wide, and 450mm deep. The school requested a mixture of sloping top and flat top. Sloping tops are a popular option for schools as they can prevent safety hazards as items can’t be stored on the top as well as accumulation of dust and dirt.It was requested to have a Laminate Metal Locker. The metal body of the lockers was coated in our standard shade of ‘Ice’. Whereas the Laminate doors were powder coated in Paradise blue, Yellow Crisp, Orange, and Hot Pepper. The laminate metal lockers were finished with oval laminated number plates above the Camlocks. Camlock is a great lock option for school lockers as it secures students’ personal belongings safe.Laminate metal lockers are a great option for schools since the material gives the look modern and sleek. In addition, the material will hold up better to dents, scratches, and other damage over time, which is an excellent material for schools as it can last long term.It was great working with Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust on this project again! Get in touch today if you have a similar project, give us a call at 01284 530 427.

Riverside age exclusive housing in Grantham is using aluminium boxing from the Pendock Profiles range to conceal pipework installed as part of South Kesteven District Council’s programme of heating system upgrades.Originally built in 1980, Riverside provides 50 one & two bedroomed flats, and the metal boxing covers both horizontal and vertical pipe runs across the front and sides of the buildings as well as the point where they enter each flat. The Pendock metal pipe boxing is bespoke manufactured from 2mm thick aluminium and incorporates Incorporating a PPC RAL 9005 black finish.

Black POSIglaze Side-fix channel installed as Juliet balcony. What is a Juliet Balcony? A glass Juliet balcony (also known as a French balcony) is a type of glass balustrade that is fitted to a first floor window, directly outside a set of inward-opening French doors, as a safety feature. A Juliet balcony creates a feeling of space within the room, as well as allowing more light and fresh air into the room than could be achieved with a regular window. All within a secure and stylish translucent framework. This beautiful installation by Terry Lisgo and his G&T Design & Build Team, features two Juliet balconies on one property in Cheshire March 2022. The home owner didn’t want any handrails blocking their view, so 17.5mm toughened laminated glass has been used as this eliminates the need for the extra safety measure. Toughened laminated glass has a layer between the glass sheets which adds strength, removing the need for a handrail.To pass building regulations, the glass must be 1100mm high across these Juliet balconies. If you’ve ever been involved in a building project, you’ll know that elements must be signed off before the next building phase can begin. The black Juliet Balconies look stunning with the matching windows and French doors and have fulfilled the customer brief perfectly. POSIglaze side-fix balustrade channel is able to hold glass thickness between 12mm and 21.5mm. and is suitable for many projects and balcony styles. The cladding is the black element used to make the channel look black, simply clipped on to the channel it transforms the look from silver to black balustrade. You might be wondering why people like Juliet balconies so much when you can’t actually stand on them! Well they can actually add value to your home, they increase natural light into your room and also improve the air flow. If you love the feeling of bringing the outdoors in, then these are ideal for you as they increase your view in a safe and stylish way.  Frameless glass balustrades used for Juliet Balconies are low maintenance and cheaper than the conventional balcony design. If you are interested in having a Juliet balcony please contact our helpful technical team and they will provide guidance on how to get started, chat about your balustrade ideas and we can also let you know about installers local to you. 

Northern Rail has returned to Helmsman multiple times for Lockers and Bench Seating for different railway services up north. For this project, the Helmsman team manufactured and installed 185 two-compartment Metal Z Lockers to accommodate 370 people.Z Lockers are the perfect locker design for maximising internal space as they have a small footprint while offering excellent space minimization. As one of the UK’s leading locker manufacturers, we also provide the project with Bespoke Z Locker designs as they were requested to be 2000mm high, 450mm wide, and 500mm deep with a perforated base. A perforated base is an excellent addition as it allows air to flow throughout the lockers.The body of the metal Z lockers were powder coated in the colour ‘Ice’, while the doors were powder coated in ‘Smoke’. The lockers were numbered with Helmsman laminated number plates and finished with Camlocks, which is our standard lock, however a fantastic choice, as they are reliable and durable ensuring users that personal belongings are safe as well as being affordable.

The £60.5m education campus project comprises four new education buildings: Winchburgh Academy – a 660 pupil non-denominational secondary school, Sinclair Academy – a 660 pupil denominational secondary school, Holy Family Primary School – a 231 pupil replacement primary school with nursery and a shared community sports block.Delivered by Morrison Construction for West Lothian Council and its development partner, Hub South East Scotland Limited, the project was built in response to a significant new housing expansion in the area. Metal Technology Ltd performed an intrinsic technical role in the collaborative design approach with both Ryder Architecture and JM Architects, supplying its high performance range of architectural glazing systems via approved fabricator Albann Limited. Metal Technology products installed were: System 17 High-Rise Curtain Walling, System 5-35Hi+ Tilt and Turn Window, System 4-35Hi+ Casement Window, System 5-20DHi+ Doors and System 22 Brise Soleil. Two of the buildings have been shortlisted in the Scottish Property Awards taking place in February 2023 – Winchburgh Schools Campus is a finalist for Development of the Year while Winchburgh Sport and Well-Being Hub is a finalist for the Architectural Excellence Award. An impressive scheme to have been involved in, delivering brilliant new educational facilities for the young people of Winchburgh. Well done to everyone who contributed. (Photography – Cadzow Pelosi)

More than ever, there is a high demand for childcare with high expectations of good quality facilities, educational classes, new technology and a food court. Kidz#1 provides fun all year round for kids 0 to 12 years old. They re-opened its doors again on the 17th of May 2021, following the ease of lockdown in the UK. To keep high standards, Kidz 1 carried out some works and requested new fun lockers from Helmsman. We supplied Kidz 1 with a variety of bespoke metal lockers for different areas. We provided a bespoke size of 2100mm x 300 width x 450 depth flat-top metal lockers with six compartments of 24 lockers. These lockers specifically installed to spell out Kidz#1 for branding purposes and bring a fun aspect to the locker area. Chosen colours were shades of blue, pink and orange to reflect the brand identity. Another nest of three essential metal lockers manufactured and installed in a standard size of 1775mm x 300 width x 450 with two compartments. All lockers had number plates and cam locks for ease. Helmsman manufactured and supplied extra three modular lockers in 525mm x 300 width x 450 depth. These modular lockers are in white and oak-like laminate doors with hasp locks. Kidz 1 also needed to replace a bench and ordered a new ash hardwood bench seating which, is 2000mm long. Overall we supplied approximately around £5,000 worth of lockers and benching, including installation and delivery services.

Gerico France designs, manufactures and installs bulk solid storage and handling equipment. It offers bucket elevators, conveyors, pipes, silos, warehouses, milling machines, feed producing equipment, heat treatment devices, and accessories.Project/doors: 21 Speedor Storm High Speed DoorsThe challenge Gerico France delivered a turn-key flour mill project in Mombasa, Kenya for a Grain milling company at their state of the art milling plant. They required a solution to stop dust going out of the building instead of being aspirated by the installed system when emptying grain trucks into the wheat grain intake pit.The solutionHart installed three Speedor Storm doors from 4m wide x 5m high to 7m high. The Speedor Storm is the next generation of large external door which has improved wind resistance on both sides of the door and is suitable for larger openings, greater than 6m. This door does not require separate wind bars as the curtain contains wind bracing every 1m and is held securely into the guide channels with rollers at either side. The success Hart Doors sent an experienced engineer to Mombasa to supervise and assist in the installation and commissioning of the doors along with the training of staff to install future orders. 18 more Speedor Storms were ordered for a specialised dry bulk discharge and handling terminal for grain imports, located in Shimanzi, Mombasa.

Perfect for hotel drop off points, the PAS 68 Terra Side Folding Quantum Bollard is a retractable HVM Bollard which has been successfully impact tested to stop 7.5t at 30mph

With the summer holidays approaching, many schools are thinking about repairing, replacing, or expanding on their existing lockers. The holidays are the perfect time to get these jobs done, as it’s much quicker for installers to work and they don’t get in the way of your students. Our team at Helmsman installed some brand new lockers at Leasowes High School in Halesowen during the last holiday break.The school requested metal lockers, with 4 compartments and without stands. Metal Lockers are a great option for schools, as they come in a variety of compartments, sizes and colours. Plus they are a budget friendly option, being the cheapest of our locker ranges.Our team manufactured 181 four compartment metal lockers for the project, with a bespoke sizing of 1925x300x450. Whilst our standard lockers at Helmsman are smaller than this, because we manufacture all of our products in house, to order, we can provide bespoke options tailored to your project.Our metal lockers are powder coated, with a standard body colour of Ice, and a wide range of door colours to choose from. Leasowes High School chose two colours; Royale blue and Pumpkin orange to match their school colour scheme. The lockers look great and really eye catching with the contrasting colours.The lockers were also manufactured with sloping tops. These are a fantastic addition to school lockers as it deters students from piling items on top of the lockers and stops clutter and rubbish collecting. The project was finished with camlocks, a simple yet effective lock option for schools, which can come with a master key option too.Get in touch today if you have a similar project, or if you want to chat with our sales team about your school lockers. Give us a call on 01284 530 427 or fill in our contact form here.

Jessica's home renovation and extension. Please see below a brief overview of Jessica's renovation journey in a blogpost:I’m not going to lie, renovating in a pandemic with no kitchen, was extremely stressful at times, particularly during the long stretches we were home-schooling, and it’s not something I’d want to repeat, but it definitely could have been worse, and we survived it.We bought this house six years ago and I have wanted to do the kitchen side return extension ever since Day One, but we had to wait and save, and then finally in September last year (2020) the day finally came, and we started the renovation. For reference, this is what it looked like when we bought the house. We did do a budget makeover in the interim by painting the cabinets and replacing the handles, but by the time we came to do the major building work we had doors hanging off, shelves collapsing, and the major lack of storage meant things were stuffed in and precariously balanced on top of each other and ready to topple as soon as anyone dared to delve in. I shared lots of my inspiration and ideas for the new kitchen before we started. I knew from very early on that I didn’t want to spend a huge amount of our budget on creating a fancy architectural kitchen extension. For me, the space inside was what was most important, and I just wanted to make sure we were maximising that to its full potential. We hired architect to draw up just the plans for us. I had initially wanted a pitched glass roof to run the length of the side return extension, but council planning regs and the unusual way our house is laid out, put paid to that idea. Our local council had recently introduced a height restriction of 2.5m at the boundary when extending more than 3m at the rear. Which we weren’t. Or so we thought! What we hadn’t realised is that the existing kitchen had already been extended and that counted towards the allowance, so the restriction did apply. This caused a lot of stress at the time, as we were so worried that the ceilings were going to feel low and dark. The good news is that as soon as the Vario by VELUX rooflights went in, all our worries melted away, and it’s not something I even notice or think about now.Another thing we did was speak to our neighbours about a third-party wall agreement. This was pretty key for us, as the buttress was on our side of the wall and if we had to build around it we would have lost at least half a metre of the side return. What we needed to do was take it down and build up right up to the boundary (saving as many of the London stock bricks as we could in the process). Luckily our lovely neighbours agreed, as this really did make a huge difference to the internal space.The LayoutI have had a lot of questions about many different aspects of the kitchen, but I think the thing I have been asked about most is the dimensions and the layout. We extended out 1.5m at the rear and around 2.5/3m to the side, bringing us to a total of 5m wide x 8m long. I think our layout is fairly unusual for a kitchen, and it seems to have inspired lots of people to try and do the same in their own kitchen renovations. The good thing about waiting almost six years to renovate your kitchen is that you get plenty of time to mull over what your dream kitchen might look like. The Design  knew I wanted to go with a seamless sleek, understated design and let the other materials do the talking, so I settled on the Urban kitchen, with slab doors. I worked with a kitchen designer to fine tune the space, and that’s where it really comes into its own, because they think of all the details you wouldn’t necessarily think of, and they know exactly how much space you need to allow you to move around your kitchen comfortably. The area around the island and peninsula was a tricky one to get right, because we didn’t want to interrupt the flow too much, but having lived in it for the last few months, I can confirm the kitchen designer got it spot on. We also included a fluted glass cocktail cabinet in our kitchen design, which houses all our glasses and drinks bottles and sits on the dining/entertaining side of the kitchen.The Vario by VELUX rooflightsOur previous kitchen had very little natural light and as a result none of us ever wanted to spend any time in there. So getting as much natural light as possible was a major priority in this renovation. We planned for two large rectangular rooflights along the side return (as we knew we needed a steel in between) and a square one towards the rear. Once we got planning permission, I asked our architect to tell me the absolute maximum amount of glazing we were allowed, and then headed straight for the Vario by VELUX website to design bespoke rooflights to the exact size we needed, using every last bit of glazing we were allowed! The bespoke nature of Vario by VELUX means you can tailor your sizes exactly to your needs. Using the 3D configurator online, you can also choose the frame colour, the type of glazing, and whether you want them to open or not. We have two 2.3m x 1m Rectangular rooflights (one opens) and a 1m x 1m square rooflight. Our builders had never worked with them before and were really impressed by the ease of fitting. The moment they went in, was the moment we really start to get excited about the new space. Even with screed floors and bare brick walls in November, the light was incredible in there. Now it’s finished, one of my favourite things is to work in the kitchen and watch the light as it changes and moves throughout the day. Even watching the rain is epic.

The extraordinary, purpose built SuperLab in Oxford provides much needed lab space and fantastic facilities for the next generation of science entrepreneurs and innovators. The new state-of-the-art building is located close to the city centre and the university, which spins out around 15 science firms a year. Created and built by Oxford-based Robin Swailes Design and Development, the SuperLab offers almost 7,000 sq ft of accommodation for up to 84 staff and blends contemporary design with the latest efficiency features while meeting the needs of the modern workforce. The building is made of 95 per cent recycled aluminium and features a grey water system using collected rainwater to flush the toilets, thermal efficient panelling, air source heat pumps and solar panels to minimise its carbon footprint and keep running costs as low as possible. Metal Technology Ltd supplied a range of its high-performance glazing products for this unique development via approved fabricator Alternative Windows. Products used were: System 17 Curtain Walling, System 5-35Hi Tilt Turn Windows, System 4-35Hi Fixed Casement Windows and System 10-35 Thermally Broken Commercial Doors. Curved walls, round windows and open ceilings create a sense of space and wellbeing, topped off with advanced acoustics, quality finishing touches and a playful interior. The result is an inspiring and design-focused workplace that encourages collaboration. Outside, a roof top recreation area provides space for al fresco meetings, eating and drinking with views over Oxford’s Dreaming Spires. A fantastic project to have been involved in, which ultimately encourages young and innovative science pioneers to stay and further their career on home soil.

Split over basement, ground and three upper floors, the Charles Doll Building on Grape Street, London, offers a contemporary and functional specification in this stunning office refurbishment. The development mixes industrial elements with a crisp modern aesthetic by carefully combining characterful architectural features, including vaulted ceilings with exposed brick and steelwork.Named after its architect Charles Fitzroy Doll, the building is clad in decorative thé-au-lait (“tea with milk”) terracotta – Doll's use of grand façades is understood to have resulted in the expression, ‘all dolled up’. The first floor has been fitted out to a high standard with office furniture from Vitra, providing the perfect space for those who want to move in and get straight to work.The lobby mixes vibrate contemporary wall art with industrial light fittings and brickwork. Forza’s in-house CAD team planned the bespoke black oak Firescreen partition wall to match the architect's design. As a market leading passive fire product, this Firescreen provides both integrity from Smoke and Fire and insulation from heat. This is important because in a fire emergency heat has been shown to ignite secondary fires to items, such as curtains or carpets, that are near the other side of non-insulated partitions.Via the Thinking Space Design & Build, Forza Doors supplied twenty FD30 Fire Doors with stained frames and skirting boards to match throughout the five floors of The Charles Doll Building. Chosen to match the steelwork throughout the development, the dark satin finish of the doors was selected from Forza’s Creato range of dyed veneers. This ‘Illunis’ finish is one of twelve fashionable choices in the range. Dyed veneers are an increasingly popular choice with designers as they offer cost savings over stained veneers without compromising quality.The Doors with glass vision panels, required to allow light through to the stairwells, feature our flush and quirk bead. A minimalist design option where one side of the doors is completely flush right up to the glass vision panel and the other side has a very simple elegant bead detailing.

Premier Security & Fire Consultants Ltd designed, fabricated and installed these security products for instructing clients, the Wates Group.The project in Tower Hamlets, East London included LPS1175 SR2 Secured by Design security installations including: Fully glazed entrance doors with side screen and control panel; bin store doors, vehicle and pedestrian gates, louvred doors and dry-riser box doors.For more information about Premier, go to our website premier-ssl.com or call us on 0208 559 8295. 

Metal pipe boxing from the Pendock Profiles range is being used at a London tower block to conceal and protect fire sprinkler pipework, cabling and other services as part of a fire safety upgrade and refurbishment programme.Bespoke manufactured to the exact dimensions and project requirements, the metal boxing is non-combustible, which makes it suitable for use in public areas, such as lift lobbies, landings and corridors, where no sprinkler heads are present.Finished in white PPC, the metal pipe boxing not only improves the overall aesthetics, but also provides durable protection for pipework and services, while the integrated hinged inspection panels allow easy access for routine checks and maintenance.

The new three storey Madras College on the outskirts of St Andrews opened its doors last Autumn, bringing together 1,450 pupils into one single-site secondary school with 15,320sqm of new facilities, including outstanding sports provision. It’s fantastic to see these shots of the build glistening in the autumnal sunshine. Designed by AHR of Glasgow, and delivered by BAM Construct UK for Fife Council, the project incorporated Metal Technology Ltd’s high-performance curtain walling, windows and doors through approved fabricator Avtek Ltd. The college has achieved a ‘Platinum Standard’ sustainability level, measured against Fife Council’s own ‘Sustainability Checklist’, exceeding BREEAM standards. The landscape strategy incorporates the protection of biodiversity, through planting native trees, grassland and wildflowers.

Eurobond designed & manufactured a range of steel fire doors and steel acoustic doors for a leading tech giant.The Gemini Data Centre in Dublin, Ireland, is a fort of protected data; over 10,400 sq.m of space is utilised for cloud connectivity and leading technology providers, comprising of 6 individual data halls and ancillary services.All this data needs protection - that's where we helped. We provided fire-rated doors, acoustic security doors, and radar-operated automation doors.Protection of data and people was key, along with minimal noise and easy yet secure access throughout the complex.

Examples of the martec Premier E door and side screens.

This 6,500m² metal roof at Axcess 10 Business Park, Walsall was soiled, delaminating and affected by spot corrosion in numerous areas, which would have eventually spread and perforated the sheets if a treatment was not applied.Bosworth Cladding Services Ltd ensured that the roof was cleaned and the peeling factory finish was removed with a 4000 psi pressure washer. The laps were ground back and primed as necessary.The whole roof area was then coated with Liquasil's single-coat BBA Certified Metalseal 20 system to provide a 20 year product guarantee upon completion.The completed installation left a metal roof on its way to failure looking brand new, with a protective silicone coating that will last 20 years.For more information, or to make an enquiry, contact Liquasil on 0121 709 5352.

FlexEJ has completed the design and fabrication of a batch of metal expansion joints for a UK pharmaceuticals manufacturer.Specifying an expansion joint in a pharmaceutical production line can be problematic. For this project, the piping design required expansion joints but a fundamental requirement was ease of cleaning and a complete avoidance of product retention.A possible solution could have been a pharmaceutical rubber expansion joint which is crevice free but its inherent design limits its flexibility and – as with any rubber expansion joint – it has a relatively low operating temperature limit.This formed the basis of the specification brought to FlexEJ’s engineering team. The design case was to meet 270 Deg. C and 10 Bar G with a high degree of flexibility so a metal bellow would be best suited to this application. But in a conventional bellow or expansion joint the convolutions are prone to retain product or contaminants. A liner can sometimes be used but again product can get behind the liner so the problem is not entirely eliminated.So how to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness inside the bellow once installed and in operation? The solution lay in designing a specific ‘open’ convolution profile which prevents contaminants getting lodged within the joint. The team’s clever design of profile, combining with the unit being used in vertical alignment leads to the bellow being self-draining – and at all movement positions. To achieve the high levels of purity and cleanliness required for this application’s flowing media, the bellow had to be fabricated in 316 stainless steel with a very high surface finish.The expansion joint also includes threaded mounting bars – these enable the bellows to be contracted slightly to enable easy removal from the pharmaceutical line when required. The smooth, polished rods seen in the image here are limit bars to prevent accidental over-extension. Each joint is also fitted with pharmaceutical grade aseptic flanges – smooth on the inside and sealed with an ‘o’ ring. On completion, the complete units were electro-polished for additional surface improvement and cleaning – and that gives them their photogenic qualities seen here.If you are interested in finding out more about FlexEJ's range of pharmaceutical & aseptic metal bellows, please contact our Technical Sales Team on +44 (0) 1384 881188 or send an email to sales@flexej.co.uk.

Metal pipe boxing from the Pendock Profiles range is concealing heating pipework, electrical cabling and ventilation ducting at Phoenix Point in Thamesmead as part of a refurbishment and upgrade programme of homes at the striking, cylindrical high rise building.Originally built in 2008 on the site of a boiler house used for a community heating scheme, the 8 storey, circular building provides a mix of one and 2 bedroom flats. The Pendock aluminium boxing is used extensively in the refurbishment and is located below the walkway on each tier, following the form of the structure to conceal building services, as well as acting as a mounting point for lighting.

Designed and Manufactured by Simplicity Timber Solutions this curved folding sliding door system was crafted for an opening of 9 linear meters. This was designed to enable a 10 door leaf system to be effortlessly opened, plus it folds and slides in the same direction. To seamlessly bring the room together, Accoya was also used for the 16 sided hex decagon lantern light ceiling feature. Dimensional stability is key for large joinery installations such as this.