"walls"

Architects Gradolí & Sanz designed Imagine Montessori School in Paterna, Valencia with a brief to minimise energy use throughout the lifespan of the building. As a result, the school is the first in Spain to achieve both BREEAM Excellent and GREEN 4 Leaves. Set within a pine forest, accessed through wooden walkways, the school forms a connection with nature at every level. In classrooms where learning zones are accessed freely by the children, the use of timber on both walls and floors sustain the relationship with nature and acts as a peaceful, unifying backdrop. Junckers’ Oak Variation two-strip flooring was matched by wood panelling in pine. The building makes use of building materials with the lowest ecological footprint. The design and carefully selected materials have enabled an energy saving of 70% being achieved compared to similar buildings. Wood, a material with a low carbon footprint, is used in the structure of the building, in the roof panel as well as in interior and exterior enclosures. All Junckers solid wood floors are FSC® and PEFC™ certified and we have recently completed EPDs for all our floors, providing data in relation to the environmental impact of the manufacture of our flooring. 

Hudson Quarter is a prestigious, multi-award-winning, mixed-use development of 127 apartments and 9,570m2 of Grade A office space. The apartments are housed within three residential buildings with one office building based around a central courtyard. The sustainable project achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating upon completion.  The site, previously an existing 1960’s office building is based in a highly sensitive location within the ancient city walls of York. Sensitively designed to sit comfortably within its historic setting, Hudson Quarter has been created respecting its past whilst embracing 21st century working and living.  A dedicated parking area was incorporated into the design, available for both office staff and residents. Tobermore worked closely with the design team to ensure appropriate hard landscaping was chosen for the large car park adjacent to Hudson Quarter.  Tobermore’s Artro block paving was perfect for Hudson Quarter as it can withstand significant trafficking and its clay-like look adds a heritage feel with a modern twist to the hard landscaping. The herringbone laying pattern was specified, not only for appearance, but also because of its trafficability. 

Raiz cocktail bar is a trendy nightspot in the centre of Ponta Delgada, the bustling capital of the Azores. A busy venue, popular with locals and tourists alike, Raiz bar is a modern, industrial design, featuring exposed steel beams and glass walls with steel staircases connecting two floors. It was important to the owner, Gabriel, that as a main feature of the building design, the steelwork was not only protected against corrosion and fire, but also looked good, to enhance the ambience of the bar.One night, soon after closing, a fire took hold. The fire raged through Raiz bar destroying many fixtures and fittings and causing a substantial amount of damage. Initially it was thought the cause was from an electrical short-circuit, but having been ruled out it is now being investigated as a deliberate, criminal act. The fire burned for three hours before being brought under control and finally extinguished by the fire crews. Being outside of opening hours, the building was empty and fortunately no one was hurt.As the damage was assessed, it became apparent that the steel structure remained intact. Gabriel’s choice of Hempel’s intumescent coatings not only protected the steel against the heat and flames, but allowed additional time for the Fire Department to bring the fire under control.

To design with people at the heart, acoustics and aesthetics played a key role in the system specification for this project. Helping to achieve the forward-thinking brief, Komfort’s Polar 54 slimline double glazed partitioning, acoustic Sonik doors and bespoke pivot doors were installed.Polar 54 was specified as part of the design due it to its slimline frame and acoustic ratings of up to 47dB (Rw); providing a flexible design solution that doesn’t compromise on performance. The minimal trackwork helps to create the impression of space and a seamless and high-end finish.To complement the design and performance of the Polar 54 system, Komfort’s Sonik doors were installed. The Sonik door range has been designed for ease of installation and integration with all of Komfort’s partitioning systems. This system also ensures high acoustic insulation is maintained through the use of an automatic drop-down seal.Aligning to the design brief of creating an innovative and memorable space, Komfort designed and installed an oversized pivot door. When the pivot door is pushed to, it creates the appearance of a glass wall dividing the dedicated space. This statement feature demonstrates Komfort’s capabilities for purpose-built systems which are tailored to meet design and performance requirements.

Architect: Moses Cameron WilliamsInstaller: Willmott DixonProduct: Gustafs Linear RibThe new Library at the Luton campus of the University of Bedfordshire which opened in June 2016 was designed by Moses Cameron Williams Architects (of Cambridge) and project managed and installed by Willmott Dixon.The University has been around for over 100 years and teaches in a wide range of subject areas as well as conducting award winning research across health, energy and technology, and social policy topics.The library is spread over 7 floors including silent study rooms, group work and meeting spaces, computer labs and presentation facilities and a café as well as miles of bookshelves. Gustafs and LSA Projects supplied over 8,000 linear metres of ribs to the project for both wall and ceiling application covering around 450m2.Over 3,000 individual 28mm deep ribs in natural Oak veneer have been used to clad the impressive open atrium and cafe area as well as throughout the library isles and study spaces. 12mm gaps between ribs give the entire installation depth, texture, and warmth as well as impressive acoustic control; perfect for a busy university library!

As part of the BBC DIY SOS build to support the Grenfell community, Structura UK is proud to announce it has helped to realise two ambitious projects to support the survivors of the Grenfell disaster. This includes a brand new Community Centre as well as a replacement for the Dale Youth Amateur Boxing Club which was previously located on the first floor of Grenfell Tower and destroyed in the blaze.Over 200 square metres of Kalwall® translucent cladding has been used along the whole elevation of the new Boxing Club using the newly adapted THERM+ curtain walling system from RAICO.This was the first project realised using the new system and has worked remarkably well. The ability to conceal the fixings and screws coupled with the mill-finished aluminium framing has created a wonderfully smooth and dramatic façade.RAICO President, Dr Stefan Lackner commented, “RAICO has a long standing reputation for innovation and partnerships with customers and associated product suppliers. Working with Structura and Kalwall to develop a solution to integrate windows and glazing into a Kalwall screen has created many potential opportunities. We are particularly pleased that the first live project for our new partnership was for this deserving cause.”

Based in Somerset, Taunton School was founded all the way back in 1847. While the building’s stunning exterior has been immaculately preserved in the years since, the interior has of course been routinely upgraded during that time in order to support the ever-evolving demands of educational environments – including the recent installation of our Type G100 movable wall system.Type G100 is a glazed partition system that provides effective protection again sound transfer when fully closed, achieving up to Rw 54dB. This particular system is comprised of 10 panels, with half being glass and the other half sporting a solid matte black finish – all housed within a sleek black painted aluminium frame.Thanks to the Type G100, the school’s cafeteria layout can changed within minutes, offering the choice between a large open plan space, or a pair of smaller rooms. A fully solid system would not allow for the transfer of natural light to the smaller of the two spaces created when the system is in use, however the glazed panels mean this is not an issue. A pass door also allows for access between the smaller spaces when the panels are being used.

PROJECT OVERVIEWAs part of an extensive refurbishment scheme to modernise and transform Glasgow Royal Infirmary University Tower, Norwood were specified by architects Armitage Associates in partnership with main contractors Balfour Beatty Scottish and Southern Ltd. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde commissioned the £12.5 million project to significantly improve efficiency within the University Tower. SCOPE OF WORK The transformation included creation of the new state-of-the-art laboratory, as well as a plant room and an impressive glazed vertical ‘eyebrow’, which was installed on the north elevation to enable hospital staff spectacular views of the city within dedicated break-out zones. We were involved from an early stage in the design process and successfully developed a unique internal wall lining system which allowed the interior of the building to be upgraded whilst reflecting the features of the building exterior. From the outset Norwood understood the Royal Infirmary’s need to work within exceptional project and budget control whilst utilising a new bespoke system for the client. The system’s intelligent functionality was developed and manufactured specifically for the University Tower and as such perfectly demonstrates the capabilities and adaptability of our partitions. We also provided our steel door sets.

Renowned for its colourful, bold designs, JA!COCO! has transformed Beer52’s Edinburgh office into a glorious dynamic, flexible and bold space, highlighting the beauty of the Georgian townhouse it is situated in, whilst embodying the brand’s strong identity.As the world’s biggest beer subscription service, Beer52 wanted an office space that was colourful and playful – the crazier JA!COCO! went, the better! Taking inspiration from Roald Dahl and David Lynch, the office space now boasts grand, arched-entrance swing doors, beer taps on receptions and floor-to-ceiling custom window blinds – to name just a few. On the first floor, an eclectic zig zag flooring design has also been created, using Forbo’s Flotex Colour range in the Melon (a burned orange shade) and Crystal (a heather-like hue) colourways. In fact, the colourways influenced the colour scheme for the office space, with similar shades adorning the walls, ceilings and swing doors.JA!COCO! also chose to install Forbo’s Allura Click LVT planks in the Blond Timber colourway throughout the hallway and kitchen spaces, to complement the more ‘stripped back’ décor, which has an almost bar-like atmosphere.

The ChallengeAs a multinational business and leading employer within the region, the telecommunications giant was keen to lead the way in India’s fire safety standards, equipping its employees with both a comfortable and safe working environment. At the heart of this mission was the challenge of balancing the practical everyday needs of employees with the safety standards required of modern offices. In solving that challenge, Pyroguard – together with local partners, Pacific Fire Controls – was able to play an integral role by providing fire-rated safety glass specifically for the project.The SolutionUsing Pyroguard T EW 120, a toughened safety glass from Pyroguard’s Firesafe range which is capable of delivering radiant heat, smoke and flame protection for up to 120 minutes, the ambition of creating a light-filled workspace for employees could be realised.The glazing’s light transmission characteristics meant natural light could be maximised, while its sound reduction reflected the needs of the busy office.Having been fire-tested by Efectis France and certified for use with timber frames, Pyroguard and Pacific Fire Controls were able to install modern dividing walls to create break-out spaces, facilitating meetings and collaborative working – while still keeping safety in mind.

Armourcoat polished plaster wall finishes feature within the major office refurbishment of Twenty Old Bailey by architects BuckleyGrayYeoman for global asset manager Blackstone. Located opposite the famous criminal courts in the City of London, the building has undergone a comprehensive modernisation program to create over 22,000m2 of contemporary office space. A reconfigured atrium has also been created which links the new facades to the east and west of the building and allows natural light to flood the interior.Throughout the atrium over 700m2 of Armourcoat KonCrete polished plaster has been expertly hand applied by Armourcoat and includes a recessed logo by the entrance. KonCrete is an urban range of polished plaster colours and finishes designed for contemporary projects. The range offers a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive modern look including distressed effects or recessed shutter markings. Additionally, Armourcoat SMG was applied to the reception desk front and lift lobbies. SMG is a super luxury Armourcoat polished plaster finish with the appearance of a seamless high gloss lacquer effect. It provides an opulent decorative effect offering great light reflection to create an inviting and spacious interior. Photography: © Dirk Lindner

Armourcoat’s modular panel system ArmourFX has been specified to stunning effect at the new G-Shock store on London’s Carnaby Street by Double Retail. The new flagshop concept store was designed to physically interpret the core values of the brand and clearly segment G-Shock’s extensive product range.Through the careful use of lighting and materials, such as slate flooring, hot rolled steel surfaces and concrete wall panels from ArmourFX,the environment is an embodiment of G-Shock toughness.The store has elevated this premium offering and created a versatile future-proof space adaptable for specific collections and product launches.ArmourFX concrete effect panels are ideal for a deconstructed urban look for contemporary projects. The panels offer a wealth of design options to achieve a distinctive industrial style including distressed effects or recessed ‘shutter’ markings. Off-site construction is fast becoming the method of choice for both contractors and their clients with projects under tight deadlines for completion, or where it is impractical to work with ‘wet’ plastering trades on site. ArmourFX modular solutions can be highly customized to suit the client, sent directly to site and installed in a few hours. Photography: © Max McClure

The Long Barn in East Sussex looks as if it has nestled in the Wealds for centuries. Owners and developers Max and Judi Erde had a mission to prove the viability of recreating vernacular architecture in a new sustainable modern living environment. With larch cladding (being more sustainable and easier to work than oak), and warmed via an air source heat pump, the home further features sustainable wall finishes, on the basis that those details contribute 7% of a building’s embodied carbon.Thus, Armourcoat’s innovative Clay Lime Plaster, which has low embodied carbon and produces zero emissions, has been applied throughout the two storey Wealdon style barn.The ethos behind The Long Barn was to mirror and replicate the historic aesthetic, but to utilise modern, sustainable solutions as far as possible to minimise its environmental impact. With its combination of natural minerals, longevity, eco- friendliness, ease of application and choice of finishes, I was more than happy to use Armourcoat’s Clay Lime Plaster. "The fact that we could choose different pigments and finishes to give colour and tone to the interior was an added bonus- I don’t need to decorate again!" Max Erde 

Ecoprod recently undertook a complete refurbishment of the washrooms at Dukes Court – 220,000 sq ft of premium office space in central Woking. The project started in January 2020 and handover was July 2020, somewhat later than expected due to the effect of the Covid 19 lockdown in Spring 2020.This project was delivered in collaboration with Designer Contracts Interiors UK Ltd who managed the flooring, walls, ceilings, doors, lighting, tiling, decorating and mirrors. Ecoprod supplied and managed the installation of the cubicles and IPS systems, all mechanical works, and the sanitaryware schedule and equipment.Cubicle and IPS systems – Petrus range by Formwise and Abet Laminati finish in Grey Zebrano5 WCs – Siamp Samoa Deluxe3 waterless urinals – URIMAT Ceramic Compact C22 URIMAT ESG urinal privacy dividers5 miscea LIGHT taps2 Tristone pure white wash troughs2 URIMAT Favorit hand dryers1 Mitsubishi Smart hand dryer1 Bespoke shower enclosure by Mega Glass1 Triton 80i shower setAccessible toilet – WC and handrail set by Disabled Toilets, basin by Conti +, tap Ultra by Conti+

The Project A modernised, revamped nursery based in The Old Courthouse, Ednal Lane. The Nursery prides itself on its high-quality interior and services ensuring children and parents alike enjoy first class facilities and equipment as standard.Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid officially opened My First Friends Nursery and Pre-School on November 13th, 2015, and commented “The facilities look great fun for the kids”.The Challenge Propose a system with children of nursery age in mind. Consider the height of the doors & partitions.Peardrop range is not supported by an overhead rail and the frontage is fixed at the floor and gable walls only.Flooring substate needs to be at lease 60mm thick and stable to ensure a secure fixing point at the base of the foot. The Solution Consult with the client and survey the area to ensure suitable fixing points.Harlequin Peardrop is the idea system for children of nursery age, the system is self-supporting on an aluminium leg; the legs ability to perform is reliant of the strength of the floor substrate which in this case proved suitable, enabling the client to proceed with this infant friendly system.The full system is professionally manufactured with children in mind providing easily accessible doors for children whilst ensuring efficient dimensions for adults to supervise.

The ProjectFfestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway’s new Caernarfon Station forms part of a £15m Waterfront regeneration project led by Gwynedd County Council.Designed by Architects Purcell to include catering and retail facilities, the project hopes to bring an extra 5,000 visitors to the area as well as boosting the local economy. The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK's longest heritage railway, having been extended to a 25-mile line starting from beneath the castle walls in historic Caernarfon, the railway climbs to the foot of Snowdon before dropping again to sea level at the harbour in Porthmadog. The ChallengeProvide a washroom package befitting the iconic new station building.The station will need to cope with up to two hundred people at departure / arrival times with facilities to tell the story of both the waterfront and railways.Produce first class facilities capable of withstanding the rigors of high traffic footfall. The Solution Excelsior Mariner range offers extremely high levels of durability. Free standing, 12mm solid core panels are extremely robust and vandal resistant.Solid grade laminate used for the vanity units ensure water resistance and a solid, hard-wearing surface, guaranteed to withstand the test of time.

THE PROJECTAbel Homes is an independent, family-owned business that specializing in developing energy efficient low-cost homes. Their homes are built with efficiency and style in mind, with high quality finishes, Solar PV in every home, sustainably sources materials and interior design based on low maintenance and a contemporary feel.These individual homes in Norfolk range from bungalows to 4 bedroom detached homes, all triple glazed windows as standard, flooring throughout and EPC A ratings.THE PRODUCTAbel homes wanted individual numbered mailboxes to be mounted on the walls outside of each home. This allows you to remove the letterflap from your door and create a more energy efficient home. They chose to have both the MEFA Pear and MEFA Ruby, which are both front entry and front retrieval mailboxes.These idyllic mailboxes are powder coated in the very stylish colour of Basalt Grey (RAL 7012) and all these individual mailboxes have white large vinyl lettering for easy identification for both residents and the postman.Incorporating mailboxes into individual residential homes is becoming more and more popular as we look to remove the letterflap from doors. These convenient mailboxes help towards the sustainability and energy saving goals for residential homes.

At Sauna360 we were honoured to be asked by a top London architect to co-operate in the installation of a sauna and steam room in a new gym and wellness suite at his Surrey home.The client had seen our design for a large sauna in a Mayfair mansion and the brief was to replicate this to more compact size to create an intimate family cabin.Sauna: The sauna was lined in special cut Blond Aspen contrasting delicate thin wall panelling, with close fitting bench boards and subtly angled furniture. The full width, low iron glass fascia gives a great feeling of space and excellent viewpoint of those still working out in the gym!Steam Room:The steam room was designed to be more discreet and twinned with a matching luxury bathroom. Our proposal was to decorate the room using beautiful Siminetti natural shell mosaic tiles throughout. These tiles with interesting random surface are nonetheless super thin and therefore perfect to suit the many contours usual in steam room design and are both durable and efficient.To complete, we included a matching door to the bathroom with back painted glass and door lock for discretion.The result: a stunning, statement installation in manageable size for regular home use!

In the heart of Rome, thanks to stone-look outdoor porcelain tiles a private villa is coloured with the appeal and practicality of Atlas Concorde products.A welcoming atmosphere and innovative design take shape in an exclusive residence thanks to Atlas Concorde outdoor tiles that give the indoor and outdoor environments an extremely contemporary look. Employed in the outdoor areas, stone-look tiles on both the floor and on the walls translate nature into a material suitable for designing spaces with an enveloping, suggestive atmosphere. The pool area and the surrounding environment are flooded with intense colours and textures, porcelain tiles for the outdoors being used in different sizes and contrasting colours: light tones and bold hues guarantee a pure creativity able to offer superior technical qualities and the aesthetic versatility that distinguishes the original materials. The refined beauty of the stone look in a Grip finish, with the excellent technical performance of porcelain tiles for outdoors, is the perfect choice for the design of outdoor spaces and environments that require the highest standards of durability and safety. Stylish refinement and attention to detail can also be found in some interior spaces of the building where concrete-look porcelain tiles and wood-look porcelain tiles become the protagonists of a modern, sophisticated style of furnishing.

Material Store is part of The Old Vinyl Factory, a 17-acre site in Hayes.The four ‘warehouse’ blocks of Material Store rise above a podium and surround an oasis of private patios and a large common garden. The parking below the podium is concealed behind 3-bedroom town houses that animate the street with their steps and ‘front’ doors.The roofs of all fours blocks are landscaped as communal gardens. The extended articulated parapet to the tallest block creates an outdoor room and emphasises the building’s position as the tallest element of the masterplan.The 189 build-to-rent homes enjoy generous shared facilities that promote a sense of community in the context of private rented sector (PRS) tenure. These include play areas, a function room, picnic tables, allotments, a concierge service and an onsite maintenance crew. Commercial uses, which front onto the spine street, are intended for sharing with the wider community.The Arriva doorsets plays a key part in this development to create a seamless design. The Arriva system features a split-type EZYJamb®, specially designed to seamlessly integrate with finished wall constructions like stud and plasterboard. This innovative system is ideal for those seeking flush doors with an invisible door frame for a modern and integrated aesthetic.

This new shared campus for two North Lanarkshire primary schools has been designed by leading architects Halliday Fraser Munro to reflect the individual identities of the two schools whilst uniting them in one single building.The layout of the new school building reflects the dual-nature of the campus, with two separate two-storey teaching wings set around a central courtyard. This open space and the surrounding linked buildings provide shared facilities including a gymnasium and dining hall. Constructed by main contractor and established supply chain partner, Morgan Sindall, the new modern school building benefits from several aluminium fenestration solutions from across Senior’s extensive range.The eye-catching main façade features Senior’s thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system with integrated SPW501 aluminium commercial doors which provide safe and secure access. Throughout the building, Senior’s patented low U-value PURe® aluminium casement windows have been specified to help reduce heat loss and boost the overall energy-efficiency of the scheme. Senior’s fenestration systems were fabricated and installed by specialist contractor Linn-Tech.

The JR provides acute medical and surgical services including trauma, intensive care and cardiothoracic services. It is situated in Headington, about three miles east of Oxford city centre. It is the largest of the Trust’s hospitals, covering around 66 acres.SDS was pleased to work with Mclaughlin and Harvey Contractors and to have been specified by Lewis Hickey Architects.The new extension to the existing Emergency Department was designed to provide better use of space, more diagnostic equipment and improved dignity and privacy for patients as well as improved turnaround times for ambulances.Facilities include an extra nine bays for the immediate care of seriously ill patients, including a paediatric resuscitation room and an isolation room. An additional CT scanner with control room, as well as a nurses’ bay and improved bereavement and relatives’ rooms, will also be provided in the new area.Dfendoor doors were used throughout this scheme, where impact resistant doors were key to maintaining fire door and infection control compliance throughout the busy area . A wide range of SDS colours were used from midnight blue through to lupin – also our range of wall protection products were used in matching colours to create a very impressive finish throughout.

Skelbrooke Seclusion Suite, Skelbrooke Ward, DoncasterWorking with Raceway Builders, on behalf of Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, we were responsible for the supply and installation of the following elements:R-Quest Severe Duty Steel interlaid seclusion doorsets, incorporating our own Pill & Beverage HatchR-Quest Heavy Duty cross corridor doorsetsSteel interlaid external doorsetAnti-attack internal viewing screenAnti-ligature ironmongery including Surelock McGill multipoint locksBespoke manufactured CCTV & storage cupboard with anti-ligature hinge and lockFloor to ceiling storage cupboard with anti-ligature hinge and lockRecessed wall storage cupboard with anti-ligature hinge and lockAll doors (including cupboard doors) within the seclusion and de-escalation space are PVC encapsulatedOur Pill & Beverage Hatch offers a high level of security and safety, when opened, the door becomes a shelf allowing staff to place items and stand back allowing residents to take the items. Once the resident has taken items, the door is pushed closed instantly locking shut. There is then an additional 3 bolt locking mechanism for additional security

Located at Swansea University’s Bay Campus, and designed and constructed by SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre, the Active Office and Active Classroom are both designed to be energy positive buildings, capable of generating more solar energy than they consume during a typical annual cycle.The Swansea area of South Wales is synonymous with steelmaking as Tata Steel’s Port Talbot steelworks is just a few miles away from the Bay Campus. For this reason, SPECIFIC wanted to use steel as much as possible on these structures and so a Tata Steel wall and roof cladding system was chosen using Colorcoat Prisma® pre-finished steel, all made in Wales.The Active Classroom also feature Tata Steel’s Colorcoat Renew SC® transpired solar collectors, The system captures heat from the sun and draws it into the building through a microperforated collector on the exterior of the building. Heated fresh air from the cavity is then used as a pre-heater to the main heating system. A transpired solar collector can collect around 50% of the energy falling on its surface, which equates to approximately 500wp/m2 of the collector’s surface area and can deliver around 250KWH/m2per year or up to 50% of space heating requirements.

Architect: Page \ ParkInstaller: McLaughlin & HarveyProduct: ‘Shiluvit’ by Oranit400m2 of Shuluvit panels in 7-501 formation and Natural Yellow Pine were installed to the ceilings of the entrance way and cafe area of Kelvin Hall in Glasgow as well as 170m2 of linear acoustic planks in Natural Oak veneer to the main lecture theatre.The facility on historic Argyle street to the west of Glasgow city centre is a thriving community hub. Home to event and lecture space for the public as well as the University of Glasgow and local businesses. Kelvin Hall also houses the Glasgow Museums and the National Library of Scotland, celebrating the country’s history in historic and present literature and manuscripts as well as maps, films, and digital media.In addition to the educational spaces Kelvin Hall also has fitness suites for both adult and child classes as well as a 100 piece gym and multiple sports hall for public and commercial use. New to the facility in 2019 is the public climbing wall activity centre and soft-play for younger community members!The newly refurbished Kelvin Hall is home to parts of the National Library of Scotland, Glasgow Museums, and University of Glasgow research exhibitions as well as the Glasgow Club hosting fitness classes and children’s gymnastics clubs.

Built in 1986, Dukes Court was viewed as a symbol of Woking’s economic growth, offering 220,000 sq. ft. of premium office accommodation. These works will ensure Dukes Court continues to play an important role in the town’s future.The front of Dukes Court underwent an extensive remodelling, creating a landscaped pedestrianised public plaza and restaurant with outdoor seating. The building features an impressive full height living ‘green’ wall, which is one of the tallest in Europe. The building is arranged over five blocks which are accessed via three separate reception areas, leading to the flexible floor plates which all benefit from excellent natural light.Other features include:A larger than life statue of composer and suffragette Dame Ethel Smyth will proudly conduct passers-by in the centre of the pedestrianised plaza.New signage and pedestrian routes which will enhance the visitor experience.Relocation of main vehicle entrance from Dukes Street to Stanley RoadMaybury Road, Stanley Road and The Broadway junctions improvements.Granite from around the world (mainly the far east) included BBS Steel (mid grey) granite, Haze (silver grey) granite, Barzan (black) basalt, and Peppercorn (pink) granite.

FORBO’S MODUL’UP VINYL CREATES WELCOMING MATCH-DAY SPACE A unique hospitality space located in Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium, the Riverside Terrace is notable for its move away from the traditional match-day hospitality experience. To create a premium experience, Design and Build Specialists Benchmark Designs called upon Forbo’s adhesive-free sheet vinyl floor covering – Modul’up.  Situated on the banks of the River Taff, the Principality Stadium plays host to a range of events and is renowned as the home of Wales’ Rugby Union team. Working with PSE Wales and Levy UK, Benchmark Designs looked to create a distinctive interior space, capable of offering a premium match-day experience for general admission visitors. Combining a variety of furniture and surfaces with a diverse street food menu, the Riverside Terrace was designed with the city high street in mind, as Hannah Glazier, Interior Designer at Benchmark Designs, explains: “The brief we received for the Riverside Terrace was to take this space and transform it from a traditional food service and interior style, to something with a more up-market feel that had a broad appeal to customers.  “Cardiff’s high street has such a wide range of street food eateries and PSE Wales were keen to incorporate this heritage into the Riverside Terrace, with a different vendor selected to cater each match, along with live music. With such a dynamic environment, we needed products that would complement the usage of the space, providing a practical and refined finish. For this, texture was a really important design element and we wanted to make sure the surfaces we specified would complement and contrast with each other.” With this brief in mind, Hannah looked for flooring solutions that would deliver on the desired aesthetic and feel, stating: “The space itself had a very industrial design, with exposed fixings and a metal-studded bar front adding different textural dynamics. With texture and visual quality in mind, we needed a floor covering that came in neutral shades to match the other finishes, but that could also create a warm and welcoming environment. It was for this reason that we specified Forbo’s Modul’up, in its Concrete and Oak colourways combining the texture and tone of concrete with the warmth of timber.  “The realistic timber appearance of the Oak colourway was ideal for the zoned seating area, while we used the Concrete for the circulation areas, as it nicely matched the design scheme for the walls and bar tops. It was important that we used these complementary colours throughout the entire interior, from wall to floors, lighting to surface tops, helping to create a cohesive and well-rounded space, which feels welcoming yet distinctive.” However, it wasn’t just the aesthetic requirements that were key, but the functionality of the flooring too. Hannah explained: “With a capacity of over 74,000, the Principality Stadium is an extremely busy environment. As such, it was essential that the floor coverings used were able to keep up with the high footfall expected at the venue. This was another reason behind our specification of Modul’up. It has excellent indentation resistance, which was perfect for this space, being able withstand intense usage on match-days. It’s also able to be installed adhesive-free, which made it extremely easy to fit, saving valuable time during the installation phase of the refurbishment.”  She concluded: “Our intention was to create a fun and informal space that was suitable for all demographics to use. We feel we achieved this, with our use of versatile and flexible furniture, wall and floor materials contributing to a relaxed and casual hospitality experience.” Having opened in October 2022, the Riverside Terrace has been put to good use over the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, as well as the 2023 Six Nations, with a PSE spokesperson saying of the new space: “Forbo’s flooring has truly transformed the space, with its exceptional quality, versatile design and hard-wearing nature contributing to a modern and trendy atmosphere. The choice of flooring seamlessly merged functionality with style, making it an ideal option for entry-level hospitality settings. Overall, we’re delighted with the finished project and have enjoyed entertaining our customers in the new space.”  Benchmark Designs’ work on the Riverside Terrace saw the project achieve ‘Commended’ in the 2022/23 iteration of the Forbo Escapes competition. Find out more about Forbo’s Modul’up collection, here: https://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-uk/commercial-products/modul-up-adhesive-free-sheet-vinyl/cum7pa

Building performance is crucial if the UK is to meet its ambitious net zero targets. But there’s a big challenge ahead. There are 29 million homes in the UK and buildings generate one third of the UK’s CO2 emissions, 50% of which relate to heating.To address this, the government has announced a clear regulatory roadmap introducing ever-stricter thermal performance requirements.But there’s a bigger issue that tougher thermal performance measures alone will not address. Industry research suggests 27 million homes are not delivering the performance stated on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). That’s because EPCs require no physical measurement on site, assumptions are made based on answers to questions such as whether a property has insulation or a condensing boiler. It does not account for any of the variables that influence actual performance, such as build and install quality or location. This means homes are less energy-efficient, use more carbon and are more expensive to run than their EPC suggests. As a result, the Government’s EPC Action Plan will see EPCs shift from being a notional tick-box exercise to a genuine, evidence-based record of a building’s actual performance.That leaves the construction industry with a problem. How will it ensure buildings actually perform as designed?A genuine, evidence-based recordThe only way to address the issue is to measure real energy performance, but this has been difficult and costly – until now. Knauf Insulation and Knauf Energy Solutions have undertaken two pilot projects which have combined accurate measurement and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with a quality-controlled retrofit of Mineral Wool insulation to deliver impressive results.The solutionThe two companies have invested in six years of research and development. The result is ground-breaking sensor technology that accurately measures the real energy performance of a home, which is used alongside quality-assured installation of retrofit measures to create buildings that perform as intended.Until now real performance could only be measured via expensive, lengthy, and invasive co-heating tests. By contrast, Knauf Energy Solutions sensors can be fitted unobtrusively to occupied buildings, making the technology discreet, scalable, and cost-efficient.Over 12 weeks, the sensors capture an accurate picture of the building’s performance using machine learning to combine energy meter readings with humidity, temperature, CO2 levels, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and weather data. It then calculates the heat lost through the building roof, walls, and floors to create an accurate picture of each home’s thermal performance. It essentially gives an ‘mpg’ for a home or building.The sensors can be used to ensure new buildings are performing as designed and specified. Or they can inform ‘smart retrofits’ that improve existing buildings’ energy performance and track the subsequent energy bill savings.Retrofits that deliver resultsKnauf Insulation and Knauf Energy Solutions have undertaken the UK’s largest ever real performance retrofit project, to upgrade the thermal performance of 28 homes on a 1970s social housing estate run by Great Places Housing Group in Trafford, Manchester. Early investigation showed the existing insulation had been incorrectly installed and had degraded. Adding to the complexity, the homes also contained unusual build features, such as a stagger between terraces meaning one wall acted as both a party and external wall, each with different thermal characteristics. The companies built a full-scale mock-up of the junction to develop clear protocols for the removal of existing insulation and installation of Knauf Insulation Mineral Wool products. This innovation has enabled the successful installation of Supafil® Party Wall in a staggered party wall – a world first which can be replicated in tens of thousands of other ‘hard to treat’ properties with similar staggers across the country.The second project took place in Eccles, Salford, where the 12 houses had been built to Part L1A in 2014.Sensors were used to benchmark the thermal performance of the properties before commencing quality-controlled refurbishment programmes on both estates, using Knauf Insulation products including Supafil® 34, Supafil® Party Wall, Loft Roll 40 and Rocksilk® RS100.The retrofits were ‘cost-optimal’ delivering results usually targeted by whole-house retrofits with only fabric improvements. To achieve this, the standard of installation was key. Contractors were chosen and managed for quality, and included approved Supafil® contractors, who are certified and actively monitored by Knauf Insulation. Supafil® 34 was injected directly into the cavity using a calibrated blowing machine, ensuring each cavity was fully filled so the specified thermal performance could be achieved. Loft installations were carefully designed and installed so the Loft Roll 40 met up with the Supafil® to provide continuity of insulation and minimise thermal bridging.The two pilot projects delivered impressive results.Trafford31% average fabric efficiency improvement per homeOne home experienced a 51% improvement£411 average annual bill reduction for residentsAverage space heat demand: 65.57 kWh/m2yearAverage CO2g/m2/year: 14.23Eccles17% average fabric efficiency improvement per home28% improvement in one semi-detached homeMoist air leakage risks corrected, preventing sustained structural deteriorationAverage space heat demand: 32.79 kWh/m2yearAverage CO2g/m2/year: 6.78The need for a fabric first approachAccurate measurement alone will not create net zero homes – despite the improvements, all 28 homes in Trafford retained EPC ratings of grade D or E. Similarly in Eccles, the EPC ratings remained mostly static. The refurbishments simply brought their real-world performance in line with the theoretical EPC performance.But the project does show that Knauf Insulation and Knauf Energy Solutions have developed a viable solution for measuring real performance that can be used to underpin net-zero housebuilding and retrofitting by taking a fabric first approach.Bringing benefits to the whole supply chainBefore the refurbishment, residents on the Trafford estate regularly complained their homes were cold and expensive to heat, despite being insulated. In fact, a survey by energy supplier E.ON found this is common, with 49% of landlords saying they didn’t know how to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. This new technology not only gives landlords that information, but by making real-world measurement viable at scale for the first time, it brings benefits to the whole supply chain:Housebuilders can ensure quality control and compliance with the ‘fuel and energy performance’ aspects of the New Homes Ombudsman scheme.Builders and developers can measure thermal performance with certainty and demonstrate they’re delivering for their clients.Tenants and purchasers will enjoy better thermal performance, lower energy bills and a more comfortable living environment, and they can also assess the operating costs of prospective homes.The government, councils, housing associations and landlords can verify the return on investment on refurbishments.Ultimately if we are to achieve net-zero, we must first accurately measure building performance. By combining the use of sensor technology with a quality-controlled insulation installation or retrofit, we can close the performance gap of every building – new and existing. The building fabric component of an EPC will be based on real evidence and homeowners and tenants can save money with lower energy bills.Low carbon insulation for low carbon homesKnauf Insulation undertakes Life Cycle Assessments to evaluate the embodied carbon of its products. Its products can be considered low in embodied carbon, with transparent evidence available in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across its ranges.Knauf Insulation has proactively reduced the embodied carbon in its products over the years, as part of a broader set of activities to reduce its environmental impact. Specific actions to minimise its carbon footprint include the introduction of ECOSE® Technology, its unique bio-based binder, which is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, as well as initiatives to reduce road miles in both sourcing and distribution. Its Glass Mineral Wool products are manufactured using up to 80% recycled glass collected from the local communities around its factories, and the finished products are compressed by up to 10:1 to fit more product into each lorry reducing transport emissions.“From day one, Knauf Insulation brought a level of quality control we haven’t previouslyexperienced in other projects. The measurement service is the first time wehave been offered any certainty that our homes have actually been improved.”Sarah McClelland, Environmental Manager, Great Places

Chestnut Way in Repton, Derbyshire, underwent a remarkable architectural restyle, which included the installation of a complete external joinery package featuring floating corner bifold doors. These doors, crafted from Accoya wood, create a captivating and seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces without the need for a supporting post.Gowercroft Products used from the Classic Range:Tutbury Bifolding Door - MoreMelbourne Timber Door - moreHardwick Timber Flush Casement Window - moreThe Concept of Floating Corner Bifold Doors:Floating corner bifold doors are a stunning architectural feature that adds a touch of awe-inspiring elegance to any home. The absence of a corner support beam creates an illusion of a wide open corner, offering uninterrupted views and a unique living experience. Lesley Shaw-Wall, the homeowner, recognized the transformative potential of a floating corner patio room in completing the overall renovation of her property in Repton.Unmatched Design and Functionality:Typically, open corners require additional support, but with a floating corner, integral steel beams hidden within the structure provide the necessary stability. The result is an expansive corner opening, perfect for alfresco dining and creating an airy living space. The floating corner at Chestnut Way showcases the ingenuity of architectural design, enhancing the perceived spaciousness of a relatively small sitting room even when the doors are closed.Craftsmanship and Testimonial:Gowercroft's floating bifold doors at Chestnut Way were meticulously handcrafted from Accoya wood, finished in pristine white paint. Lesley Shaw-Wall expresses her satisfaction with the windows and doors, noting the impressive standard of joinery and recommending Gowercroft without hesitation.Additional Enhancements:The external joinery package at Chestnut Way included a walnut-stained Accoya front door from the Melbourne range. Flanked by winglights, this stylish entrance creates a grand impression and allows more light into the entrance hall. Furthermore, the property was fitted with wooden flush casement windows, taken from the classic Hardwick range. These tall, understated windows complement the unique architectural elements of the house, providing ample natural light without detracting from its distinctive charm.Invest in Accoya Windows and Doors:Gowercroft's commitment to quality is evident in their use of Accoya wood, a durable and weather-resistant timber. Accoya is guaranteed for 50 years in normal applications and can be maintained through Gowercroft's TimbaCare program for a lifetime of maintenance-free service. The Chestnut Way package, finished in white paint with sleek chrome ironmongery, harmoniously blends with the modern, uncluttered style of the interior.Elevate your architectural designs with Gowercroft's floating corner bifold doors and premium joinery solutions. Experience the seamless fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces, exceptional craftsmanship, and timeless elegance.

Central M40, a 70 acre industrial estate situated off J11 of the M40 in Banbury, comprises six warehouses totalling over 1 million sq ft of accommodation – equivalent to roughly 17 football pitches. The estate was developed speculatively by db Symmetry*, who specified CA Group’s robust Twin-Therm® Built-up Roof and Wall systems.A key component of the Twin-Therm® building envelope system is Therma-Quilt, a bespoke high-performance Glass Mineral Wool insulation. It is manufactured by Knauf Insulation specifically for CA Group and is the result of a long standing partnership between the two companies.Therma-Quilt is ideally suited for non-residential cladding applications. It offers outstanding performance and functionality available in different thicknesses to support the Twin-Therm® system, delivering enhanced thermal U-values as low as 0.09W/m2K. It is non-combustible with a Euroclass A1 Reaction to Fire Classification, meaning it will not contribute to the development or the spread of a fire.Therma-Quilt is also a high-performing acoustic insulation. In Twin-Therm® roof applications, it helps reduce the drumming effect of rainwater, while in Twin-Therm® wall applications, it aids with sound reduction and can minimise the reverberation of internal sound when used in conjunction with perforated metal liner sheets. Therma-Quilt has been developed with water resistance in mind and uses materials that help prevent water ingress.The Twin-Therm® system has been designed with sustainability in mind and Therma-Quilt is no exception. Knauf Insulation’s Glass Mineral Wool products contain up to 80% recycled materials. This saves on virgin raw materials and energy demands, cuts carbon emissions, and reduces waste going to landfill.It is manufactured with ECOSE® Technology, Knauf Insulation's unique bio-based binder that contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It is made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binder, so it is more environmentally-friendly.Products made with ECOSE® Technology are soft to touch and easy to handle. They generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.In total, more than 70 tonnes of Therma-Quilt insulation were used on the six megasheds on the Central M40 development. While the industrial estate was built speculatively, its strategic location has previously attracted premium occupiers including Hellofresh, Prodrive Motorsport, TVS Supply Chain Solutions and Rinkit.Thanks to the Twin-Therm® system with its Therma-Quilt insulation, the warehouses have achieved BREEAM ‘Very Good’ ratings, while the businesses using them will enjoy more comfortable, warmer and safer working environments – and lower energy costs. *db Symmetry has rebranded as Tritax Symmetry

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

ChallengeThe much acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid created the design for the Riverside Museum, which has already been dubbed ‘Glasgow’s Guggenheim’.The new riverside Museum provides an exciting new home for Glasgow’s transport collection. The development has a riverside location on a site where the River Clyde meets Glasgow’s other main river the Kelvin, and is adjacent to Glasgow Harbour.The dynamic new Riverside Museum displays Glasgow’s rich industrial heritage, which stems from the River Clyde. The Tall Ship is berthed alongside the Museum, creating a fantastic experience in this stunning setting.The brief for design and build roofing specialist Varla (UK) Limited was to find a flexible insulation that could meet the demanding U - value of 0.20 W/m2K that was continuous over both the walls and the complex 18,000 square metre roof. The Glasgow Museum of Transport is a complex, heavily engineered design and was the first major UK project for the renowned architect Zaha Hadid.Specialist Roofing contractor, Varla (UK) Limited started the search for a suitable material by contacting many insulation suppliers and holding supplier seminars at Varla’s Chester offices, challenging suppliers to propose a solution to meet the demanding specification for this unique project.SolutionVarla (UK) Limited chose to use Knauf Insulation’s FactoryClad Roll 32, a flexible insulation that meets the demanding U-value of 0.20 W/m2K across both the roof and walls.Rigid foam boards were ruled out early on, as they could not be fitted to the building’s complex curves. There was also a limited cladding zone that could not be altered. Many types of insulation were considered, but glass mineral wool roll provided the best thermal efficiency. The key to Knauf Insulation’s products being specified on this project was its ability to provide in-depth technical support, including complex three-dimensional heat flow modelling calculations. This allowed Knauf Insulation to produce a solution that met all of Varla’s insulation requirements by using a double layer of 100mm Knauf Insulation FactoryClad Roll 32. This is a flexible, lightweight roll of resilient Glass Mineral Wool with exceptionally high tear strength and a thermal conductivity of just 0.032 W/mK.In addition, Knauf Insulation FactoryClad Roll 32 is ideal for limiting the spread of fire since it holds a Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification for non-combustibility and will not burn. Nor will it give off toxic smoke or suddenly ignite in a fire due to ‘flashover’. For public buildings such as this, superior fire performance is crucial.Once Varla (UK) Limited had decided on Knauf Insulation, it leaned on them heavily for technical support, utilising the unique 3D heat loss calculation support service, which ensured the correct product thickness was specified to meet the demanding project requirements.

An imposing boutique scheme of nine luxury apartments in Hackney, London, Bastion House is a modern take on a castle-like structure with its multi-faceted walls, tiered form and variously sized openings. The choice of Vandersandan’s Lima facing brick enhances this robust look while the brick’s light colour contrasts with the black mortar joints and recessed jet-black window frames and balcony soffits. Bastion House is built on the site of a two-storey, post-war house on Farleigh Road in a predominantly residential area that includes a variety of architectural styles and a range of building heights. The new building is five storeys in total but its scale and massing are carefully considered, stepping back at both third and fourth floor levels in response to the surrounding built form, while also ensuring that the crown of a street tree, immediately to the west of the site, remains unaffected. Creative brickworkGoldrose Sharpe, the developers of Bastion House, embraced the challenge of carefully detailing the brickwork which, along with the building’s unconventional form, helps it stand out. Specially cut bricks were employed to achieve the different angled corners - most corners of the building are not at a right angle. Brick soffit panels were designed to surround the balcony openings along with brick-faced lintels to create depth to the set-back windows. Relief panels employing a different brickwork pattern were also introduced at various points across the facades. When selecting the bricks for the project, the team at Goldrose Sharpe ordered samples from various brick suppliers. “We were exploring our options with light coloured bricks,” explains Maria Patton, project lead at Goldrose Sharpe. “The Lima bricks have this artisanal, handmade texture which is quite unique; they stood out compared to other brick samples.” The Lima is a stock brick consisting of a mix of different clays with a white base colour, grey accents and a sanded-coated and grained structure.Goldrose Sharpe purchased the bricks directly from Vandersanden.“Vandersanden was always very helpful with its customer service and the team there was good at explaining the technicalities of the brick,” says Maria Patton. “We had to send the bricks to be specially cut and made for the special angles and brick-faced soffits and lintels. They worked well to these variations.”An impactful facadeThe Lima bricks and the impressive detailing ensure Bastion House makes a bold statement. “We often notice people who walk past the building touch the walls out of curiosity,” notes Maria Patton. “We’re very happy with the final result and the overall look of the brickwork. The use of the Lima bricks made a real difference to the building’s appearance.”To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link

Over time bricks can discolour and lose their lustre because of the impact of wet weather, air pollution or efflorescence. The result can have a detrimental effect on a building’s visual aesthetic, compromising the architect’s design vision and reducing the value of the property for the owner. Brick manufacturer, Vandersanden is the first company to develop a viable, large scale coating solution to provide superior protection against efflorescence as well as secondary protection against the effects of pollution.Vandersanden’s automated coating formulation makes facing bricks water-repellent and resistant to the effects of air pollution and efflorescence, ensuring façades remain beautiful and untarnished throughout their lifetime. This innovative and environmentally sustainable process which also makes it easier to clean the brick, if dirt or damage does occur, has now been fully rolled out across the entire Vandersanden hand-formed brick range available to UK specifiers.Vandersanden worked with Belgian University, KU Leuven, to develop the solution which treats bricks with a special coating after the firing process. The process penetrates to a depth from 5mm to 15mm whilst retaining the original colour of the brick.The liquids contain no harmful substances or chemicals that can damage the brick or the environment and is automatically applied at Vandersanden’s manufacturing facilities in Belgium and The Netherlands.A coated brick has exactly the same pore structure as a non-coated brick and the number of pores and their size remain the same. However, as the walls of the pores are covered with a water-repellent layer, the water droplets are no longer attracted to the walls and will not be absorbed. As the pores remain open, the bricks also retain their resistance to frost.Applying the coating during the production process, eliminates the need to coat the bricks with an applicator once they have been installed, which is a highly specialised and expensive process. It also reduces the often laborious and costly task of prepping the facade for a coating and the regular maintenance required.“Creating beautiful facades that will stand the test of time remains crucial for Vandersanden,” says Jean-Pierre Wuytack, CEO at Vandersanden. "Thanks to our commitment to innovation in product design and manufacturing, we can ensure a lifetime of colour-safe brick performance for architects and their clients. We are proud of our coated solution which demonstrates how Vandersanden is the natural partner for architects who care passionately about creating the very best, most long-lasting aesthetic for their buildings.”Vandersanden coated bricks come with a 25-year guarantee and the company has worked hard to ensure these bricks can be delivered at the same cost as non-coated bricks.Vandersanden produces a vast array of high-quality bricks in different finishes and colours, ranging from reds and browns, to greys, creams and buffs that will inspire and enable the design and construction of beautiful buildings.To find out more, register for our RIBA approved CPD #2 "How to avoid brick stains and efflorescence" here CPD – Continuing Professional Development | Vandersanden

THE PROJECTThe Safety Letterbox Company are excited to be involved in the re-development of the historic Television Centre project. Previously home to the BBC since it’s launch in 1960, the Television Centre has been re-developed to provide private residential apartments, offices, television studios, restaurants and a range of other health & wellness amenities.The Safety Letterbox Company worked directly with the Stirling prize award-winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and bespoke joinery and carpentry specialists, Atlantic Contracts on the project.THE PRODUCTAllford Hall Monaghan Morris architects had a specific design requirement for the integration of the mailboxes in the development. The product had to feature a minimalistic design finish, ensuring the mailbox blended into the project location, whilst enhancing the overall design of the area of installation.The development required multiple banks of mailboxes, with each bank located in lobby areas throughout the project, allowing residents to quickly collect their mail when passing through the space. The installation wall features a convex curve that gives a unique layout to the bank of mailboxes.As is popular with prestigious projects, the sub-contractor required a site survey which The Safety Letterbox Company completed to ensure an understanding of the site profile was used, also enabling any outstanding issues to be resolved before progressing.All of the mailboxes have been recessed within the wall, optimising the space in the lobby area and ensuring that all health and safety requirements are achieved in the project walkways.The mailbox models used were the NW2 and COM 2 – 180 mailboxes. Both of these mailbox models are extremely popular having been used on notable projects including Fitzroy Place and King’s Cross Tapestry (NW2), Barratt Homes – Nine Elms and Reflections (COM 2).The bank of COM 2 mailboxes are finished in a high-quality non-standard Bronze colour finish (code: D2525 YW283F), and the bank of NW2 mailboxes use a designer colour finish (Tiger Hochwetterfest | 068/15069). Both of these finishes conform the specific project branding guidelines and match other project hardware. Mailboxes are engraved in a contrasting silver numbering etched on to the face of the mailbox, corresponding to the resident’s apartment number.USE AS A TV STUDIOThe Television Centre development is now home to a variety of daytime TV programmes including This Morning, Lorraine, Good Morning Britain, Loose Women and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.The Centre was initially used as a short-term location for filming ITV television programmes whilst their home in ‘The London Studios’, located in Waterloo, London, was redeveloped. In October 2018 it was announced that this would be the permanent home for filming going forward.Take a look at the video below featuring Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby talking about their new home in the Television Centre development and a little about the history of the location.

The Dogs Trust holds a special place in the heart of the canine loving public. The national charity’s Cardiff Rehoming Centre sets an incredible benchmark of facilities to ensure rescue dogs get the best chance of a happy and healthy future. Run by devoted staff, the centre includes 20 exercise paddocks, a training hall, 74 kennels with underfloor heating and a fully equipped grooming suite. A pawsome attention to every need The project is located on an eight-acre brownfield site and comprises a campus of strategically located pavilion buildings. The buildings to the north are open to the public, offering training, rehoming services with conference facilities. These buildings are focused around a feature 'Piazza' providing a pedestrian link between the buildings and a place for people to meet. The 'working' buildings are reserved for training and rehabilitation. The heart of the development is the main reception structure, which contains kennels, education areas, a veterinary wing and conference/meeting room facilities, along with specialist and ancillary spaces. Contemporary and exciting…but not lavish The Dog Trust’s primary yellow corporate identity is picked out strongly on feature walls and other elements, whilst most exterior elevations and interiors adhere to whites and greys and a limited number of materials. Oliver Henshall of Cardiff-based project architects, Powell Dobson, spoke about the project, “Because the Dog’s Trust is a charity we were mindful that, while creating contemporary and exciting architecture and interiors, neither should appear as if money had been lavished on them. After all, the dogs should always be the priority in terms of funding allocation. With that in mind, we liked the idea of leaving the services exposed, dressing internals with just the essentials. Rockfon Eclipse® Islands were the ideal choice in terms of helping create a sharp, modern aesthetic while offering superior sound control.”Dogs Trust Cardiff Deputy Manager, Kim Davies, “The building looks wonderful, with the ceilings suspended between the lighting really setting off the space and looking fabulous.”An acousticians’ best friendAt the Dogs Trust, elegant 40mm thick, 2360x1160mm, frameless acoustic islands are suspended by wires, but Eclipse can also be installed using a suspended grid or fixed directly to the soffit. Their smooth, deep matt, super white surface has anti-static properties, which extend product life. They are perfect for thermal mass applications and absorb sound on both sides, reducing reverberation time while improving ambient sound levels. Eclipse can be supplied in various shapes and colours to enhance design freedom and is also available as a wall panel, where extra sound absorption combined with design options is required. Rockfon Specification Manger Rowan Green, “All Rockfon acoustic systems are made from naturally occurring inert volcanic rock (stone wool), are non-combustible and will not harbour harmful microorganisms and bacteria. They have a high recycled content, are fully recyclable and are certified to leave a positive impact on people and the planet