"window"

Part of the regeneration of Chatham Docks, Chatham Waters comprises of two blocks of 193 PRS apartments linked by a single-storey podium level.Y2206F Steel Bronze 1 and Steel Bronze 2 Y2217F applied to solid and perforated cladding panels, whilst YW387I Ordos Sable adorns both balconies and window frames and screens.

Traditional-style timber windows and doors from the Conservation™ range by Mumford & Wood have been specified for an impressive new-build property in the much sought after village of Danbury in Essex. The village dates back to medieval times and today has extensive woodland and heath owned by the National Trust and other conservation organisations.

Architects HLW reached out to the Radii Pre-Construction Design team back in September 2021 with their design intent for a really unique glazed partition project for British multinational retail company Kingfisher.With the client being the home of many notable DIY and home improvement brands such as B&Q and Screwfix, HLW’s initial design aimed to create a ‘workshop’ aesthetic to the space through a combination of timber doors and upstands with glazed windows.The final design required steel framework to support the glazed windows and create the timber upstands.Radii’s Product Development Department developed this detail with the Pre-Construction team and conducted virtual stress testing to ensure the structures would be adequate to support the weight of the glass.The bespoke nature of the design and system meant that acoustic assessments needed to take place before the system could be specified for the project.Radii’s internal acoustic team helped to develop the design and conducted our own assessments, before the system was externally assessed by a third party to provide certification to the architect.

Sustainable construction was placed at the core of the first Enterprise Zone office development at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP). Featuring TECHNAL aluminium curtain walling, windows and door systems with the curtain walling extruded using Hydro CIRCAL® 75R contributing to reducing the building's carbon footprint and helped to achieve the BREEAM Very Good rating awarded. This £22 million project begin in February 2019 and comprises of a 7,500 sqm nett area. four-storey building which houses the headquarters for the leading software company, The Access Group. When completed in November 2020, the office development, funded by Leicestershire County Council, is said to be the largest, single-occupier office deal in Leicestershire.The TECHNAL team were approached to offer specification solutions to suit the aesthetics and meet the technical requirements of the project. Designed around a central core with a linking wing either side, aluminium Curtain Walling spans vertically, with the facade also incorporating aluminium casement windows and doors. 

We adapted our aluminium window specification to meet the narrower than normal vent dimensions at the best-in-class £52 million student village in Coventry, balancing requirements for daylighting, ventilation, student safety and aesthetics. A total of 3,500 sqm of aluminium windows together with aluminium curtain walling and aluminium high-traffic doors were fitted at the 893 home development. The installation not only contributed to the creation of an uninterrupted, zero combustible facade, but also provided maintenance solution for the building owner. Paradise Street has been architecturally inspired by the originally medieval city of Coventry. The scheme's homes are arranged in a wall, and three towers to address the busy ring road, with a gatehouse opening into a 2,000 sqm piazza. Balancing the ventilation and necessary daylighting requirements led to the introduction of a fixed and opening vent to each room. This presented a whole new design challenge when it came to the window detailing, hailing a true example of design and technical collaboration between the architect, contractor, fabricator and TECHNAL. Complementing the subtle textures used for the facade's anodised aluminium panelling as well as the interior colour scheme, the TECHNAL systems are dual colour. Externally they are finished in pearl beige and white, internally. Other TECHNAL systems used for this project include the visible grid curtain walling. This is installed into an angled brickwork detail, creating an interesting wedge shape design to the common room space. To the main entrance, TECHNAL high traffic aluminium doors have been installed and tested to Secured by Design standards. These feature maglocks and automatic gearing that are tied into the building management system, ensuring all doors open in the event of an evacuation.

Facade systems from Technal helped the University of Leeds to set a new benchmark for student accommodation in the city. More than 3,00sqm of Technal glazing systems for the Charles Morris Halls were fabricated and installed, and the £21m student halls of residence comprises of two half-hexagon buildings sited around a central landscaped courtyard, providing 457 hotel-style study bedrooms.The challenging glazing specification involved the construction of large oriel glazing bays that project 300mm in front of the cladding, and contrasting projecting bays to the corners of the two buildings. The oriel bays provide a different architectural feature and an alternative to more conventional recessed panels of glazing. The floor to ceiling glazed units, which maximise natural light were constructed using aluminium curtain walling inset with top-hung casement windows. These were fabricated and installed into the bays in more than 30 different sizes to create a less regimented appearance for the building envelope. Laminated glass with coloured interlayers adds further interest to each facade - in panels of green where the glazing is set into red brickwork on the external elevations and orange for the courtyard elevations to complement the cream-coloured brick cladding. Long runs of curtain walling using 1500mm modules enclose the common room and the link bridge between the two accommodation blocks. The window units in the common room are linked to the air conditioning system, which allows them to open automatically according to CO2 levels. All other opening units on this scheme are operated by low-level levers to allow anyone, regardless of any disability to open the windows.

The BRIT School for the Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon, London is singing the praises of Eurocell after we provided a very exacting architectural window solution. The school building was constructed in 1824 and is of significant architectural interest, as well as being notable for its famous students including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, Leona Lewis and Katie Melua, amongst others.

This Surrey residence was a stunning new build mansion property which Tillys were honoured to supply a number of products throughout the entire property.A combination of Finesse Roller Blinds with Antique Brass Brackets with, along with Vanquish Roman Blinds and discreet Aura Curtain Tracks with wave curtains were installed throughout to provide privacy, sun control and dress to the windows.

Dana Petroleum is an oil and gas company and the project was to refurbish their UK offices in Aberdeen. The multiple floors in this office block required blinds coordinated to specific colour themes. Silent Gliss SG 4910 were specified - 233 blinds installed, some with a screen fabric, some with a blackout option. This was achieved by installing double systems with the blackout blind to the back of the window.

Primark’s flagship store on Edinburgh’s premier shopping street has undergone recent refurbishment. This has included the installation of stainless steel grating, supplied by Lang+Fulton, as flooring within the window display. Apart from its stylish contemporary appearance, the grating serves as a light-well, introducing natural daylight to the shopping area in the basement. Product: Stainless Steel

We travelled to London and sat with Sebastian and his wife Miriam who have just rejuvenated their kitchen area, so that it connects their home with the outdoors in a wonderful way by simply replacing and upgrading their rooflights.The old rooflights simply didn’t have the versatility that the family was looking for, so when it came to finding a set that offered them exactly what they needed, Sebastian and Miriam chose Vario by VELUX.Due to the position and functionality of the existing rooflights in the kitchen, the family quickly realised that it didn’t fit their needs, discovering that the room became hot during the summer months and because of nearby foxes, they couldn’t safely leave their façade windows open without worrying about inviting unwanted visitors into the home.“We moved here in the middle of winter,” Miriam explained, “So we didn’t understand how hot it became inside over the summer months. What we needed was ventilation to cool it down over the summer. We chose to replace the rooflights, as the ones that we had were static and didn’t allow ventilation and these are amazing for that.”Sebastian discussed how working closely with Vario by VELUX allowed the family to get exactly what they wanted and how they were able to create a home that truly met their needs. “Vario by VELUX were the only ones that offered bespoke windows that could open, and when you’re away, if it rains, they close.”“I did everything online. I went to the website where they have this Build Your Own 3D configurator and I chose the window I wanted, the colour I wanted and the size I needed. I would definitely recommend everyone to use Vario by VELUX for installation, delivery and to receive support and warranty, which is very important.”An incomparable differenceThe impact that the new rooflights have had on the family has been remarkable and really had a positive impact, as Miriam explains. “The contrast between a fixed rooflight and one that opens is incomparable really - cooking smells are out very quickly, you can cool the room down and it never gets too hot in here, it’s not just a bit of glass in the roof, it’s a bit of tech that you can use and integrate into your life.”“The two Unlimited Rooflights have really impacted the room with the amount of fresh air we get in there.”“I get up for work very early, about 6am,” Sebastian adds, “And before having these windows, the room was just hot and you could feel the lack of air, now, when I come down the window has been open and it makes a difference.”“It’s made the whole house cool. We now have a movement of air through the house that we didn’t have before. I think it’s a really lovely way to be connected to the outside - you see the seasons change, you can watch the roof splatter with raindrops - my daughter loves watching that when it happens - and the bifold doors plus rooflights really make this an integrated room with the garden. You have a bit of the outdoors inside here.”

Wales Air Ambulance have a new headquarters with a new purpose-built office bringing the charity and the airbase together. Local aluminium fabricators and installers Atcost Windows of Llanelli won the contract to supply and fit all the glazing products throughout the building. Kestrel’s curtain walling was specified to create an impressive frontage to the building and maximise natural light to the common areas and meeting rooms.

Situated just 3 miles from the centre of Edinburgh, The Strada is a modern housing development comprising one, two, three and four bedroom apartments, luxury penthouses and stylish townhouses. It incorporates several striking seven-storey buildings, featuring floor to ceiling windows, all arranged around attractive courtyards, tree-lined boulevards and large green open spaces.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) specified AluK curtain walling and window systems for the Burntwood School project, a series of new educational buildings which will serve up to 2000 pupils and over 200 staff. The scheme, developed by the architects AHMM working in close partnership with Lend Lease, Wandsworth Borough Council and Burntwood School, will see 85% of the school rebuilt.

Eastside Locks is a 17-storey student accommodation block located in the heart of Birmingham. High-performance aluminium windows and doors from Technal have been incorporated into the off-site modular design. The £30m construction at No.1 City Locks is on what was a brownfield site alongside the Digbeth Branch Canal and forms part of the city's long-awaited Eastside Regeneration Project.

BCM GRC have provided a variety of GRC elements to the residential blocks of Berkeley Homes' prestigious West End Gate project on Edgware Road in London.To date, BCM have supplied GRC banding, copings, and window reveals to various levels of Blocks B, C, D, E, and F of the project, and we are currently in the process of manufacturing panels for Block G.

Parallel opening window vents by Kawneer were specified for a mental health project that is arguably without parallel. Some 88 AA®100 SSG parallel opening vents were used as concealed windows, to maintain the same aesthetic as the façade, within AA®100 mullion-drained curtain walling and AA®720 doors on the new £40 million London headquarters of the world-famous Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families.The Kawneer systems at the Anna Freud Centre were specified by architects Penoyre & Prasad as they were a “cost-effective” solution to their needs and enabled them to use the same systems for all areas of curtain walling and rooflights. The project has enabled the relocation of the mental healthcare charity to bring together its global expertise in practice, research and policy under one roof from its residential properties in Hampstead to a purpose-built facility near King’s Cross. This comprises a six-storey new-build and the refurbishment of a century-old former chocolate factory and warehouse.

Tucked away on the outskirts of Brigg, Lincolnshire, Scawby Brook is a carbon neutral, sustainable house that has been sensitively created for modern living and to complement the surrounding wooded setting. The home has featured on self-build TV show, Grand Designs.Designed by local architect Kate Kelly, the connection of the dwelling with nature was a key focus of the client's brief with the house featuring an abundance of glazing to refl­ect the natural environment and provide the best possible views of the rural landscape.A local project manager, Mike Hill was employed to deliver the project and source materials and labour from the local area. Mike specified Kestrel Aluminium window and door systems to provide a complete glazing solution for the project based on previous experience and the knowledge that this would oer the best solution in terms of the quality and budget demanded by the client.The multiple windows are a mixture of fixed or opening vents, with multi-point espagnolette locking PAS24 compliant security. Used in conjunction with low U-value double-glazed units achieving a U-Value of 1.2 W/m2K they ensure the building is safe, secure and energy efficient.

The existing conservatory, offering panoramic ocean views, needed replacing to bring it up to the superior specification of the rest of the estate. Alongside some much-needed aesthetic enhancements, the primary requirement of the new build was to create a more comfortable indoor environment; the existing uPVC extension was plagued with temperature issues consistent with extensions of a certain age.Coastal’s Regent Door Handle and Regent Window Handle were specified from their BLU Range of 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel Hardware. The classic styling of the BLU Regent Handles fitted perfectly with the luxurious ambience of the hotel. And with The Carbis Bay Estate situated right on the coast, fitting hardware made from 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel to the orangery was an absolute must. Salt air is extremely corrosive and harmful to hardware and studies have shown 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel to be the best metal to withstand this corrosion. The Regent Door and Window Handles ticked that box as well, being made from solid 316 Stainless Steel they are well able to withstand the corrosive salt air.

Project: Faraday Business ParkDate: 2021 Background:·        APL were engaged with the architect early in the project design and specification process, providing specification and system support through the tender process·        APL’s strong design and engineering capability ensured that the bespoke window pods designed by the architect were incorporated in early details·        Due to APL’s strong supply-chain relationship, all material was able to be procured and delivered on time to meet the projects programme·        APL provided all thermal and structural calculations Systems:·        10,000m² of APL built-up roof system with stucco-embossed mill-finished aluminium trapezoidal AP31/1000RR profile, along with PV support system·        8,000m² of APL built-up wall system with steel sinusoidal AP45HR in RAL 9006 and RAL 7012 as the external profile·        Bespoke window pods fabricated in 3mm aluminium with a Class 2 PPC coating·        APL Tritherm™ GALV sub-framing·        All rainwater goods including gutters and downpipes·        All fixings and accessories  Building Location:·        Fareham

Our expertise in the student accommodation sector has led to our aluminium fenestration systems being used on this new riverside scheme in Nottingham, which has been designed by architects Maber and built by main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland.Managed by student housing provider Student Roost, the new Deakins Place development is located within close proximity of the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee campus and offers stunning views of the River Leen. These views have been perfectly framed by our patented low U-value PURe® aluminium windows which have been installed by specialist contractor HKL.Specified with flat casement vents, our thermally-efficient PURe® aluminium windows have been installed to each apartment to increase the flow of natural light and to reduce heat loss. The slim aluminium fames have been powder coated to provide additional protection from the elements and to complement the wider façade design which features a stunning mix of natural building materials and colour palettes.

Located on the north side of Wrexham town centre, the BREEAM excellent Yale Campus one of the largest projects undertaken by Coleg Cambria across its network of six campus sites, which has a base of 7,000 full time and 20,000 part time students.Maximising daylight and ventilation, the glazed façade spans 1,200 sqm across the building. Specified for proven performance and thermal insulation, TECHNAL curtain walling offers a fully capped, mullion-drained solution. With an aluminium substructure width of 52mm, it creates a slim sightline while also providing the necessary strength and inertia requirements.Contributing to higher credits for the critical Energy 01 part of BREEAM, which is concerned with the reduction of energy use and carbon emissions, TECHNAL A-rated Dualframe 75 Si windows offer exceptional energy efficiency. For the Yale campus, a U-value of 1.1W/m2K was achieved. As well as being inserted within the curtain walling, the windows have also been fitted in a vertical panel format to create a striking rectangular pattern within the gold cladding.

THE PROJECTPutney Rise is a housing development created by Barratt Homes in the popular south-west London suburb.The development has been designed by Carey Jones Architects to reference the local architecture and design of neighbouring buildings.Putney Rise is located close to Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Putney Common, Barnes Wetland and the River Thames; so many green areas nearby that it feels rural.Putney Rise features of mix of 125 apartments and 30 houses set around a series of courtyards and green areas.THE PRODUCTThe Safety Letterbox Company supplied mailboxes for both sections of the development – fire rated mailboxes for the apartment buildings and MEFA Judo individual mailboxes for the houses.The MEFA Judo mailboxes used on the project are finished in RAL 7024 – Graphite Grey; a custom colour that is not typically offered as a standard option. A classic feature of the MEFA Judo mailbox is the contrasting band colour used in the range.The Graphite Grey colour finish of the mailbox matches the window and door designs, with the stainless-steel band reflecting both the window and door hardware.

The Head of Security at a prominent London University was faced with key security issues when the organisation took over the security of an old building. The large ground floor building led directly onto a public pavement and housed academic and research staff with valuable computer equipment. The Security Team needed to find a way of securing the building, especially the large windows, without replacing them entirely.Bernadette Duncan (MBE) Chief Operating Officer of AUCSO explained the options they looked into:“We considered installing bars on the windows but did not want the building to look like a jail block or draw attention to it. The staff were also concerned about the sunlight on the south facing side of the building, so we would also need to install blinds. After looking at several options we selected 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒® as the best option to maximise security, as well as giving the occupants the option to use the blinds on sunny days.”Bernadette went on to explain the other benefits of 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒®:“From the public side, the blinds looked like normal vertical blinds, so did not draw attention as a highly protected building or a potential target for thieves. In the evening when the lights were on, the blinds could be closed to provide privacy and at night time could be locked to provide a secure screen against vandalism or a forced entry. It was the ideal solution for us.“The 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒® team measured the windows and manufactured them for a bespoke fit. The delivery and installation timings were agreed and everything was fitted in time for the building to be occupied. The blinds gave the staff the required feeling of privacy and security, without feeling barred in. A great product which suited the building and a good team behind them.”Bernadette Duncan (MBE) Chief Operating Officer of AUCSO

The new office development for the New Gorbals Housing Association in Glasgow features a variety of aluminium fenestration solutions. Together these have helped create a light and airy workspace and an impressive centrepiece for the wider regeneration of the area.Located on Crown Street, the new commercial office building is complemented by a new civic piazza and has been designed by Page & Park Architects. Flexibility and adaptability were key focuses for the overall design, with the incorporation of daylighting and natural ventilation strategies to boost wellbeing, and large glazed facades to better connect the building with the local community.The welcoming main entrance has been created using Senior’s slimline and thermally-enhanced SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and SPW501 aluminium commercial doors. The fenestration package also includes Senior’s SPW600e aluminium windows which were used throughout. The ground floor glazing has been recessed to provide privacy to the internal work spaces whilst complementing the overall ‘open’ design of the scheme. In contrast, the first-floor glazing protrudes slightly to maximise views of the surrounding city. Senior’s products were fabricated and installed by Scottech for main contractor CCG.The office environment includes both large areas for group work and smaller, more private booths and is centred around a large timber-clad atrium. The use of internal and external glazed partitions and windows helps balance the space, providing links with both the other areas of the building and the outside. The fenestration package has also been designed to provide those using the building with multiple aspect views and daylighting, whilst avoiding overheating and glare from the summer sun. To further complement the overall façade design which features dark grey zinc cladding, and to boost the durability of the aluminium frames, the windows, doors and curtain wall systems were powder coated.

At 13 storeys high and with a central location that puts the development within easy reach of Glasgow’s main universities, the True Glasgow student accommodation scheme has been designed by KKA Architects. Comprising 315 apartments for both shared and single occupancy, the new True Glasgow scheme on New City Road has been designed to offer inspirational student accommodation. With each apartment offering light and spacious living and study areas, the development also includes an array of exciting communal facilities including a gym and cinema. To balance the scheme’s city centre location, access to greenspaces has been incorporated through the creation of a rooftop garden and a walled courtyard garden at ground level.Specified to provide daylighting and give far-reaching views of the city, Senior’s thermally-efficient SPW600e tilt and turn aluminium windows were installed to the individual apartments. The main façade also benefits from the slim sightlines of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain walling, which has been fabricated in a combination of different capping options to create a unique façade design. As a vertical capped option, the slimline curtain wall features a specially designed toggle system which is used horizontally to create externally frameless transoms and to complement the height of the building structure. The SF52 system has also been installed as a completely frameless silicone glazed solution, with additional ventilation achieved via the incorporation of Senior’s frameless SFF aluminium window vents.To complete the fenestration package, Senior’s robust SPW600 aluminium commercial doors have been used to provide safe and secure access.Senior’s supply chain partner and specialist contractor Scottech has fabricated and installed Senior’s aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall solutions for main contractor Ogilvie.

Derelict market buildings in the Conservation Area of Smithfield, central London have been converted to create a warmer, quieter and more secure environment to house the new Museum of London, thanks to Granada’s secondary glazing.Secondary glazing specialists Granada Glazing designed, manufactured and installed bespoke aluminium secondary glazing to improve the thermal, acoustic and security performance of the original timber single-glazed windows.

Boutique apartment development in Central London of six new high-end flats, including two penthouses for a private developer. High quality finishes are specified throughout, and the compact design makes intelligent use of the site.InterLace designed, manufactured and installed luxury curtains and blinds to all living and bedroom areas, working with the special window systems and slimline recesses for a minimal and contemporary finish.

The aquatic centre of Val-d’Europe in Bailly-Romainvilliers is environnment friendly with the HQE label. Designed by the french architect Marc Mimram, special attention has been given to the ceilings. The natural light comes through huge bay windows, decorated by curvy structures made of 3300 m² of Barrisol® Blanc Mat stretch ceilings, along with acoustic solution Acoustics® A30 in it.

Visitors are greeted into Reynaers Knowledge Centre through an automatic door beneath a sleek cantilever running the length of the building. They enter into a double-height showroom and reception area and can travel up the stairs on to a viewing platform overlooking the showroom. This allows guests to experience a true representation of the scale and quality of the products on display, including multi-level curtain walling, bifolding doors and accessible windows.

The new 2,500m2 research facility for the University of Nottingham provides laboratory, office and support accommodation for the UK Government Energy Acceleration Research Initiative alongside the university. Using Passiv Haus certified Aluprof MB-TT50 curtain walling and MB-104 Passive windows and door systems, the building achieved Passiv Haus accreditation. Architect: Lewis & Hickey Main Contractor: Robert Woodhead Construction

Our real life cases are meant to inspire you, so we always look for unique projects to follow and document. This case is unique in it’s own right thanks to the early adoption of bespoke blinds to fit the Vario by VELUX rooflights.Let us take you on a journey to a beautifully renovated 1930’s home in East-Sussex, where homeowner Graham Gray lives alongside his wife, children and dog. As much as they loved their house as it was, they finally made the decision to redevelop mostly the back of the house. This renovation included not only a bespoke rectangular rooflight, but also custom made blinds which perfectly fit the roof window.Brightening up a 1930’s home with natural lightingA house built in the ‘30’s isn’t usually the brightest of homes. These houses often come with few or small windows which don’t allow natural lighting to fully penetrate a room, causing dark spots and corners all around the house. This is why Graham and his family wanted natural daylight to be a focal point in the renovation of their mid-century home, saying “Light was really important to make an area spacious and airy.”. They sure lit up the place by choosing one of the biggest singular bespoke rooflights in the size 3000 mm by 1000 mm.The perks of a big custom Vario by Velux skylightBecause the Gray family opted for such a big rectangular skylight, it let in a bunch of light. We asked Graham what he loved the most about the rooflight; “During the day you are looking at the sunlight being brought in, and then during the night you are looking at the wondrous sky and the stars. And if I’m honest during the summer I can’t see us using any light other than the light coming from the VELUX rooflight.”. Another bright side to our rooflights is that they don’t require days or even weeks of work. The three by one meter skylight was practically placed in less than a morning!Creating an ambience with blinds for VELUX roof windowsWhile having a rooflight comes with a lot of perks, there is something to consider; sunlight can’t be dimmed down. Sometimes you want a room to feel warm and cosy, which you often do by turning off some lights or closing the curtains. Graham and his family understood the importance of creating an ambience, and thus opted for skylight blinds for VELUX roof windows. Graham’s daughter added; “The rooflight can do so much more than just be a feature. It has a lot of practicality like giving ambience for movies and makes the space feel more homey and lived in.”Why Graham and his builder chose Vario by Velux as their window supplierGraham’s builder had recommended VELUX because “it’s a well-known, high quality brand with excellent customer support”. But what played an exceptionally big part in the decision was the availability of Vario, mostly thanks to our unique feature to design your own custom made skylight! The Gray’s made a bold move to go very large and incorporated a big rooflight with a feature that allows them to open it remotely, allowing for natural ventilation. This meant that Graham and his family could choose the size that they wanted and needed, including custom fit blinds and a rain detector which automatically closes the window in case of bad weather.Welcome the beauty of daylight into your designsIf you are an architect involved in home renovation or construction projects, our customised rooflights offer an ideal solution to bring abundant natural light into your designs. By incorporating rooflights, you can transform any space into a vibrant and illuminated environment. Our team of experienced daylight specialists is available to assist you in selecting the perfect skylight that aligns with your specific requirements and preferences. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your architectural creations and experience the profound effects of natural lighting with Vario by VELUX.

Patshull Activity Centre, a volunteer run Scout campsite that has played host to tens of thousands of children across the Black Country, South Staffordshire, and Shropshire since before the First World War has undergone a comprehensive renovation and redevelopment. The renovation required the replacement of the existing windows and doors for new Kestrel Aluminium units with high thermal and acoustic performance whilst maintaining the essential character of the buildings.

A dated conservatory area is transformed by Breezefree with a retractable glass roof and polycarbonate curtain walling. Nagan Johnson Architects approached Breezefree to refurbish a dated conservatory area as part of the fit-out of the Cuban restaurant group’s second site in London’s Smithfield district. The brief required a modern retractable glass roof, to replace the old lean-to rooflight, and translucent curtain walling, to replace the dilapidated brick walls and windows...

Helo UK Ltd completed the installation of a wellness suite at Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate in Liphook, Hampshire. The installation comprised an attractive Herb sauna with a large feature window, heated by two Rocher designer sauna heaters loaded with 240 kilos of stones for excellent infusion. The other attractions include an Aroma steam room, ice fountain, heated loungers, heated bench and footspa combination.

A survey of architects and housebuilders commissioned by Renderplas, the PVCu render beading manufacturer, provides an interesting insight into attitudes toward sustainable building products in the face of increasing environmental obligations for the construction industry. The survey explored to what extent a product’s sustainability shapes specification, and whether system components like external render beads are subjected to the same environmental scrutiny as the main building elements such as windows, walls and roofs.