Home Designer & Architect - January 2015

HOME-DESIGNER AND ARCHITECT

MAGAZINE JANUARY 2015

Thames Valley Science Park, Reading PAGE 34

Surface Design Show 2015 PAGE 16

covering all aspects of interior and exterior design, and construction within the residential market

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HOME-DESIGNER AND ARCHITECT

CONTENTS JANUARY 2015

04 10 14 18 26 36 34 44

Industry News Interior Focus Events Winter Essentials Doors, Windows & Fixings Bathrooms Timber & Joinery Industry News

CONtact US Tony Little

Publishing Director

01843 595 818

tony@homedesignerandarchitect.co.uk

Paul Holness

Publication Manager

01843 581364

paul@homedesignerandarchitect.co.uk

Jenna Burridge Editor

jenna@homedesignerandarchitect.co.uk

INDUSTRY NEWS

BIRKENSTOCK HEADQUARTERS REDESIGN brandherm + krumrey interior architecture have realized extensive concepts over around 11,000 square metres for the interior design of the entire company and group headquarters of BIRKENSTOCK in Neu- stadt/Wied: Since the beginning of 2014, all channels for production, sales and services have come together in the so-called BIRKENSTOCK Campus as the compa- ny’s new headquarters.

For the restrained ensemble from steel and glass in the exterior construction, brandherm + krumrey interior architecture found atmos- pheric and subtle answers in the workshops, offices, lounges and exhibition spac- es which are in-keeping with the function of the spaces.

The desired result was a consistently subtle, friendly and contemporary design. “As well as wood, the natural materials typical for BIRKENSTOCK such as leather, felt and cork played a prominent role in conveying the high quality for which the company stands,” says Susanne Brandherm, summing up the results. As well as playing with the representations of material, effective accents were set through- out the entire headquarters through intelligent coloring, room-specific floor cov- erings and a sophisticated lighting concept. The design by brandherm + krumrey interior architecture lends the cool-modern architecture a warm, comfortable atmosphere and achieves a close, consistent design connection to the identity of BIRKENSTOCK.

THE JELLYFISH BARGE A floating agricultural greenhouse producing food without consuming land, fresh water or energy.

Kebony is innovation winner Kebony, the provider of sustainable wood has won the Architectural Products award for product innovation.

The awards honour innovation in the development and refinement of buildingsrelated products that range from cladding systems to interior finishes. Kebony won in the woods, plastics and composites category, recognised by the judges for the extraordinary innovation in the development of the Kebony technology.

Judged by a group of 50 independent industry professionals, the awards program is a mechanism to impartially review products and award those which pose a creative and rational solution to the everyday problems faced by workers in the industry.

In a world where resources are increasingly scarce, how will we produce the food we need, where will we get fresh water and new areas for cultivation? A multidisciplinary team of architects and botanists offer a revolutionary answer to these questions. The Jellyfish Barge is has been designed for communities vulnerable to water and food scarcity and it is built with simple technologies and with low cost and recycled materials.

Jellyfish Barge is a project coordinated by professor Stefano Mancuso (University of Florence), director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology and projected by the architects Antonio Girardi and Cristiana Favretto (Studiomobile).

The working prototype, produced by LINV (University of Florence) thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and Regione Toscana, has been installed in the Navicelli canal between Pisa and Livorno.

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Kebony is created using furfuryl alcohol, a by-product of farming of sugar cane, to transform sustainable soft woods into durable woods with the performance and aesthetics of the best tropical hardwoods. With the addition of heat stable polymers are permanently grafted into the wood cell wall resulting in greatly improved hardness, durability and dimensional stability. The wood is made strong and resistant to microbiological decay and harsh weather conditions without the need for expensive and environmentally-damaging chemical treatments.

INDUSTRy News

High flyers

LOTTE World Mall opens in Seoul

UK architects selected in competition to design new private residential development near Prague.

Benoy, the award-winning firm of Architects, Masterplanners, Interior and Graphic Designers, celebrated the opening of South Korea’s largest shopping centre, LOTTE World Mall in Seoul.

Following a private international competition, seven UK and three Czech architecture practices have been selected to design residences for Oaks Prague, a new high-end residential and lifestyle development outside Prague.

Benoy was the Interior Architect for the ground breaking retail scheme and Façade Concept Designer for the adjoining Avenuel department store, the third largest duty free store in the world.

The competition was organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants on behalf of Arendon Development Company, a Czech-based property developer seeking to work with a diverse group of practices.

In total, 24 international practices were shortlisted for the competition, from a long list of over 100, of which 12 were from the UK. The long list focused on northern European practices in an arc from Iceland to the Benelux countries, responding to Arendon’s interest in seeking out emerging practices as well as more established firms.

Shortlisted practices include: ADR (Czech Republic), AI Design (Czech Republic), Architektura (David Kraus) (Czech Republic), Cigler Morani (Czech Republic), Coffey / Architects (UK), David Mikhail (UK), Duggan Morris Architects (UK), Eldridge Smerin (UK), Hall McKnight (UK), Haptic (UK & Norway), James Gorst Architects (UK), Jarmund Vigsnaes (Norway), John Pardey Architects (UK), McGarry- Moon Architects (UK), Mudrik Architects (Czech Republic), NORD Architects (UK), Paul de Ruiter, (Netherlands), Peter Barber Architects (UK), Piercy & Co (UK), Stempel & Tesar (Czech Republic), Studio Olgoj Chorchoj (Czech Republic), Studio Pha (Czech Republic), Tham and Videgard Architects (Sweden) and Werner Sobek (Germany).

The selection panel was led by Arendon’s CEO, Robert Davies, with seven UK practices chosen from this shortlist to work on Oaks Prague: Coffey / Architects, Duggan Morris Architects, Eldridge Smerin, Hall McKnight, Haptic, John Pardey Architects and McGarryMoon Architects. The Czech architects are ADR, AI Design and Cigler Morani.

Opening in the thriving capital of South Korea, LOTTE World Mall has been welcomed as a high-profile addition to the commercial property sector. Seamlessly integrated to a high-end department store, entertainment tower and world-class concert hall, the retail development has established a shopping and entertainment destination to elevate Seoul’s exciting megacity of ten million and its booming tourism industry.

Senior Associate Director, Eduardo Gonzalez said: “LOTTE World Mall is the most significant development undertaken by Benoy in South Korea. We approached the scheme not only as a major shopping destination for the country, but as a tourist attraction for Asia.”

Benoy’s Interior Design has captured the significance of the development, introducing innovative and interactive features not yet seen on the same scale in the country. Sculptural GRG ceilings, illuminated timber walls, prominent motif lighting and pocket outdoor gardens have added to the profile of the development as a modern city landmark.

Bold, ‘Street’ and Stripped Back R2 Architecture’s new take on Indian dining. Design studio R2 Architecture (Alma de Cuba, Panoramic, Radisson, Leaf, Neon Jamon) has unveiled their latest project, Mowgli Street Food on Bold Street, Liverpool.

The food concept behind Mowgli throws out preconceived ideas of the typical curry house, and this fresh approach to Indian cooking is mirrored in the stripped down contemporary interior. The client, curry-evangelist Nisha Katona, says “Cool, edgy, twisted, uber-sensory Indian street food is what Mowgli is all about. There’s no balti or vindaloo on our menu.

People need to come in with no preconceptions and let us surprise them.”

R2 Architecture used this ethos as the starting point for the project - bringing Scandinavianstyle influences to the scheme rather than those found in your traditional balti palace.

Features such as hurricane lights, timber bench seating and an elemental bar - clad in untreated railway sleepers – all evoke a street food aesthetic. Surprising installations, - such as booths suspended by rope - add playful touches to this decidedly grown up interior.

The lighting has been designed to dapple the space with golden light – while dramatic birdcage chandeliers cast abstract shadows on surfaces.

Director Richard Eastwood said “With Mowgli we have created the antithesis of all of those tired clichés that spring to mind when thinking of Indian restaurants. R2A also worked extensively on developing the branding for the restaurant, they introduced the monkey icon and advised on everything from menu design to logo application.”

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Kitchens

CONTEMPORARY HOME DESIGN Contemporary Home Design began 15 years ago from a small home based office, designing and manufacturing bespoke made kitchens bedrooms and living rooms.

As the demand grew in high quality bespoke home furniture, our business grew. At the time we only had an online portfolio, we soon realised our customers wanted to touch and feel our products as well as visualising it, so we decided to open up a showroom. We travelled to Germany every year for 4 years before deciding to introduce the branded side of the business. We chose the leading high quality German brands due to the excellent customer care they provide to us as their retailer and our customers.

We are now a well-established lifestyle company, offering our customers all the necessities they require for their desired room. We deal with only the top leading brands in Europe and UK and have the most up to date technology at the best affordable prices. From kitchens, bedrooms and living areas, to flooring, lighting, home automation and central vacuum system; and to complete it with kitchen essentials, mirrors and 3D wall panelling. We have it all here at CHD, come along visit our lifestyle showroom and you will be astonished with what we can do for you!

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MADE IN GERMANY We design and manufacture bespoke and custom made kitchens, bedrooms and living interiors. We can make bedrooms ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall to give it a very sleek look. The designer and manufacturer work very close with the customer to come up with creative and original ideas to meet the customers’ needs. High quality German material and accessories are used in the manufacturing of the furniture. We aim to provide 18mm rigid carcasses, in a wide range of colours and wood effect finishes. Every fraction of our portfolio is inspected to guarantee our detail for perfection and to ensure that it has met all of our customers’ wishes.

We have cherry picked the most well-known and best manufacturers of kitchens and bedrooms in Europe to give our customers a range of choice from design, style and idea.

We keep up to date with the technology in and around Europe to make the desired living space extraordinary. We have an amazing range of German kitchen brands –Schüller, Next125, Ballerina and Beckermann. A Kitchen made in Germany is a kitchen guaranteed for life, from the day you purchase your kitchen, the German manufacturers will give you excellent service for up to 15 years and more ensuring your kitchen works and looks the part.

www.chduk.com | info@design-home.co.uk

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LATHAMS ALL SET FOR SURFACE DESIGN SHOW 2015 The UK’s biggest independent decorative panel distributor James Latham, is all set for Surface Design Show 2015 (stand number: 206) where it will unveil a number of exciting new products which are certain to create plenty of interest among visiting Architects and Interior Designers. The surfaces on show will include: HI MACS® With almost 100 colours in the portfolio, HI-MACS® solid surface is a highly versatile and extremely durable material which can be easily machined and thermoformed to almost any 3D-shape imaginable, offering endless design possibilities and producing a surface that is flowing, functional and visually seamless.

Architects and interior designers can download the full range of HI-MACS® colours in CAD software-compatible format by clicking on www.himacsuk. co.uk.

Deco Gloss is an exciting and vibrant range of high-gloss acrylic panels

Luminoso A revolutionary new wood material, Luminoso wood panels transmit light, allowing designers to create visually stunning effects. The special process utilises fibre optics that allow natural or artificial light to be transmitted. When the panel is unlit it appears to be a solid piece of wood as the fibre optics are only visible upon very close inspection but once illuminated, all kinds of impactful and eye-catching effects can be achieved. Customised designs, logos and images can be incorporated and even ‘movable’ images can be transmitted.

Egger James Latham will be showing a number of new additions to its already extensive range of Egger decors. With the growing popularity of textured wood grain frontals and panels, six new textures have been added to its market leading ZOOM collection. The panels have a deeper and more natural texture, giving a look and feel that is almost exactly like solid wood or veneer.

Plus, they also offer colour consistency over the lifetime of the furniture as well as being hard-wearing and low-maintenance.

EGGER laminate is suitable for a broad range of applications

Natural Touch Part of the Kronodesign range, Natural Touch is the first ‘embossed-in-register’ melamine board where the grain texture precisely matches the surface finish.

Natural Touch can be used for cladding walls, building furniture, creating fixtures as well as making striking punctuations to spaces and surfaces and the versatility of this product has made it particularly popular within the shop fitting and hospitality sectors.

Other products on Latham’s stand will include; DecoGloss, an exciting and vibrant range of high-gloss acrylic panels which are exclusive to James Latham; Shinnoki 2.0, a range of ready to use veneered panels that are supplied already stained and lacquered, requiring no further finishing; Valchromat, a coloured engineered fibreboard in which the colour runs throughout the entire board; Décor Eco, an exciting new range of coloured plywood panels, plus Accoya® LathamCLAD a modified, highly durable and dimensionally stable certified timber cladding as well as UPM Profi Deck, an environmentally sustainable wood plastic composite decking requiring minimal maintenance.

Chris Sutton, Managing Director of James Latham commented, “We are really looking forward to this year’s Surface Design Show as it’s a great platform for us to meet with the most forward thinking architects and designers in the industry. We have a history and expertise in bringing new and innovative products to the UK market and I’m certain that these latest additions will have a big impact within the A&D sector.”

www.lathamtimber.co.uk marketing@lathams.co.uk

The transparent wood effect is achieved with fibre optics that allow natural or artificial light to be transmitted.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Studio TILT codesign with UCA LDA Design appointed Students and staff from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) to masterplan Russian Epsom teamed up with architect and design team Studio TILT to codesign their Quadrangle communal space – with just 48 hours to industrial site complete the project.

When UCA Executive Dean Dr Roni Brown started looking into the redesign of the University’s central courtyard, she believed the space should be designed and built by those who use it.

Dr Brown said: “We engaged Studio TILT because of their experience in codesigning and comaking spaces that involve everyone in the process, not only to ensure the space will be well designed but more importantly it was practical and intuitive for those who will use and enjoy it. The experience our students gained from designing and making their own space at such an innovative level was invaluable.”

Independent design, environment and sustainability consultancy, LDA Design has been appointed to masterplan one of central Moscow’s best-known former industrial sites - Serp and Molot, or Hammer and Sickle, in association with architects, UHA London.

More than 30 people from UCA came together to build spaces designed in the first ever comake marathon. The comaking process encouraged skill sharing, mutual learning and shared experiences to further develop community and create a vibrant civic space for the students.

Studio TILT initially led a series of workshops with students and staff to understand the requirements for the space. They then created a sequence of architectural designs that give an identity and social function to the external quadrangle area inspired by some of UCA Epsom’s subjects, graph- ics and fashion, and by the creative input of those involved in the workshops.

The 58 ha (143 acre) site has been the subject of a high profile international design competition organised by the City of Moscow and the developer and owner of the site, Donstroy Invest. The masterplan, due for completion by The final designs were built over a 48 hours period including the Pier, a 2021, will create over 1.8 million square metres of prime landmark structure in prime position in the Quadrangle and completely mixed-use space with an estimated investment of 180 billion student centred democratic area. The timber structure was clad in CNC Roubles (over €3.76 billion). Out of the 52 applications made cut plywood and created an artificial landscape of layers, levels, screens up of 157 companies from 17 countries that the design and shelter within a form around the existing trees to accommodate a competition attracted, the LDA Design and UHA London team number of social and recreational activities decided by the students. The emerged as the preferred team.

Flying Lines extend from the entrance way to the Quadrangle, bouncing off columns and rising and falling like a ship’s rigging. Higher than head height, the wires can be used to display graphical work, oversized prints and clothes from the fashion department.

The Shed is a presentation and market place for student work, each cubby hole can display an object or artefact acting as an intimate gallery for a student to have a solo space for their work, or as a retail space selling student work, food or refreshments. The form resembles the familiarity of a garden shed, but this concept is reinvented through CNC plywood construction.

“I think it fits in really well and adds a nice bit of colour to the university.

We all now sit in there and chat, it’s a really nice area for people to socialise and meet. I love the design of the deck chairs too, really different.”

Design student, Sophia Leven. The deck chairs are dotted around the Quadrangle, each upholstered with graphical work by graduating students.

Bernie Foulkes, Partner at LDA Design, said: “What set our scheme apart was the idea of using a new city park to act as the catalyst for transformation. As the designers of the London 2012 Olympic Park we used our knowledge and experience from one of Europe’s biggest regeneration projects to guide our vision for Serp and Molot.”

”To build the structures, staff and students created pieces of state of the art parametric design and CNC, alongside analogue craft skills including woodwork, metalwork, sign writing, gardening, landscaping and timber frame building,” explains Oliver Marlow, Creative Director, Studio TILT. “Those who use the space will ultimately have a sense of ownership as they helped to create a meaningful and useful environment for the University.”

Ricardo Mateu, Director of UHA LONDON, said: “Serp and Molot continues UHA LONDON’s track record of successful collaborations with LDA Design – marrying a strong masterplan and landscape design narrative with innovative and futuristic architecture – Serp and Molot will be a game changer for the Moscow real estate market and become a lifestyle choice for Muscovites.”

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FREDK

SAGE CO LTD

Your Project Our Passion Tel:01992 782300 www.frederecksage.co.uk | info@frederecksage.co.uk

Interior Focus

FRAMEXPRESS TAILORS TO PERFECTION homes offering only the highest standards to new homeowners.

Two beautifully designed £1.2 million family homes in the South Hertfordshire village of Cuffley were recently finished using a variety of products from the frameXpress range. Each property represents the finest hallmark of modern family living, with the meticulously designed

Each five bedroomed property provides the best in luxurious living, including cinema rooms, four en-suite bathrooms and modern gym areas. The frameXpress customers wished to ensure that these properties offered a premium standard to reflect the quality of craftsmanship throughout.

In the ultra modern kitchen, state of the art lantern aluminium roofing systems were installed as well as the latest in aluminium bifold doors in order to maximise on light entering the building.

Both luxury properties had identical floor plans which were designed to incorporate the very latest high performance, energy efficient windows and doors as well as composite doors to meet building regulation requirements. In order to maintain a more traditional external appearance, white astragal bars were fitted to some of the windows manufactured in the Profile 22 System.

Security was a vital aspect to be included with both homes entered through oak gates whilst being complemented by the highest specification Yale locking systems that were incorporated by frameXpress.

INGENY – A DIVISION OF INTERPHONE LIMITED Interphone has been serving the commercial and residential sector for more than 50 years designing, installing and supporting a wide range of security access and communal TV satellite systems. To keep pace with the latest technology innovation and demands in the marketplace, Interphone recently launched a new business division to offer truly integrated solutions that incorporate home and building automation and entertainment solutions.

Ingeny provides advanced solutions to control a wide range of equipment and systems in the home at the touch of your fingertips. In fact, home and building owners can control and monitor their property from anywhere – so, just as easily from the sofa or a remote location – using any smartphone, tablet or network device.

As part of the launch strategy, Ingeny needed a dedicated showroom and demonstration facility that would support the growth of the business and help it engage with existing and potential customers.

The new division is part of Interphone’s vision of a future that demands an integrated solution. The showroom elegantly demonstrates how all of the technology and control solutions come together in a truly seamless way and is located at Interphone’s head office in Harrow, North West London.

LEISURE PLAN

Welcome to Leisure Plan’s 2014 Portfolio. Our three exclusive brands: Dedon, Ego Paris and Fischer Mobel represent the widest choice of Luxury Outdoor Furniture available in the UK. Visit www.leisureplan.co.uk to view all ranges or visit our large showroom in rural Essex to experience the unique styles and quality of our collections.

Please Click Here to view our online Brochure.

At Leisure Plan, we know time spent outdoors can be so precious and enjoyable.

Whether that’s relaxing by the pool on holiday, firing up the BBQ for that special gathering or simply enjoying the feel of the sun on your face, outdoor hospitality has never been so popular.

We believe in enjoying our outdoor spaces in the most comfortable and stylish way possible. From our quiet corner of rural Essex, we’ve been supplying the best European outdoor furniture designs to the UK and beyond for over thirty years.

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INTERIOR FOCUS

Winkleigh Timber Oak Flooring Welcome to the world of Winkleigh Timber.

f you have not heard of us before then I promise that you will be glad that you’re reading this. We are a family run business since 1983 and we are always on the search for old and new materials that will be of interest to you.

I

Knowledge of wood is not something you learn overnight – we have been learning for over 30 years now and whilst there is always something new to learn I think it’s safe to say that we know a fair bit about it. From Alabama U.S.A to Bangladesh, our buyers travel the world to get to the source of our stock so that we really know what we’re getting.

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Our new and reclaimed timbers are used for FLOORING, STAIRCASES, PANELLING, BOARDING, STRUCTURAL and simply DECORATIVE. Over the years we have supplied many commercial ventures such as Film sets for the BBC, Flooring for River Cottage, Sleepers for Toby Buckland’s Ethical Garden, Sign boards for Burrator Resevoir, Table and Benches for The Orchard Shopping Centre in Taunton, Darts Farm and many more. real thing - not distressed new timbers trying to look old. We have the original nail/bolt holes, saw marks etc combined with the beautiful natural colourings and markings of old wood.

These timbers are full of history, natural beauty and character.

We are the largest stockist of reclaimed timber in the South West and pride ourselves on having the material in stock – ready for you to take away.

American White Oak

7inch Flooring

Cotton Mill Oak Reclaimed Floorboards

As well as reclaimed timbers we also hold a large stock of new oak timber in various sizes. See below for a full list of our oak timbers.

Reclaimed Oak Flooring Boards from £60.00/m² Extra wide new American Oak boards – planed and square edged – random widths from 8” – 13” x ¾” Subject to availability – from £44.00/m² Cotton Mill Oak – originating from Alabama – stunning boards going back 120 years, full of character and history. Widely

French Brown Oak

Bare (left) and Oiled (right).

furniture. 2” thick £35.00 -£50.00 per cu.ft Devonport Oak – Reclaimed oak beams - Great for lintels -£25.00 per cu.ft Grimsby Oak Reclaimed oak beams 8-10ft lengths approx 10” x 10” - £30.00 per cu.ft

COMING SOON!!!

from day to day therefore, any

Rift or Quarter sawn Oak produced by the Amish community in America. We are the sole supplier in the U.K from this mill.

of ordering. Please note, all prices quoted are subject to vat.

We are the largest stockist of Reclaimed timber in the South West.

Our stock of a particular timber can vary

Cotton Mill Oak - Reclaimed oak beams – sizes approx 7” x 7”/ 8” x 8” From £35.00 per cu.ft Genuine 17th /19th Century Beams - assorted sizes and lengths – these are salvaged from old farm buildings amongst other sources. From £25.00 cu.ft

Look out next month for our special on Reclaimed Pine Flooring or if you can’t wait, check out our website

www.winkleightimber.co.uk

English Pippy Oak with amazing ‘cat’s paw print’ detail – beautiful kitchens - from £50.00/m² New American White Oak in 6”, 7” and 8” boards. Random length, 20mm thick - from £34.00 /m² European Oak T & G – From 4” x ¾” thick from £31.00/m² Prime European Oak Parquet – block size 230mm x 70mm x 20mm. Suitable for laying in brick fashion £25.00/m² The Rolls Royce of our new oak range - French Brown Oak – Gives a natural rich chocolate brown colour with prominent grain.

We have some wide boards available, whilst stocks last.

From £50.00/m² Wide boards £65.00/m²

Burrator Signage Board

Front (left) and rear (right) using Pippy oak.

Reclaimed Oak Timbers

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Events

SHOWING OFF AT THE JANUARY FURNITURE SHOW

The all-new 2015 January Furniture Show will be a three-day event held from Tuesday January 13 until Thursday January 15 in five packed halls at the Birmingham NEC and is a must-attend event for interior designers, buyers and specifiers who are looking to see an array of furniture and lifestyle companies.

Supported by many of the furnishing sector’s biggest and best known names, the January Furniture Show will play host to companies such as Duresta, Greenapple, Parker Knoll, Gascoigne Design, Ercol, Wade, Collins & Hayes, Iain James, Tetrad, Henderson Russell and Alexander & James. They will be joined by major suppliers from France, Italy, Germany and the Far East who will all be showcasing their latest products and developments in the home and gift sector.

Said Laraine Janes and Theresa Raymond, co-directors of the January Furniture Show: “For those who have a business in the gift or home furnishing market, this show provides the ideal opportunity to view new products. It’s the first opportunity of the season to see a selection of the very latest new and exclusive launches, with a strong emphasis on home and lifestyle.”

Here’s a taster of what to expect: Ancient Mariner Furniture offer a stylish vintage leather chair, hand aged to give it an authentic look, also made in a button back version.

Well known brand Baker Furniture will be exhibiting several new collections including new additions to the highly popular reclaimed ranges. They will also be exhibiting established ranges including the Salisbury range, made from solid timber painted with oak tops.

Ercol launch the Bianco dining collection - A casual kitchen dining and occasional collection, painted in a contemporary chalk white complemented with matt lacquered solid oak table and cabinet tops for a modern country look.

Bucking the trend in the reproduction traditional furniture cabinet market, Iain James will again be featuring their successful collections of Burr Walnut occasional and dining ranges, along with selected feature pieces of Burr Oak, Mahogany and Japanese Ash. Serving independent retailers, select department stores, interior

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designers and garden centres, Libra has one of the largest and most diverse collections of interior design accessories, homeware, giftware, lighting, furniture and wall décor in Europe and will be featuring a number of its products on its stand.

European based designer and manufacturer of luxury, decorative products Piaggi Art & Living uses sophisticated but eco-friendly materials such as solid wood and art glass to form intricate and contemporary patterns and shapes in its mosaic mirrors, glass art panels, and uniquely designed furniture.

For over 45 years, Tetrad have been hand crafting high quality classic furniture which has taken its place in homes throughout the UK and abroad.

The January Furniture Show 2015 will run midweek from Tuesday January 13 to Thursday 15 and be located in Halls 1-3 and The Pavilion. The 2016 show will run for three days from Sunday 24 Tuesday 26 January.

For further information and a full list of exhibitors visit

www.januaryfurnitureshow.com

Register FREE Online

Events

Discover innovations design at Surfa S

Returning to London’s Business Desi 12 February 2015, Surface Design Sh the UK that focuses solely on interio With an 80% increase in exhibitor upta products to discover in 20

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r the latest s in surface ace Design Show 2015

ign Centre between 10how is the only event in or and exterior surfaces. ake the breadth of new 015 will be astounding.

Events Since its inception in 2005 the show has become the destination for industry people to see, touch and explore the latest materials for the built environment, gain new insights and network with like-minded designers, architects and suppliers.

RIBA Journal on Tuesday 10 February. The ever popular PechaKucha Evening will take place on Wednesday 11 February and will provide an informal and fun presentation of inspirational slides for the onlooking architects and designers.

Next year’s event is already proving to be a huge success. All of the ground floor and mezzanine has been filled with key exhibitors leading the organisers to extend the show to the BDC’s balcony area to meet the demand for space. There will be over 120 exhibitors including Mundy Veneer, specialists within the veneer industry and the exclusive UK distributors of Tabu products, CD (UK) who for over 30 years have been the sole distributors of Corian in the UK.

Hosted within Surface Design Show and presented by Light Collective and the Institution of Lighting Professionals is Light School, an area dedicated to lighting. Light School is designed to educate and inspire visitors about the latest in lighting design and lighting products.

Surface Design Show is also delighted to be welcoming new exhibitors to the show including RAK Ceramics the world’s largest ceramics manufacturer, Hi Con a leading European brand of high performance concrete as well as Jotun the World’s leading manufacturer of paints, coatings and powder coatings which have been used for a number of prestigious international projects including the Eiffel Tower.

There will also be a packed programme of events and entertainment including the Preview Evening’s Live Debate hosted by

Global Color Research™ will also return to the Show. The influential consultancy and creators of colour forecasting publication MIX Magazine will work with acclaimed surface designer Giles Miller to present Colour Collaborations. This exhibit will focus on the vital colour and material trends for 2016 and their importance within design.

Part of the outstanding success of the Show is the commitment to recognising excellence with the Surface Design Awards. The Awards recognise examples of progressive design and the use of innovative surfaces in projects both in the UK and internationally. The Awards presentation will take place on Thursday 12 February 2015, the last day of Surface Design Show.

Registration to attend is free for professional visitors via the Show website: www.surfacedesignshow.com @surfacethinking #SDS15 t17t

Winter Essentials

Government figures show low levels of house-building Less than 113,000 new homes were completed in England between April 2013 –2014, according to the government's latest provisional house-building figures.

Live tables released by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have shown that an estimated 112,400 homes were built in the 12 months to April 2014.

These make up the majority of those built throughout the UK, which totals 140,880.

On a quarterly basis, the tables show that an estimated 86,700 homes were completed in the first nine months of 2014.

These provisional figures, which are subject to revision, also include historic figures dating back over several previous governments.

These show that between May 2010 – when the Coalition entered government – and April 2014, 446,760 new homes have been completed. This averages around 111,700 completions a year, which is comparably lower than the same figures compiled for the previous Labour Parliaments between 1997-2010.

These figures show that national house-building levels have yet to reach pre-recession levels, with 170,610 homes estimated to have been completed in the financial year to 2008.

New helpline will provide support to those in need

The Considerate Constructors Scheme has helped launch the Construction Industry Helpline to offer 24/7 support to the industry’s workforce.

The new service – from the Lighthouse Club charity – was launched at a drinks reception at the Imperial War Museum. It will provide confidential support to the construction industry’s workforce and their families on a range of topics including finance, depression, occupational health and wellbeing, illness and bereavement.

Edward Hardy, chief executive of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, said: “We’re delighted to support the launch of the Construction Industry Helpline to help our workforce in times of need. The construction industry has a macho image, but like all sectors of society and as in all industries, people encounter a wide range of professional and personal difficulties and it can be hard to know where to turn to get help.

“Anyone calling will know that they’re speaking to someone who understands the nature of the construction industry and that they can do so in absolute confidence. Supported employees will feel more secure and confident in their roles and will therefore be happier in their working environment. It’s a welcome development in the industry.”

Bill Hill, chief executive of the Lighthouse Club, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to launch the Construction Industry Helpline in partnership with the Considerate Constructors Scheme. I am extremely grateful to the Scheme for its help in raising awareness of this much-needed facility for workers in the construction industry and their families.

“This unique helpline will give helpful advice to those facing difficult times as a result of unforeseen circumstances. I like to think of the construction industry as one big family with a duty of care and responsibility to its workers – as considerate constructors. I hope the industry and its workforce will benefit greatly from this worthwhile initiative.”

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Autumn Statement faces criticism from construction for missing opportunities The construction industry has responded to the government’s last Autumn Statement before the 2015 General Election, with some figures claiming that the policies provided little for the industry.

With much of the Statement focused on investment in the NHS and infrastructure, and tax reform, only a small number of announcements affected construction, such as new incentives for employers to take on apprentices.

From April 2016, employers will not have to pay National Insurance contributions (NICs) for all but the highest earning apprentices under 25. This leads on from the announcement made in 2013’s Autumn Statement that employers won’t have to pay NICs on those under 21 from April 2015.

Dr Diana Montgomery, chief executive of the Construction Products Association (CPA), said: “Abolishing employer’s National Insurance for firms taking on apprentices acknowledges the need to develop a new generation of skilled young people across all sectors.”

Adrian Belton, chief executive of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said: “Abolition of National Insurance on apprenticeships [is] a real boost for employers looking to invest in young people. “The priority now for industry and government is to make apprenticeships simpler, ensure providers respond to needs, and create a simpler framework for engaging with schools.”

This should be helped by the announcement that £20m is to be invested in careers advice for young people, which is particularly important for the construction industry.

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Winter Essentials

Funding ‘should encourage Council homes apprenticeship recruitment’ provider fined Funding available from 1 January, 2015, should encourage electrical, heating and plumbing employers with a London postcode to recruit more apprenticeships, according to training provider JTL. Grants of up to £3,000, available from the European Social Fund on a first-come, first-served basis, can be accessed through training providers such as JTL, as long as the young person is between the ages of 16 and 24.

The scheme is available to employers with up to 249 employees and, to qualify, the company must have a London postcode.

This financial support scheme will run from 1 January until 30 June 2015, but the funding of £14 million is likely to be exhausted before this cut-off date. JTL is recommending that employers discuss this with them at the earliest opportunity so they don’t miss out on this important funding opportunity.

“It is important that our industry receives its due share of the available funding,” said Richard Allen, JTL’s communications manager. “There is clearly a need to build upon the number of young people with skills in electrical work as well as heating and plumbing in London, and this scheme provides a real opportunity.”

To qualify for receipt of the grant, an apprentice must be in learning for a minimum of 13 weeks. One grant is provided for each apprentice, with a single company being able to claim for a maximum of five apprentices appointed in the first half of 2015.

New home registrations continue to outperform 2013 levels, reports NHBC New home registrations across the UK remain ahead of last year’s figures, with the latest rolling quarter revealing an 8% increase on the same period in 2013, according to new figures released by NHBC. The latest statistics show that 37,222 new homes were registered across the UK for the period September – November, compared to 34,356 for the corresponding three months in 2013.

New home registrations in the private sector remain up on last year for the rolling quarter (29,812 in 2014; 25,079 in 2013) but the public sector is struggling to match the numbers registered 12 months ago (7,410 in 2014; 9,277 in 2013).

The drop in the number of affordable homes being registered also resulted in November falling slightly below overall levels for the same month last year (10,824 in 2014 - 8,764 private; 2,060 public compared to 11,409 in 2013 – 8,010 private; 3,399 public). “As we approach the end of the year it is clear that overall registration levels for new homes in 2014 will show an increase on last year’s extremely strong growth,” said NHBC Chief Executive Mike Quinton. “These registration figures are a good lead indicator of the volume of new homes that will be constructed and available for sale in the months ahead.”

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following death of heating engineer A homes provider company for Barnet Council was fined for safety failings after a heating engineer was found dead in a communal boiler house at one of their housing estates.

The body of Alan Young, 68, was discovered in the Grahame Park estate boiler house on 9 August 2011. He had been working alone at height when he fell, sustaining severe head injuries.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Mr Young had been in charge of the Grahame Park estate boiler house for 21 years with Barnet Homes Ltd and before that with Barnet Council. He had lone worker status and had checked in with his supervisor on 8 August, before going to the communal boiler room on the estate to repair a leak.

The following day, his supervisor realised that no message had been received from Mr Young checking out after the previous day’s shift. When attempts to contact him by phone were fruitless, staff at the housing estate office were alerted. They failed to find him at home and the search then turned to the boiler room, where Mr Young’s body was found at the foot of the scaffold.

There were no eye witnesses, but the evidence was that Mr Young was using a combination of fixed and mobile tower scaffolding plus a ladder to undertake his work. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found the mobile scaffold had not been erected properly, had missing guard rails and did not have any wheel brakes. The ladder was not secured and Mr. Young’s immediate supervisor was unaware of the presence of the fixed scaffolding.

HSE also identified that the company failed to prepare a proper risk assessment bearing in mind Mr Young’s role as a lone worker.

Barnet Homes Ltd accepted that within the boiler house Mr Young had unrestricted access to a ladder and to a mobile tower scaffold and that he had not received appropriate training. The company also accepted that it did not have adequate arrangements for the control of maintenance work, and that this breach was a cause of Mr Young’s death.

Barnet Homes Ltd was fined £37,000 and ordered to pay £75,000 in full costs after admitting a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

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Heat MatPV is ideal for new developments and well-insulated properties. The system is dual-circuit enabling a 75W/m2 or 150W/m2 output to be achieved depending on the owner’s requirements, property temperature and electricity available. In energy efficient buildings 75W/m2 is likely to be sufficient, but if the temperature drops the system can be switched to dual-circuit and achieve 150W/m2 output, providing rapid space heating in colder weather. Heat MatPV can be powered from mains, renewable electricity or a combination of the two.

Based on electricity generated from a 3kW PV system running at full efficiency the new Heat MatPV system, if run at 75W/m2, can heat up to a 45 sqm floor area* using the PV generated electricity.

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throughout a property. Heat MatPV can be installed as a direct acting system or (ideally) within a screed; charging up the screed with electricity generated during the day when the most sun is absorbed, and emitting heat well into the evening. If used in this way the screed acts as a storage device gently releasing the heat when it is most required.

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HSBC Quai des Bergues Project date: 2010-2014 Client: HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA Status: Built Area: 16,300m²/175,500ft² Location: Geneva, Switzerland Sectors: Office

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ur second scheme for HSBC Private Bank in Geneva involved the merging of seven structurally independent historic buildings to create a world-class client-facing office in one of the city’s most prestigious lakefront locations. The sensitive restructuring of the buildings has allowed five of HSBC’s offices to

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be consolidated on one site and provides a spacious contemporary workplace for approximately 650 staff, as well as a trading floor and high-end client facilities – all offering spectacular views of lake Geneva and the city’s old town.

By subtly unifying the buildings’ external appearance, the seven

structures now appear as one entity while the integrity of the original facades has been preserved. A new continuous mansard-style roof has been constructed that aligns the geometry of the buildings so that they read as one form. This is complemented by a series of new fully-glazed dormer windows

Project Case Study

that add a striking but discreet contemporary element to the roofline. The sixth and seventh floors have been entirely rebuilt and transformed into an exclusive client and executive space.

A new glazed atrium forms the heart of the development, linking the main internal elements and creating a unifying visual identity.

Extending from the ground to the seventh floor, the timber and glass construction merged two existing inner courtyards and serves to enhance visual connections between floors and provide the

offices with generous levels of natural light. A beautiful green wall forms the entire western end of the atrium, which is lined on its north and south walls in vertical light oak fins that project from fully-glazed internal facades.

Images copyright :John MacLean.& Vincent Jendly.

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DOORS, WINDOWS & FIXINGS

From Castles to Care Homes ASSA ABLOY is celebrating 20 years of developing innovative solutions for a range of high profile projects, from universities to hospitals and castles to canals.

One in every 10 lock and security installations world wide now uses ASSA ABLOY products, including developments within the healthcare, education, commercial and heritage sectors.

Over the last 20 years, Security Solutions, a division of ASSA ABLOY UK, has supplied prestigious heritage projects such as Edinburgh Castle and The Canal and River Trust, providing specifications that have adhered to the restrictions of listed buildings.

ASSA ABLOY has also gained extensive experience within the healthcare sector, providing security in a wide spectrum of projects, including doctors surgeries, general hospitals such as and care homes.

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The global leader in door opening solutions has also proven it is top of the class for supplying security products within the education sector, having provided solutions for primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, university buildings and student accommodation.

From Birmingham University, to Scientia Academy primary school, Adams Rite, UNION and ASSA, brands under the Security Solutions business unit, have installed products that are robust enough to withstand the heavy wear and tear of educational establishments, as well as being visually appealing, to create comfortable, friendly teaching and living environments for students and staff.

The manufacturer also has a wealth of experience in the commercial sector, with Security Doors supplying high profile projects such as The Shard and Canary Wharf.

Tina Hughan, Marketing Director for ASSA ABLOY, said: “ASSA ABLOY’s project portfolio is extensive to say the least. Our ability to offer tailored solutions to individual projects has made us a popular choice for supplying security solutions across a breadth of developments for the last 20 years.”

To find out more about the evolution of ASSA ABLOY, watch this YouTube video: 20 years of ASSA ABLOY

For further information, visit www.assaabloy.co.uk/securitsolutions

Doors, Windows & Fixings

Opening the Door to LEARNING As part of its ongoing refurbishment programme, Edinburgh College is fitting HOPPE’s Quick-Fit Plus door handles to its internal doors as the quick, easy and smart alternative to traditionally fitted handles.

Architectural Ironmongers West Lothian Hardware introduced the college’s maintenance department to the HOPPE Quick-Fit Plus handles when they were looking for a smart, tamper-proof solution for a problem with colleges existing handles.

“The college’s estates department were looking to fit new handles because the old ones were beginning to look past their best,” says West Lothian Hardware’s Alan McEwan. “The old handles had had roses pulled off, screw holes were showing and they really did look untidy. Because the Quick-Fit Plus handles come with an integral rose they resist vandalism, and there’s no screw holes so they really do look smart. The whole team at the College has found them easy to install – there’s not even a need for tools to fit them!”

The college maintenance team has already fitted over sixty pairs of Quick-Fit Plus handles at the college’s Milton Road campus and find them a doddle to fix in double quick time. “These handles are so easy to fit, they really are the no-hassle option for us because the handle, rose and escutcheon simply push together into position in a matter of seconds with a click,” says Edinburgh College’s Gary Grieve. “They really look the part once they

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are on too!” More HOPPE Quick-Fit Plus handles will be fitted across the college’s three other sites as part of the ongoing maintenance programme.

HOPPE’s patented Quick-Fit plus connection is the next step on from the company’s tried and tested Quick-Fit system. It comprises stylish handles plus flat roses and escutcheons which are just 2mm thick and come in round and square versions offering myriad design options.

They are especially well suited to refurb projects like Edinburgh College thanks to the extra large roses and escutcheons in the range.

HOPPE’s reckons the Quick-Fit plus system could save up to 75% fixing time on site but the new connection system does not compromise the outstanding performance characteristics of its handles.

Quick-Fit plus handles will continue to comply with BS EN1906: 2002 Grade 3 and corrosion resistance to EN1670 Grade 4 on all finishes.

For additional durability, Resista surface protection, which offers a 10 year guaranteed finish, has now been upgraded to 20 years for Quick-Fit plus handles, ensuring an attractive look for years to come.

Founded in 1988 HOPPE (UK) Ltd is a market leader in the field of door and window hardware. Based in Wolverhampton, where it operates from a purpose built state-of-the-art distribution centre, HOPPE UK is committed to serving customers with pride. HOPPE’s products have been tested to meet the latest European and British standards, offering quality and innovation to all sectors of the market. The company is part of the familyowned HOPPE group with manufacturing plants across Europe and North America and more than 3000 employees.

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DOORS, WINDOWS & FIXINGS

PRIVACY & SPACE P C Henderson offers privacy and space for inter-generational homes P C Henderson’s sliding and folding door hardware can offer vital added privacy and flexible layouts to improve inter-generational homes. With a record amount of grown-up children living at home and a rise in two or three family generations living under one roof, the National House Building Council (NHBC) predicts houses will be built and adapted to suit the surge of ‘co-homers’.

With expensive care for the elderly and children, and many struggling to get on the property ladder, families are pooling their funds to afford much larger homes and share the space. The Ideal Home Show census learnt that 4 per cent of the population, 728,000 people, now live in homes with two other generations – a higher rate than in the Victorian era.

Andrew Royle, UK Commercial Director at P C Henderson, comments on the growing trend: “There are benefits to sharing homes with loved ones such as economical advantages and also convenient care for the elderly or children. However, living together permanently can have some disadvantages when it comes to privacy and respecting each other’s space. P C Henderson’s sliding and folding door hardware can help by providing privacy screens and versatile layouts. Optional closed areas can be

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created with a sliding or folding door system for relaxation, or the door can be folded back or concealed to create open plan areas for socialising.”

According to the Halifax monthly price index, house prices have risen up by £17,261 in the last year. In addition, a report from the Post Office shows the average house size has halved by 700 square feet in the last century, further showing the challenge to find affordable living space. By using sliding door gear systems floor space is created in a home in contrast to a swing door which impacts on the room once opened. In a house with ten 3ft internal doors, up to an additional 70sq ft of usable space can be released in the home by eliminating the room needed for it to swing and function.

Furthermore, the NHBC predicts that the familiar ‘granny annexe’ could evolve into co-homes with shared kitchens yet separate bathrooms and front doors. P C Henderson’s range of sliding and folding door gear hardware can provide space saving, versatile solutions for any layout and aesthetic.

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Doors, Windows & Fixings

Gilgen ‘Green-Wings’ entry system saves energy – automatically The Gilgen PSW ‘Green-Wings’ system consists of a state-of-the-art door automation drive, thermally sealed door profiles and insulated glazing that helps to significantly reduce building heat loss. Ideal for externally facing doors in a number of public buildings such as hospitals, colleges and offices, the system reduces utility bills and contributes to the achievement of Breeam sustainability standards.

Rigorously tested and certified by ift Rosenheim to provide class leading U-values, air permeability, wind and rain resistance, Gilgen PSW delivers U values as low as 1.0 and is designed to provide reliable long term operation even in the toughest of environments.

The system incorporates a powerful Gilgen SLX door operator which is strong enough to operate even heavyweight insulated doors with speed and efficiency. The drive is easy to install, efficient and incorporates advanced safety features to ensure compliance with BS EN16005 safety standards.

Of high-quality Swiss design the system acts like and looks like a standard automatic door, with high quality components that that only enhance the appearance of building facades. The elegantly designed motion sensors are built into the header profile for a sleek finish and activate the doors quickly and efficiently as persons approach.

PSW is tested for protection against driving rain and highly wind resistant making it suitable for exposed building entrances. Each door incorporates a special runner surface and rubber damping for quiet operation and the insulation also helps to reduce noise levels, for example, from busy roads.

For further information call Gilgen Door Systems on 0800 316 6994 or visit www.gilgendoorsystems.co.uk

Supasash UK Virtually indistinguishable from the originals, a SupaSash upgrade brings hundred-year-old windows into the 21st Century giving them a new lease of life without noticeably changing their appearance.

Made from Accoya, the new sashes come with a fifty-year guarantee, while the drained & vented double-glazing exceeds the current Building Regulations and a proven life expectancy of more than thirty years.

As a refurbishment, neither Building Control nor FENSA need be involved.

Add optional extras such as argon fill, self-cleaning glass, glazing bar with an authentic appearance, and SupaSash is simply unbeatable.

Tel: 07831 194655 www.supasash.com

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Glass Processing Specialists Glass Processing Specialists Firman Glass is a leading specialist glass manufacturer and supplier of glass, with an unrivalled reputation for Firman Glass is a leading specialist glass manufacturer fast, flexible & high quality glass processing. We offer a and supplier of glass, with an unrivalled reputation for wide range of standard and bespoke, decorative and fast, flexible & high quality glass processing. We offer a structural glass solutions to all industry sectors with wide range of standard and bespoke, decorative and some of the largest glass sizes available. structural glass solutions to all industry sectors with some of the largest glass sizes available.

Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or visit our website www.firmanglass.com Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or visit our website www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH In association with Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com In association with

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Project Case Study

Thames Valley Science Park, Re

The University of Reading has announced its commitment to develop a ne Innovation Park at the heart of the Thames Valley with an investment of up to establish the site infrastructure and phase on t34t

eading

ew Science and o £50 million to ne construction.

The University's Science and Innovation Park will play a key role in driving the region's knowledge economy, targeting technology-led companies seeking both a strategic location and access to the highquality research and graduate support provided by the University.

Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "The University of Reading's commitment to invest in a new Science and Innovation Park underlines the vital contribution this University makes to the Thames Valley's position as one of the most successful economic sub-regions in Europe. The provision of dedicated facilities and services will provide a platform for the regional knowledge economy to thrive.

"There is a substantial market in the region for such a facility, with no dedicated science park currently operating in the Thames Valley or London. We expect strong demand from both UK and international companies seeking a prominent Thames Valley location, while the Science Park will also be the natural choice for London-based companies that are looking for space to expand as well as emergent Thames Valley SMEs." "Last week, the government published the initial findings of a review led by Sir Andrew Witty which placed the UK's world-leading universities at the heart of local and national economic growth. Reading is a shining example and the Science and Innovation Park will reinforce our position as one of the most forward-looking and entrepreneurial universities in the country."

The University of Reading has wellestablished experience in running specialist facilities for the commercial Research and Development market. It currently operates dedicated facilities on its Whiteknights campus for 80 knowledge-based companies employing over 750 people. The University's Reading Enterprise Centre and the Science and Technology Centre are purpose-built business facilities linked to the University's renowned research specialisms and a ready-made talent pool. The campus is also home to R&D facilities for Mondelez.

The new Science and Innovation Park will be close to London and Heathrow, as well as the many clusters of successful knowledge businesses based in the Thames Valley. This privileged location is allied to a first class regional transport infrastructure, underpinned by the recent £1 billion investment in Reading Station, and will make the Science Park a strategic location for business investment.

Wokingham Borough Council granted the University planning permission to develop phase one of the Science Park in 2010.

The University of Reading, in partnership with Wokingham Borough Council, has secured an investment of almost £25 million for the Shinfield Eastern Relief Road, a key infrastructure development to underpin access to the Science and Innovation Park as well as the Shinfield West housing development.

Councillor David Lee, Leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said: "We welcome this great news that the University is making such a significant investment in the Science and Innovation Park. The development will bring major employment to the borough in the form of many high-value, skilled jobs and build on our reputation as a great place to do business."

The Science and Innovation Park will be constructed on a University-owned site in Shinfield, alongside the M4. Phase one of the development will create 150,000 - 200,000 sq ft in three multi-tenanted office and laboratory buildings, including a Gateway building. The project will be under the single ownership of the University of Reading.

The University's governing body has approved an initial investment of £25 million to create the site infrastructure and first three buildings, followed by a further £25 million, in time, to complete phase one. The Science and Innovation Park is a long-term development and is likely to take 20-25 years to be fully developed. t35t

Bathrooms

Lakes Bathrooms launches new site for mobile web Shower specialist Lakes Bathrooms has launched a brand new website with a fully responsive design to adapt to mobile and small screen formats. The new site not only responds to the viewing screen, but is said to offer much wider choice for product selection, categorised not only by Collection, but also allowing visitors to browse based on space available and shape or type preference.

According to Lakes Bathrooms, its investment in a new website is intended to improve accessibility for portable and wireless device visitors. Last year saw the landmark switch when internet access via mobile outweighed traditional access via fixed line services on laptops and desktop computers (at certain times of the day). This change in traffic routing meant that Lakes Bathrooms reviewed the usability of its site and chose to adopt a fully responsive design.

Introducing the new site, sales and marketing director, Clive Organ, commented, “Our statistical data gives us a clear indication on the browsing preferences of visitors and we’ve used this insight to completely redevelop our web presence.

The site not only serves our UK customers, but also offers a

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gateway to our new US retail business and our international wholesale division. It’s designed to provide the best possible experience for customers browsing for products, plus it offers an immediate route for our trade customers to access a wide range of support.”

Whilst Lakes Bathrooms is understandably enthusiastic about its new site, it also explains that the site will be continually evolving and there’s a plan to further develop various aspects.

New features include social media sharing via its news page, whilst favoured options such as the stockist locator have been retained.

Summarising the appeal of its new site, Clive Organ concluded, “The new site has been designed to be responsive, flexible and effortless to use, whatever the platform that visitors choose to access from. We believe that it will play an important part in introducing consumers to our products and this design refresh is focused entirely on improving the user’s journey.”

To visit the new website go to www.lakesbathrooms.co.uk.

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BATHROOMS

Five Tips to Make Bathrooms Feel Larger

Bathrooms (even the smallest ones) have the potential to be superb, modern rooms. Some simple design tricks, suitable furniture choices and the right accessories can create your ideal space.

1. Get Rid of Clutter Toiletries, bottles, children’s toys and ornaments all make small spaces feel even smaller. Store all of these things away – out of sight in a cabinet somewhere. It will have an immediate impact. Limit yourself to a few choice things which complement each other, and your bathroom. Place them somewhere visible, but out of the way e.g. a window ledge or on a shelf.

2. Keep Design to a Minimum The same logic behind de-cluttering your bathroom applies to the designs you should choose to use. A small bathroom is best suited to simple, clean lines, limited designs and contemporary features, so hold yourself back from complicated patterning or art work and go for a simple finish, such as natural stone tiles on the walls and floor.

3. Let There be Light Light levels probably influence people’s perception of space more than anything else. Sunlight reflecting off walls and surfaces creates the impression that a room is bigger than it otherwise seems to be.

You can take advantage of that fact by using every opportunity to have big windows or a skylight in your bathroom. But even if natural light isn’t able to reach your bathroom, there are ways to use light to show off the space. Once you’ve got light into the room, you want to let it bounce around as much as possible! Use clear glass shower screens instead of frosted glass or shower curtains. And remember, mirrors are your friend.

4. Take it Easy on the Colours The simple fact is that light shades (white, cream etc.) light up small rooms, making them feel bigger. So when you’re choosing paint colours or picking out tiles remember: lighter is better! If you honestly cannot do without colour, you can use coloured mosaic tiles to set a colour scheme, and then use colour coordinated things like towels and bottles to tie the room together.

5. Storage is Your Friend There’s a huge variety of bathroom furniture available which has been designed for extra storage space with smaller bathrooms in mind. Corner basins and units can be ideal ways to increase your storage capacity without intruding too much into your bathroom.

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One last tip: Raising your bathroom furniture off the floor creates the illusion of more floor space, so going for wall-mounted basin could be an ideal way to maintain the illusion of a bigger bathroom

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BATHROOMS

Zuccheti.Kos Presented Good Design Award Huppe Pulls Out of UK Exit to begin from January 1, 2015.

German shower enclosure manufacturer Huppe will pull out of the UK from January 1, 2015.

The Masco-owned company, which shared its premises with Bristan Group, cited its strategy was to focus on markets “where we belong to the leading shower enclosure brands”, so it could “provide the best possible service to our customers”.

Huppe, which has almost 200 UK retailers, will honour all orders placed before January 31, 2015, at normal terms and all warranties will be honoured for their term, with aftersales service supplied by the company at info@heuppe.com Established in 1889 as a supplier to upholsters and saddlers by Justin Huppe, it added room portioning systems to its business in 1955 and became Germany’s first shower enclosure supplier in 1966.

By 1974, a separate company – Huppe Duscha - was set up for its shower enclosure business and it became of subsidiary of Masco Corporation in 1987.

In 1995 and 1997 it took over Spanish shower enclosure manufacturer Reser and Turkish manufacturer Intermart.

Gary Walmsley, MD of Posh Bathing in Bolton and Huppe retailer said: “It is not going to affect our business. The UK market is tough. People think they can get cheaper online and just aren’t interested in quality. The internet is killing our industry.”

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Diego Grandi-designed Closer shower head awarded Chicago Anthenaeum honours The Closer shower head, designed by Diego Grandi for Zucchetti, has been presented the Good Design Award by the Chicago Athenaeum.

and unique. We have invested great resources in its project, implementation and communications, always working closely with Diego Grandi.

Good Design Awards are presented each year and Closer was chosen out of 700 entries from 36 countries.

“I am convinced, in fact, that by nature the industrial design cannot derive by the inspiration of a single person, but it is the result of the synergistic collaboration of a team of people who, with their skills and knowledge contribute to the formulation and implementation of the project.

Closer takes its aesthetic influences from a lamp and features a cylindrical counterweight, so it is stable in a variety of positions.

CEO of Zucchetti. Kos, Elena Zucchetti commented: “We are very proud to receive once again a Good Design Award, this time for Closer. From the beginning, we have believed in this product so innovative

“This important recognition encourages us, once again, to continue our commitment in the search for new and original content, because innovation, design and quality are the main values of our company since ever.”

Propelair Receives Multi-Million Funding Water-saving WC receives £2.6million funding for growth and to build stock Phoenix Product Development, which trades as water-saving WC manufacturer Propelair, has received £2.6million funding from CF Woodford Equity Income Fund who has now become an investor.

The money will be used to support Propelair’s growth through expansion of both its sales and marketing, and installation teams. The investment also provides working capital for Propelair to widen its customer base and build stock. Propelair toilet system achieved certification and was launched in 2013.

The water-saving WC uses an air-based operating principle and 1.5 litres of water per flush. It is suited to both new developments and as a retrofit in existing commercial buildings. In addition to significant water savings, Propelair claims to be more hygienic than conventional units as the manufacturer claims it removes over 99.9 per cent of waterborne contaminants and suppress airborne contaminants.

Garry Moore, Propelair founder and CEO, said: “We always knew we had an excellent product. Customers are very pleased with trials of Propelair 1.5-litre flush toilets, which have consistently delivered results in their busy public washrooms. Organisations are very concerned about the rising costs of water and energy and aware of their obligations to provide a sustainable and hygienic workplace without compromising standards. Propelair is the solution to these problems, and the Woodford investment will allow us to deliver on those objectives and fulfil our growth plan in earnest.”

STEAM FREE MIRRORS AND WARM FLOORS TM WITH demistaTM AND Tired of peering through a steamed up mirror when applying makeup, styling hair or shaving? There is no need to wipe clear, or open windows wide on a frosty morning, when you install a self-adhesive demistaTM pad behind the mirror. Simply wire into the lighting system or use a separate switch to ensure a clear view in the steamiest of bathrooms.

Why step out of the warm bath, or shower, on to a cold floor TM when you can have the luxury of under floor comfort heating. The system is safe to use in wet areas, ideal for bathrooms, wet rooms, kitchens and other areas where water may be split.

Tel: 01932 866 600 Email: sales@demista.co.uk Web: www.demista.co.uk

Project Case Study First phase of works completed in time for Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Passengers heading for Glasgow’s city centre will notice some big changes at St Enoch subway station following the completion of the first phase of its £5.3m renovation.

The revamp will eventually include new glass canopies inspired by Glasgow’s Kibble Palace, which will provide a striking feature in the heart of Glasgow’s stellar shopping district.

The major makeover to the flagship city centre station is part of a £288m modernisation programme across the network.

Lifts will also be installed - one to each platform, making the Subway more accessible than ever before. St Enoch will be the first of two stations to have lifts introduced, the second will be at Govan.

St Enoch’s, which serves almost two million residents and visitors per year, has a brand new station office combined with a travel centre.

The look is lighter and brighter in line with newly refurbished stations at Hillhead, Partick, Ibrox and Kelvinhall.

The more complex work to install the lift and new canopy will begin after the Commonwealth Games to minimise disruption to the station throughout the Games. All work at the station is due to be complete in 2015.

Charlie Hoskins, Director of Projects at Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) said: “We’re delighted that the work on St Enoch has come in ahead of schedule - and within budget. It is to the credit of GRAHAM construction and the management and operations teams that we are able to show off its new look in time for the Commonwealth Games.

“We’d promised to have four stations renovated by the Games - and with the work at St Enoch’s so far on we have actually exceeded that.”

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on Praised

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ramzi Towers Promotes Contemporary Living SPARK Architects has revealed Ramzi Towers, a major residential tower development on Victoria Island, Lagos, for client Athena Capital Investment.

The landmark scheme, designed from SPARK’s London studio, is SPARK’s first significant project in Africa and is scheduled to win planning in June 2014, with Construction beginning this summer.

Designed by SPARK, engineered by Battle McCarthy and project managed by WT Partnership, Ramzi Towers is situated in the heart of exclusive Victoria Island. This unique 18 storey structure is designed to give 360 degree panoramic views from 5 Cowries Creek and the Lagoon beyond, to downtown Lagos and across the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Each of the 22 3-bed, 4-bed and penthouse apartments is orientated to maximise daylight. The tower’s distinctive curved shells and striking, deep window reveals, provide shading from the heat of the direct sun.

SPARK has designed a uniquely African solution which responds to local climatic, social, financial and cultural drivers.

Ramzi Towers’ sprayed concrete curved shells provide structure, water-proofing, air-tightness, fire protection and solar protection in a single solution, while being sculpted to minimise wind resistance and

to provide a curvaceous African response to the global vernacular.

This sprayed concrete process was selected and advanced to minimise costs and build-time while providing limitless formal freedom to the design process. The Architects and Engineers have chosen the development of this simple on-site fabrication method against the backdrop of a local Contracting tradition that is not explicitly ‘high-tech’. As such, the building process is appropriate and empowering, enabling the local contractor to deliver the highest inhabited sprayed-concrete structure in the world without needing to outsource the technical issues.

The project team is also undertaking the establishment of a shadow program, where UK skills and knowledge are to be shared and transferred to local young Nigerian consultants who in turn are assisting in meeting local statutory approvals.

Each apartment is designed around a huge central living area giving panoramic views.

The living, dining, bar, library and loggia areas are all interconnected around a central pre-fabricated kitchen hub.

Master suites are impressive and additional bedrooms generous and all en-suite.

Dedicated lifts serve only two apartments per floor on lower levels, while upper floors access solitary four bed apartments containing additional reception, or ‘morning’ rooms orientated to benefit from the morning sun. The top two floors contain exceptional duplex penthouses with stunning roof terraces.

The project has been submitted for Planning Approvals and is due to begin on site in Q3 of 2014. Contemporary living in Lagos is just about to turn panoramic.

Thriving horticultural education in Battersea Park Pedder & Scampton have completed a new landmark building for national charity Thrive in Battersea Park, London.

The new purpose-built training building will greatly enhance the activities of Thrive, a charity that has been working within Battersea Park for 25 years, teaching gardening and life skills (horticultural therapy) to those with learning, physical, sensory impairment and mental health disabilities.

The design responds to a brief for a stronger visual identity for Thrive in the park, enhanced facilities that are economic and efficient to run, and excellent sustainability credentials.

The distinctive design replaces a collection of ramshackle huts and portacabins, and establishes a two-element building that curves to a radius centred on the large plane tree that dominates the site.

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The first element is a glazed ‘orangery’ that forms an entrance space and circulation zone as well as a working area for ‘dirty’ activities. This space is designed to be left open to the garden all day throughout the year, accessed through ‘up and over’ doors. Unheated, this robust space is lined with plywood and benches, and can accommodate large numbers of muddy boots.

Materials used include natural slate and larch for the exterior and exposed screed and plywood for the hard-working interior.

The building has been positioned to maximise the benefit from solar gain, and incorporates a natural ventilation strategy, solar shading and rainwater harvesting.

The design process involved considerable consultation with the user group, therapists, management, Trustees of the charity and the Local Authority. The resulting design features a number of intelligent interventions that ensure that the many different special needs of the users are met. These include: a design that allows Gardeners to come and go from the building all day without needing to worry about shutting doors or wiping boots; wide shallow tool stores so that all tools have an allocated space and are easy to find, aiding memory reinforcement; a window from the kitchen onto the working shelter so lunch and hot drinks can be easily passed out.

Thrive remains grateful to the many people who have donated funds towards the cost of the building.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Rimless Toilet

VitrA has launched RIM-EX; a new comprehensive set of rimless WCs. VitrA’s RIM-EX launch follows the introduction last year of its first truly rimless WC for the M-Line range. The company’s RIM-EX concept now makes it possible to pick a rimless WC from many of VitrA’s most popular ranges; Nest, Shift, T4 and M-Line (as before) from its Designer Collection; and S50 and Arkitekt from its Bathroom and Commercial Collection. Each RIM-EX WC incorporates the following special design features. The rimless bowl features an easy clean surface and no rims or holes where dirt or harmful organisms can collect. To eradicate the need for a rim (as in most standard toilets), the RIM-EX WCs employ a ceramic water distribution tool.

It is designed to precisely distribute water, ensuring efficiency and removing the need for a rim.

This tool is fully removable so that cleaning can be easy and thorough. The bowl has also been developed to make for efficient flushing. Thanks to these design features, the RIM-EX WCs are 95 per cent more hygienic than standard WCs. The RIM-EX M-Line WC is also available with VitrA Fresh; a tank which releases cleaning fluid with every flush.

01235 750 990 www.vitra.co.uk

Defensive Learning HLM has been appointed to the new £250 million Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration at Worthy Down in Hampshire.

Working alongside Skanska, HLM designed the winning scheme, which is part of a Ministry of Defence (MoD) project to upgrade the site as well as redevelop its Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, Surrey.

The contract includes the design, construction, and mechanical and electrical fit-out of the site’s living quarters and facilities, as well as the supporting infrastructure for new buildings at Worthy Down. It will also accommodate the headquarters for the Royal Logistic Corps and the Adjutants Generals Corps, along with other logistic and personnel training elements of the armed forces. HLM has designed the site to ensure it has future expansion capabilities.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the MoD’s property and services provider, awarded the contract to Skanska and HLM. HLM is also the architect and masterplanner for the Deepcut site, which will be redeveloped to provide 1,200 homes, a school and other community facilities.

Chris Liddle, lead designer for the project and Chairman at HLM, said: “This is an

exciting opportunity to support the MoD in creating new, world class facilities for our armed forces. It will also provide muchneeded housing and amenities for the people of Deepcut village. Both locations will benefit from our understanding and experience of working with the MoD, as well as our strong reputation for sustainable design.

“HLM celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, during which time we have worked extensively in the defence sector, and securing this major project further strengthens our position. We have worked hard to become a trusted partner to the public sector and will bring the same high quality architecture and facilities to both Worthy Down and Deepcut, as we have before with award-winning schemes such as the Defence Academy and Welbeck College.”

Work is due to start immediately and set to conclude at Worthy Down in the summer of 2018, with development at Deepcut ongoing until the community there is fully established.

Pinewood Planning Consent Pinewood Studios, one of the world’s leading destinations for the makers of film, television, commercials and video games, has been granted planning consent for new offices and workshops, designed by Fletcher Priest.

The innovative new development provides highly flexible workspaces that are naturally ventilated with generous volumes and excellent daylighting for a wide variety of users, including specialist workshops and production facilities. The new workspaces will extend the operations at Pinewood

and add to the 250 other independent businesses housed by the Pinewood Studios Group providing expertise, equipment and support to the creative industries.

The detailed consent is part of the original approved Pinewood masterplan and follows the recent approval for the Pinewood Studios Development Framework (PSDF), a £200m long-term scheme of national significance designed to address increasing global demand for production facilities in the UK and deliver growth for the next 15 years.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Sky Forest Trees have been planted in Bosco Verticale – a new high-rise residential development in Milan that will feature its own urban “forest”.

Designed by Boeri Studio and developed

by Hines, this vertical forest in the heart of one of the Europe´s most polluted cities will include two residential towers of 110m and 76m high. Altogether, 900 trees measuring between 3m and 6m have been planted, along with 5,000 shrubs and 11,000 floral plants on terraces up to the 27th floor.

The project is set to create a new standard for sustainable housing and was developed with the help of Arup´s structural and geotechnical designs, together with consultancy services on acoustics, vibrations, ground-borne noise and tunnelling. Arup also provided advanced design solutions related to the effects of two existing railway tunnels under the site that required a dedicated design of a baseisolation system for the main buildings.

produces energy. Besides creating oxygen and humidity, the plants also absorb CO2 and dust particles, which improve the environment.

Luca Buzzoni, Project Manager, Arup Milan, said: “Being part of the design team of such an innovative project presented new challenges every day since the buildings and the structural itself needed to relate to an ever changing environment and new and unusual design inputs had to be thoroughly understood and incorporated in the overall picture.”

As a new growth model for the regeneration of the urban environment, the design creates a biological habitat in a total area of 40,000m2. The designers aim to inspire greater urban biodiversity in the face of Milan´s challenge of increasing pollution.

Thanks to the huge amount of green area, the building not only optimizes, but also

Urban sanctuary wins RIBA award Slip House, a remarkable translucent glass house on a terraced street in Brixton, has won the RIBA prestigious Manser Medal 2013 for the best newly designed private house. The presentation of the award to the winning architects, Carl Turner Architects, took place at a special event at Central Saint Martins in London.

Built on a small patch of land in Brixton, the architects have made a simple and sculptural addition to a street of Victorian terraced houses. Slip House is made up of three ‘boxes’ which sit on top of one another, creating a studio work space downstairs, with living quarters above, above which is a walled roof garden covering the entire footprint of the building.

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The boxes are carefully placed to maximise light and outlook from inside while not intruding on its neighbour’s outlook.

Speaking about Slip House, the RIBA Manser Medal judges said “Slip House demonstrates an admirable commitment to the creation of an exemplary lowenergy house, with a suite of sustainable enhancements that are integrated effectively into the building design. However, at no point do the sustainable ambitions of the project crowd out or dominate the refined quality of the spaces that are created. Little wonder then the project was one of Kevin McCloud’s favourite ‘Grand Designs’, one he described as an ‘urban sanctuary’.”

INDUSTRY NEWS

Charity Honour for Architect Architect Steve Burne has been recognised for his commitment to Ronald McDonald House Charities, a charity that provides free accommodation to families who have children in hospital across the UK. Steve, managing director of Manchester architecture practice AEW, was presented with the Charity’s President’s Award at its recent 25th anniversary gala dinner. He was the unanimous choice of the judges for the award at this year’s event.

Steve’s involvement with the Charity is both personal and professional and he has raised more than £50,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities in the last decade with fundraisers and charity challenges. That total is set to rise later this year when Steve, along with sons Daniel and Adam, take on the nine-day Argentina to Chile bike ride with the Charity in October.

He has been chairman of the board of governors of the Ronald McDonald House in Manchester, just a stone’s throw from Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, since it opened in 2012. He also acts as an ambassador with family, friends and professional contacts.

Steve’s involvement with the Charity began as an extension of the work AEW does with the Charity’s supporter, McDonald’s Restaurants, designing new stores and reimaging existing ones. He was asked to design the Charity’s Manchester House and has since been involved with multiple Houses across the country, all at no profit.

“It’s great to see exactly where the money you raise is going, and see the difference it makes to families going through the most terrible and difficult time.

Purcell completes listed Navy storehouse

The Babcock Galleries at The National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard have opened to the public following a £4.5 million renovation led by architects Purcell and project managers Artelia.

The opening coincides with the centenary of the First World War. The Galleries house a major new permanent exhibition; ‘Hear My Story’, which tells 100 years of life in the Navy and covers the personal stories from those who served at sea.

Taking pride of place in the centre of the new link space is the ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer HMS Lance which fired the very first shot of the war at sea in WW1. This 3.6 tonne gun was craned into place by the contractor, Warings, before the roof was laid.

The Babcock Galleries are housed within an 18th century naval storehouse. Storehouse 10 is a Grade I listed brick and timber framed building. Before major works were carried out the brickwork, which had suffered from erosion, was repaired and the timbers were stripped back. One of its most significant characteristics is the building’s floor, which in certain areas is made up of Spanish ship’s timbers. A raised floor has been installed above the timbers to protect them and glass vision panels inserted so that they can still be viewed.

This fully reversible solution creates a void for all services to run beneath the floor and ensures level access.

Associate, Martin Dunseath from Purcell said: “Our simple glazed link intervention is distinctly different from the brick buildings either side, but is informed by the architectural rhythm of the arched colonnades and window openings across their elevations. The link is a practical solution, enabling the museum to guide visitors on a seamless journey through their buildings, and a shop window, showcasing what the museum has to offer.”

A new, single storey glazed link was conceived as a transition space between the two listed buildings, Storehouse 10 and Storehouse 11. The design was technically demanding as the ground between the buildings is not level. As part of the concept, the overall thickness of the roof structure had to be the same depth as the stone band of the two flanking storehouses. A terne coated stainless steel roof finish was specified, which allows the roof to be laid to a shallow fall and is suitable for the marine environment with longevity equivalent to lead roof finishes.

Matthew Sheldon, Head of Strategic Development at The National Museum of the Royal Navy said: “We are delighted with both this contemporary link building and with the sensitive conversion of the Georgian storehouse. At the start of the project we posed the question, ‘is it possible to create a 21st century exhibition within this space without compromising this 18th century building?’. Purcell has shown definitively that it is possible and it is a pleasure to see our many visitors enjoying a newly-revealed building and thoroughly modern exhibitions”.

The ‘Hear My Story’ exhibition was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and opened to the public on Thursday 3rd April. www.purcelluk.com

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