Architect Projects - End of Year Review 2020

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Editor Maria Lapthorn editor@architectprojects.co.uk

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Editorial Assistant Francesca Amato editorial@architectprojects.co.uk Production/Design Laura Whitehead design@architectprojectsmagazine.co.uk Sales Manager Ben Askew ben@architectprojectsmagazine.co.uk Sales Executive Maria Sutton maria.sutton@architectprojects.co.uk Website Content Russel Goldsmith russel@lapthornmedia.co.uk Circulation Manager Leo Phillips subs@architectprojectsmagazine.co.uk Accounts Richard Lapthorn accounts@architectprojects.co.uk Lapthorn Media Ltd 5-7 Ozengell Place Eurokent Business Park Ramsgate, Kent CT12 6PB

CONTENTS Featured Projects

Featured

Champalimaud Design Creates The Ultimate Ski-In-Ski Out Chalet 08-10

Project News 04-05, 06, 40-41 Melaphone 07 Novellini 13 Events and Awards News 14-15 Fibrelite Composites Ltd 17 George Barnsdale & Sons Limited 19 Company News 20-21, 34-35, 36 A Touch Of Brass 22-23 Addex Group 27 SchĂśck Ltd 28-29 Edinburgh Napier University - RMP 32 Bushtec Creations (Pty) Ltd 33 Aqualisa Products 37 People On The Move 38 Kemper System 39 School Architecture Feature 42-43 Osmo UK Limited 47 Technology Feature 48 Ampteam Ltd 49

ARAN World for the Vandewater - A green oasis in New York 16 Vermont Cabin, Stowe, Vermont 24-26 Cosmote TV HQ & Studios by LC Architects 42

01843 808103

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PROJECT NEWS

SHH WINS PLANNING PERMISSION FOR THE RESTORATION OF GRADE II LISTED WINTER HOUSE Proposals for the restoration and upgrade of one of the best-known and most influential modern steel houses in England has been granted to SHH. Winter House is one of London’s most architecturally significant Modernist homes. Designed and built in 1967 by the famous architect John Winter for his own use, it is one of the few houses in Britain that stands comparison with the Modern masterpieces in California that has also been given a very rare Grade II* listing by Historic England. The property is located in the London Borough of Camden next to Highgate Cemetery which is registered as a site of special historic interest. The house is steel framed, in what Winter describes as the ‘skin’ variety, the internal frame to reduce problems of cold and damp, separate from the external welded Cor-Ten cladding by a layer of insulation. This was the first home in the UK to apply Cor-Ten, a weathering carbon steel, pioneered in the United States which rusts to provide a protective layer of a consistent rich brown colour. The proposal recommends the restoration and upgrade of the original three-storeyed building to modern standards by preserving its aesthetics and historical impact. The intention is to replace the unsightly extension building with a single-storeyed guest suite which compliments and respects ‘Winter House’. The cemetery subway cutting running through the

northern portion of the site will be excavated, repaired and restored and will be split into two levels to be covered by a glass roof. Made in 1855, the cemetery subway cutting connected the east and west sides of the cemetery, a hydraulic lift also operated between both sides. It was a fine example of Victorian engineering ingenuity, considered historically unique. The section of the cemetery subway cutting passing through the site was filled in when John Winter bought the property and built Winter House. The proposed new extension will replace the present unsightly extension and will encompass a guest suite looking out to a private garden, a library and staircase leading to the repaired and restored cemetery subway cutting. Intended two steps lower than the main house the new extension concept will avoid obstructing the views from the main house. The roof will also become a ‘living’

green roof which helps the new extension blend seamlessly with the garden when looking from the floors above. A compact glass lobby will connect the extension to the main building, complimenting the aesthetics of the Winter House. Currently, the house gets extremely cold during winter and gets overheated during the summer due to the limited thermal performance of the insulation, glazing and heating. The objective is to upgrade the environmental performance of the house in order to meet present-day standards. New underfloor heating for all floors is proposed as well as replacing all the existing glazing with a modern double glazing that matches the appearance of the original house and increases the insulation and the energy efficiency of the building. A new plant room that consolidates all the services is proposed in the lower level of the subway cutting in the northern part of the site.

CREST NICHOLSON LAUNCHES FINAL PHASE AT POPULAR WESTVALE PARK DEVELOPMENT IN HORLEY Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has launched the final phase of its soughtafter Westvale Park development in Horley, Surrey. This stylish collection of 79 two to five bedroom homes is ideal for all home purchasers, from first time buyers to second steppers and downsizers. To meet local demand for flexible layouts and increased space, this latest phase

features four of Crest Nicholson’s new house types. Each has been thoughtfully designed with modern interiors, integrated appliances and high-quality fixtures and fittings throughout, allowing homebuyers to enjoy flexible and comfortable living spaces. In keeping with the existing properties, all homes at Westvale Park feature traditional exteriors including tile hung facades, porches and bay windows.

Construction has begun at the development with residents able to move into the new homes from April 2020. Eileen Guihen, Head of Sales & Marketing at Crest Nicholson South, said: “We are pleased to launch the final phase of homes at our popular Westvale Park development and look forward to seeing the thriving community continue to grow. “We are excited to launch Crest Nicholson’s new house types, which will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Architect Projects

“Given the success of our previous phase, we encourage potential homebuyers to register their interest and book an appointment to view our show home as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.” Westvale Park is surrounded by open space, so residents don’t have far to wander for a breath of fresh air. While for those that love to explore a bit further afield, the ancient

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PROJECT NEWS

DODDINGTON ESTATE WINS APPEAL FOR RESIDENTIAL PLANS AROUND GRADE I LISTED DODDINGTON HALL The Doddington Estate and Assael Architecture have successfully won the appeal to develop multiple rural housing sites around the Grade I listed Doddington Hall in Nantwich, Chesire. The outline consent, which has taken 13 years to secure, includes 112 new homes, distributed over 12 separate sites. The development will help secure the economically sustainable future of the Grade I listed Doddington Hall, designed in 1776 by Samuel Wyatt, by offsetting some of the considerable costs associated with its refurbishment. Assael’s designs for the conversion of the Hall into a 120-room hotel were granted consent in 2016 and comprise a sensitively designed new-build annex with spa facilities and a glazed covered walkway that connects the Hall with new guest suites within the converted stable block. The plans also include the refurbishment of the Grade II listed park and gardens bring together the multiple built elements, both old and new, into a re-imagined and cohesive whole. This design of the enabling residential development across the estate is sympathetic to the locality with the new homes sitting within the rural context of fields and hedgerows with the use of primarily traditional red Cheshire brick. The planning inspectorate opted to approve the residential scheme, saying its benefits

outweighed any harm it would cause, paving the way for work on the hotel scheme to start. The team includes J10 Planning as planning consultant; Iceni Projects as heritage consultant; Clayton Property as client representative and surveyor; Ellis and Moore as structural engineer; EDC as services engineer; Paul Mew Associates as highways consultant; RPS as archeological consultant; Barnes Walker as landscape architects; Kingdom Ecology as ecology consultant; Tree Solutions as arboricultural consultant; Aaron & Partners as solicitors; and Rees Mellish as project and construction manager. John Assael, Chairman and Co-founder of Assael Architecture, said: “The Doddington Estate buildings and surrounding lands are a heritage asset of exceptional importance, and for many years Assael has contributed to the long-running efforts of the estate’s owners to stabilise and reverse a decline in the estate. After a long but ultimately successful journey, this positive result will help secure the long term future of the historically

important Grade I listed Doddington Hall and its associated heritage assets that also include Grade II* listed stables, a Star Barn and model farm, an imposing pele tower, and even a cage that once housed a pet Himalayan bear.” Lady Rona Delves Broughton, owner of Doddington Hall, said: “I am grateful to the inspector for upholding the appeal and to my fantastic team for the hard work done over many years.” “It is with considerable relief that this decision means that the hall and associated heritage buildings can now be restored and put to use.”

woodland between the north and south Downs is just a short distance away. There are plenty of shops, pubs, restaurants, play areas and a community hall within this village-style development. Families are also well catered for with a brand new school on site, Westvale Park Primary School, opened in September 2020. The new community in Surrey is perfect for commuting to London and Brighton. Waterloo is just 42 minutes away from Horley station, whilst Brighton is only 25 minutes away. By car, the A217 and A23 are close by, meaning that Crawley is just a 20 minute drive, and Gatwick Airport only 8 minutes.

Architect Projects

Prices at Westvale Park start at £379,950 for a two bedroom home with Part Exchange and SmoothMove available on selected properties. For more information, visit the on-site Sales and Marketing Suite open between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday, and from 10.30am to 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. Alternatively call 01293 306 797 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/westvale-park/

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PROJECT NEWS

ABERDEEN’S GRANDHOME COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM NEW OUTDOOR SPACE DESIGNED BY AWARDWINNING ARCHITECTS REIACH AND HALL The new community of Grandhome, located in Aberdeen’s Bridge of Don area, has welcomed the opening of Davidston Square, a new, multi-use outdoor space located in the heart of its first neighbourhood. Designed by awardwinning architects Reiach and Hall, the space will be available for residents to enjoy all yearround and in time will be used to host a series of community events. The highlight and main feature of the square is Davidston Pavilion, an open geometric building which is contemporary in design and

whose vision was to create a truly exemplary community in terms of both building and living standards.

references both Northern and classical Greek architecture. The pavilion is surrounded by landscaped space including open lawn, long grass and a variety of trees, and is intended to be used by residents throughout the year both as an outdoor seating area and meeting point, and as a community events space. Davidston Pavilion houses a cairn (a mound of stones built as a memorial) mounted with a millstone which was used centuries ago to grind corn on the land where the Grandhome community now resides, connecting the area to the land’s farming heritage. It is also home to a distinctive pin oak tree which was planted in memory of David Paton (1935-2019) who founded the Grandhome community and

On behalf of the Paton family, William Paton said “We are delighted with Davidston Square and the work of the team at Reiach and Hall. People are recognising the benefits of connecting to nature and being outdoors now more than ever, and we hope that current and new Grandhome residents, as well as the wider Bridge of Don community, will enjoy using this attractive space both on a day-to-day basis, as well as for community events in future.” Neil Gillespie of Reiach and Hall Architects said ‘The construction of Grandhome to the north of the River Don sees a new community gradually begin to settle upon land that has been cultivated for many generations. Davidson Square is a generous new public space that serves these new residential clusters with a simple space of open lawn and trees, bounded by field stone dykes and to its southern boundary, a pavilion structure. The square and pavilion will offer new residents and visitor alike the opportunity to gather and converse or simply a place to pause and reflect.’ Property buyers and homeowners in Aberdeen now consider green space and private gardens to be a more important consideration than ever before, as a result of lockdown. Grandhome has been designed following the principles of new urbanism and will accommodate more than double the amount of green space required by Aberdeen planning standards. It will be connected by a network of accessible public green spaces including parks, play spaces and playing fields, as well as natural ‘wild’ areas.

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Once complete, the first neighbourhood in Grandhome will have approximately 600 homes and will be situated close to parks and community spaces. The long-term aim is to build 7,000 new homes which will be within walking distance of a range of amenities. All day-to-day needs will be met within a 5-7-minute walk and the connected street pattern means pedestrians and cyclists will be able to freely move without taking circuitous routes. For more information about Grandhome, visit https://grandhome.co.uk/.

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PROJECT

Champalimaud Design CREATES THE ULTIMATE SKI-IN-SKI OUT CHALET Based in New York City, Champalimaud Design is an award-winning multi-disciplinary firm recognised for its visionary concepts which span both hospitality and residential projects. The Vail Residence, is one of the many impressive residential projects transformed by Champalimaud Design. Situated on the side of

Eagle’s Nest in Vail, Colorado, the spectacular and imposing structure is tucked onto the side of the mountain, boasting endless views of the surrounding slopes. Revered for their rich expertise, Champalimaud Design were called upon in order to tame some of the original decoration decisions made by a previous restoration. Renowned for its refined and sumptuous design, the studio has created an environment that is sophisticated, yet relaxed and comfortable, embracing in tandem the formal nature of the property. Working closely with the owners, who have owned the property for a long period of time, meant the process was a collaborative and memorable experience. Drawing on the beauty of the surrounding landscape and fir trees, the interior is nearly entirely panelled with exotic Koa wood, providing an inescapable sense of grandeur and elegance.

Architect Projects

The rooms of the property are large, with soaring ceilings and a key feature is the double height living room. Champalimaud Design has designed this property with the challenge of harnessing the opulence of it, whilst also creating those paramount intimate spaces for the family to relax. Continued >>

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PROJECT


PROJECT

From walls, accessories to furnishings, each room has been meticulously and thoughtfully designed in order to complement the personalities of the owners. For example, the sofa in the Great Room has been designed with a wood back tucking into the squared corner, to allow drinks to be enjoyed and then placed behind. Additionally, the client’s extensive art collection was reframed and used as inspiration for many rooms; the Matisse pen and ink drawings inspired the palette in the Great Room were hung over the panelling to help break the formations. With the personalities of the owners successfully conveyed through the studio’s design, Champalimaud Design has created the perfect home away from home.

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GEBERIT GROWS ITS OFFERING WITH TWO NEWLY-NAMED COLLECTIONS - SELECT AND ASPIRE Geberit has extended its offering to architects, interior designers and specifiers following the launch of two newly named washroom collections. The wider product portfolio will provide architects with an even greater range of washroom solutions for their projects. The announcement marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Geberit in the UK. The Aspire Collection is the new name for Geberit’s premium offering, formerly known as the Geberit Bathroom Collection. The exclusive collection includes well-known ranges such as iCon, Acanto and Smyle.

Geberit has also introduced its pioneering bathroom innovation, Geberit One, which integrates behind-the-wall sanitary technology with stylish ceramics to generate more space, create additional storage and easy cleaning. The Geberit One range offers designers a wide choice of new slim furniture options, from a floating washbasin to a mirror cabinet with fully integrated lighting. Alongside the Aspire Collection, Geberit has also launched its new Select Collection, which offers architects, interior designers and specifiers functional, affordable and ontrend design possibilities for the mid-market across its space-saving concealed cisterns and wall-hung technology solutions. The Select Collection features the Selnova bathroom series, which incorporates a variety of different designs including Selnova Compact for smaller washroom spaces, as well as the Selnova Comfort accessible range for endusers with reduced mobility.

Mark Larden, Managing Director of Geberit, said: “Everything is changing at Geberit. Whether you’re new to the Geberit brand or an existing partner, we’re continuing to optimise and evolve our products and services. That’s because we understand the importance of meeting the ever-changing business requirements across our sectors. “With the introduction of these new collections, we’re opening up a wider range of choice for architects, interior designers and specifiers across the mid-premium and basicmid bathroom segments. “With all of this said, in many ways, nothing is changing. While we continually innovate and adapt, we also remain dedicated to working with designers to provide the same great service they have come to expect from Geberit, including planning and design, technical support and accredited CPD training.” Mark added: “From on-trend washrooms designs to cutting edge technology that champions hygiene and sustainability, we’re proud to be setting the standard for a new era in washroom design - giving architects more choice and more selection across a wider breadth of projects.” For more information visit www.geberit.co.uk

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EVENTS & AWARDS NEWS

OMA / REINIER DE GRAAF’S NORRA TORNEN WINS THE INTERNATIONAL HIGHRISE AWARD 2020 Norra Tornen, the residential towers designed by OMA / Reinier de Graaf and commissioned by Oscar Properties, has been announced the winner of the ninth edition of the International Highrise Award (IHA). The award was presented by Dr. Ina Hartwig, the City of Frankfurt Deputy Mayor for Culture, Dr. Matthias Danne, Deputy CEO of DekaBank, and Peter Cachola Schmal, Director of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in a ceremony broadcast from Paulskirche in Frankfurt. The International Highrise Award (IHA) is organized by the city of Frankfurt together with the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) and is awarded every two years to architects and developers for buildings of minimum 100 meters in height, completed in the last two years. Reinier de Graaf, OMA Partner in Charge of the project: “For me, the award came somewhat unexpectedly since I never thought of the Norra Tornen towers as high-rise buildings. They are different from the conventional idea of a skyscraper. They are not monumental but homely, their aesthetics are informal and they rely on repetition only to produce diversity.”

Images: © Laurian Ghinitoiu

Oscar Engelberg, CEO of Oscar Properties: “We are incredibly happy and proud that Norra Tornen has been named the world’s most innovative high-rise building! The project has received a great deal of international attention and the award is proof of many years of hard work and that it pays off to invest in innovative architecture.”

WOODAFE TIMBER PROTECTION WINS WPA:S PROJECT OF THE YEAR Woodsafe took home the “Project of the Year” award at the Wood Protection Association (WPA) Award Event 2020. For the sixth year, the award has become a popular annual event in the UK as a relevant and important part of the wood industry. Mjöstornet in Brummundal Morway is with 85,4 m above the sea level the worlds tallest wooden building. The award Project of the Year at WPA:s ceremony was taken home by Woodsafe Timber Protection for the flame-retardant impregnated wooden façade for exterior use.

Architect Projects

Mjöstornets wooden façade is a Thermowood D Pine delivered by Woodify AS in Norway and flame retardant impregnated with Woodsafe Fire-X. “The fact that Woodsafe takes home the prize in a fierce international competition is another measure of the value of our services and end product not only

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in the Scandinavian market but also internationally.” says Market Manager Daniel Pesic This year the conditions have been different with Covid 19 and in order to guarantee the safety of all participants the WPA Awards was held in a virtual space. WPA:s CEO Gordon Ewbank and the events host commented: “Organizing the 2020 award as an online event means that, despite Covid 19, our industry can still come together in a safe way to recognize and reward excellence. “Team Woodsafe is honored by this award and looks forward to the coming years with a series of new super coll wooden-projects in the pipeline” says Thomas Bentsson CEO. Many thanks for the award and greetings from the staff at Team Woodsafe! More info: https://www.woodsafe.se/en

Peter Cahorla Schmal, Director of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM): “Norra Tornen is a refreshing entrance to the city, recalling structuralist models of brutalism from the 1960s such as the Habitat from Expo67 in Montreal, skillfully transforming them and enriching the city with a new urban dominant, with apartments for all.” Norra Tornen was selected from 31 projects from 14 countries, nominated by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM). An international jury consisting of architects, structural engineers and real estate specialists, assessed the projects following criteria such as the overall narrative, the sculptural qualities, the structural concept, and the mix of uses. Norra Tornen is the result of a land allocation competition held by the City of Stockholm in 2013, won by Oscar Properties. The project was led by Reinier de Graaf, with Alex de Jong, Michel van de Kar and Roza Matveeva.


EVENTS & AWARDS NEWS

ASSAEL ARCHITECTURE WINS MERIDIAN WATER PLACEMAKING WITH PURPOSE COMPETITION Assael Architecture has led an interdisciplinary team to win Meridian Water’s Placemaking with Purpose competition, which was launched with the vision to enhance the sustainability of the second phase of Enfield’s major masterplan of 10,000 new homes. Assael’s proposal, Rightsizer, is a ‘housing with care’ community that aligns with Meridian Water’s vision for environmental, social and economic sustainability to be at the centre of Meridian Water Phase Two. Rightsizer aims to provide an aspirational place to live for older people, with a variety of care and support needs, whilst helping to free up much-needed family-sized homes locally in the borough. Assael has been working closely with global infrastructure consultancy AECOM to design an innovative structural system which will enable a building’s interior to be easily reconfigured over a lifespan of at least 100 years to ensure maximum flexibility of use

and space. Manufacture of a building frame can take place off-site, bringing benefits in terms of safety, quality, speed, and potentially local employment. By deploying a demountable concrete design, specifically designed for disassembly and reuse, fewer materials will be used in any future reconfiguration of a building, supporting the principles of a circular economy and low embodied carbon construction. This structural system could be used across the wider development in buildings where their use could potentially change in the future. Rightsizer is a community-focused concept; it embraces the idea of fostering an integrated and intergenerational community through the provision of a range of accessible amenities. These spaces, positioned around a central cloister, include a wellness club, a ‘high street living room’ – a ground floor hub open to the community that will be curated and managed by residents – and a ‘reminiscence museum’ that celebrates the history of the local community whilst assisting residents with memory loss and dementia. A strong emphasis is also placed on repositioning care as a vocation, making Meridian Water a great place to work as well as live. Working with Origin Retirement Communities, the Rightsizer team is proposing the creation of a Care Academy that will recruit locally and train tomorrow’s

carers, with the creation of over 200 new full- and part-time carer positions. Three landscape systems, designed by Exterior Architecture, integrate and celebrate the dynamic interrelationships between culture/community and environment/ecology. The closed-loop blue system, water, sees the collection of rainwater for irrigation, treatment using natural reedbeds, and use to fill the ‘bean pool’ located at the centre of the scheme. The green system centres around the Brookes and associated ecological corridors, and the urban farm at rooftop level, whilst the social system seeks to activate spaces and encourage socialisation through a network of diverse open spaces, from intimate garden nooks to flexible public space for flexible curation and events. The winning team also comprises Hatch Regeneris on social value and impact; Jo Wilson (The City Green) on food systems to help foster ‘farm-to-fork’ thinking; ArchitectureDoingPlace on placemaking and architecture; and Knight Frank as senior living advisors and viability. The ‘Rightsizer’ team is now developing these ideas to be fed into the new masterplan and meanwhile masterplan for Meridian Water whilst leading on a publication with input from Bell Phillips Architects and Henley Halebrown Architects on their ideas – Gardensity and Intentional Neighbourhood, respectively.

AEDAS WINS FOUR ARCHITECTURE MASTERPRIZE 2020 At Architecture MasterPrize 2020, four Aedas projects received accolades for their design excellence and innovation. They are: 1. Nanjing Xin Jie Kou Suning Plaza, Nanjing, China (by Chairman and Global Design Principal Keith Griffiths and Global Design Principal Leo Liu) Winner, Architecture Design - Tall Buildings 2. Peak Galleria, Hong Kong, China (by Executive Director Ed Lam) Winner, Architecture Design - Commercial Architecture 3. Raffles Hotel Singapore, Singapore (by Executive Principal Gruffudd Owain, Principal Dennis Chan and Executive Principal Simon Thompson) Winner, Architecture Design - Restoration & Renovation 4. Yi by Jeremy Leung, Singapore (by Executive Director Simon Thompson, Associate Director Ji An and Senior Interior Designer Teresa Evangelista) Winner, Interior Design – Hospitality

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PROJECT

ARAN World FOR THE Vandewater: A GREEN OASIS IN NEW YORK Vandewater is set within one of the most ‘academic’ hub of New York, in the heart of Morningside Heights neighbourhood, and located at 543 West 122nd St. Right here, on Manhattan’s geographic highest point, with a striking view of the Hudson River, the Columbia University and of the Riverside Church, the renowned architectural firm INC Architecture & Design designed to build Vandewater, a residential tower that combines neo-gothic architecture, Art Deco heyday and contemporary design. The building includes 183 apartments spread over 33 floors, with custom craftsman-inspired kitchens and bathroom accessories supplied respectively by ARAN Cucine and Bathroom Collection. Another important milestone for ARAN World group, that for years has been ambassador of the Italian ‘know how’ in the world thanks to its original and versatile collections. The company based in Abruzzo also shares with INC Architecture designers the commitment to environmental protection, making this prestigious contract not only an opportunity to participate in the construction of a ‘green residence’ in Manhattan but a real source of pride.

Throughout the design and construction process, in fact, designers set sustainable design goals, developed then through sometimes structural, sometimes social solutions. For instance, large windows that enables high daylight penetration, the light colored roof cover helps to reduce the heat island effect and the concrete used contains a high percentage of recycled content; including only low-flow faucets - with a 38,45% reduction

in water consumption -, while implementing an ad hoc management and recycling plan to maximize the recycling of construction waste. Moreover: the wealthy residents have access to a ridesharing bulletin board to share journeys reducing the adverse impact of traffic and urban air pollution, and can count on a ‘Green Cleaning’ program that requires the use of exclusively non-toxic and eco-friendly cleaning products. Lastly, the outdoor areas of the building have been designed by landscape architect Van Valkenburgh Associates. He took care of the magnificent garden and the lush terraces including a high efficiency irrigation system, but creating above all green oasis in addition to the many comforts of the building: dedicated concierge services, music practice rooms and party rooms, study rooms, game rooms, swimming pools, fitness centers, spa and pet spa. The building is characterized by the balance between different architectural styles: on the one hand it is marked by the Gothic influence that identifies some historic buildings, typical of the district, on the other hand it is sensitive to a more contemporary taste that pervades especially the furnishing choices. The luxurious apartments, finished with marble, wood and precious ceilings, suggest a rigorous style, embellished by the choice of materials. The oak wood, in both light and dark version, was chosen for the kitchens and bathroom accessories, made exclusively on project and with great possibility of customization by both architects and owners.

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The value of Made in Italy and the productive flexibility of ARAN World contribute to make the company one of the most appreciated abroad for the furnishing of large residential buildings. Especially, the ‘13 Pace’ (the extra storage system that provides storage units with a storage capacity increased by 15 and 30%) becomes the ideal starting point for easier customization and satisfaction of the American client’s needs, like those of Vandewater’s residents, who now only have to enjoy the quality of Italian design.

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FIBRELITE PROVIDES BESPOKE COVERING SOLUTION TO MULTI-EVENT STADIA WITHOUT DISRUPTING OPERATIONS This London stadium approached Fibrelite to replace their damaged trench covers with a retrofit solution. The London stadium primarily hosts football matches; however it is a multi-event stadium also hosting music concerts, American football (NFL) and athletics. The client needed a lightweight and durable solution to replace the damaged trench covers. A solution that incurred minimal upheaval to the functionality of the site was also required, so cover dimensions needed to be customised to suit the existing trenches.

A retrofit solution was needed to replace the damaged existing trench covers

Problem Key issues surrounding the existing trench covers and requirements for a replacement: • Existing trench covers were in poor condition causing a potential trip hazard and manual handling issues • The trench must be accessed every time the stadium hosts an event, meaning heavy duty equipment had to be hired to remove the heavy existing covers and trench covers each time resulting in higher costs • Whilst replacement of the covers was essential, the client also sought a solution that would not disrupt the day to day running of the facility – any replacement covers had to fit directly into the existing trenches

The trench must be accessed every time the stadium hosts an event

Previous trip hazard eliminated by Fibrelite covers that fit perfectly in the trench

Solution Key features of the Fibrelite’s retrofit installation once it was accepted by the London stadium’s Head of Technical Services: • Fibrelite’s site team attended to install and walkthrough the new ‘fit and forget’ covering arrangement • The composite trench access covers provided can be easily removed by two people using the ergonomically designed and Fibrelite supplied FL7’s • Thanks to the coordination and planning between the client and the Fibrelite technical team – the new covering arrangement was installed and fully operational within 2 days Covers can be safely removed manually using the FL7 lifting handles supplied by Fibrelite

Results Following this successful installation, we hope to gain further replacement cover work on the numerous pits and trenches located around the stadium. The customer has now achieved an aesthetically pleasing finish as well as getting the technical benefits of Fibrelite’s GRP trench access covers.

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DESIGN FEATURE

HOW TO MANAGE COMPETING DESIGN DEMANDS IN A RESIDENTIAL BUILD Overheating is costing lives. Specialist Building Service Engineers, Milieu, share their expert knowledge of competing demands of design, to help prevent overheating in residential builds. The government may encourage people to open their windows to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 transmission this winter. Yet, there will be some individuals who may not have the physical or mental capacity to open windows at all, or they may live in homes where windows cannot be opened due to security issues and/or noise pollution. It is these people who are also at higher risk from overheating in the summer months when they are unable to open windows to cool down.

Often overlooked, there is a very real risk of death in the UK due to overheating – almost 900 pensioners died last year during Britain’s summer heat waves, and the Committee on Climate Change has estimated that mortality rates arising from overheating could, without any adaption from the population, rise from a current average of 2000 per year to 7000 per year by the 2050s. To reduce the risk of overheating in a residential build, there are a number of competing demands to consider: all of which need to be balanced by careful planning and design.

• Acoustics – internal noise levels have to fall within acoustic requirements for residential buildings: this can mean windows may not be openable as would allow too much noise, so cooling via windows is impossible. • Daylighting – glazing installed to allow sufficient daylight to penetrate into rooms: but, too much glazing, especially on south and west facing buildings can lead to high levels of solar gain and increase risk of overheating. • Energy – buildings need to be well-insulated to prevent heat-loss and reduce the use of heating systems thus reducing carbon emissions: however, well-insulated buildings trap heat and increase risk of overheating. • Overheating – buildings need a way of letting excess heat escape to prevent occupant discomfort. If a building is very well-insulated, has windows that can’t open due to acoustic requirements and has high levels of glazing to satisfy demands for daylight, occupants are at increased risk of overheating. Passive methods of cooling, such as opening windows and doors and closing shutters and blinds, are the most desirable to reduce risk of overheating, but these cannot always be achieved. Overheating needs to be taken into account at the design stage of a building. Retrospective cooling is a lot more costly and less energy efficient. To read more about mitigating the risks of overheating in residential builds, read Milieu’s blog here.

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THE MAGIC OF GLASS AND HOW TO SPECIFY At a time of national lockdown, there has never been a better time to reflect on the importance of windows and particularly glass as a way of giving us an opening to the outside world. So often taken for granted, glass is pretty magical stuff and essential to the envelope of the building. According to Louis Khan “A room is not a room without natural light.” Before glass, our ancestors found innovative ways to allow light into their buildings using animal hide, translucent animal horn, cloth or wood followed by alabaster. Along came glass – arguably one of the greatest inventions, made from sand its transformation is a kind of alchemy. The New Scientist says “Glass is not a slow moving liquid. It is a solid, albeit an odd one. An amorphous solid because it lacks the ordered molecular structure of solids…. It is too rigid for it to qualify as a liquid.” When it comes to specifying glass for timber windows there is a lot to consider. Before you even begin to consider building regulations, it’s important to go back to basics. Consider: • What the building will be used for • The building’s orientation • Solar control (gain and reduction) • Acoustic • Light transmittance • Safety • Security • Fire • Aesthetics • Planning • Budget • Size of the unit/wind loading

So how do you begin to navigate this minefield? Tom Wright, MD at George Barnsdale says “The most important thing to remember is that the optimal performance of glass in a window relies on the whole window system, not just the glazing unit. The way in which the glass unit is made and the way it is installed into the frame both have a huge influence on long term performance.” For architects considering all performance criteria, it is important to remember that the

data provided by many manufacturers refers to the glass alone which is not a true reflection of the overall performance of the window. Specifiers should always ask for the whole window performance.

It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it! The way a window is manufactured at every stage of the process needs to be considered for optimal performance. For example, the Glazing Unit itself is more likely to mist up and prematurely fail if the depth of the seal is too shallow. Many units are still being installed with this problem, particularly historic types which have never passed EN1279. The way in which units are installed into the frame also has a major effect. Many glazing units have sealant or putty surrounding them, which may look like a feasible way to provide an excellent barrier to moisture. However, over time sealants degrade, making units more prone to failure. Alternative methods are available that also incorporate drained and vented systems which are far more effective, key advice is be sure to check the design of the glazing interface. The choice of spacer bar can even make a difference to performance. Aluminium can cause condensation on the inside around the

edge of the unit since it is a good conductor of heat and reduces thermal performance. Alternative products like the Swiss spacer ultimately delivers better results. Since there has been a history of false claims in the spacer industry, the German Glass Association has introduced a certification scheme to provide quality assurance.

Sound advice In terms of acoustic performance, don’t just take the centre pane value, the frame thickness also plays an important role and can contribute to air leakage. The best manufacturers will have overall window test data rather than just glass performance and it is important that specifiers request this if they are serious about real performance. In general, there is a lot more to specifying glass than simply looking at raw IGU U values and performance data and the optimal solution is to tell the manufacturer what you are trying to achieve and allow them to use their knowledge, experience and most importantly test data to come up with the optimal solution in terms of performance and cost.

Website: wwww.georgebarnsdale.co.uk

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COMPANY NEWS

BDP WINS DESIGN CONTRACT FOR WOMEN’S & CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS IN BIRMINGHAM The city of Birmingham is set to benefit from two new family-centred hospital buildings, as the local NHS Foundation Trust has awarded a design and technical consultancy service contract to BDP. Along with its partners, BDP will develop design solutions for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust for modern, specialised paediatric and women’s healthcare facilities. Under the contract, a team of designers, engineers, planners and cost consultants from BDP, Arup, Archus and WT Partnership will lead the redesign of Birmingham Women’s Hospital, opposite the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Mindelsohn Way, including the introduction of a new building. They will also design and engineer a new clinical building at Birmingham Children’s Hospital on Steelhouse Lane – adjacent to Waterfall House – a children’s healthcare building designed by BDP and completed in 2018. The new, innovative and energy efficient Children’s Hospital will include emergency and theatre departments to replace the existing services, additional paediatric intensive care capacity and new, state-of-the-art inpatient wards. The Women’s Hospital will enable the Trust to replace its inpatient wards, expand services for specific gynaecology theatres and birthing rooms and ensure sufficient capacity within its outpatient clinics. The new designs are set to help Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to continue improving the life chances of a generation whilst raising standards for patients and families in the region.

Architect Projects

LONDON FIRM URBANIST ARCHITECTURE SEES 65 PER CENT INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR HOMES IN RURAL AREAS DUE TO PANDEMIC Multidisciplinary architecture and planning firm Urbanist Architecture has reported a surge in enquiries for homes in the countryside, a trend seen as a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis, with the practice seeing a 65 per cent increase compared to Q4 of 2019. The London-based practice is renowned for helping its clients achieve remarkable

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The design approach for both buildings will aim to meet the standards set by the Government’s ambitions to deliver a ‘net zero NHS’ by 2050. They will also enable healthcare workers to deliver world-class outcomes for paediatric and maternity services at every level across the UK. Andrew Smith, Head of Healthcare at BDP, said: “The collaboration between Birmingham Women and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, BDP and our partners will result in two world-leading healthcare facilities that will bring further international acclaim to a city which is already leading the way in innovative healthcare buildings. “Our team is driven by the desire to deliver meaningful social impact and create the very best, user-centred, and inspirational healthcare environments possible for the people of Birmingham. Our experience in delivering the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham proves how creative design can produce hospitals which meet the complex, experiential and organisational challenges of the healthcare sector. “Now more than ever, we understand the importance of buildings that create a thriving culture of research and innovation, offer the best patient experiences and deliver impact across and beyond the NHS.”

basis but they do that in an estate that is well beyond its operational life. Our children and young persons’ services are being delivered on a site opened in 1897 and our Women’s Hospital is more than 50 years old. “Our teams have done a great job in recent years with a make do and mend approach but the cost of that in terms of annual maintenance is growing and is not sustainable. These buildings are well past their natural life and are not suitable to providing the spaces and facilities we need for modern care. “Our Big Build proposal will provide value for money and unlock huge potential for the development of our existing and new services; opening the door to a new wave of research and innovation tapping into the many world class individuals we are lucky to call colleagues.” Conor Ellis of Archus, said: “We are delighted to be chosen as part of the team to help improve Women’s and Children’s healthcare across the West Midlands conurbation. Building in innovative global best practice into the design, encompassing not only service transformation but ensuring its digital and green footprints work to make both hospitals class-leading.” Dominic Cropper, Director at Arup, added: “Arup is thrilled to be collaborating with BDP, Archus and WT Partnership on this exciting project that reflects the world-class service that the Trust provides to Birmingham and the wider UK. For many of us, the hospital has been at the heart of our families for generations and this is an important project for us.

“We look forward to working with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Foundation Trust to deliver both of these amazing facilities.”

“As well as helping to assure that the same leading-edge standards of health care are available for future generations, it also strengthens our reputation in Birmingham prior to our office move to the city centre in 2023.”

David Melbourne, the Acting Chief Executive of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are proud of the amazing care our colleagues provide on a daily

Andy Mannion of WT Partnership stated: “We can’t wait to get started on such an exciting project that will give so much back to the city for generations to come”

extensions, conversions and new build homes in the capital, and specialises in handling projects on constrained urban sites, listed buildings or those set within the green belt. But with the UK population confined to their homes for the majority of 2020, lockdown has caused an increasing number of city dwellers to rethink their current surroundings and yearn for greener pastures and open spaces. This is having a knock-on effect on the property market, and firms such as Urbanist Architecture, which have a proven track record of securing green belt planning permissions and delivering exceptional countryside homes, are witnessing the effects first-hand. Ufuk Bahar, Managing Director at Urbanist Architecture, comments: “Prior to COVID-19, around two-thirds of our projects were focused in highly desirable London boroughs

such as Westminster, Islington, Camden and Greenwich, with work ranging from extensions to new build homes and flat conversions. “Those working in London wanted to build a life in the city and its sought-after Zone 2/3 suburbs, and a fast commute into Zone 1 was, more often than not, a deciding factor when our clients were deciding where to live. Although our team has strong experience in delivering countryside and green belt projects, we could have never predicted the demand we’re seeing now. More and more clients are coming to us looking for large plots of land in truly rural locations, with many deciding to ditch city life and the daily commute for good in the wake of the pandemic.” Urbanist Architecture also attributes increased demand to its historical ability to successfully leverage Paragraph 79, a


COMPANY NEWS

STRONG PIPELINE OF WORK ENABLES SMART BALUSTRADES TO RECRUIT Staffordshire-based SMART Balustrades has further bolstered its team with the addition of new sales estimator, Josie Oliveri. This is the second new hire the business has taken on in the last six months, bringing the team to seven strong, as it continues on its upwards trajectory. In her new role, Josie will be responsible for providing estimates for the firm’s national client base in the commercial and residential sectors. With almost 20 years’ experience in the handrail and balustrades industry, she is well equipped to generate new leads for the firm in its main industries – hotel, leisure, education and retail. Set up by brothers David and Jonathan Hough in 2017, SMART Balustrades provides and fits a range of bespoke glass and stainless-steel balustrades, as well as Juliet and platform balconies – some of which are manufactured at its Burntwood production facility. Wolverhampton-based Josie, said: “Joining the SMART Balustrades team as a sales estimator is an exciting time for me. I have worked in the balustrades industry for many years and know the product and sector very well. The SMART Balustrades team are fantastic; leaders in their industry and incredibly welcoming. I’m looking forward to developing new client relationships and contributing to the ongoing growth of the business.” David Hough, managing director of SMART Balustrades, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Josie to the business. Adding her skills and experience to the team was too good an opportunity to miss and she’ll be key to helping us to win high value contracts. We hope to hire additional team members before the end of the year to help us meet the increased demand for our services. We’ve had a very strong year despite the current economic challenges which we are grateful for and it’s great to have Josie onboard.”

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section of the National Planning Policy Framework that relates to sustainable new build homes in the open countryside, which are notoriously difficult to get planning permission for. One of the team’s most recent success stories was obtaining planning permission to build two family dwellings on green belt land in Amersham – approved due to its high-quality design which was sympathetic to the surrounding landscape. Mark Morris, Planning Consultant at Urbanist Architecture, comments:

Architect Projects

“The fact that we’ve received so many commissions for Paragraph 79 homes is testament to our world-class team and our ongoing commitment to designing exceptional schemes for clients. With enquiries for rural dwellings up 42 per cent in Q2 of this year and then increasing to 65 per cent as we enter Q4, we expect more and more people to be asking for this kind of planning application – which offers them the chance to build their dream home in the country.”

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PROJECT

PROJECT: Vermont Cabin, STOWE, VERMONT This compact cabin in rural Vermont emerges from its hillside site, rising into the white pines and maples to establish an intimate gathering place in the trees. Intended to bring family members closer to one another and to the forests of central Vermont, where the family has owned land for generations, the cabin’s 750-square-foot footprint is an efficient and economical framework for the family to experience the heavily wooded landscape. An elemental material palette of steel, wood and concrete draws inspiration from the untouched wilderness all around.

Architect Projects

Continued >>

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PROJECT


PROJECT

The cabin is composed of three levels: the lowest portion nestles into the site and contains a garage that doubles as a game room, as well as a single bedroom and powder room; the middle portion consists of the main entry, two small bedrooms and a bathroom; and the top level is one large living area. Locating the main living spaces on the upper level maximizes views of the Green Mountains to the west and the Worcester Range to the east. A single continuous stair of steel and maple hardwood connects all three levels. Inside and out, materials are left in their raw states, with weathering steel external siding and exposed timber ceilings. The site’s continuous slope and an external steel stair allow for dual entries on the lower and middle levels. Throughout, poured and cast concrete elements in the kitchen and bathrooms continue the cabin’s emphasis on straightforward, simple materials, with radiant heat incorporated in the concrete floors of the main living area.

The client brief called for a small, straightforward family cabin in the tradition of the Vermont cabins they grew up with. My goal was to carry on that legacy by creating a very special place that took inspiration from the landscape.

Architect Projects

– Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, Design Principal

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PROJECT CREDITS Completed

2018

Project Size

2,250 SF

Project Team

Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA, Design Principal; Dawn McConaghy, Project Manager and Project Architect; Ekram Hassen, Architectural Staff; Amanda Chenoweth, Interior Design Staff; Phil Turner, Kinetic Design

Key Consultants

Gristmill Builders, General Contractor; Grenier Engineering, Civil Engineer; Ambler Design, Landscape Architect; Silman, Structural Engineer


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Front view of the apartments: “Dug Wilders Photography”

SCHÖCK ISOKORB FOR SEAFRONT PASSIVE HOUSE AWARD WINNER Seaton may be a traditional Devon seaside resort town, but there is nothing traditional about the eye-catching new passive house development right on the seafront. Seaton Beach Apartments is an innovative, awardwinning, new development of seven luxury two-bedroom beachfront apartments, complete with a three bedroom penthouse – and is the first multi-residential development in the UK to be certified as passive house plus. Which means it is not only able to meet the Close up of the balconies: “Dug Wilders Photography”

ultra-low energy fabric requirement, but also generates renewable energy. The project can also boast ‘best sustainable residential development in the UK’ from the International Property Awards. Initially though, the original architectural design was not to passive house standard. However, the developer recognised that the south-facing orientation and form factor would make it possible to reach the necessary standard. Architects Gale and Snowden, who have helped stimulate the trend for larger scale passive house projects in the region, were brought in at this point to develop the initial detailed designs and oversee the construction. The ground floor is concrete, with a monolithic clay block construction used from the first to third floors and timber frame for the penthouse. Combined with high-performance external render and internal plaster, the result

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Schöck Isokorb thermal breaks are installed where the balconies meet the clay block structure, as ineffectual insulation at these cantilever connectivity points will result in local heat loss. This means more energy is required to maintain the building’s internal temperature.

Seaton Beach Apartments in Devon is the first UK multi-residential development to be certified as passive house plus. Some claim that passive house standard is easier to achieve with simpler, box-like forms, resulting in finished buildings being aesthetically limited – but this is certainly not the case here. A little design ingenuity and the use of Schöck Isokorb thermal breaks, has enabled generous sea-facing balconies with sweeping curves to create a striking finish.


acts in a structural design capacity as well. The product type used here has an innovative HTE Compact compression module made of high-density micro-fibre reinforced concrete and transfers both negative moments and positive shear forces with cantilever balconies, or positive field moments combined with shear forces.

The Isokorb used on the project

Enormous freedom of design

is an entirely mineral hygroscopic wall build-up, which helps to regulate humidity and provide a healthy and comfortable internal environment.

Uses 90% less energy than a typical new build Other features of the construction include low electromagnetic field wiring arrangements and a highly efficient mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. Complete with an exhaust air heat pump for hot water supply. An array of PV panels on the roof yield an annual 14,234 kWh, resulting in the building generating more energy than it uses. There is a constant supply of silently circulated filtered fresh air within the triple glazed, airtight construction. And 90 per cent less energy used than in a typical new build. All factors which have contributed to the building achieving the stringent passive house plus target. Passive house standard is easier to achieve with simpler, box-like forms and finished buildings are often considered aesthetically limited and rather prosaic. However, with Seaton Beach Apartments, a little design

ingenuity and the use of Schöck Isokorb thermally broken balcony connectors defies this notion. The potentially unexciting building now features large sea-facing balconies with generous curves. The detailing of these balconies is critical though, if thermal bridging is to be minimised and the building’s energy performance not compromised.

The Isokorb is a technically advanced solution Schöck Isokorb thermal breaks are installed where the balconies meet the clay block structure, as ineffectual insulation at these cantilever connectivity points will result in local heat loss. This means more energy is required to maintain the building’s internal temperature. Low internal surface temperatures around the thermal bridge can also cause condensation, leading to structural integrity problems with absorbent insulation products and the potentially serious occurrence of mould growth. The Schöck Isokorb is one of the most technically advanced countermeasures against thermal bridging. It not only thermally separates components from one another, but

As the leading international supplier of structural thermal breaks, Schöck is able to offer planners complete construction dependability and almost limitless freedom of design with the options available in its Isokorb product range. There are solutions for concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel, steel-to-steel, a thermally insulating connection for reinforced concrete walls – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets. The temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI) which must be greater than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential buildings, is easily met by incorporating the Isokorb. All products meet full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations and the NHBC. They also offer LABC Registration and have independent BBA Certification.

For a free copy of the Schöck Thermal Bridging Guide; the Schöck Specifiers Guide or to view the range of downloadable software, contact Schöck on 01865 290 890 or visit the website at www.schoeck.co.uk

The wide sweeping balconies: “Dug Wilders Photography”

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PROJECT © LC Architects

© Nikos Daniilidis

PROJECT: Cosmote TV HQ and Studios Designed by London-based architecture and design practice LC Architects and built in Athens, Greece, Cosmote TV HQ and Studios is a new, innovative building inspired by contemporary media and the constant flow of information. A fluid, open space designed to meet the highest specification, Cosmote TV HQ and Studios sees the transformation of an existing industrial building into an inspirational combination of hybrid workspace environments and state-of-the-art TV studios, pushing the boundaries of innovative architecture and design. The building is designed to bring together in one building a number of smaller departments, creating an exciting environment for people to work, collaborate and thrive while promoting communication and connection between different teams. At the core of the building is The Plaza, a dramatic central atrium with cutting-edge acoustic ceiling, entirely furnished with Arper collections including Loop, Colina, Dizzie and Pix.

It is a flexible space where staff and visitors can network daily, encouraging collaboration and interaction. A bridge in the heart of the building connects administrative and creative departments with production and technical spaces, creating a seamless spatial connection which fosters cross-departmental teamwork and team spirit. Arper’s Colina, Dizzie and Pix collections blend in perfectly with the environment thanks to their flexibility, texture, colour and softness. The quality of space is maximised by a series of collaborative areas within the building, furnished with Saari, Dizzie and Pix. The architects’ work highlights how design can shape and influence human behaviour and emotions, and is focused on the search of organic forms that are soft and humancentred. LC Architects on collaboration with Arper: “Our seamless collaboration with Arper’s teams in UK and Italy was key to the project’s final outcome. We believe that all elements larger or

smaller, details, textures, colours, contribute to the final coordinated architectural outcome. Specifically, in our work, we design signature spaces where all furnishing and equipment are selected very carefully in order to enhance the experiences and the emotions that the architecture evokes to the users and visitors, while creating an overall exciting space.” - Natassa Lianou and Ermis Chalvatzis, cofounders and directors of LC Architects LC Architects on Arper collections as solutions to design requirements: “Architecture and Design have the power to alter our behaviours and habits, thus the selection of each and every piece which completes our projects, is key to our work. The simple and clean lines of Arper’s collections, consist the final touch to our project, creating ‘pockets’ into the space of seating or working scenarios. We believe that furnishing is the actual ‘touch point’ of the users with the space, where they can seat comfortably, feel the soft textures and get inspired by the organic and fluid space they experience.” - Natassa Lianou and Ermis Chalvatzis, cofounders and directors of LC Architects

Architect Projects

© LC Architects

© Nikos Daniilidis

© LC Architects

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Rushey Mead School, Leicester – image courtesy of CORSTORPHINE + WRIGHT Architects

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COMPANY NEWS Newton Waterproofing, the UK’s leading independent designers and suppliers of guaranteed waterproofing systems, has launched a nationwide network of approved architects and specifiers to improve the process of designing and specifying waterproofing systems.

NEWTON WATERPROOFING PARTNERS WITH LEADING SPECIFIERS When starting a new basement waterproofing project, contractors, developers and homeowners need a combination of approved architects and specialist contractors on hand. Warren Muschialli, Managing Director of Newton Waterproofing, says his company can give you just that…

The Newton Specification Partnership consists of a network of approved members who work directly with Newton Waterproofing to provide high-quality, technically-sound waterproofing solutions for any basement or below-ground structure. Newton Specification Partners can not only undertake the design of the entire project, they also understand the importance of good waterproofing design. With this in mind, every partner receives an annual RIBA approved CPD presentation from Newton to ensure that they are up to date with the latest waterproofing developments. All partners can also make use of Newton’s extensive library of ready-made waterproofing designs, including their wide selection of Solution Sheets for any type of structure. These resources are integrally linked to the Newton Waterproofing Index, a unique scoring system for quickly and easily assessing the effectiveness of any waterproofing design. Learning from experience The new Partnership was inspired by Newton’s Specialist Basement Contractors (NSBCs) network, which aims to provide the highest quality installations in all aspects of domestic and commercial basement waterproofing. The select group of approved waterproofing contractors all follow strict membership criteria, as well as demonstrating high quality workmanship, resulting in a meaningful scheme that provides unsurpassed technical excellence. In addition, NSBCs can take full design liability on a project, fulfilling the role of the ‘waterproofing specialist’ as recommended by British Standard 8102:2009, the ‘Code

of Practice for Protection of Below Ground Structures Against Water from the Ground’. A perfect combination By combining the resources of both the NSBC and Specification Partner networks, Newton customers will receive a comprehensive design and a guaranteed installation that achieves the desired result on any waterproofing project. Newton MD Warren Muschialli comments: “We’re very proud of both our Specialist Basement Contractor network and our new Specification Partnership. By using these two networks in combination, we can ensure that any basement waterproofing requirements will be fully taken care of all the way from the design to the supply, the installation and the guarantee.” Impressive track record Based in Tonbridge, Newton Waterproofing is a family run business of over 170 years that supplies, designs and installs effective, robust, and third-party accredited Type A, B and C waterproofing systems in accordance with current legislation and best practice using a wide range of materials. Their products have provided the perfect solution for several huge and complex waterproofing projects, as well as hundreds of commercial and residential properties throughout the years. These have included structural waterproofing at Lillie Square in Earls Court, a prestigious London development featuring over 800 multi-million-pound luxury residences stretching from Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge to Kensington Olympia, and a basement with more than 2,250m2 floor space at the worldrenowned London School of Economics. Warren comments: “With our new Specification Partnership, we can continue to offer the quality service our clients expect, and they can rest assured that they’ll be in good hands from the very start of a project to the very end.”

RG+P SECURES PLACE ON £10.4M FRAMEWORK Multi-disciplinary design practice, rg+p has secured a place on the EN:Procure Consultancy Framework, which will see £10.4m worth of investment in social housing and public sector projects across the East Midlands, North West and Yorkshire & Humber over the next four years.

architectural and principal designer services. Designed predominantly for social housing, the new framework can also be applied to other public buildings or premises owned and/or managed by Public Sector organisations, including schools, universities, infrastructure sites and offices.

rg+p was one of just 70 consultants appointed by EN:Procure, which is the specialist procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North Holdings Limited, and will provide both

Rob Woolston, director at rg+p said: “We understand there were more than 600 applications for this framework so of course we were delighted to be ranked among the top candidates, in fact it’s a testament to the skills of our team that we are able to showcase such a breadth of expertise. The geographical spread of projects to be delivered under this framework aligns succinctly with our core business areas and we very much welcome the opportunity to get started.”

Architect Projects

The EN:Procure framework is divided into eight disciplines, and in addition to the architectural and principal designer services rg+p will undertake, other services are building surveying, party wall and stock conditioning; employers agent/quantity surveying; lifts consultancy; mechanical & electrical services; multi-disciplinary consultancy services; and structural & civil engineering.

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COMPANY NEWS

LG AND LUXURY ITALIAN LIFESTYLE BRAND MOLTENI&C S.P.A AGREE TO DEVELOP FUTURE JOINT PROJECTS LG Electronics (LG) and premium Italian designer furniture and lifestyle brand Molteni&C S.P.A have agreed to pursue a variety of joint projects including exhibitions and events on behalf of the LG SIGNATURE brand. The collaboration will give consumers the opportunity to experience the refinement and convenience of luxury living by showcasing the craftsmanship of Molteni&C and the technological and design leadership of LG SIGNATURE. LG’s flagship LG SIGNATURE OLED 8K TV on display at the Molteni Museum in Giussano outside of Milan, Italy, is the first collaboration and a testament to the two companies’ shared vision and philosophy. A second LG SIGNATURE OLED 8K will be showcased at the new Molteni&C flagship store opening in Paris, France later this year with other LG SIGNATURE products to be displayed at Molteni&C stores in Europe and North America.

consumers who appreciate the finer aspects of life,” said Kim Jinhong, head of LG Electronics’ Global Marketing Center. “Through this joint effort we hope to demonstrate how combining cutting-edge technologies with beautiful, modern aesthetics can create a more luxurious, refined living space.” “It is a pleasure to be collaborating with LG SIGNATURE and we look forward to bringing consumers an experience that demonstrates the immeasurable value of good design,” said Giulia Molteni, director of marketing and communications at the Molteni Group. “Through our furniture and LG SIGNATURE’s products, it is possible to achieve a living environment where both beauty and functionality exist in perfect harmony.”

The Molteni Group was founded by Angelo Molteni in 1934 and quickly gained a reputation for exquisitely crafted, high-quality furniture pieces – a reputation that has only grown stronger over the years. Today, the distinguished brand has found a new audience, as the timeless appeal and effortless elegance of the brand’s gorgeous collections resonate with design-conscious millennials worldwide. Molteni&C’s The Art of Livingphilosophy resonates closely with LG SIGNATURE’s belief in The Art of Essence as both the pursuit of stylish, functional design and the use of the latest technologies and techniques further unite these two premium brands. “Collaborating with Molteni&C, a company that shares our vision and is aligned with our core values, is a win-win for everyone, especially

ALFRESCO FLOORS INTRODUCES A FULLY ADJUSTABLE A1 FIRE-RATED DECKING AND PAVING SYSTEM A-Rated external flooring specialists, Alfresco Floors, have introduced their latest noncombustible paving and decking system, The AR-Deck & AR-Pave, to facilitate the growing need for a safe, compliant and stylish solution for use in high-rise projects. Manufactured in the UK, the 100% aluminium system comprises of a fully adjustable pedestal, joist subframe and built-in slope corrector, and is aimed to significantly speed up installation time, whilst providing specifiers with a fully A-rated solution in very short lead times.

As work gets underway to replace combustible cladding on buildings above 18 metres in height, the launch of the system comes at a time when fire-rated materials are a crucial component of any high-rise project. The AR-Deck and AR-Pave system allows specifiers to incorporate a variety of Alfresco Floors’ Class A-Rated surface options, including Aluminium deckboards, Italian-made Porcelain Tiles and Concrete Paving to deliver a fully A-Rated paving and decking solution without compromising on style and at the most competitive rates on the market – a key message that the team are keen to promote.

Alfresco Floors, which is the sister company to The Outdoor Deck Company and Buzon UK Ltd, have been at the forefront of fire related products, producing an e-Book on product requirements for A-rated external flooring, running CPDs for architects and landscape professionals, and offering full technical sitespecific advice. Mike Wilderink comments, “We identified a huge gap in the UK supply chain to the UK construction industry for a quality fire-rated external flooring system that would meet the new 2019 edition ‘Approved Document B’ - Building Regulations for England”.

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Architect Projects

For further information on the AR-Deck & AR-Pave system or any other Class A-Rated external flooring solutions, visit www.alfrescofloors.com, call 020 8977 0904 or email info@alfrescofloors.co.uk.


COMPANY NEWS

BRITISH SUGAR HQ NAMED BEST CORPORATE OFFICE IN ENGLAND’S CENTRAL REGION CPMG ARCHITECTS is celebrating success after its designs for British Sugar’s head office scooped the title of Corporate Office of the Year at the British Council for Offices (BCO) Midlands and Central England Awards last week. The building, which was completed in 2018, is home to British Sugar and its associated group businesses and provides space for some 350 people. The judging panel for the awards highlighted the development’s impressive variety of facilities – including the excellent on-site café – that allow for the movement and

Architect Projects

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The ethos behind our new office was flexibility, collaboration and innovation, allowing new and agile ways of working for our teams. Working together with our architects and other partners, we believe we have achieved this, and it’s great to be recognised by the British Council for Offices for doing so.

interaction of employees within a building that “delights and surprises at every corner.” Richard Flisher, managing director at CPMG Architects, said: “There were a large number of fantastic projects entered in this year’s category, so we are delighted to see our British Sugar headquarters scoop the prize. “It was really important for us to keep the employees, who would use the building every day, at the heart of everything we did design-wise. We worked closely with the team at British Sugar to implement a workplace strategy assessment, and working with associate interior designers Morey Smith, we were able to translate the business aspirations, work culture and dynamics to inform the overall design.” The internal environment provides a mixture of formal desking areas, meeting rooms, telephone booths and a large amount of flexible space designed to encourage people to circulate within the building. The ground floor is shared, containing a restaurant, a separate coffee bar and meeting rooms. The building has large opening windows on the upper floors providing a fantastic connection to nature with glare and solar gain controlled by solar tracking external glass fins. On the ground floor there are huge sliding doors to further increase the connection to the outside and enable working outside as well as inside.

An open staircase forms the unifying feature of the design, enabling the entirety of the building to be perceived from a single location and encouraging staff interaction on all levels at every opportunity. Catharine Uglow, director of organisational effectiveness at British Sugar, said: “The ethos behind our new office was flexibility, collaboration and innovation, allowing new and agile ways of working for our teams. “Working together with our architects and other partners, we believe we have achieved this, and it’s great to be recognised by the British Council for Offices for doing so.” Richard continued: “It’s thanks to a brilliant client that was prepared to think differently and invest in design concepts, that has ultimately created a building that promotes the wellbeing of those both visiting and working in it. “We’re very proud to have played a significant part in the delivery of this facility along with main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland and the rest of the delivery team – and look forward to the national BCO awards in early 2021.” The project team for British Sugar’s HQ was Bowmer + Kirkland, main contractor, Couch Perry Wilkes, mechanical and electrical consultants, and Curtins, structural engineers.


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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

REDS10 APPOINTS DR PHILLIP CARTWRIGHT AS NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DRIVE GROWTH Reds10 has appointed Dr Phillip Cartwright as a Non-Executive Director of Reds10 (UK) Limited and Reds10 Space as a Service Limited to support growth across both businesses. Reds10 is an off-site construction specialist, providing clients with a full turnkey service for modular buildings. The newly launched space-as-a-service offer will provide customers with high performance, low carbon, SMART buildings on flexible ownership terms. Using off-site construction, cradle-tocradle design and the latest technology, it will design, finance, build and fit-out healthcare, education, workplace and accommodation spaces. It will also use building and organisational performance data to optimise customer experience, building use, operation, energy consumption and maintenance. Cartwright will help drive growth for Reds10. He has had an impressive career. He was Director of Engineering Excellence Group at Laing O’Rourke and Global Head of Electrical Power and Control Systems at Rolls-Royce. Most recently, he was Executive Chairman for The Centre for

Modelling and Simulation, the successful digital technology joint venture company between Airbus and Rolls-Royce. He is currently a board adviser for innovation at MACE and developed, designed and delivered significant energy and transport related safety critical systems with ABB, ALSTOM, AREVA, GE and Rolls-Royce across the globe. Phill said: “The built environment, during its lifecycle, currently impacts the UK economy to the tune of approximately £808 billion, around 43% of GDP. Despite these huge numbers AND huge advances in the application of information and technology, the way existing infrastructure is operated and exploited has changed very little over the past decades.

“We welcome his no-nonsense and personal approach to the investment in and use of technology to help drive our growth.” Chairman Matt Bennion added: “Our customers are looking for built asset solutions that are agile and enable them to deliver better organisational performance and customer experiences. “Our new space-as-a-service model will enable that and reimagine how our built environment is designed, built and used, to give flexibility, reduce climate change impact and benefit society as a whole. “At a time when the Government is demanding better performance from the record levels of investment it is making in transport, defence and social infrastructure and with private sector clients facing unprecedented change, offering space-as-a-service makes perfect sense. We are delighted to be working with Phil on this and the growth of the wider business.”

“I am honoured and delighted to be joining a company that wants to change all that. Reds10 is an inspirational team, delivering innovative financing, excellent designs, high performing buildings and low carbon services in a truly unique approach.” Paul Ruddick, CEO of Reds10, said: “Technology and data are key enablers in the space-as-a-service model, which is why we have appointed Phill to our board. “With over 35 years of experience in engineering, which has led to innovation in both the construction and automotive industries, there is much to learn. He shares our passion to drive the industry forward and equip society to live, learn and thrive in amazing and highly efficient spaces.

REGINOX UK WELCOMES NEW AREA SALES MANAGER Sinks, taps and accessories manufacturer, Reginox UK, is celebrating its latest addition to the team – Natasha Pearce. Natasha, from Huddersfield, has joined Reginox as its new Area Sales Manager across the North region. The role will see Natasha grow and develop Reginox UK’s client base across the region both through existing and new customers, as well as maintaining the highest level of customer service and client liaison. Natasha Pearce, Area Sales Manager, North said: “While I’m new to the KBB industry. I have a wealth of experience within the sales function so I’m really excited to use the skills and expertise that I have gained over the years to benefit Reginox in my new role and make the North region the most successful in the company’s history.”

Architect Projects

Dave Mayer, Sales and Marketing Director of Reginox UK, added, “Natasha joins us at a really exciting time, and we can’t wait to see the impact she has on our business across the North. “What struck me about Natasha is her genuine interest in people and enthusiasm for the work she does. For our customers, this is the perfect combination and we are confident that she will be able to grow our client base even further.”

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PROJECT NEWS

WORK BEGINS AT PIONEERING DEMENTIA CARE HOME DEVELOPMENT

of three detached, two bed assisted living pods, which will have 24-hour access to nurses and carers, as well as further parking and landscaping - including a walk-through aviary.

The final stage of development work at Church Farm Care’s Rusticus site in Cotgrave, Nottingham has now started on site - while full planning has also been achieved at the Skylarks site in West Bridgford - bringing its vision of a revolutionary model of dementia care one step closer to reality.

The work will also see the development of Socius, a social hub, which will include a cafe, hairdressers and cinema for both residents and the community to access and enjoy, with completion due in September 2021.

Architect Projects

The work at Rusticus will include alterations to the internal layout of the existing building to increase visibility and provide greater flexibility of spaces to promote independence, comfort, and quality of life for residents.

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The latest work for Rusticus is the fifth and final phase of the development following previous upgrades to the site including the reception and staff facilities, as well as the addition of balconies to the accommodation. This phase sees the addition of Hickling Lodge, a state of the art 30-bedroom standalone building with new day lounges, kitchen and laundry. Once complete, all bedrooms will be furnished and equipped to the highest standard with full disabled access. There will also be the addition

In addition to the work at Rusticus, a purchase of land and full planning has finally been achieved at its Skylarks home in West Bridgford. The extension to the Skylarks site will add much-needed facilities both for residents and the local community.


PROJECT NEWS

HENRY BOOT CONSTRUCTION COMMENDED FOR ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ COMMUNITY OUTPUT AS PART OF BARNSLEY TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT In 2019, over 45 letters and emails were received by Rushcliffe Borough Council in support of its extension, particularly focusing on its hydrotherapy pool. The pool will not only be an invaluable feature for Skylarks’ residents, but an excellent resource for local schools and community groups. Patrick Atkinson, owner of Church Farm Care Ltd, said: “It’s been an extraordinary and challenging year so far for us – as it has been for care homes up and down the country – but we’re really thrilled to have shovels in the ground for the expansion of our Rusticus home and plans now in place to develop Skylarks even further. “Our ethos is a model of care centred on creating “families” of residents that live together based on their interests, life experiences, and personalities. “Our extension plans are not just about creating more comfortable and accessible environments but about helping to integrate family members into the community through features that bring the public into the centre – when they are again allowed to do so of course. “The work at Rusticus for instance includes additions to the current onsite salon and cinema, with a new café that will be open to the public as well as a walkthrough aviary with a snaking path for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.”

The firm has received a Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) Gold Award for its work on the Library @ The Lightbox project, which forms part of The Glass Works – a two-phase redevelopment of Barnsley town centre which the company is undertaking for Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. The accolade recognises Henry Boot Construction’s attention and commitment to maintaining the project’s appearance, respecting the wider community, protecting the environment, securing the safety of staff on site at all times and recognising the value of its workforce. Henry Boot Construction’s ‘unprecedented’ level of community support was commended in the CCS Site Monitor’s Report, which also recognised the company’s creation of an ‘employment and skills legacy in Barnsley’. More than 300 work placements and around 300 educational visits and workshops have been provided by Henry Boot Construction to date as part of The Glass Works project. The report also recognised Henry Boot Construction’s pledge to maintaining the health and wellbeing of the project

team, with health screening carried out, ‘first-class’ welfare facilities available, and promotion of healthy lifestyles and personal health guidance. Ryan O’Loughlin, Director at Henry Boot Construction, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see Henry Boot Construction’s positive impact on the regional community and environment recognised, as well our commitment to the safety and value of our project team. This indicates the huge impact that the company and the project has had on the local and regional economy. “At Henry Boot Construction, we continue to strive to offer the very best community, economic and environmental support as part of every project we deliver. We’re delighted that the Library @ the Lightbox project has had such an impact and we are dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy for the people of Barnsley.” Cllr Tim Cheetham, Council Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council said: “We’re delighted to see Library @ the Lightbox and Henry Boot Construction win yet another award. The Lightbox is a fantastic building that has had a major impact on the Barnsley community – it’s already become a real community hub and has had a positive influence on our town. “We’re proud to work with Henry Boot Construction on The Glass Works development and long may these award wins continue.”

Architect Projects

Church Farm Care has four homes in Nottingham – three of which offer specialist dementia nursing within innovative and supportive environments. The care group has rooms available across all its homes, please visit www.churchfarmcare.co.uk for further information.

Henry Boot Construction Limited – the construction subsidiary of Henry Boot PLC – has been commended for its respect for the wider community, environmental protection and championing the value of its workforce after claiming a major industry accolade for its delivery of Barnsley town centre’s multi-millionpound regeneration project, The Glass Works.

Professional teams for The Glass Works also include development managers Queensberry and Turner & Townsend.

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BUILDING BETTER EDUCATION: WHERE SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE CAN GO FROM HERE Schools across the UK have faced an extremely challenging year, from teething problems associated with remote learning to the logistical nightmare of preparing for the return of pupils post-lockdown. As governing bodies look ahead to 2021, it will be vital to consider how schools can improve their buildings to provide maximum resilience against the challenges of the future.

stretched, schools need to think hard about how best to use the funding made available to them. By embracing technological developments this has the potential to provide the best returns on investments from a financial, environmental, and educational perspective.

It was extremely encouraging to see £560m of investment being fast-tracked to support improvements to schools’ buildings earlier this year. However, with resources currently

The struggles schools have faced in welcoming pupils back onsite since the end of the first lockdown have been well-documented. With more long term solutions required ;

Pandemic-proof technology

©Hufton+Crow

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Authorities could turn their attention to technology to help ensure the safety of staff and students both during and beyond the pandemic. ‘Smart schools’ may sound like something from science fiction, but many of us already live in smart homes and work in smart offices, and the power for schools to follow suit is very real. Technological infrastructure can work in the interests of public health by mitigating the risk of COVID-19 transmission within schools. Footfall pathways and motion sensors, for example, can monitor the occupancy

©Hufton+Crow


SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE FEATURE

A modular solution Modular school buildings can be as costeffective as they are environmentally friendly. Their construction in a factory setting allows multiple stages of each project to be undertaken simultaneously rather than sequentially, shortening programme length and saving as much as 75% in building time. This reduction is crucial because it minimises the time spent onsite, limiting the disruption to existing facilities – and pupils’ lessons.

and density of learning spaces, and flag potential overcrowding concerns in real time. In addition to being obvious assets in the COVID-19 era, these facilities can also help ensure the most efficient use of school spaces. Moreover, environmental monitors have health benefits beyond COVID-19, with air quality controls able to counteract potentially high levels of CO2 in classrooms and corridors. While safety should undoubtedly be schools’ highest priority, efficient means of learning has taken a significant hit in recent months. Technology can bring benefits here too, such as connectivity solutions which meet the needs of remote learners. With many students having to balance in-person learning with virtual attendance, a greater number of classrooms need to adopt adequate videoconferencing facilities to ensure that those left at home are not left behind. A school is its people, not its buildings, and the right tech can help keep those classes and cohorts together. Sustainable schooling

The prefabricated elements can be assembled with speed once they arrive onsite, as much of the complex work has already been completed. Supply chain issues can be dealt with from the factory floor, and ensuring manufacture is compliant with COVID-19 health and safety requirements. It is much easier to maintain social distancing between workers in a factory setting than onsite. Modular construction is an innovative means of pandemic-proofing school buildings as it can provide a response which is both rapid and long-term. Prefabricated structures can be rolled out to meet demand for increased space driven by social distancing regulations. The modular design can be assembled according to the needs of specific sites, so each project is more than just a different iteration of the same one-size-fits-all policy. Modular structures come with built-in flexibility, able to be disassembled and recycled onto new projects as required, so schools can be confident of seeing returns on their investment in the long run.

Success stories attest to the positive impact that new school architecture has on pupils’ performance, including astudio’s project at the St Paul’s Way Trust School in Tower Hamlets.

Schools built using modern methods of construction such as modular, can reduce their carbon footprint even further. The construction sector is the UK’s largest consumer of natural resources, devouring more than 400m tonnes of material each year. Modular construction, however, produces up to 90% less waste than traditional processes, largely by recycling waste materials into other projects, or using more eco-friendly materials in the first place. Modular school buildings can therefore build in sustainability from their very foundations.

Students at the centre The ultimate aim of all these technological developments is to provide school students with the best possible future, meeting their educational needs now in order to equip them for the challenges ahead. These intentions should be built into the very fabric of each school, which means optimising their facilities to unlock the potential of all learners. Success stories attest to the positive impact that new school architecture has on pupils’ performance, including astudio’s project at the St Paul’s Way Trust School in Tower Hamlets. The new building provided a platform to elevate the school from special measures to Ofsted outstanding grading within a few years of completion, with Ofsted’s reporting citing the role of the redevelopment in improving both learning and behaviour. Investing in inspiring spaces can pay dividends for schools hoping to help their pupils reach the next level. Using virtual reality technology, we can maximise the benefits by including the end user in the design and consultation process. astudio’s project at the Kingston Academy, for example, invited prospective pupils and their parents to explore the future learning space using VR headsets, providing them with an opportunity to offer feedback before work began. As designers we need to bring the benefits of good design coordinated with education to as many schools, staff, and students as possible. By investing in technology to address concerns over health, sustainability, and efficiency, schools can put themselves in a position to deliver the education that future students will need and deserve.

BY RICHARD HYAMS, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF ASTUDIO

The technological infrastructure of a school can also be geared towards reducing the institution’s carbon footprint, which must take on increasing importance as the global environmental situation deteriorates. Schools can play their part, with footfall pathways designed to monitor occupancy doubling up as energy efficiency trackers. By alerting facilities managers to empty rooms where heating and lighting are being wasted, these systems can inform energy savings which will in turn save costs and reduce environmental impact.

Architect Projects

Sustainability can also be incorporated into the building fabric of schools. For example, with skins of algae compounds known as ‘living walls’, which remove CO2 from the air and can later be harvested as a form of biofuel. By producing their own energy as well as reducing wastage, schools can reinforce their ties to the local community by allowing the latter to share in the benefits reaped from their sustainably produced fuel.

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ICONIC LLOYDS BUILDING RECEIVES ADVANCED FIRE PROTECTION A network of 10 MxPro 5 fire panels from systems leader, Advanced, have been installed to protect London’s famous Lloyds Building. Also known as the Inside-Out Building, the Lloyds Building is located in the City of London’s main financial district and is a leading example of radical Bowellism architecture in which services for the building such as ducts and lifts are located on the exterior to maximise space in the interior. Built in 1986, the commercial office development became the youngest structure ever to obtain Grade I listing in 2011. The state-of-the-art Advanced fire panels, which were installed as part of a phased upgrade to the fire system, cover all areas of the 14-storey building, include BMS integration for graphics and are linked to over 3200 Hochiki devices, including wireless devices installed within the building’s towers. Undertaking phase one, the design, installation and commissioning of the fire panels and graphics system at the Lloyds Building, were Kent-based Pacific Security Systems Ltd. Kirk Short, Director at Pacific Security Systems Ltd, said: “Our client’s brief was to retain the existing Hochiki devices and wiring, while upgrading the panels and graphics system on site. The system also needed to be both user friendly and reliable. Advanced’s MxPro 5 panels were able to tick all of the boxes.

“Its network performance is particularly good, no matter the size of the system or complexity of the site Advanced’s products have the capability to deliver complete protection. Our customers are always happy with the product and find the panels very easy to operate with limited technical understanding.” As part of the work for phase two of the upgrade, a custom-built annunciator for sprinkler, wet riser and plant status control will be designed and manufactured by Advanced’s AdSpecials department. Regional Sales Manager at Advanced, Ken Bullock, said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to support Pacific Security Systems Ltd with the equipment needed to protect such an iconic London landmark, and as a high performance yet user friendly solution, the MxPro 5 just makes sense. Our industry leading fire panel offers the ideal solution for this project, where an intuitive interface that the end user can easily operate and superior networking capabilities that can deliver protection across a large area, are crucial. Pacific Security Systems Ltd will also benefit from the MxPro 5’s built-in false alarm management software, AlarmCalm, enabling the configuration of the building’s investigation delays and double knock procedures with ease.” MxPro 5 is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire system solution and was recently certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54

AP1120021 Advanced Electronics Ltd Half Page.indd 1

standard. It offers four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro 5 panels can be used in single-loop, single-panel format or easily configured into high-speed networks of up to 200 panels covering huge areas. Its ease of installation and configuration as well as its wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application. Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, protects all manner of prestigious and high-profile sites across the globe, from London’s Shard to Abu Dhabi International Airport and Las Vegas’ Golden Nugget Casino. Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Website: uk.advancedco.com

TIMBER-FRAMED CONSTRUCTION AND CAVITY BARRIERS – ARE THEY A FIRE RISK AND WHAT SHOULD REGISTERED PROVIDERS CONSIDER? Rebecca Harries-Williams is a senior associate in the social housing team at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP. Here she takes a look at a recent case involving a timber-framed housing association block and defective cavity barriers, which resulted in a serious fire. A year ago, a massive blaze destroyed 23 homes in social housing apartment block, Worcester Park, owned by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing. A report into the fire, by forensic architects Probyn Myers highlighted that defective cavity barriers – as an apparent result of a flaw in the building’s design – contributed to the rapid spread of the fire throughout the building which rendered around 60 people homeless. The cavity contained three layers of natural timber battens which burned fiercely during the fire, contributing to its spread both upwards and

horizontally. The report found that the cavity barriers were too small and failed to slow the spread of fire. Registered Providers will be aware that timber-framed methods of construction have become increasingly popular as the construction industry seeks both cheaper and more ecofriendly methods of building. Whilst there are many benefits to these modern methods of construction (“MMC”), which a number of social housing providers have embraced, there are also risks which may not be immediately apparent and which raise the question of liability for defects. Where construction designs are flawed, there is a risk that cavity barriers may be poorly designed and insufficient to prevent the spread of fire. Such a design flaw is magnified where timber-framed building methods have been used. Additionally, even if the designs are effective, poor construction methods and a lack of knowledge by some contractors as to the risks posed by timber framed buildings can render buildings unsafe.

Architect Projects

In light of the high-profile nature of a number of catastrophic fires causing the deaths and homelessness of social housing tenants, Registered Providers should consider the following: • Ensuring any designs and planning for new social housing construction are prepared by experts with the requisite knowledge of MMC and in compliance with all statute and best practice;

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• Making sure that the contractors are aware of the risks of timber-framed buildings and take the necessary steps to ensure effective cavity barriers; • Where a Registered Provider becomes aware of latent defects relating to the timber frame or cavity barriers (or indeed, other latent defects), they should seek expert opinions and legal advice as to the question of liability and the best ways to ensure such defects are rectified. In particular, Registered Providers should carefully check the wording of any insurance policies as to the duty and timeframe to notify of any defects, once these have become known, and the procedure that should be followed to seek to claim under the policy. A failure to comply with the insurer’s requirements could lead to the insurer declining cover. • Act quickly! Claims for latent defects under contract may become time barred if there is a delay in bringing proceedings – seek legal advice at the point of becoming aware of latent defects. Clarke Willmott’s national team of specialist social housing solicitors is one of the largest in the UK, acting for both national and regional registered providers. The team offers quality, trusted advice on a comprehensive range of legal matters and their experience in this complex sector is second to none. Clarke Willmott has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.


Wojciech Brozyna - Aluprof UK Managing Director

MB-SR50N used at Siemens Campus - Manchester

’STICK CURTAIN WALL AND BUILDING MOVEMENT’ BY WOJCIECH BROZYNA - MD OF ALUPROF UK

When specifiers design glazed façades they wish to see slim sightlines, when installers quote for work they wish to use the most economic system for the project and often opt to use a well respected 50mm curtain wall system. But despite the systems pedigree, is the ‘off-the-shelf’ design right for the buildings structural design? When designing any façade there are two main issues to take into consideration, the dead load of the façade itself and the live loads that are going to be imposed on the façade, which includes wind loading and possible catastrophic events such as seismic and blast loadings. Taking the façade as a single entity, these can be catered for, however, the curtain wall stick or unitised, relies on fixings to the building structure to transfer both loads back at regular mullion spacings, on average at every 1,500 mm. Catering for movement due to live loads on the curtain wall and thermal expansion, is normally catered for with regular sleeved joints, usually at each floor level. So far so good, but what about building movement such as floor edge deflection and building sway?

MB-SR50N used at Siemens Campus - Manchester

Floors will deflect once loaded with people and equipment, not all structures will be the same and this deflection will vary. We now face movement in the curtain wall façade itself depending on what is happening within the building. This movement must be catered for otherwise the facade could easily fail when the building is in use. Unitised curtain wall systems tend to cater for this movement quite well within their stack joints, but in stick curtain wall the issue becomes more pronounced as there is typically much less room when the glass is stacked in these systems. Looking at a 50mm wide curtain wall we typically have 13mm edge cover on the glazing and a curtain wall nosing thickness of 10mm. Taking 25mm to the centre of the mullion we have a nominal clearance of 7mm (= 25mm - 13mm - 5mm [half of the width of the nosing]). This is a nominal space as we have a facade fabrication tolerance of +/- 1mm and installation tolerance of +/- 2mm. Glazed units, say 1,500mm x 2,800mm have at least a +/-2mm tolerance on fabrication. As you can see, the 7mm can quickly reduce should tolerances stack the wrong way. Given that there is say 5mm around the glazing with the lower edge of the full height glazing located on 5mm glazing packers, should the floor slab deflect more that 5mm will see aluminium moving to touch or load the glazed unit which could result in glazing failure. This condition is further restricted when cap-less curtain wall systems are specified where the toggle fixings have an average +/-3mm around the glazed unit. If the building is designed with floors that run between the building structure, such as columns near the floor edge, floor movement becomes increasingly problematic for the facade. Where columns exist there would be no floor movement, but at the mid-span the floor would move by a given limit, so the floor will ‘sag’ between columns. Given that the glazed units will be located on a transom with two glazing blocks, the glazed units will also be subject to a slight rotation within their glazing rebate where the floor begins to ‘sag’ downwards. Each building structure will offer various levels of floor edge movement, but it is crucial to request these details from the structural engineer in any curtain wall installation being fixed back to intermediate floors. Once the movement is known, this can then be designed into the curtain wall. The use of special designed spandrel panels or double transoms can cater for this movement and to an

extent the rotation of units, this needs careful design often with the systems provider. For the reasons explained, unitised curtain wall systems are being specified on a more regular basis where building structures are being designed with lighter materials and increased deflection limits, as they can cater for more building movement. The main issue is to be aware of the deflection limits of the structure that the facade is to be fixed too and how this movement will affect the curtain wall. Many projects will work exceptionally well with a 50mm curtain wall, given that the structure offers limited movement. Where required, the move to wider 60mm curtain wall systems will increase the space around the glazing edge to the mullion and transom nosing, which will allow for more movement of the curtain wall frame before the glazing units are compromised. Unitised systems will cater for greater building movement whilst still offering slim sightlines, high levels of insulation but with the benefit of offering installation times up to half of that for traditional stick curtain wall systems. At Aluprof we offer our acclaimed 50mm, ‘MBSR50N’, and 60mm ‘MB-SR60N’ stick curtain wall systems with a wide range of profiles and options to cater for most building designs and cater for structural movement. Where required our unitised system, MB-SE75, can be used in any facade requirement. We have a team of facade designers located in the UK to assist any specifier or installer wishing to design using Aluprof systems. Since setting up the Aluprof Project Office at the Business Design Centre in London, the company has rapidly grown their specification influence in the UK with their high performance architectural aluminium systems. Further expansion of the companies headquarters in Altrincham now provides specifiers with meeting facilities and an extensive showroom of commercial systems to view. With overseas growth across Europe spreading into the Middle East and firm roots already in the East of the USA, the company is becoming a global player in facade supply.

Further information is available on the companies website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK office in Altrincham on 0161 941 4005.

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LATEST NEWS

LGA RESPONDS TO REVIEW OF PEOPLE BUILDING THEIR OWN HOMES Responding to the announcement by the Housing Secretary of a review to make it easier for people to build their own home, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing spokesperson, said: “Councils are committed to building homes with the right infrastructure that local communities need and are supportive of custom and self-build housing as one way of achieving that. “We are also pleased to be working with the Right to Build Task Force to support councils in bringing forward custom and self-build housing. “What is key however, is that councils are able to work with their communities as part of a locally-led planning system to ensure that the housing needs of local areas are met in the most effective way, to deliver highquality, affordable homes.”

ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE TO TURN DERELICT TOILET BLOCK INTO A SPACE THAT WILL TACKLE MEN’S LONELINESS Stockport based architecture practice Dash Architecture had plans approved by Stockport Council last week, which will see them transform an unused toilet block into a community hub to help fight loneliness. The venue, in Woodley Precinct Stockport, is not in use and currently stands empty. Dash Architecture will lead on the works to transform the space into a base for voluntary group, Stockport Community Shed, who are part of the UK ‘Men’s Shed’ movement. The movement aims to use sheds to enhance social connections, friendship, companionship and camaraderie.

The space will help facilitate and develop relationships between its members by helping like-minded people meet. The design generates an open and free flowing naturally well-lit workshop space, which will provide relaxed and incidental opportunities for talking with someone to share your worries. The architectural proposals will re-elevate and redefine the identity of the building structure. The team’s cost conscious but strikingly effective solution will ‘wrap’ the existing building in timber rainscreen battens, creating a ‘hit and miss effect to both the walls and pitched roof. This includes large actuated rooflights which negate the need for traditional lower level windows which in turn maximise wall storage. Other modern materials such as black framed windows and corrugated black steel are deliberately contrasting and provide a 21st century reinterpretation of a modern tool shed or workshop. The material used will be durable to resisting anti-social behaviour but still enduringly progressive. Nigel Crompton, Principal Architect at DASH Architecture says, “For a long-time research has shown the negative impact of loneliness and isolation on a person’s health and wellbeing, this has only been amplified during Covid and therefore, we think it’s more important than ever for a space such as Men’s Sheds to pop-up. As a profit-for-purpose architecture practice, we want to do everything we can for the community.”

CARLSBERG GROUP HEADQUARTERS

OFFICE BUILDING, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK ARCHITECTS: C.F. MØLLER ARCHITECTS A “bubbly” facade is part of a major development project A massive transformation of what is (probably) the most famous brewery site in the world, has resulted in a stunning and vibrant new city district in the heart of Copenhagen. With a combination of both modern and historic architecture, the extraordinary Carlsberg City District will provide both office and residential buildings, as well as cafes, shops, hotels and schools. The Carlsberg brand is synonymous with thirst-quenching drinks, so it is fitting that the facade design for the entrance of their new headquarters depicts refreshing golden bubbles, leaving you to imagine your favourite Carlsberg tipple. The facade was manufactured and supplied by RMIG using RMIG ImagePerf to create the pattern of the bubbles. Technical characteristics

Architect Projects

Raw material: Aluminium Pattern: RMIG ImagePerf Thickness: 3.0 mm Finishing operation: Bending Surface treatment: Anodising D1(AC-Gold)20 MY Website: www.rmig.com

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TECHNOLOGY FEATURE Smart HVAC systems are a comprehensive and efficient way to curb energy consumption. Sensors and data sources can report on weather, occupancy and more, automatically adjusting HVAC temperatures for optimum results and minimal energy use. Smart sensors can be retrofit to existing HVAC equipment. They transmit data to the cloud to provide insights and information and allow building owners to immediately identify problem areas and implement real-time temperature control.

Smart building technology essentially consists of a system of connected devices which can measure data from your building and transform it into usable insights and automation. Rather than relying on manual control of your facility management and maintenance systems, smart building systems do the hard work for you. The benefits of a smarter building include: • Improved employee wellbeing • Operational efficiencies • Energy efficiency • Reduced maintenance costs • Higher productivity The buildings and the construction sector accounts for 36% of global energy demand and 40% of direct and indirect CO2 emissions. Smart technology plays a key role in reducing emissions and helping companies become more sustainable. That’s why it’s vital to find ways to make buildings smarter and more efficient.

Architect Projects

But what if you don’t plan on moving premises or building a new facility any time soon? The

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Here are 7 examples of how the UK’s estate managers and commercial building operators are developing intelligent offices within existing buildings, making life easier AND saving them money. 1. Smart Lighting A smart lighting solution is one of the simplest changes a building can make to reduce energy consumption and expenditure. Replacing traditional lightbulbs with smart LEDs gives you maximum control of your lighting systems: • Choose any colour and lighting temperature • Set specific times of operation • Set automatic shutdown if the building is vacant • Dim lights gradually • Add security features like cycling lights on and off • Automatically adjust indoor lighting levels to current sunrise/sunset times and weather conditions All these features can be automated and controlled remotely across your building portfolios, allowing you to improve the quality of life of your building occupants and reduce your energy bill. 2. Smart HVAC According to a 2016 study conducted by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), a predictive and proactive HVAC system can save a building 30% - 70% more energy from November to March.

The buildings and the construction sector accounts for 36% of global energy demand and 40% of direct and indirect CO2 emissions. Smart technology plays a key role in reducing emissions and helping companies become more sustainable. That’s why it’s vital to find ways to make buildings smarter and more efficient.

THE SMART MAKEOVER: THE TECH TRANSFORMING OUR BUILDINGS AND OFFICES

good news is that there are easy ways to invest in smart technology for older buildings. A building need not be shiny and new to be smart. There are a number of smart solutions that can be retrofitted into existing buildings easily.

3. Automated Legionella Compliance Systems Automatic flushing and temperature testing systems save significant resources when it comes to ensuring Legionella compliance. Instead of having to manually run taps for two minutes and test the hot and cold temperatures, an automatic Legionella testing unit can flush outlets and measure the temperature at predefined intervals automatically. Data is sent to a central management dashboard, and regular reports are generated automatically, removing the need to manually keep testing records for the required five years. 4. Smart Tags Smart tags can be retrofitted to almost any equipment in your building, allowing you to track everything you need to. You can then use this dynamic control and efficient, real-time monitoring and reporting to inform data-driven decisions and promote profitability. 5. Occupancy Monitoring Monitor your building and employees with real-time information on desks, meeting rooms and other facilities. Knowing how many people are using which rooms and when can help you proactively manage your workforce and make the best use of the space in your building, improving energy efficiency and encouraging better collaboration. With social distancing protocols top-ofmind at the moment, occupancy monitoring technology can also help you ensure that policies are being adhered to. 6. Air Monitoring Air quality and ventilation are key concerns when it comes to limiting the spread of infection. With air quality monitoring technology, you can monitor your air quality in real time to stay compliant with legislation and protect your staff, particularly in insulated buildings where air quality is affected by high occupancy. 7. Fire Safety Monitoring Manual checks on fire safety equipment are time-consuming and labour-intensive. By retrofitting smart sensors onto this equipment, you can keep your building safe and compliant without the hassle. Smart sensors can monitor your fire doors, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors and alert you immediately in any change of condition. Automatically-generated reports are also available at your fingertips. Rapid advancements in technology are allowing facility managers to realise a quick return on investment in terms of reduced energy and maintenance costs. Smart building management can consist of a phased approach or a complete overhaul, delivering a sustainable blueprint for the future.


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