Alongside the new apartment blocks and mixed use multi-storey complexes that have become a feature of most urban regeneration programmes, existing and traditional towers have once again come into their own. As demand for high-rise living flourishes, refurbishment of these blocks has gathered pace and Solarlux, a world leader in energy efficient folding glass doors, has seen an increased call on its products. The Solarlux SL25 sliding, folding glazing system, for example, has proved the right solution for the refurbishment of one of London’s landmark tower blocks.
Designed to bring outdoor space to high-rise living, the balconies of London’s tower blocks were conceived as the garden space solution for people-focused social housing. For many, however, windswept balcony areas are more of a home for nesting pigeons than a haven for alfresco dining. This was certainly true of the 1960s built Glastonbury House in Westminster, until Architects, Cole Thompson Anders incorporated an innovative folding window system from Solarlux into their refurbishment proposals for Pimlico Estate Office.
“The balconies had been identified as a problem area as the tenants were not generally able to use this space,” explains David Wrigglesworth from Cole Thompson Anders. “The obvious answer was to enclose the balconies to protect them from high winds and pigeons.
“However, we wanted to do this in a way that would not have a negative impact on the energy efficiency of the building or prevent the balconies from being used as outside space in warmer weather. The Solarlux SL25 sliding, folding glazing system was the ideal answer, as it enabled us to enclose the balconies to make them wind and pigeon-proof, without forcing a choice between balcony and enclosed space.”
The Solarlux system comprises a series of glass panels that, when closed, provides a glazed area across the balcony opening.
Easy to open and operate, the system allows residents to slide and fold the panels together so that they stack neatly against one wall of the balcony when fully open, allowing them to enjoy the views and the sunshine.
The Solarlux SL25 model was specified by Cole Thompson Anders as it is a frameless option, which, when closed, creates an impression of a single glazing panel, adding to the contemporary aesthetics of the refurbishment. As it is single-glazed, the Solarlux SL25 also maintains the environmental principles of the refurbishment project, maximising natural solar absorption from the sun to generate additional heat for the apartments and create the ideal conditions for a sun room on bright days – winter or summer.
One of the goals for the refurbishment was to improve the building’s energy efficiency and build in retrospectively some of the features now gaining accolades in contemporary, private sector apartment blocks. “The intention was never to create an additional reception room for the apartments as this would have involved putting central heating into the balcony area, adding insulation and potentially losing the possibility of a flexible indoor/outdoor space,” continues David Wrigglesworth.
“Instead, the Solarlux SL25 gave us the opportunity to put forward a semi outside space that could become an addition to the apartment on bright, sunny days, much in the way many householders use a conservatory. Meanwhile, it would retain its function as a balcony, maintaining the ideal of providing individual outside space for each apartment that was originally built into the block’s design.” A similar solution was also made available to residents of Apeldoorn, regarded as a garden city in the Dutch province of Geldern offering high quality living standards. In the district of Zevenhuizen a considerable number of residential blocks have been demolished. Since the beginning of 2007, however, the city has embarked on an extensive modernisation and regeneration programme.
The only multi-story block to stay is the De Valk. The building was stripped down to the bare bones. All that remained was the concrete structure. The newly refurbished building has been cleverly divided up into two residential blocks of 50 apartments each, the glass façades of which are either pointing to the East or the West.
An important aspect in the redesigning of the residential block, which has now been given the name “t’Podium“, was the wish to achieve optimum transparency and the greatest visual openness of the building’s exterior. The decision was therefore to go for an innovative façade solution, as offered by Solarlux.
The Welwyn-based company’s tailor-made glazing systems meet the high standards of commercial projects in terms of build-quality, functionality and design. In high-rise buildings, for example, the system must withstand increased wind loads as well as water tightness.
The project was carried out by Solarlux´s subsidiary, Solarlux Netherlands at Nijverdal, who worked in close co-operation with the architects. Uppermost in the planner´s mind was to give residents a light and bright living space which connects the inside in an harmonious way with the outside.
To achieve this, each flat was equipped with a glass folding façade which extends over the full width of the living room. Altogether 200 System SL 60e units were installed, a system which features slimline aluminium profile, excellent thermal insulation and a high degree of impermeability to wind and rain.
Each unit has a four metre wide folding façade which, together with a parapet of fixed units of the same profile series, creates a very attractive, transparent façade unit. In order to resist the strong winds on the building and to give the glass façades sufficient stability, special anchoring systems were developed.
As project manager Wim Doppenberg, of the contractor Draisma of Appeldorn, put it: “The anchoring system really played an important part – after all we are dealing with glass façade modules of approximately three meters in height and eight meters in length. We developed an anchorage system from which you could suspend an elephant.” The panels of the glass folding façade can be folded away completely with effortless ease like a concertina, thus providing maximum openings and excellent use of light. For safety reasons the decision in Zevenhuizen was to choose inward opening panels. Stainless steel runner assemblies and track ensure extremely easy gliding of the glass units.
An integral part of Solarlux´s range of products and services is the support the company gives to its clients throughout the entire planning and implementation process even when there are technical challenges to be faced.
