Architectural
glazing systems by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer were used inside ICON
Outlet at The O2 for their design flexibility and guaranteed performance.
Two
types of Kawneer curtain walling - AA®100 zone-drained and SSG (Structurally
Silicone Glazed) - feature alongside series 190 heavy-duty commercial entrance
doors on the 210,000ft2 premium urban outlet inside The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsular in London.
They
form the shopfronts within the £69 million complex which provides more than 80
retail units with a combined area of approximately 400,000ft2. ICON Outlet defines urban outlet malls and brings a shopping
experience to the world's No 1 entertainment venue for the very first time.
The O2's offering
also features a 20,000-capacity arena, Hollywood Bowl, Oxygen Freejumping,
London's largest Cineworld, Up at The O2, the soon to be opening Mamma Mia! The
Party, and even more restaurants and bars.
It was main
contractor ISG's second major project for developers AEG and Crosstree Real
Estate Partners, following the successful delivery of the "Up at The
O2" roof walk experience.
The Kawneer systems
were installed over a period of a year, integrated with rendered panels,
natural stone, brick slips, copper and polyester powder-coated metal panels, by
a team of up to 10 fitters from approved dealer JPJ Installations. The curtain
walling was installed with a mixture of single and double-glazed glass units.
Nathmya Saffarini, a
senior associate director at architects CallisonRTKL, said: "As shopfront
displays are more readily viewed if they are behind single glazing, we had to
carefully proportion how much of the shopfront could be single-glazed to achieve
this, and double-glazed to maintain the requirements of the thermal model.
"We wrote a
performance specification for the landlord-provided shopfronts and the
successful tenderer proposed the use of Kawneer. We wanted a simple curtain
wall kit of parts where we could vary the frame colour, the extent of solid or
glazed stall risers and over panels and have varying pull handles to the doors.
This gave us enough variety to ensure a level of variation and individuality in
design in groups of shopfronts and maintain thermal performance."
She added:
"Although the shopfronts are in an internal environment they still have to
perform thermally and achieve air tightness. Sustainability was very important
as the shell and core of the development is looking to achieve BREEAM
outstanding."
CRTKL's concept
focused on supporting the leasing strategy to create four key themes, each
reflecting consumer trends and behaviour. ‘Best of British' offers
quality and heritage; ‘Global fashion' supplying premium brands from across the
globe; ‘Beauty and accessories' is the port of call for cosmetics and
accessories, and ‘Sports and lifestyle' offers some of the most exciting names
in athleisure.
Ceiling treatments
give character to the spaces and are a unique feature of the development,
designed to create a sense of light, space and tranquillity. Clever use of LED
lighting enables the tone and look and feel of the development to shift
depending on the time of day.
The two-storey mall
section referred to as the Petals creates a sensory explosion of colour and
form inspired by London's fashionable retail streets. The canopy that runs
along its street is designed to replicate the dappled shade of a tree-lined
thoroughfare.
The single-storey
section referred to as the Cloud is designed as a calming retail escape, with
column-free retail space, the ceilings and roofs being hung from existing
trusses in the space. It creates an ambiance of light and tranquillity with its
immersive forms and cool colours and is a clever solution that gives the client
the flexibility to move internal partitions as needed to meet retailer
requirements.
Extending in an arc
around the northern section of The O2, ICON Outlet is arranged either side of a
central street, linking The O2's main entrance to the existing entertainment
district.
Nathmya said:
"The retail world is ever-evolving and the focus on the curated experience
is a real shift of approach. Shopping destinations are now seeking new leisure
experiences to attract, activate and energize their existing offer. What we
have here is one of the most iconic leisure destinations in the world, anchored
by the world's favourite arena. We believe the addition of the ICON Outlet is a
critical piece that will not only transform The O2, but also create a new
retail, dining and leisure paradigm."
