The UK has a rich and varied architectural history in evidence throughout the country. Unfortunately, many such buildings are deemed surplus to requirement and allowed to fall into disrepair. But this doesn’t have to be their fate and increasingly owners and architects with vision are adapting them to other uses, many being converted to provide homes with character. The re-use of the building fabric retains its embedded energy and careful specification of materials and services ensures that insulation levels meet modern standards. Windows are an important architectural element of the building and their design must be respected when upgrading performance - Secondary Glazing is a recognised method for improving both thermal and acoustic insulation levels without undermining the integrity of the original design.
Selectaglaze, the UK’s leading secondary glazing specialist, has been involved in many interesting and unusual projects involving the transformation of period non-residential buildings to shared ownership homes, including:
A Victorian Primary School near Bristol originally consisting of 2 classrooms and the Master’s house, where the handsome windows, much in gothic style, had to be retained. But there was also a critical need to improve thermal insulation and meet Building Regulation standards. To achieve this, the local authority’s Conservation Officer agreed to the use of secondary glazing. Selectaglaze produced a complementary range of hinged, fixed and sliding panels incorporating specialist low emissivity glass, to minimise heat loss. The secondary glazing has also markedly reduced ambient noise levels and met the requirements of Secured by Design.
A second property was a former London Police Station, spanning the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Following decommission, the redundant locally listed buildings and land were obtained for conversion and development to shared ownership homes.
The original single glazed windows were retained either through refurbishing or replacing with like-for-like. Selectaglaze then produced a total of 128 secondary glazing units in a number of styles including sliding and hinged to provide improved thermal insulation and protection against traffic noise.
Perhaps the most historic building was The Royal Naval Dockyards, officially founded in 1513 by Henry VIII but the site of Royal ship repairs since 1420. In the 18th century a Victualling Yard was established alongside, where ships' stores and provisions were assembled. But by 1869 the Dockyard had become outdated and unsuitable to launch ships, due to the silting of the Thames and was restricted to ship building and distributing stores to other yards and fleets abroad. It eventually closed in 1869 to become a foreign Cattle Market which, in turn, closed in 1913. However, the Victualling Yard remained until 1961 and the site is now occupied by the Pepys Estate (named after the famous 17th century diarist who often visited the Dockyard when he was Clerk to the Navy Board).
Three Grade II listed buildings, the former Naval Administration Office and Rum and Tobacco Warehouse have seen a total of 65 apartments comprising a mix of housing association social rent and leasehold homes, constructed within their walls. Because of the buildings listed status, work had to be carried out sympathetically and with the approval of English Heritage. Selectaglaze carefully matched the traditional sash windows, most of which have arched heads. The resulting installation has vastly improved insulation levels producing the more comfortable and peaceful environment.
Finally Wolverton Park in Buckinghamshire, once the home of the Royal Train now provides 300 houses and apartments. Seventy-seven of these new homes have been imaginatively built within the Grade 2 listed Royal Train Shed (constructed in 1889) and the adjacent Triangle Building, which is also Grade 2 and constructed in 1845 as a locomotive workshop.
Many original features have been retained including the majestic cast iron windows which span the three new floors inserted into the Royal Train Shed to provide an extremely light and spacious environment.
Selectaglaze designed sympathetic treatments for both buildings. The Royal Train Shed was particularly suited by their heavy duty Series 90 vertical sliding system, which with gently arched heads, complement the elegance of the original window design.
The Triangle Building with its fully arched heads needed a different approach. An arched bottom hung hinged casement from their Series 45 range was linked to a Series 90 vertical sliding unit to match the sight lines and provide full access to the outer window for cleaning or maintenance.
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