Clearview National September 2018 - Issue 202 | Page 42
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DOORS&WINDOWS
Cherry Tree Mews: An aluplast
Ideal 70 installation by DGlass
» » NEW BUILD SPECIALIST DGLASS
completed an Ideal 70 installation on the site
of a former Taunton hospital in summer of
2018. Supplied in anthracite grey on white,
the windows and doors have been pivotal in
defining the character of the build.
Designed in 1892 by architects Gile, Gough
and Trollope, Tone Vale Hospital (at the time
Somerset and Bath Asylum), opened in 1897.
Built in the red/brown local stone, the site
included the imposing main Grade II listed
hospital building, church and a collection of
Victoriana mews and outbuildings.
What defines these buildings is the design of
the windows and doors. These were originally
specified in aluminium but redesigned in
PVC-U by DGlass. James Clayson, General
Manager D Glass, said:“The windows had
really large openers, with full height push-out
the windows. That’s something that you can’t
achieve with PVCAt the same time you have to
ask ‘does that give the property any character?’
and the answer was ‘no’. All it gave you was a
single run of glass.
“We have redesigned it in aluplast’s Ideal
70PVC-U suite to break up that run. One
it’s better structurally and delivers better
thermal performance and second, visually, it’s
absolutely fantastic.”
120 casement windows, French doors,
Juliet balconies and side-lights windows were
designed to complement the red/brown of the
stone used in original buildings. At the same
time they were also chosen to contrast with
the contemporary white render used at the
front and rear of the buildings, the anthracite
grey exterior of the windows transcending the
old and the new.
“We’ve created a Victoriana back, to match
in with the old buildings behind but designed
the front as contemporary. The idea behind
that is to break it up from the surrounding
buildings and the surrounding environment –
and to be different”, explains Clayson. “What
we have done with the windows and doors has
supported us in upselling the properties and
making the whole site work.”
He points to the pairing of traditional
timber sliding sash windows at the rear of the
lodge house, and against traditional timber
stonework with aluplast Ideal 70 in grey against
white render. “To use timber sashes on one
side with PVC-U casements on the other, is
very unusual but it’s going to be absolutely
stunning”, says Clayson.
Clayson argues that differentials are key in a
crowded commercial space. DGlass’ decision to
partner with aluplast, driven by a search for a
level of differentiation in the new build arena.
“There’s a perception that PVC-U systems are
the same and they have become a commodity.
We were looking for something different which
we could upsell to architects”, Clayson continues.
“When you actually show people what can be
achieved you have an opportunity to upsell.”
Ideal 70 is part of a comprehensive offering
from the German systems house, which also
includes its new Ideal 4000, contemporary
SquareLine system and Lift-and-Slide door.
These are also available in its aluskin external
aluminium fascia system.
The Ideal 70 and Ideal 4000 are also
supplied in an ecotech format. This uses a
pioneering production process to return
pre and post extrusion product and post
fabrication waste plus known source post
installation pelletized, PVC-U into the
extrusion process whilst only virgin material
is used on the external profile walls..
This uses two compound screw feeds
to push recycled and virgin material
simultaneously through the profile dye to
create the profile, while maintaining a distinct
separation between the two. This separates
and at the same time isolates recycled material
away from areas of the frame visible to the
end-user or which perform a structural role,
which means that aluplast can guarantee
surface and finish quality.
Clayson concludes “You can sell it [Ideal 70]
against aluminium. We can deliver great design,
the u-values and better value. You need to be
brave enough to fight for your product with
architects and with clients and say ‘this is what
we do’.
“In supplying aluminium as the default
proposition we aren’t doing architects and
clients any favours. Where appropriate, in
supplying PVC-U we can deliver buildings with
better thermal efficiency and better aesthetics,
which are ultimately better value right down to
the end-user.”
www.aluplast.co.uk
42 » SE P 2018 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M