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And the performance glass specifically?
Despite the roof overhangs it faces north and so it
receives plenty of strong sunlight. Our choice of glass
was about keeping high levels of transparency and
to provide the necessary performance to handle the
direct and reflected solar loads.
Any anxious moments during glass installation?
The roof was in first and it was a very nervous time
for all involved. This meant the glazing needed
pinpoint accuracy because all channelling was in
the roof and already in the walls and so there was no
margin for error. It was tricky, but working with the
contractors was a positive experience. It was stressful
but in the end, quite an achievement for everyone
involved. I think overcoming those obstacles on such
a difficult build is the project’s greatest merit.
Value management sounds harmless enough.
Was that your experience of the design process?
That’s a sore point. So much of the industry is
decided by project managers who hammer architects
over the head about cost, cost, cost. The first thing
I try is to fully engineer everything, so that it’s not
necessarily the architecture under the microscope.
Because most value managers really have no idea
about architecture, they start slashing. We can get
this glass for say, this little. We can save this much
money by using cheaper glass. Once you design
and build everything like that you’re in real trouble.
Good materials, good glass and design should be
seen as an investment. Luckily we had a good project
manager in Trevor Main who managed to help steer
the project towards a good outcome.
You could have saved money by losing the skylight.
Well you could, but a big part of the delight of that
interior volume is the skylight. It’s a part of that
offering that the residents don’t experience in their
own houses. It’s really a huge window to the sky
and an uplifting treatment. I definitely see it as part
of the investment and delight every time you enter
the centre.