June 2009

Architect, builder, contractor & developer - June 2009

The glazing contract for the new shopping centre in Croydon included two 10 metre high glass needles and four structurally glazed rooflights. These were beyond the expertise of Lakesmere Ltd. who was installing the curtain-walling façade and they sub-contracted Cantifix to undertake this specialised part of the project.

The needles were purely a design statement and did not form part of the fabric of the building. On the other hand the rooflights were fully sealed and are a vital source of natural light into the shop below. The rooflights are double glazed in toughened glass with a low emissivity coating and argon filled cavity, therefore the delivery times for these panels precluded the construction method used for the needles.

The shape of these rooflights seems to draw light in from all sides and, at night, the reflections created within are surprising and confusing. In addition to the aesthetics of the design, the rooflights had to perform their essential function of keeping the weather out. The banana paradigm, where it can't just rely on looking pretty in the fruit bowl but must be edible as well, applies to all glass structures. At the early design stages there is a natural tendency on any contract to concentrate solely on the form, but the function can often have a considerable affect on the design. Cantifix's experience in the specialist glazing market allows the affects of function upon form to be minimised, but it requires great cooperation throughout the process.

For more information please contact Jean Rennie at http://www.rennierandell.com