This project brings together a traditional style of French Hotel architecture with a more interesting flare of modern contemporary design. Our works included the following.

1. Curved and elliptical polyamide windows on first and second floor.
2. Capped curtain walling screens on ground floor in administration areas.
3. Structural sealant glazing to swimming pool, bar and leisure facilities.
4. Bespoke glazing to conference areas, ie stainless steel channels and capped curtain walling with rebated doors.
5. Frameless glazing to reception.
6. A-frame rooflights with acoustic glass to bar areas.
7. Canopy to main entrance.
8. Frameless automatic doors.

Its features are as follows:

• The curved and elliptical windows were particularly difficult to procure as local system suppliers would not take responsibility for the curving of the three primary members. Research led us to a company in France who had all the resources in-house to produce all the components leading to a successful end result. Specific features of this solution been the frameless integration of trickle vents externally through careful routing of framing members. Five point locking mechanisms with an offset set stainless steel handle, bespoke movable cleats to enable assembly of the outer fame and sash members.
• A full size sample of a curved window was produced and whereas the preference was for smaller framing members, architectural designers must be aware of system limitations and fenestration type.
• Incorporating aluminium rebated doors into recessed glazing led to a bespoke solution in the conference areas. Perimeter edge details comprising of a pressed 316 stainless steel U channel to perimeter edges. These channels were designed to be deep enough to enable the insulated double glazing to be changed if broken.
• The double glazing configuration, 32mm overall, comprising of 2 panes of 6mm toughened with a warm edge spacer are recessed into channels at its interfaces.
• To achieve the desired wind-loading, both three edges supported and two edge supported Insulated glazed units require a glass fin to minimise deflection.
• These fins are 20mm wide by 450mm deep and are structurally bonded to the vertical joint connection.
• The vertical joint is 8mm wide, each pane to it are fritted along its vertical edge, hence a 50mm sight line externally. Fritting typically is black in colour matching vertical dow corning joints and the joints around the perimeter edges.
• To enable the main entrance doors to be automated, an intermediate steel beam was introduced; this was clad in stainless steel which enabled the side fixed pane head members to be recessed.
• Structural sealant glazing was used in the curved swimming pool area, Spanning floor to ceiling, the glass is mechanically clamped vertically into the stick members with concealed toggled fixings. A pressure plate and cap runs at the head and base which enables the overhead architectural cladding to be integrated as flush.
• Safety in swimming pools is always an issue, In this instance 13.5 laminate low-e internally was used which means that in the event of breakage the glass will remain in-situ.
• Aesthetics externally, the vertical joints are fritted. Fritting is the painting of glass to enhance its visual appearance whilst protecting against degradation.
• The rooflights were pitched and add natural daylight to a bar space deep in plan. Internally the ceiling grid is shaped to reflect a contemporary ellipse, concealing the viewer from framing members above.
• Excluding the frameless steel, ral colours were used throughout, the swimming pool having a special guarantee because of its environment with specific cleaning and maintenance regime required.