When acclaimed architect, Renzo Piano designed Central St Giles, a
new 500,000 sq ft, mixed use development in central London, he
created a bold scheme, with a number of distinctive, colour
coordinated features, including a custom arrangement of Louvres and
Blinds, from Levolux.
Comprising a 15-storey residential block and 11-storey commercial
block around a central piazza, the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rated
development breathes new life into a neglected part of London,
making a striking addition to the city’s skyline.
As the UK’s leading Solar Shading specialist, Levolux was chosen to
develop a unique solution, incorporating its external Screening
Louvres, Custom Doors and Gates and its internal High Performance
Roller Blinds.
A new custom Louvre ,with a ‘Z’ profile and a 80mm pitch, has been
applied extensively at ground floor level on the commercial block,
with a total surface area of 510m². With
their continuous appearance and neat mitred corners, the Louvres
create an attractive, ventilated facade, concealing unsightly
service areas from view.
To maintain a seamless aesthetic at street level, Levolux engineered
two giant, folding loading-bay doors, each measuring 7.6 metres wide
by 5 metres high, based on an original design by Renzo Piano.
Comprising a steel box section frame hung on heavy duty hinges, the
doors are externally clad with ‘Z’profile Louvres to blend in with
the surrounding facade. The doors are designed to swing back and
fold neatly away into recesses, allowing quick and easy access for
deliveries and maintenance vehicles.
To facilitate safe and secure access to the underground car-park via
two purpose-built car lifts, Levolux engineered and installed a
custom aluminium motorised sliding gate, measuring 9400mm wide by
5300mm high. The sliding gate, designed by Renzo Piano, with its
clean, modern appearance, moves smoothly, suspended from seven
colour-coordinated yellow rollers. An intelligent control system
prevents the gate from operating if physical force is applied or if
an obstruction is detected and a manual over-ride ensures it can be
operated in the event of a power failure.
The Screening Louvres, folding loading bay doors and sliding gate
installed at ground floor level are all finished in a coordinated,
cool grey semi-gloss powder coating, which contrasts with the red
orange terracotta tiles above.
Elsewhere, at ground floor level on the residential block, Levolux
installed a bank of steel, ‘Z’ profile, stackable Louvres, with a
50mm pitch, to conceal a naturally ventilated area, in which plant
and equipment can operate efficiently. To complement the overall
scheme, the steel Louvres were finished in a coordinated red orange
powder coating, to match the terracotta cladding on adjacent
elevations.
Completing the solution, Levolux installed 2,891 of its High
Performance Roller Blinds throughout the commercial block, to
control light and glare levels for office workers. The manually
operated, bead chain Roller Blinds feature a white grey fabric with
an openness factor of 5%.
The Central St Giles development is an iconic example of urban
eco-architecture and has dramatically transformed the area around
it. With its distinctive coloured terracotta tiles and bespoke
Louvres, Gates and Blinds from Levolux, it demonstrates an effective
blend of form and function.
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