Amhurst Park Estate

London

 & 

Value £1.3m
Project Dates January 2015 – September 2016
Services Provided Building Surveyor, Contract Administrator & Project Manager
Client Southern Housing Group
Status Completed

 

Our client, Southern Housing Group wanted to replace the windows on the Samuel Lewis Trust Estate in Amhurst Park to improve the thermal performance of the flats for their residents, reducing maintenance and recapturing some of the original character of the building.

Inconsistent fenestration styles and materials meant some residents had aluminium and others PVCu casements; certain residents also had original timber single glazed windows. Changing all the windows would restore the consistency of fenestration styling and replicate the original detail and design, restoring the original warmth and value of the building. The project comprised 94 social housing flats which meant that 900 replacement sash windows were required. Not only did the windows need to be energy efficient and approved by planners but they also needed to reflect the original character of the building by replicating the original timber sash windows, especially the multi-pane windows.

Following design team meetings to discuss proposed designs it soon became apparent that ‘standard’ PVCu sash windows would not be a viable option, due to the bulky nature of the frames. A heritage style frame was therefore selected; in addition, the requirement for a narrow mullion countered against the standard arrangement of PVCu windows being butted together. However, using a specialist supplier in Europe, a prototype butt jointed GRP mullion was built and tested. This proved to be a more satisfactory solution and when combined with the heritage windows, with a staff bead that effectively ‘picture frames’ the sashes means that the new windows effectively replicate the style of the original timber box frame.