6 | FEBRUARY 2019
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
CUTTING EDGE GLAZING
GIVES ITALIAN 5-STAR
HOTEL STYLISH EDGE
In hotel design, building
aesthetics play a big role
in creating luxurious
accommodation for guests.
That was the challenge
SCHUECO UK
NOW HAS A
DISPLAY STAND IN
NATIONAL SELF-
BUILD CENTRE
Schueco UK, Britain’s leading
specialist in aluminium systems
for the residential market,
now has a permanent static
display at the National Self-
Build and Renovation Centre
(NSBRC) in Swindon, Wiltshire.
Schueco UK’s stand
(no: TV 82) features their
very latest slimline sliding
door system, a contemporary
panoramic design façade
with narrow sightlines and
glass-to-glass corner, a con-
cealed vent window system,
entrance doors with design-
er panels and door control
system. In addition, there is
a TV monitor showing a gal-
lery of project installations.
Visitors will be able to
use a scanning facility to
request further information
and brochures.
The National Self-Build
and Renovation Centre –
which is the largest facility
of its kind in the UK – at-
tracts approximately 17,000
visitors every year, all of
whom are actively involved
in planning or executing a
building project.
For further information
on the new Schueco UK
stand or to arrange an
appointment to visit the
Centre, please contact the
NSBRC.
www.schueco.co.uk
facing the designers of a
major refurbishment to the
glamourous Park Hotel
Imperial, located in Limone
on the shore of Lake Garda,
Italy.
The hotel features glass
elements extensively, inside
and out, and the designer
of the re-model chose to
use two Pilkington products
extensively in the project
– Pilkington Optiwhite™
low-iron, extra clear glass
and Pilkington Mirropane™
Chrome Plus toughenable
mirror.
Luxury in the detail
The hotel makes use of
glass in the balustrades on
the balconies, making up
a significant portion of the
building’s envelope, as well
as in many rooms to screen
the bathroom from the main
living quarters.
Much of the glass is used
as frameless, laminated
panes. When the edges of
a thick piece of glass are
visible, the colour of the
glass becomes especially
pronounced, and the natural
green tint of standard float
glass becomes noticeable.
By using Pilkington Opti-
white™, the features instead
have an almost colourless
appearance, lending a clean-
er and more contemporary
feel to the design.
Externally, the balcony
glazing is screen printed
with a white fade, lending a
key design element as well
as delivering the right com-
bination of stunning views
and privacy for residents.
The low-iron glass ensured
the white colour of the paint
applied to the glass shines
out to maximum effect.
An excellent reflection
Elsewhere in the design,
Pilkington Mirropane™
Chrome Plus, a toughenable
mirror product, was used to
integrate mirrored elements.
In many suites the product
was etched with leaf and
branch motifs and mount-
ed as wall art, backed by
a white panel that shows
through to create a striking
white-on-mirror effect.
In the bathrooms, mir-
rored shower doors offer
privacy to guests while
also serving as a full-length
mirror.
Because the product can
be toughened, significantly
increasing its strength, the
metal hinges and handles
could be fixed directly to
the glass, allowing a framel-
ess minimalist look.
The mirrors above the
sink are also created using
the same material allowing
seamless integration with
the other glazed elements.
Again, the glass was tough-
ened throughout to prevent
breakages and protect the
safety of the hotel’s users.
Pilkington Mirropane™
Chrome Plus also boasts a
corrosion-resistant coating,
making it ideal for use in
a bathroom by helping to
prevent the mirror being
damaged by frequent expo-
sure to humidity.
Ulisse Bonesi, manager
at glazing specifier Vetraria
Bergamasca Tecnovetro,
said: “We chose Pilkington
Mirropane™ Chrome Plus
because the requirement
was for large mirrors that
rely on maintenance-free
coating rather than reflec-
tive backing that can dete-
riorate over time. The client
also required a simple, light,
frameless, opaque glass
door. This product fully
meets both expectations.”
Leo Pyrah, product
manager at Pilkington UK,
said: “The hotel is a superb
showcase for these two
products, really demonstrat-
ing how high-quality glazing
combined with tasteful de-
sign can help lend a sense
of luxury to a building.
“The view over the lake
is arguably the hotel’s most
notable feature, and our low-
iron extra clear glass will
make sure it can be enjoyed
in all its glory by guests with
absolutely minimal distortion
or discoloration.”