ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY
Architectural Ironmongery : Unlocking Consistent Finishes
Behind a combination of concepts , briefs and materials , architectural hardware can often tie design projects together , and it ’ s all in the finish , explains Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware .
» WHEN IT COMES TO DOOR hardware , the details matter . Between levers , pull handles , locks and hinges , correctly specified hardware can elevate any space - enhancing aesthetics , accessibility and functionality .
Typical design projects can house tens – if not hundreds – of doors and their supplementary furniture , each playing a fundamental functional role while also having a significant impact on the overall feel and flow of the building . As such , design professionals are encouraged to put careful consideration into door furniture selection , ensuring they deliver reliable , eloquent solutions that meet user requirements .
While final design decisions may depend on project , preference and budget , it always pays to get your material scheme right the first-time round . From colour matching to durability , there are a number of key components to consider when choosing door hardware finishes , and so , with that in mind , what should design teams be on the lookout for ?
The finishing touch Aesthetically speaking , more often than not , a highquality , consistent finish is more essential to a building ’ s interior atmosphere than the design characteristics of the door furniture itself . Whether opting for a classic or contemporary feel , the right material scheme can completely invigorate a space while unifying a project ’ s overarching design theme .
Today , there is an expanding catalogue of popular hardware finishes , each differing for a range of aesthetic and practical reasons . In recent years for example , there has been an influx of dark-toned , contemporary surfaces , with matt black finishes in high demand . And while the popularity of matt black and even granite material schemes has risen recently , they may not always be suitable for certain settings and may soon be displaced by another leading style .
This revolving door of interior design trends and an ever-growing market of available finishes means the specification
process is conceivably more complex than ever before . While juggling the latest styles , modern design teams must also be mindful of the disparity in quality between different suppliers , material grades and price points . At surface level , different manufacturers may offer the same styles and material schemes , but upon delivery , each may vary in colour shades , characteristics and overall consistency . Consequently , this can leave projects suffering from discord in their design , with end-users later requiring replacements or full redesigns to match their original plans .
Colour matching carries even more weight when meeting the needs of visually impaired users , for example . Under the Equality Act 2010 , it ’ s stated all new and refurbished public buildings must offer equal access to all users , ensuring safe entry and passage through a building regardless of disability , age of gender . Where only 5 % of people that are blind can ’ t see anything at all , most have limited colour vision and perception of light and shade , and for this , an adequate level of visual contrast between building surfaces and their surrounding areas is mandatory .
With this , design professionals must be conscious of Light Reflectance Values ( LRV ). LRV is understood as the universal scale used in architecture and interior design and is a way of measuring the amount of visible and usable light that is reflected from a surface when illuminated
Sources : https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / ukpga / 2010 / 15 / contents
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JULY 2023
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