WICONA helps to achieve new accessible heights at Elephant Park

WICONA has supplied its versatile aluminium door and window systems on a recent phase of work on the Elephant Park development, the largest regeneration scheme in Central London.

The multi-phase Elephant Park redevelopment, led by Lendlease in partnership with Southwark Council, will deliver close to 3,000 homes in Elephant and Castle by 2025. West Grove comprises two separate developments, Highwood Gardens and Orchard Gardens, which provides a mix of state-of-the-art retail and residential spaces.

WICONA provided the aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling systems for both Highwood Gardens and Orchard Gardens. The focal building on Highwood Gardens, designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects features extensive retail space on the ground floor and thirty storeys of residential accommodation making it the tallest building in Elephant Park. Orchard Gardens, designed by Panter Hudspith, includes an eighteen-storey residential building with ground floor retail space with affordable units for local businesses.

With the ambition of Elephant Park to create housing of the highest quality in the heart of the city, WICONA’s approach had to fulfil a number of specific requirements. The West Grove development was designed with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind with daylight-maximising inset balconies, residential blocks arranged to avoid single aspect north-facing homes and fittings chosen to save on water wastage and fuel consumption.

As a result, a key focus for WICONA was providing systems and materials that would achieve high standards of thermal efficiency as well as adhering to the guidance of the Centre for Window Cladding Technology.

The doors and windows also needed to be Secured by Design compliant, as well as adhering to the requirements of Approved Document M for accessibility. The specification incorporated all of these requirements, ensuring that the glazing would provide security and durability as well as energy efficiency and aesthetic benefits.

To achieve this, WICONA provided WICLINE 75 windows, WICSTYLE 75 doors and WICSLIDE 160 lifting-sliding doors. All three feature a multi-chamber construction to improve thermal insulation and are designed to achieve maximum weather and wind tightness. The products also helped meet the accessibility requirements and ensure compliance with Approved Document M of the Building Regulations.

The design of the WICLINE 75 window allows the handle to be located within 1200 mm from the floor. It features a side-hung, open-in mechanism and a single handle for easy ventilation operation, including for those with reduced mobility or muscle strength. Simply by using the accessible locking handle and without needing to reach any other hardware, the user can then open the window further for cleaning. Closing the window returns it automatically to the safe ventilation mode. By using just one conveniently placed handle the user has full access to all ventilation and cleaning functionality, a clear contrast to more cumbersome traditional tilt & turn mechanisms.

The highly thermal efficient aluminium systems were fitted with SGG STADIP SILENCE acoustic safety glass for both the outer and inner panes and coated in SGG’s PLANICLEAR to reduce tinting, maximise light transmission and increase solar gain, improving the overall energy rating of the glazing installation.

Furthermore, both the WICSTYLE 75 and WICSLIDE 160 doors include a low threshold design providing easy access through all areas of the building. The doors also offer high levels of impact and burglar resistance to ensure safety and security for residents and businesses.

Graham Hurrell, WICONA UK Sales Director added: “Elephant Park is a flagship example of a truly modern development, designed with occupants’ needs at the centre. We are proud to have been able to contribute to creating an end result that will have such as positive effect for residents, local business and surrounding area.”