Timely Solutions from Sapphire Balustrades Help Development Stay on Track
Manufacturing and installing over 800 metres of bespoke balcony balustrades to a critical timescale posed little problem for Sapphire Balustrades at Aqua Vista, Bow Common Lane, a luxury gated development just minutes away from the heart of London’s financial centre at Canary Wharf. Sapphire installed glass balustrades with powder-coated stainless steel handrails onto the apartments’ concrete balconies ahead of all external rendering. With balconies in place at an early stage the project’s main contractor, Higgins Construction PLC, could dismantle scaffolding as soon as façade works were complete. This timely sequencing enabled savings on hire costs and helping the project stay on time and on budget.
Boasting a prime waterside location, Aqua Vista consists of 157 high specification apartments, most of which have balconies so residents can enjoy spectacular views of the London skyline. Needless to say, balcony balustrades for one of the capital’s newest residential developments had to deliver on both visual appeal and technical performance. Sapphire offers balustrade designers and specifiers the best of both worlds, with its distinctive range of core systems and a choice of balustrade enhancements which allow custom variations, without the additional cost and time normally associated with creating a bespoke solution.
At Aqua Vista, 10mm clear heat soaked, toughened glass from Sapphire’s Opal system are combined with polyester powder-coated posts and handrails in an attractive, low maintenance grey finish. Various sizes and types of balcony were manufactured for the project, from private balconies for individual apartments to balustrades for 15 metre long terraces accessible by several properties. Sapphire designed a special bracket to achieve the architect’s desired effect of a structural glass system from the road, with all the glass on the outer side of the balcony. Vandal resistant fixings were used throughout the installation to provide added security.
Main contractor, Higgins Construction PLC, has over 50 years’ experience in community regeneration projects across London and the South East. Having worked successfully with Sapphire on previous projects, the company had no hesitation in awarding the Aqua Vista contract to Sapphire. “Being able to supply safe and stylish structural glass balconies to a tight timescale was a key requirement for this prestigious development,” says the Procurement Manager for Higgins Construction. “Sapphire was the clear winner in our open tender process with the scale and flexibility to design, manufacture and install a timely and cost-effective package of top quality balustrades.”
Sapphire understand why timely solutions are critical and to enable this Sapphire operate offsite production of balconies so that each one is made ahead of time, stored ready for timely delivery.
