Deceuninck says its ultra-energy-efficient composite window system, Elegant, provides the perfect solution for Slough’s new Horlicks Quarter.
With its iconic red sign, landmark chimney, and poignant war memorial, Berkeley Homes’ Horlicks Quarter in Slough has sensitively reinvigorated a local institution, while preserving its heritage.
The former Horlicks factory site, purpose-built in 1908 to accommodate the manufacture of the globally famous restorative malted milk drink, has been transformed into a vibrant residential community. Featuring apartments, duplexes and affordable housing, the development also offers desirable amenities including a concierge, onsite nursery, café, co-working space, gym, cinema and rooftop terrace.
Recycled content
With thermal performance, aesthetics and sustainability key considerations, developer Berkeley Homes specified 773 tilt-and-turn windows in Deceuninck’s Elegant 76mm system for ‘Building J’ of the development.
Manufactured by Sternfenster, the windows also feature Decoroc, Deceuninck’s patented colour coating system for PVCU products.
Operations director Nick Page-Smith said aesthetics, its relationship to the building fabric, and acoustic are also important factors.
“We were looking for alternatives to our current supplier and Deceuninck stood out as a composite window manufacturer who gave us flexibility, design variation, and allowed us to build at a higher level with a composite window,” he said.
“The strength of Elegant, with regards to high-rise and the composite elements of it, including reinforcement, allowed us to select that window for a high-rise building.”
Achieving U-values as low as 0.7W/m2K, Elegant exceeds current building regulations to future-proof commercial projects.
Developed specifically for the commercial sector, and ideal for medium to high-rise commercial applications like the Horlicks Quarter, Elegant also requires less energy to recycle at end of life, closing the loop and reducing CO2 emissions.
Featuring a ThermoFibra glass fibre reinforced sash, Elegant can be combined with Forthex, Deceuninck’s extruded insulated thermal reinforcement. This negates the need for traditional steel reinforcement, due to the use of embedded steel wires in a low-density insulating foam core. The result is a window 30% more thermally efficient than a steel-reinforced window, but just as strong.
With slim sightlines and contemporary minimalist features, Elegant creates a strong architectural aesthetic which replicates aluminium in an advanced, low maintenance and energy efficient, composite system.
This is achieved with Deceuninck’s durable Decoroc foil, which creates the appearance of powder-coated aluminium. A popular choice in commercial applications, Decoroc is cost-effective, scratch and impact-resistant, easy-to-clean, and available in wide range of colours.
Just in time
“With regards to supply and high-rise buildings, fluidity of delivery with specification is important,” Nick said. “All of our concerns surrounding this aspect were met via Sternfenster and Deceuninck. Just in time scheduling allowed us to plan accordingly, reducing the amount of material on site and minimising disruption.
“I think it’s important, with the Building Safety Act and the Golden Thread, to have interface with the manufacturer, as we have done with Sternfenster and Deceuninck.
“They’re on site to check what’s been installed, make sure the quality is up to scratch and to see it through to the end.”
01249 816 969