Warm rooms, beautiful views, maximum daylight, contemporary style – VELFAC aluminium / timber glazing delivers the perfect indoor climate together with distinctive design and impressive durability. From sustainable construction to low U-values, sleek frames to expert support, VELFAC glazing can make all the difference to the success of your self-build home, as these projects show:
Supporting zero-carbon targets – Ten Oaks, Herefordshire
Almost a decade in the building, Ten Oaks is undoubtedly an impressive family home. Architects Kirkland Fraser Moor worked with owner Ian Mays (one of the founders and now retired CEO of RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company) to create a ‘climate restorative’ zero carbon home with minimal visual impact on the surrounding countryside. The highly distinctive circular building – with an additional circular annexe – features VELFAC composite triple glazing throughout, specified for its low-U values and slim-framed, contemporary and sustainable design. ‘VELFAC triple glazed units met our thermal targets while the narrow frame design increased visibility from within the house and brought more daylight inside,’ says Ian. ‘We considered installing locally-made curved windows, but VELFAC was more cost effective and delivered the performance we needed. As a result, we opted for a faceted design where the larger window panels are as wide as possible without compromising the curved finish. The sustainability of the VELFAC aluminium / timber frame was also important,’ adds Ian: ‘Every unit is almost entirely recyclable and it’s also very low maintenance, which again supports our zero carbon ambitions. The fact that VELFAC was part of the same group as VELUX was also reassuring.’
Design impact without compromise – Tower Mill, Cambridgeshire
Once-derelict, Tower Mill is now a stunning eco-house, with the slim-framed VELFAC system specified for impressive energy efficiency, low maintenance construction, and value for money. ‘I knew about VELFAC from other commercial projects,’ says home owner and developer, Henry Martin, ‘but I hadn’t realised that the system could be used so successfully in a domestic project, or that it was so competitively priced. Our architect, Judith Brear, recommended VELFAC for Tower Mill as it could meet the eco-performance standards we all were looking for, in terms of thermal insulation and sustainable construction, and could deliver the flat, contemporary exterior finish that she also wanted.’ VELFAC triple-glazed units are installed across Tower Mill, including punch-hole windows inserted into the curving walls of the old tower, with a series of asymmetrical, cill to ceiling VELFAC units combined to create a stunning, 360o viewing area at the top. ‘VELFAC was the only system which could supply the mix of large, sliding and asymmetric casements, together with clean lines and triple glazing, that we needed to meet the brief,’ says Henry. ‘The window walls bring natural light flooding into the house, while also creating impressive architectural features.’
High style, low maintenance – Marsh Hill, Aldeburgh
Emphasising the unusual design of this new build home, and its dramatic location, Marsh Hill creators Mole Architects used composite VELFAC windows to punctuate the innovative, articulated zinc roof and white painted brickwork facades. A long, thin floor plan means that every room looks out – through large, slim-framed VELFAC windows – over the dramatic wetland scenery of the nearby Alde Estuary. A palette of cool whites, blues and greys, reminiscent of a seagull’s wing, says Mole Architects, is reflected in the finishes selected for the composite VELFAC units. External aluminium framing is finished in soft grey, and inner timber is painted white, blending the window frames into the white-walled interior. The distinctive, slim VELFAC frame design maximises natural light, and enhances the beautiful coastal views. The highly durable VELFAC system is also ideal for the exposed coastal location; designed to cope with extreme weather conditions, including salt-laden winds, the external aluminium frame requires no repainting for the lifetime of the unit. The VELFAC system also guarantees low U-values and therefore excellent low energy performance, making an important contribution to Marsh Hill’s sustainability strategy, which includes a ground source heat pump, on-site private well and waste water treatment plant.
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