Pre-bid commercial and design iteration for the curtain walling system at The Westmark high rise residential development in Marylebone cut costs and saved time
Berkeley Homes’ 29-storey curved London high rise The Westmark features more than 14,000 metres square of unitised curtain wall, designed and supplied by aluminium systems company AluK and installed by Martifer.
At the start of the project AluK worked with lead architect Squire & Partners, delivery architect Design Delivery Unit, facade consultants Cladtech Associates and structural engineers WSP to create the RIBA Stage 4 design for the unitised envelope.
This effectively de-risked the tender process by ensuring that all the commercial and design iteration took place pre-bid and was not left to interpretation.
As well as accelerating the design of the structural frame, this approach saved Berkeley many months compared with the normal procurement route.
AluK’s specialist team helped create a facade solution for the post-tensioned concrete frame that easily satisfied the design intent and made sensible savings on metal and accessory costs.
Now complete, the thermally efficient facade features more than 2,200 unitised cells of three principal configurations.
Each floor comprises: a vision cell, typically housing AluK’s concealed vent and full-height glass panes; a panel cell, specifically designed to house specialist internal framework to carry articulated GRC feature piers and spandrels; and a recessed balcony cell with an integrated floating glass balustrade.