Bayswater
Year
2023
Installer
- Propak
Technology
IGU
Deliverables
- Heat Strengthened Laminated Glass
- Painted glass
- Lead
- Solar Control Glass
The Whiteley
Challenge: The most pressing challenge was recreating the building’s original grand windows within the retained stone façade. These had to visually replicate early 20th-century steel windows while meeting modern standards for energy efficiency, acoustic separation, and structural integration. Complicating matters was the need to accommodate differential movement between the original façade and the new internal structure.
Solution: Crystal Units delivered a tailored glazing specification featuring solar control, painted, and laminated glass units designed to integrate seamlessly with the restored façade. Dummy lead cames and bespoke sightlines were engineered to mirror original profiles. These IGUs met advanced acoustic and thermal performance criteria while preserving the building’s iconic appearance. Working closely with Propak and the wider design team, the solution ensured aesthetic fidelity and regulatory compliance in one of London’s most demanding heritage restorations.
Project summary:
Completed in 2023, the redevelopment retained the colonnaded façade and iconic domes of the original Whiteley’s department store, blending them with modern architecture to create a vibrant lifestyle destination. The glazing package, supplied and integrated by Propak, included solar control, heat-strengthened laminated, painted, and lead-lined insulating glass units. These were critical in replicating the historic “storefront” appearance while ensuring compliance with stringent 21st-century thermal, acoustic, and safety regulations.
Crystal Units contributed high-spec IGUs tailored to balance period authenticity with contemporary requirements, enhancing energy performance and façade continuity without compromising on the visual rhythm of the original steel-framed windows.